Chapter 4: Dark Side of the Moon

[cybersavant]

Báleygr's fingers fly over the keyboard, strings of code rolling down the monitor display. Running diagnostics on the other portals is simple as they are controlled directly from this system. All six of them connect to matching gates on the surface of the world, but four of the gates are not responding. Four are mapped to the continent you came from - one from Kumekhna City, the one you just entered through from the Badlands Waypoint, and a third site which matches the coordinates for the Vukodlak suspected base. "That one's New London..." Nora comments, looking at the fourth spot on the map. The last two don't map to locations on the map - instead they are on standby fpr the orbital pass, their connection points currently over the horizon and on the far side of the planet. The green lights are on New London and Kumekhna City. The control system also predicts connectivity as the station transits its highly-elliptical orbit - it spends approximately 48 above this orientation of the planet, and the portals are expected not to be able to connect for six hours while the station passes around the far side: that will occur in seven hours.

Báleygr Gangleri "Well, the active portals right now are New London and Kumenkha City. I favor the former. I can try to activate the one we suspect leads to the Vudodlaki. I wonder if they have some connection to this station? Seems strange to have a portal there." Báleygr looks to the others for opinions.

[jemmus]

Taavi
Yes, strange indeed. And a portal in the bar, with its fiends. That a lot of resources and energy to commit to the Sons. And the portals are active and functioning-- the Sons didn't just take over their locations. Whoever operates them lets them use them. That makes me a little apprehensive about meeting the locals here.

[Marullus]

Hansel doesn't spy anything else of immediate use here... just the bulkhead to the station and six portals.

So the plan is to have Balygyr open the portal to New London and then loiter here until locals show up?

[Enoch]

Shadrach speaks up. "I don't think we've got enough information to go straight to the Sons. Charging blindly into a prepared enemy position isn't tactically sound.

"We don't know that whoever's here is hostile. Could be they're as much victims as we are of this whole mess." He gestures vaguely at the floorplates, toward the planet hanging below them. "And if this station is now controlled by Shadows, anyone still alive is probably feeding stock. I won't leave them in a vamp's clutches."

He looks at each of his companions in turn.

"I won't. If it comes to it, I'll happily stay behind and activate a self-destruct, if it has one. But we're not there yet. I say we scout ahead. Balegyr has his drones, and the grim is good at keeping to the shadows.
We need to know more about what we're up against, if anything."

[redwarrior]

Shadrach speaks up. "I don't think we've got enough information to go straight to the Sons. Charging blindly into a prepared enemy position isn't tactically sound.

"We don't know that whoever's here is hostile. Could be they're as much victims as we are of this whole mess." He gestures vaguely at the floorplates, toward the planet hanging below them. "And if this station is now controlled by Shadows, anyone still alive is probably feeding stock. I won't leave them in a vamp's clutches."

He looks at each of his companions in turn.

"I won't. If it comes to it, I'll happily stay behind and activate a self-destruct, if it has one. But we're not there yet. I say we scout ahead. Balegyr has his drones, and the grim is good at keeping to the shadows.
We need to know more about what we're up against, if anything."

Hansel listens to Shadrach's speech and ponders. Fingering his badge, he says I think we're probably a bit out of our jurisdiction. But you're right. We can't turn away from this.

[jemmus]

Taavi
I agree. Even if we don't have a duty to intervene, it may be in our practical best interest to do so. This place has some relationship to the Sons. Not learning about it could open us up to being blindsided later.

[Marullus]

Excellent negotiation!
...what's the action? Immediately through the bulkhead? Wait long enough for another computer action (investigating what specifically, or to open a gateway behind you?)

[cybersavant]

Báleygr Gangleri tries to hack more info out of the systems before the locals arrive.


[ numbers, allegiance, purpose, etc ]

[redwarrior]

Hansel verifies all the visible exits and entrances, makes note of where Oliver is located, and gets ready to kiss the Blarney Stone He's not quite sure what it is, but it supposedly helped fast talkers once upon the time and do some fancy talking if it comes to that, or some quick shooting if it goes that way.

He's got level 1 talk and a CHR bump should that be relevant. Though "we all tripped and ended up here" might be a tough sell, he's will to try. He'll try to reinforce whatever direction the group wants to take.

[Enoch]

"She used to commute, before the Scream. It was the bargain struck, that she would move to the country for Dad's sake but she didn't have to give up her work in New London. She was talented enough that they thought it worth the investment." She scuffs the metal flooring with her boot. "She didn't go often, after. Enough to get things she needed from the lab. Petyr went with her, not me... he felt there were things there he could learn when he was apprenticing to her, before..." she trails off into silence. Before Oliver. Before the necromancy. Before he became what he was when he died.

Shadrach releases his grip on the slide of the spike thrower to touch Nora's shoulder gently. "Petyr's dead, and Oliver's alive. Remember that.

"Balegyr, any schematics for this level? Might be best not to meet a welcoming committee here- no real cover or clean lines of retreat, but if it's just one long hallway beyond, our best bet might be to use the doorframe. It would be nice to get out of here and not have to meet them at all, though."

[jemmus]

Taavi thinks Shadrach is taking a good tactical lead role. I'll follow your lead, Marshal Shadrach.

[Marullus]

Ambiance: Run On

The group of dusty western gunslingers clusters in the high-tech transporter room, less decisive without something clear to shoot. The men puzzle over the situation before them, Shadrach's voice of holy conviction and tactical reasoning sways the others, who agree to scout ahead into the station itself. Nora, recovering from the surprise translocation and satisfied that at least for the moment Oliver is not threatened, focus on Shadrach's words as well. Shadrach releases his grip on the slide of the spike thrower to touch Nora's shoulder gently. "Petyr's dead, and Oliver's alive. Remember that." She nods her agreement and steps over next to him, their sides touching lightly as she pulls her longknife from its thigh sheath and stands ready.

At Shadrach's request, Báleygr pulls the floorplan for Deck D, which is apparently through the bulkhead doors and up the ramp from the portal module. As Shadrach suspected, it does appear to be a single long hallway. The lemon-scented air from the overhead ventillation system seems to be warming, your breath no longer steaming in the room.

Station-Deck-D.jpg (123.42 KiB) Viewed 893 times

Skimming files as he navigates the mainframe, Báleygr continues his pursuit of numbers, allegiance, purpose. Deck C and Deck A remain firewalled but he can ascertain that almost the entire expected population lives on Deck B. He hacks a surveillance camera that shows individuals that are not only human, but... eating at a Parisian 'outdoor' cafe under a solarium ceiling.

Deck B cafe.png (92 KiB) Viewed 893 times

With the push of a button, the bulkhead doors slide open, a wash of lemon-scented cool air coming down the ramp as the the atmosphere regulates. The ramp leads upwards, Deck D ahead.


For the general request of "numbers, allegiance, purpose" you have the answer already:

His other queries find that the original owners of the station were the Exchange, which maintained banking and commerce before the Scream. Current communications reference the station leadership as The Eternals; there's a perfunctory internal news channel among residents which is actively being used, so the station is definitely inhabited. The basic schematics show that you are in a portal module below the station proper, ensuring the physics for the portals' operation. The station has four decks above you - the one that connects to you is Deck D, which houses various engineering and station-keeping functions. Deck A and C are firewalled. Deck B appears to be primary living space and the station is balancing life support for roughly 120 lifeforms.

I'll let you state one or two more specific questions, then we're pressing on. Your skill check didn't get you further, but you can ask something more discrete about decks B or D.

[cybersavant]

Báleygr Gangleri

types quickly , trying to verify if deck c is a barracks or security level and if deck is administration, cinc, or ops. He also checks to see if there are any ports for docking ships.

[Marullus]

Okay, now accounting for the failed roll...

Báleygr chooses to go up against the firewalled data for Deck C. He identifies that life-support is on standby for that deck with the station systems not identifying any life signs there, then he triggers a security response. The terminal locks out, the screen goes black. In the hallway outside, warm yellow lights within the floor panels begin pulsing in a slow forward motion, the illumination marking the path foward by its slow succession of lighting.

[cybersavant]

Báleygar Gangleri

"Oops. I knew i should have brought the AI along. Well, we'll have company soon, and not the friendly sort. Should we chance the New London portal?"

[jemmus]

Taavi
I would vote for having the New London portal ready, but not leaving yet. If that's technically possible. Since we've come this far, I'd like to get more information on the residents here. And why they have a portal to the Sons' location.

[Marullus]

The control panels locked out. Balygyr can no longer activate the portals.

[greyarea]

Sounds like we aren't going anywhere soon, drawls Emile. So we either survive by words or weapons. I suggest we have both ready.

[Enoch]

Shadrach shoulders his weapon as he stares up the ramp leading out of the room. "Or we could head up to Deck B, where the humans are. Did the plans show any kind of lift or anything, Balegyr?"

[redwarrior]

Hansel flicks his selector to burst, while making sure his finger is off the trigger. He’s ready for talking or shooting. Do we wait, or go to to meet them.