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13:46, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact.

Posted by Starfleet CommandFor group 0
Starfleet Command
GM, 193 posts
Dammit Jim
I'm a GM, not a Goldminer
Tue 30 Jun 2020
at 07:55
  • msg #24

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

To give an idea of the shuttle's interior...


This message was last edited by the GM at 16:08, Mon 06 July 2020.
LCDR T'Lara
player, 39 posts
Vulcan Counselor
Tue 30 Jun 2020
at 17:13
  • msg #25

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

"I'd stay here, if you're keen on going" Lyn's lack of enthusiasm about the prospect of staying behind was hard to miss.  Only there was a slight problem with T'Lara volunteering herself "but I'm not sure I could pilot this shuttle, if it comes to that.  Good chance I'll end up crashing it even if I never manage to get it off the ground"
LCDR Christopher Decker
player, 107 posts
Human CSO
Tue 30 Jun 2020
at 17:46
  • msg #26

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

OOC: I assume Mcreeg is asking the XO (Commander) and not Decker? Decker was just making suggestions and takes no responsibility whatsoever.
LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg
player, 98 posts
Human HELM
Tue 30 Jun 2020
at 17:48
  • msg #27

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

OOC: exactly, my bad for being unclear, thanks..
CDR Naryss ch'Pertha
player, 132 posts
Andorian CTAC
Tue 30 Jun 2020
at 23:03
  • msg #28

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

"First things first, folks.    We secure this external site.

Mcreeg and Decker, I want as many scans as you can get.  On Anything.  Everything.
And broadcast back to the ship as you do so.
Also, see if you can figure out what caused this portal to open upon our approach.   Is it actively sensing?
And Mcreeg, I want a launch pattern loaded into quick-auto, for a swift exit if we need it.

Jav'Ker and Harada, we need to know that the Anti-Grav facility is sound.  I need a full structural and diagnostic check.

Nipay, I'd like you to attempt to find a way to get Comms through that portal.  Try to make contact with the shuttle within ... and if you can make contact with any of our personnel, I'm buying you dinner tonight.

T'lara and Preston, you are with me.  We'll do a preliminary scout of the site, and throw eyeballs through the portal.

Everyone in full environmental suits, with mag-grav boots ... just in case.
NO weapons fire unless I give the word
".

And with that, ch'Pertha will supervise the exit from the shuttle.
LT Kimiko Harada
NPC, 14 posts
Human Engineer
Wed 1 Jul 2020
at 05:47
  • msg #29

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

"Yes sir," Harada replied, glancing to her superior, Jav'Ker.  "We'll make sure the jury-rig they've put together will hold up."
LCDR T'Lara
player, 40 posts
Vulcan Counselor
Wed 1 Jul 2020
at 19:01
  • msg #30

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

"Yes sir"

An environmental suit made perfect sense; the crust of the 'planet' was made of the super dense Neutronium, so they wouldn't be able to get very far without the mag-grav boots.  But more importantly - no atmosphere meant no breathable air.

She took her time suiting up - it has been a while, and she wanted to be meticulous about it and make sure every strap was properly secured.  Once she was done, she smiled faintly at Naryss through the fixed visor, her voice carrying over the built-in communicator:

"Ready, Commander"
LCDR Gullak JavKer
player, 55 posts
Tellarite CHENG
Fri 3 Jul 2020
at 01:46
  • msg #31

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

Jav'Ker gave a grunt of assent to his subordinate, and moved the opposite direction. Methodically examining the structures around him to get a sense on the engineering that had gone into him.

Considering the faint lean towards form over over function a needless compromise. Satisfied in his curosity, he turned his fill attention to the task at hand.
LCDR Christopher Decker
player, 108 posts
Human CSO
Fri 3 Jul 2020
at 18:00
  • msg #32

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

The Science Officer opened up a subspace channel back to the ship. He linked it to a new database that the shuttle's sensors and team's tricorders would all update on a continuous basis.

"Done. Anything we see will go straight back to Independence."

With that, he began scanning for any unusual energy patterns that might not have been detected from a longer distance.
LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg
player, 99 posts
Human HELM
Sat 4 Jul 2020
at 01:57
  • msg #33

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

"AYE"

Mcreeg feels the jazz already starting, the focus coming to him as he starts setting up scans, looking for things hidden within things, scans coming from the target that could have masked by the background levels and radiations, trying to set up a scan to detect oddness coming from the black hole itself, ways it could have been used as a trigger, using his studies of Quantum Mechanics to show him what differences would appear between what should be and what is, whispering under his breath as is his nature, as if talking to the equipment, almost trying to will it to do as he wants..

21:22, Today: LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg rolled 34 using 3d20 with rolls of 14,3,17.  insight =9, conn =4 focus is quantim mechanics +1 die from navcomp target is 3.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:23, Sat 04 July 2020.
Starfleet Command
GM, 196 posts
Dammit Jim
I'm a GM, not a Goldminer
Sat 4 Jul 2020
at 02:28
  • msg #34

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

OK, here goes!

Everyone can suit up with no problems.  You're Starfleet Officers.

I would like a Reason + Engineering check from Jav'Ker, who can be assisted by HaradaDifficulty is 3.

McReeg can make an Insight or Reason + Conn check to successfully plot a quick blast-off route for the shuttle.  Focus in small craft, gravity wells, or quantum mechanics applies. Difficulty is likewise 3. He can be assisted (1 die) by the shuttle's navcomputer.

Decker to make a Reason + Science scan, Difficulty is 2. Focus on Astrophysics will apply.

Am I right in understanding only ch'Pertha, T'Lara and Preston are leaving the shuttle at this time?



LCDR Christopher Decker
player, 109 posts
Human CSO
Sat 4 Jul 2020
at 04:04
  • msg #35

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

Decker narrows his eyes as he turns back to the sensor readout, but in a moment he realizes his body's reaction to the stress of the situation and takes a moment to relax and bring his full focus calmly on his work. There's a lot of energy, exotic and otherwise, saturating the space surrounding the shuttle, and he begins sorting through and classifying it methodically as he has done countless times before.

Decker buys a third die using one point of banked momentum.
20:59, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 34 using 3d20 with rolls of 14,14,6.  Sensor sweep: Reason+Science (17) with focus Astrophysics/Science (5).
That's three successes. He'll send the third back to the bank. Science officer + Studious gives him two free Obtain Information questions.
"Is there anything dangerous to the shuttle or crew?"
"Is there anything scanning us - something that would have reacted to our approach to trigger the entryway?"

CDR Naryss ch'Pertha
player, 133 posts
Andorian CTAC
Sat 4 Jul 2020
at 09:31
  • msg #36

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

Starfleet Command:
OK, here goes!Am I right in understanding only ch'Pertha, T'Lara and Preston are leaving the shuttle at this time?
Yeah, unless the Engineers need to physically examine the Anti-Grav structures ... or any of them feel they need to leave the shuttle to perform said duties.

When T'Lara and Preston were ready, ch'Pertha lead the exit from the shuttle.  Even if other staff needed to exit the craft, they were directed to wait until ch'Pertha's team had done a cursory recon of the area within the Anti-Grav facility.
Using Security+Insight during recon, to detect any threats ...
- rolled 25 using 3d20 with rolls of 4,3,18.  Insight 10 + Security 5 + 1 Momentum.
Sorry folks, I think I just wasted one of our Momentum, but I figured that finding threats was an important task.
- Constantly Watching:   When you attempt a Task to detect danger or hidden enemies, reduce the
          Difficulty by 1.

Inviting T'Lara and Preston to make their own rolls, also.


Unless something was identified as needing an immediate response, ch'Pertha's team would end their recon at the Portal ... looking to both identify the control panel that the Abyss team had used to access it,   and getting a direct, personal view into the Portal.
LCDR Gullak JavKer
player, 57 posts
Tellarite CHENG
Sun 5 Jul 2020
at 10:54
  • msg #37

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

20:22, Today: LCDR Gullak JavKer rolled 12 using 2d20 with rolls of 3,9.  Reason 8, Engineering 5 - Roll to ensure antigrav systems are intact.
Starfleet Command
GM, 198 posts
Dammit Jim
I'm a GM, not a Goldminer
Mon 6 Jul 2020
at 16:03
  • msg #38

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

McCreeg struggled to plot a quick blast off vector for the shuttle.  There were multiple problems.  One, the gravity well of the station itself, with its neutronium skin.  Two, the antigrav field that make a 'light spot' on the surface.  And three, the rotation of the looming black hole the station orbited, the massive radiation jets on its poles spewing deadly radiation out into space.

In the end, he simply didn't feel confident in his calculations... the gravity fields were in flux, and any calculations he made now would be meaningless in an hour.  And he knew it.

That didn't mean someone couldn't pilot the shuttle out of here.  But it would be harder, and have to be done on the fly.

Decker, meanwhile, studied his scanners.  The situation outside was potentially dangerous for the shuttle or crew... if the antigrav fields failed, they'd likely become jelly on the surface of the station's neutronium skin.  But as long as it held up, the shuttle was well-shielded enough to block the high radiation levels from the black hole, as were their environmental suits (for a shorter time).  Nobody would want to set up lawn chairs out there, but they could move around.

The portal itself remained open.  He couldn't detect any active scanners around it, or anywhere nearby.  But he did identify several passive sensors that could likely have been triggered by the shuttle's own scanning beams, in the same way a spider can sense its prey by the vibrations of its web... oh wait, maybe that's a bad analogy...

Ch'Pertha, T'Lara and Preston all suited up and exited the shuttle via the airlock.  The small ring of antigravity devices that formed a landing zone near the hatchway seemed miniscule in scope compared to the massive Earth-sized structure.  The curvature of its surface acted much like a planet, giving it a visible horizon.  Looming and vast.  The surface wasn't perfectly smooth, but the details were minor and easily disappeared in the distance.

What wasn't distant, though, was the beckoning portal, light shining out from within.

While he was vigilant and careful, this was beyond ch'Pertha's knowledge set.  What he did know was basic security protocols and common sense.  It was an open door.  That could mean an invitation... or a trap.  His tricorder and MK II eyeballs (and antennae) could discern no suggestion of a trap.  The path looked clear.

Moving up to the portal, the squad could feel the immense gravity of the station, looming just outside the antigrav field... but it thinned as they reached the portal.  The portal itself was large enough to easily accommodate a shuttle.  The interior was well-lit.  It was obviously a landing bay of some kind, designed for humanoid use.  One of Abyss Station's shuttlecraft sat within, powered down and dark.  It was an older craft, a Type-F.  Not all stations had gotten the new Type-5 craft the Independence carried.

There were no obvious controls on the exterior of the portal.  Within the lit bay, the walls had some markings and features, but nothing identifiable from here.  T'Lara can make an Insight + Science check with her Focus of Art to gain possible insight into the designers' culture.

As ch'Pertha's team scouted, Jav'Ker and Harada worked on ensuring the antigrav field would stay functional.

08:37, Today: LT Kimiko Harada rolled 3 using 1d20 with rolls of 3.  Assist Engineering. Jav'Ker got 2 successes, Harada 1, giving a total of 3... the needed amount.


Conferring together, the two engineers mapped out the wiring and conduits that the Abyss Station crew had put together.  It was good work, and looked solid.  There were no signs of power failure or instability. Of course, the web itself was made of several independent parts.  If any of them failed, or took damage, the web could begin to shrink or even collapse...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:22, Mon 06 July 2020.
LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg
player, 100 posts
Human HELM
Tue 7 Jul 2020
at 03:25
  • msg #39

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

Even as serious as everything is, he has to quietly chuckle, Mcreeg noticing, and not for the first time, that planning and preparing ahead aren't going to work out, that it's going to be last minute fly by the seat of your pants, to use an idiom from the past he read or heard somewhere, that is going to be called for..

Giving his instruments a quick scan, seeing if anything has changed or needs adjusting, he lets his eyes wander to the black hole, seeing in it a kind of beauty, a simpleness that is beyond compare, even the art of it in a way..and Mcreeg wonders what his people back home would do with such a sight..
LCDR Christopher Decker
player, 110 posts
Human CSO
Tue 7 Jul 2020
at 05:05
  • msg #40

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

Decker switched the shuttle's sensors to standby and opened up a communication channel to Ch'Pertha, "XO, Decker here. Other than the crushing gravity and the lethal radiation, this location is perfectly safe. I'd stress that we really shouldn't spend anymore time on the surface outside of the shuttle than necessary."

"I'm not picking up any active sensor beams coming from the structure. There are what appear to be passive sensor arrays, however. My best guess is that the portal opened in response to our scans. It's possible we can keep the portal open by having the computer monitor it, and run an active scan on the area if it closes."

"Perhaps."

"Are you ready for me to join you?"

LCDR T'Lara
player, 41 posts
Vulcan Counselor
Tue 7 Jul 2020
at 12:16
  • msg #41

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

Walking on the face of the planet-size structure was surreal; there were no trees, mountains, or buildings on top of it – nothing but am (almost) smooth expanse stretching in all directions.  At least the shuttle was there, and the freshly-opened portal, to provide some orientation.

As she followed Ch’Pertha toward the portal she couldn’t avoid thinking of how dangerous this entire expedition was.  If even one of the anti-gravity devices set up around the perimeter fails, their bodies will serve as a landmark on the surface of an otherwise barren ‘planet’.
Looking for something to distract her from these morbid thoughts, she settled on the strange marking decorating the walls of the portal.

OOC:
22:25, Yesterday: LCDR T'Lara rolled 17 using 3d20 with rolls of 7,7,3.  insight+art.
That's 4 successes, and I used up one momentum (will give it back to the pool if I exceeded the difficulty)

LT Lyn Nipay
NPC, 20 posts
Human Comms
Sat 11 Jul 2020
at 05:04
  • msg #42

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

Nipay glanced up from checking her COMMS board, the relay system Decker had set in place synching.

"What's so funny?" she asked, arching a brow at Mcreeg.
LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg
player, 101 posts
Human HELM
Sat 11 Jul 2020
at 05:09
  • msg #43

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

Mcreeg looks over, pulled from his musings, not having realized he's been as loud as it seems he was, and he blushes..

"Just the irony that as advanced as we are, so much is still guess work and hoping for the best.."
LT Kimiko Harada
NPC, 15 posts
Human Engineer
Sun 12 Jul 2020
at 01:55
  • msg #44

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

"Bite your tongue," Harada said mirthfully.  "The chief doesn't guess, he knows.  Just ask him, he'll tell you." She nodded in Jav'ker's direction.

But then her expression drew more serious.  "From what we're scanning, the gravity net is good work, and looks solid.  No signs of power failure or instability. Of course, the web itself is made of several independent parts.  If any of them failed, or took damage, the web could begin to shrink or even collapse... which would be bad."

"Very bad."

This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Sun 12 July 2020.
LCDR T'Lara
player, 42 posts
Vulcan Counselor
Sun 12 Jul 2020
at 05:06
  • msg #45

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

"The markings on the walls of the portal resemble the ones  Dr. T'Lah team observed on Chaktir, only these ones here are much more sophisticated and elaborate.  The Ithink, and whomever built this station, are definitely connected somehow"
She pretty much guessed it, as she assumed everyone else, but still; it was evidence.
" - and something about this portal gives off a bad vibe.  The dark colors, sharp lines.  Like this station has an ominous purpose.  Or maybe it just reflects on the mentality of the ones who designed it. "
CDR Naryss ch'Pertha
player, 137 posts
Andorian CTAC
Tue 14 Jul 2020
at 07:05
  • msg #46

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

ch'Pertha stood on the edge of the portal with T'Lara and Preston.
He considered the scene in front of him, and what Ltn Commander T'Lara was telling him.

Then, comm'ing with the shuttle, "Mcreeg, Nipay, is it possible to remotely connect with that shuttle inside, and fly it out?" he asked.   It'd be his preference, but maybe someone would need to go in there and at least awaken it.

If not, they were going to have to do this the hard way.

"T'Lara, please return to the shuttle, and work with Decker to begin deciphering that text.  If we can begin working out some foundations to that language, it'll be a huge boon for us</b>".

Then, via comms again, "JavKer and Harada, see if you can reinforce this structure around us.  Even old school.
And please keep a constant eye on its health
".
This message was last edited by the player at 08:55, Tue 14 July 2020.
LCDR T'Lara
player, 43 posts
Vulcan Counselor
Tue 14 Jul 2020
at 19:05
  • msg #47

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

"It is still not certain that the markings constitute a language, Commander, but we will give it a try.  The station personnel did compile enough of the Ithik language to program the universal translator, so we can make a quick comparison and hopefully decipher the new script"

She quickly scanned the symbols with her tricorder, then turned around and started heading back toward the shuttle.  She didn't spend much time outside, but getting out of the bulky environmental suit would still be a welcomed relief.
LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg
player, 103 posts
Human HELM
Tue 14 Jul 2020
at 19:17
  • msg #48

Re: Abyss Station - Ancient Artifact

Already feeling the rush of a new challenge as soon as the question comes thru the comm system, Mcreeg responds..

"Anything is possible, Sir, it just needs to be figured out..we'll get right on it"

Glancing over, he waits for Nipay to respond, assuming nothing but knowing that it will take them both to figure it out, with all the variables and such..
This message was last edited by the player at 23:46, Tue 14 July 2020.
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