"Thanks!" said Mountain.

"...we should probably talk after dinner," said Gauss.  "The implications of alien technology on Earth, and how it's being used, for example."

"Sure, do you think the tank was alien?" Zhi'an asked.

"I'm guessing extraterrestrial tech, but human-built," said Phantasma.

"...which, shockingly, fits my analysis as well," Kryten put in.  "Which raises interesting questions.  Isn't it supposed to be your government which has access to it, even in secret?"

"Yes," said Phantasma.  "And that's a real mystery, because why would a government research project just randomly attack a mega-mart?"

"I'm not sure. There's not enough information here," Zhi'an said.

"Agreed," said Gauss.

"It suggests, to me, a rogue government agency," said Phantasma.  "Or possibly an extremist group that used to be part of a government agency."

"Hmm. It's possible, but it's too early for theories yet," Zhi'an said.

"It's a starting point," said Phantasma.  "I am familiar with the government agencies that have access to that technology, but this action doesn't make sense for them to have done it, even by the normal standards of irrational government behavior."

"What can we do about it?" Zhi'an asked.

"Do you have some way to scan for that kind of technology?" asked Phantasma.

"I don't. What about you, Kryten?" Zhi'an asked.

"I can try," said Kryten.  "...easier if I'm in range of a place that manufactures it, of course, but we can't assume that that will be the case."

"It was probably manufactured locally. At least I think so. It would be easier to keep it hidden from the public," Zhi'an said.

"A shocking exercise in logic," said Kryten.  "Well done!  Scanning... I am narrowing down the location of sources that are generating excessive quantities of electricity."
This message was last updated by the player at 03:33, Thu 12 Mar 2020.

"Is there a military base around here?" Zhi'an asked.

"Yes," said Phantasma.  "This isn't it, though.  The military base isn't that big a deal-- they train soldiers there.  Last place you'd put something secret; some idiot of a recruit would blow things wide open."

"Hmm. My next guess would be some sort of manufacturer, but I don't know this city," Zhi'an said.

"That's very possible," said Gauss.  "There are factories on one side of town.  Some are even disused, apparently closed, which would create a good opportunity for someone to move in and modify them."

"Not much to do until Kryten lets us know about power use," Zhi'an said.

"And thus, I save you from boredom by telling you that I've found it," said Kryten.

"What did you find?" Zhi'an asked.

"A location that's draining massive amounts of power, and producing low-grade radio noise indicative of advanced electronics, beyond what this planet should have," said Kryten.

"Where is it?" Zhi'an asked.

"It's on the outskirts of town," said Kryten, "if this map I downloaded is remotely accurate.  Roughly ten miles from here, to local East."

"Than I suppose we should scout it out," Zhi'an said.

"Agreed," said Gauss.  "Possibly not with everyone... who do you want to take, Zhi'an?"