003: On the Road to Aki

[Tiglath]

Garvin reports what he sees and surmises and then retires down the ladder.

[terrymixon]

Garvin reports what he sees and surmises and then retires down the ladder.

You have returned to the alcove.

[Thumper]

Too big for Bilis?

[Thumper]

Walt will step down the ladder.

[terrymixon]

Too big for Bilis?

One, Bilis isn't here, but even if she was, it wouldn't fit inside. Maybe if she could do external fabrication. No one ever asked her. Two, it's mounted to stuff, and you have no idea how to remove it.

[terrymixon]

Walt will step down the ladder.

The ladder goes down a good ways. Maybe a hundred meters. You helmet light provides enough illumination, and everyone can see what you do through the suit cameras (they also saw what Garvin saw).The tube opens up into a small chamber that has a collapsed tunnel going under the crater and another one heading back in the rough direction of the fissure where you parked the ship.

[Thumper]

Walt will investigate the room. He’ll project Clairvoyance down the collapsed passageway leading under the crater.





50 Seconds to run straight down the chute and see if the collapse ends then, if not, to pivot and search for open spaces on a different azimuth and distance.

[terrymixon]

Walt will investigate the room. He’ll project Clairvoyance down the collapsed passageway leading under the crater.





50 Seconds to run straight down the chute and see if the collapse ends then, if not, to pivot and search for open spaces on a different azimuth and distance. As in wide open and not hidden at all.

Following the former tunnel isn't easy, but it seems to be toughly collapsed. There is, however, the completely functional tunnel heading the other direction.

"I attempted to send spybots further in," Roscoe said as he climbed down into the chamber with Walt. "Something interfered with the signals enough that I pulled them back. I can say that the open tunnel goes on for a while and seems mostly straight."

[joertexas]

Is anyone else doing anything?

"This facility has superlative shielding, but we don't," Jaelah says. "We could be detected and attacked without warning."

[Thumper]

Is anyone else doing anything?

"This facility has superlative shielding, but we don't," Jaelah says. "We could be detected and attacked without warning."

Walt-
”Well, let’s take a look, shall we?”, he says with a grin.





Hi-if view lasting 50 seconds

[terrymixon]

Is anyone else doing anything?

"This facility has superlative shielding, but we don't," Jaelah says. "We could be detected and attacked without warning."

Walt-
”Well, let’s take a look, shall we?”, he says with a grin.





Hi-if view lasting 50 seconds

How many PSI points are you down to?

The tunnel opens up into a large, natural cavern. What is unnatural is the curved building you see laid out in front of you. There is an entrance near the passage, but it is surrounded by an empty moat with smooth sides. The stone of the building is smooth and unblemished. It looks like domes connected by tubes.

The ovoid shape of the structure nearest you is incomplete, ending in a set of slab-like doors. A roadway, or something resembling one, extends from the doors to the edge of an obviously artificial ‘moat’ cut around the entire building. The access tube at the rear of the structure bridges this moat, which is exactly 62.847 meters deep and 9.239 meters wide.



I've whited out the interior, but the general shape can be quickly determined now that Roscoe can once again communicate with the spybots and send them all around the chamber.

[Thumper]

The last exertion took him down to 11….i forgot to drop the +4 to +2 (+1 now)

Walt will Neuro-Link the image to everyone else as he unslings his new energy rifle. He’ll run the view through his PRIS vision and zoom in on the buildings to the North East of the moated structure, then of all he can see.

[terrymixon]

The last exertion took him down to 11….i forgot to drop the +4 to +2 (+1 now)

Might want to hold some back. Never know when you might need them.

Walt will Neuro-Link the image to everyone else as he unslings his new energy rifle. He’ll run the view through his PRIS vision and zoom in on the buildings to the North East of the moated structure, then of all he can see.

The objects to the northeast of the moated structure are statues. Depicted are seven Droyne-like creatures, all looking up and away into the distance. The outer six are cringing a little but the central one stands tall, proud, and unafraid.

You get no further information from the buildings. The stone doesn't give up its secrets easily.

Everyone gets all this info on their suit HUDs.

[Thumper]

The moated building:


A basic and short look

10 Psi pts left

[terrymixon]

The moated building:


A basic and short look

10 Psi pts left

The interior is in darkness, but you can perceive it. It is, unfortunately, empty.

[terrymixon]

I'm going to make a minor change because I realized that this building is where you're supposed to find pressure and heat, not where I originally said. You're still in vacuum at this point.

[ateno]

Arkar will tread around along the wall towards the statues, walking carefully and looking for anything out of place.

I know ancient, everything is, but you never know what might be left behind by someone else.

Arkar

[Thumper]

Walt accompanies Arkar. On the way, he’ll want to get close to the moat and look down it and stop across from the road and slab doors to take a closer look.

[terrymixon]

Arkar will tread around along the wall towards the statues, walking carefully and looking for anything out of place.

I know ancient, everything is, but you never know what might be left behind by someone else.

Arkar

There is no sign of anything but rock. The statues are pretty amazing, though. They are done with real artistry. The six cringing ones appear to be afraid of something coming from the distance and the one standing tall is dressed in robes and looks ready to fight.

[terrymixon]

Walt accompanies Arkar. On the way, he’ll want to get close to the moat and look down it and stop across from the road and slab doors to take a closer look.

The moat is smooth and slick looking. You can't get across from the outside to the doors without crossing the moat. Thankfully, you have flyer (grav) and are able to use the suit's built-in grav assist. It gets you over just fine.

The doors look sturdy, but there is a short, thin pedestal with a button. Reading the future, I'll have you press it. The doors begin opening ponderously but that's not the only thing that happens. At the end of the roadway a bright beam of light suddenly stabs out, striking the lip of the moat just a few centimeters below the edge. It has created a "bridge" of light!

As the doors swing open, they reveal the empty ovoid chamber you saw, but now the lights seem to have come on, though you can't pinpoint exactly where the light is coming from. There is a second set of heavy stone doors on the other side of the chamber with a similar pedestal and button beside it. You'll note there is one just inside these doors as well.

Let's wait for some of the others to get in on the action before proceeding.