NationStates Jolt Archive

The ESEC is currently looking for volunteers from the Triumvirate for a SEACTO mission to the planet GEM37b.

Currently designated "Labyrinth", the planet's common name has not been finalized yet. Among the nominations are Arawn and Llyr.

The expedition will be led by the recently completed Dagda-Brigit, first of the Legendary-class exploratory vessels. Interested parties are asked to contact Dr. Helmer at Extra-Solar Exploration Command, Down South, Amazonia Province, Eniqcir. National governments are asked to use the usual channels through the Council of Diplomacy. Limited living space is available aboard the Dagda, but participants are welcome to send their own vessels as well.

~Araphaloi Téni Eniqcír na.

OOC: A refresher on Labyrinth-
37GemB is terrestrial. It is 6,764 kilometers in radius and orbits at an average distance of 154,200,000 kilometers from its primary on a moderately eccentric path. It's atmosphere is composed primarily of ozone, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide, with trace amounts of methane, water vapor, and varied sulphur compounds, and has an average surface pressure of 650 millibars. The limited hydrosphere is composed of water with large amounts of dissolved sulphur compounds, nitrates, and salts. The lithosphere is composed of calcium, carbonates, silicates, iron oxides, sulfur, phosphorus, and potassium. Areas of high geothermal activity are streaked with potassium sulfate and iron sulfate. Low density indicates a relatively lightweight core, possibly composed of a sulfur/iron/nickel composite. There is heavy geothermal activity, partially generated by tidal effects from two small, close moons. There is inconclusive evidence of surface bacterial matts, and subteranean life is possible despite the poisonous surface conditions. Average surface gravity is 6.13 m/s^2.

Will post IC when I think how to do it (modern+ so I may just RP 500 years later in future or so)

So until I post IC:

Meh

(translation= I want in)

Transmission to ESEC

Pending approval we are forming a team to join the expedition. We will provide transport for them as well as for any Mars based individuals who wish to join.

Admiral Masters,
Sunset Exploration Command

---

SEC (Sunset Exploration Command) Mission Orders
Regarding SEACTO/GEM37b
Recipients: #TEW-55619, #JET-00023, #JAF-00223, Captain (SDF Rutan)

Orders are as follows:

Report to SDF Rutan to rendevious with ESEC Dagda-Brigit.

Undertake planetary exploration with crew of ESEC Dagda-Brigit.

End Orders

---

"So where are we off to Wilson?"

"Labyrinth..."

"Never heard of it."

"Same here. No idea who this James Foxworthy is either."

Transmission to ESEC

Pending approval we are forming a team to join the expedition. We will provide transport for them as well as for any Mars based individuals who wish to join.

Admiral Masters,
Sunset Exploration Command

Thank you for your support. The expedition will depart from Geosynch at the Eniqciri Elevator in six weeks time. (IRL: whenever you/other persons are ready.) Your crew and vessels may rendez-vous with the Dagda at any time.

-Dr. Helmer, Farspace Command- ESEC.

*bump*

Space weakened around the SDF Rutan as it forced it's way out of a higher dimension and back into realspace on the outskirts of the GEM37 system. The weak light this far out barely illuminated the Venture-B as she set a course for Labyrinth and a stable orbital insertion.

"Caves and tunnels eh Wilson? Seems like we have been through this before." Jon Thorgardson was re-packing his bag again trying to figure out what would be needed the most. It had been years since he had been out exploring - a sedentary university life had left him with a paunch and the years had greyed the hair around his temples.

Wilson was in much better shape - years of being an ambassador to various potentially hostile nations coupled with an intense excercise regimen ("If you can't talk em out of it, be ready to run for it.") had kept him in shape. The third member of the party had found his shape rather appealing, though she was after younger prey.

Janice Foxworthy, named after her mother's friend, was a neko (catgirl). Sharing her fathers interests she had pursued the occupation of ship's security officer. When the SDF Marine Command had been formed she had switched and had gone through Sardukar training in the Valinon treaty port of Sheffield. She was already packed and ready to go so she simply watched the other two banter back and forth.

The intercomm in the room blinged. 'This is Captain Jorgenson. We will be entering Labyrinth orbit in 4 hours. That is all.'

The three finished their preparations and headed to the bridge to watch the world approach - they would eat right before they left for the surface.

Spacetime wavers as the medium cruiser Hornet takes advantage of the tesseract jump drive it and its crew helped to 'discover' about four years ago.

Of course... that's four years by personal accounting if you ask an average Scolopendran. Ask an OPO agent and you'll get some long answer concerning the complexity of the multiverse and how it is simultaneously four years, thirty years, and some god-awful number like one-hundred fifty years in the past. It makes life confusing... but that's just how it goes, it seems. Generally, it's not too troublesome, unless one spends a lot of time traveling.

Janice Kiri Depaulto, Scolopendra's veteran alien-planet explorer and aforementioned friend of Celestial, sighs. Travel across Known Space was supposed to keep one younger, not age one faster. Sitting in the 'jump seat' of the utilitarian command room of Hornet, she looks over what she feels to be the young faces of the bridge crew. The intrepid explorers who helped run the S-14 exploration mission and assist the society of the Mothers to settle to something more peaceful after millions of years of interneicine warfare. That was five years ago, by their reckoning... nearly fourteen by hers... and who knows how many according to the OPO.

Listen, Depaulto thinks grimly to herself, Billy Pilgrim became unstuck in time. Younger than her best friend, somehow, yet somehow older than all her peers. Her eleven years have apparently been good to her, her hard muscle-tone and generally fair complexion still intact excepting some slight wear, which made her look yet harder; her short close-cropped black hair is now certainly turning grey in a salt-and-pepper effect, but her steel-grey eyes are as piercing as ever.

=Unstuck in time?= The wormlike Gasu K'grrthhaa, Janice's symbiote and constant companion ever since a time neither cares to remember, pipes up in her mind as it lies curled where it has for eleven years in her stomach. =We do not remember meeting any called 'Billy Pilgrim.'=

Character from a book, Kay, Janice thinks not-to-herself, a very interesting one. You should poke around in my brain for Slaughterhouse Five. Maybe I'll read it again soon for your benefit if my memory isn't eiditic.

=That would be appreciated.=

Flag Captain Hitome Sato, younger than Depaulto despite being born earlier, nods to her communications officer. Hearing the audible click of the transmit switch, she begins.

* - * - *

SEATCO Expedition:

This is Flag Captain Sato of the Hornet. We've a small team assembled for the mission... sorry for not contacting you sooner, but we decided to be proactive. Since we're here, we may as well drop them off, but if your slots are filled, then we can go back.

Flag Captain Hitome Sato
CO, RCS Bravo
TYWS-MCR Hornet

A very long way down was the Earth. A very long way up was a little dot of light marking the end of the Elevator. And here, right in the middle of the long black ribbons, was a disc-shaped space station, with a metal brick stuck on one side, the Dagda, and a plumber's nightmare on the other.

Vigo Crane sat in the bridge of that plumber's nightmare, doing his best to ignore the voices coming in over the radio.

"Vigo... you know you want to come."
"I can't hear you...."
"Vigo, come on! It's not everyday you get to explore an untouched alien world."
"Harvest was enough for me."
"No it wasn't. You're just bitter. Come on, if Zavier can get over losing the Horizon, you can too."
"Darn tootin' I'm bitter! The Farspace Horizon got itself speared in a hundred 'n' eighty klik long alien ark. But this baby's not dead yet! My ship is good enough! Don't need no fancy-shmancy government vessel. I'm stayin' right here. Thing 'bout space, stuff don't have to be aerodynamic, so you could just stick an engine on a brick and it'll fly. Which is basically what they've done here."
"Your bucket o' bolts doesn't look a lot better. But, suit yourself. We leave in an hour."
"Hey! This ship's a work of art, and don't you forget it! Come back when you've built your own ship with your own two hands and an armory of power tools!"

Already aboard the Dagda were two of the usual set- Eccentric xenolinguist Arthur Jackson, and Engineer Zavier Berata. Finn- or Zander as he called himself of late- was still having trouble figuring out what the heck happened, and Dr. G was stuck in ULDO. But filling out the crew this time were Nernos Ronaídzí, xenobiologist, and Huiría Níaraloin, spelunker and geologist. Not to mention the small army of grunts that made the ship run.

C.O.R.A. online. All systems nominal. Time to departure is 29 minutes.
Vigo thwacked the control panel in disgust, unclipped his seatbelt, and floated out of the bridge.
Time to departure is 11 minutes.
Vigo crawled through the hatch into the axis of the Dagda, and floated down into the Ladder Room. Zavier was just coming in through the long tunnel leading back to the engineering section.

"Glad you finally decided to join us, Captain Crane. Be warned, though, that's the last time you'll be called Cpatian aboard the Dagda. She's got 'er own."
"Mumble."

Each grabbed a different one of the five ladders slowly rotating beneath them, and climbed down to the 1/4g environment on the Ring Section.
Time to departure is 5 minutes. Casimir Capacitors at full charge.

Docking bolts blew and the Dagda began to slowly drift away from Geosynch Station. The, an at-first-barely visible bubble of distortion formed around it, quickly growing thicker and more distinct until the entire section fo space containing the Dagda shrank out of existence.

Stable Alcubierre/Broeck metric formed. Superluminal velocity will last for 20 minutes.

Made larger inside than out by the magic of spatial engineering, a nucleus-sized speck of space zoomed through the galaxy at mind-boggling speed before coming to rest in GEM37. The speck then moved more carefully towards the 'b' in 'GEM37b', Labyrinth, before the bubble expanded to release the Dagda back into normal space. A few short firings of the HTEs and the ion accelerators stuck on back, and she was waiting in a parking orbit over the equator. Antennas and parabolic dishes unfolded from the hull, accompanied by long booms capped with planetology instruments. And then she waited for other ships to arrive.

Being preinformed of it's arrival, the Rutan was recognized and hailed.
SDF Rutan, this is the Dagda. Just sayin' hello. Good to see we're not the only ones milling about out here.

This is Flag Captain Sato of the Hornet. We've a small team assembled for the mission... sorry for not contacting you sooner, but we decided to be proactive. Since we're here, we may as well drop them off, but if your slots are filled, then we can go back.
Captain Thaím Réaltaín of the Dagda here. Glad to have you. I'd hate to turn back anyone who put in effort over this ball of rock. If we don't have room, we'll make it, but I think we can handle whatever you've got for us. Send 'em on over.

Labyrinth was a world of white, like a dirty snowball- but without the snow. Thick water vapor clouds abscurred much of the surface, but what could be seen was like chalk, with the occasional river or small lake tracing lines across it, and smudges and streaks of grey, yellow, and purple.

"The great Janice Depaulto doesn't know how to fly?" Ensign David Clarke slings himself into the pilot seat of the Scarab-class shuttle, moving with the grace of a lifetime spacer.

"Can it, bloodspot," Janice growls, "I'm M.I. and I've got more extrasolar time than you've had time in that uniform. I'll leave the taxi-driving to you Navy boys."

The O-1 rubs the single red pips on either side of his collar with one hand and grimaces. "Yes, ma'am. Just an idle joke."

"If you haven't noticed," chuckles Doctor Zeyad Al-Asali, "the good Ms. Depaulto isn't in the mood for idle joking. She very rarely is, especially around the bloodspots. That's been my experience for the two years we've worked together in the GEC."

"Seven..." Depaulto growls.

"Ah. Thinking about relative temporality again, Jan?"

"It's not relativity, Zee. Look, how many times do I have to..."

Chuckling, the scientist takes the other jump seat, hands raised disarmingly. "Yes, I know. The multiverse is biting your ass. How's Kay doing?"

=May We?= The Gasu thinks, =We know how you enjoy the effect on unsuspecting bloodspots.=

Aww, how cute, Janice grins to herself, you're picking up the slang. Go ahead. Relaxing and putting her head back, Janice simply lets the voice croak from her, just relishing the creepy effect as her vocal chords grate without any thought on her part. "We are well, Doctor."

"What the?" Ensign Clarke looks over his shoulder at the sound of the gravelly voice.

=Permission for greater control?=

But of course, Kay.

Janice's head creakily twists towards the ensign, lips twisting into an odd shape that is supposed to be a smile. Janice lets her eyes lose focus to heighten the effect. "Surely you have heard of Janice's partner in crime?" her throat grinds.

"That's Kay..." Zeyad tries to explain, "it's her symbiote. You know. The Gasu." He flashes a wry look at Janice. "That creeps me out."

"Sorry." Relinquishing control, the Gasu rides the waves of Janice's mischevious pleasure from messing with people so. =You are right, this is enjoyable.=

"And Kay was such a nice, innocent bug before I got around to it," Janice chuckles. "Now it's just as perverse as I am." She flashes a look at the ensign. "What you staring at, bloodspot? You gonna fly this tub or not?"

"Er..." Clarke turns back to his console and starts tapping the console, inbetween looking busy and running off the checklist.

"Now, now, be nice to the boy." The Arab doctor grins impishly. "You know he's our TYCS liason during this whole expedition."

At the barely audible groan this elicits, Zeyad and Janice share evil grins, eyes alight with mischief. The rest of the shuttle trip to Dagda passes uneventfully, but only three out of the four on board enjoy it, and one of those is by osmosis.

"Drifting starboard... good. Comin' in straight, now. And... contact. Locking sealing rings now, docking successful. Dagda out."

Thaím, waiting on the other side of the airlock, hooked the toes of his boots under a ladder rung and gave the wheel on the door a good spin, retracting the bolts that held it closed. A soft tug at the handle swung it open, and the spaceman peeked his head over the rim of the circular doorway into the short airlock tunnel leading to the Scolopendran shuttle.

"Hiya there! Captain Réaltaín, at your service. Beware the null-g."

Janice moves into the boarding tube with the broken yet effective movements of one who has acclimated to null-gravity over late experience. "Janice Depaulto, freelance explorer." She apparently does not want to be known as a civilian, and immediately introduces her two companions as they come through the airlock. "Doctor Al-Asali, GEC, and Ensign Clarke, TYCS."

Al-Asali moves mechanistically, with training but not necessarily experience; Clarke moves like he is in his natural element. "Um," the officer offers hesitantly, "don't we have a fourth member?"

"We do?" Janice looks over 'her' team and grins. "I count three, Ensign."

"But... ah..." Clarke points weakly at Janice, shakes his head, then heaves a resigned sigh. "Yes, ma'am."

"Anyway, Captain," Depaulto pulls out a few sheets of hardcopy and hands them to Réaltaín, "here's a copy of our orders, bios attached."

Attachment 1

NAME: Depaulto, Janice Kiri
AGE: 48
GENDER: Female
RANK: Diplomatic Officer, Scolopendran Diplomatic Corps (on permanent liason to GEC)

QUALIFICATIONS: Assisted in follow-up surveys of Bright Morning (BESS-7 I). Currently hosting a Gasu symbiote named K'grrthhaa which grants her limited read-telepathic capabilities. Founded and acted as Operations Officer for the K'rakthul Research Station on Rime (BESS-3 IX) as well as Translation Head and Diplomatic Attache to the Nameless. Joined Sunset expedition to Rime and Reason in the BESS-3 system. Ten years experience STED in Ring terraforming projects. Doctorates in biology, masters in chaos theory. Served for five years in the Scolopendran Defense Squadron before getting out; is now a sergeant in the Civilian Defense Corps. Graduated third in class of University of Stonozka.

SKILLSET: Biology, chaos theory, ecological analysis, nexialism, xenopsychology, read-only telepathy, offensive military combat training.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Energetic and very self-assured but somewhat contrary due to a prediliction towards obsessing about her aging. Independent thinker, self-centered. Accepts orders grudingly, excels in working individually. Works tolerably well in a group, but tends to take up if not a hostile role at least a contrary one--usually the group 'doubter.' Very self-conscious and defensive about her own ideas. Has a strong 'Napoleon complex' and tends to assert authority or dominance in interpersonal relations. Rather guarded about herself except when it aids to make those around her uncomfortable. "Low" sense of humor.

PHYSICAL PROFILE: Human of mixed descent, primarily Japanese and Sicilian with definite traces of North African. Yellowish skin tone, spiky grey-and-black close-cropped hair, grey eyes. Stands 160 centimeters tall with a mesomorphic muscular build. Excellent physical condition.

Attachment 2

NAME: Zeyad Al-Asali
AGE: 52
GENDER: Male
RANK: Proffesor of Geology, University of Stonozka

QUALIFICATIONS: Attached with first TYRS-RCR Beagle expedition of BESS-1 through BESS-7, then conducted follow-up surveys of Bright Morning (BESS-7 I). Opted out of public service. Doctorates in geology and physics, masters in mechanical engineering from the University of Stonozka.

SKILLSET: Physics, chemistry, geology, engineering principles.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Outgoing and generally genial, with a mischievous streak. Quiet about his own capabilities, he tends to hold others in high reguard and tries to act as a peacemaker in groups. Most comfortable in small groups of people, his inclusive personality assists in group cohesion. However, being quiet, he is easily and willfully dominated by others with stronger tendancies towards leadership.

PHYSICAL PROFILE: An average 180 centimeters tall, with a slightly ectomorphic bodybuild and well-tanned brown skin. Definitely of Arabic extraction, with a slightly wrinkled and worn spotted face, a thick but well-kept mustache, thick eyebrows and balding hair. Hair is generally black and wiry with a large grey component.

Attachment 3

NAME: David Michael Clarke
AGE: 24
GENDER: Male
RANK: Ensign (O-1), TYCS Space-side

QUALIFICATIONS: Completed TYCS aerospace pilot (generic track, dropship specialization) training with Outstanding markings, serving in the cadet Trefoil Honor Squadron. Graduated from the TYCS Academy in the upper-third (Excellent-side of Satisfactory rating) of his class with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy.

SKILLSET: Piloting, astronomy, defensive military training.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: While very bombastic and naive as a cadet, active duty has given him a major reality-shock. After respect issues with enlisted personnel, he was placed in remedial leadership training and has hence been shy to take risks. Now with a bursted superiority-complex, he finds definition in his piloting skills. While still a braggart, he becomes very apologetic and sullen when called on it. Note: It is hoped that team experiences in a low-risk environment will assist him in forming a world-view that balances self-importance with the importance of others.

PHYSICAL PROFILE: Relatively nondescript Caucasian male with very light brown hair and a small v-shaped scar on the left side of his jaw from a childhood accident. He usually keeps himself quite fastidious and is always clean-shaven due to a congenital defect in his body-hair genes; his body hair is sparse to nearly nonexistant. Coupled with a low-body fat moderate build, he is succeptable to the cold.

"Aha. Only three. Good, we definitely have room for you. Pleased to meet you, Dr. Al-Asali, Ensign Clarke."

Thaím accepted the biographical papers and flipped through them. "Good, good. Unless you need them back, I'll see that these get to HR." With a slight puch against the ladder, Cap. Réaltaín pivoted around his feet, still hooked under the rungs, and, depending on how the watchers were oriented, either stood up or hung from the cieling. "We were going to send down the Brigit lander as soon as possible, so I'd assume you want to get ready for the trip planetside? Oh, also important- do you prefer null-g or quarter-g living space?"

Depaulto responds immediately without a moment's hesitation. "Quarter-gee, most definitely."

Clarke shakes his head. "Naw, I'd prefer zero-gee."

Zeyad shrugs. "Either or, it's all the same."

"Alrighty. I'll see to it that you're made comfortable. For now, follow."

Ignoring the rotating ladders in the passage below, or above from Thaím's perspective, the captain bent at the waist, grabbing the ladder with his hands and releasing his feet, turned around, and started climbing through a tunnel marked with the letter "S", as well as several other weird symbols, towards the rear of the ship.

"Go far enough, and you'll run into the engineering section, but we'll be stopping short of that. I'm not sure exactly when Astrogation decided to launch Brigit, but they'll at least have to wait for Nernos, so you'll have plenty of time. Hour and a half, at least."

About 20 meters up the tunnel, Thaím stopped and opened a doorway into a Downward tunnel. The short tunnel opened onto a 4m cubed room with a slab of wood floating in the middle which had several indentations around it's edges. The walls were marked with letters- "S", "N", "E", "W", "U" and "D". S wall had four portals. N wall had two, U wall, through which they had come, had one, and the others were essentially blank, except for air vents in the corners.

The table was held in place be 8 barely visible strings that ran to the corners of the room. Thaím pushed off of the doorway, took hold of one of these lines to manuever to the table, and pushed off to the S wall. He climbed down to the lowest of the four doors, arranged in a diamond pattern, opened it, and went through.This doorway opened into the top of the N wall of a semi-long hallway, with several square locker-type doors in the sides and the S wall, and two large doors in the E and W walls at the far end, near the S wall. The E wall door was marked with a Gaia symbol, and the W wall door with a Mars symbol.

"I assume you recognize the gender symbols? Women to the East, men to the West, and there are other people inside to get you all suited up and briefed."

"Before we get all set up, it demands asking." Zeyad points at the wooden block. "What's that?"

"Before we get all set up, it demands asking." Zeyad points at the wooden block. "What's that?"

"Oh! Table. The notches and indentations are there to hold food trays. And an occasional hand of cards. It's sort of a common room, where the crew likes to get together sometimes."

Captain Falisci sat down and opened a comm channel to the Dagda's bridge.

"The team over here would like a chance to get to know everyone. I'd like to send over a shuttle in fifteen minutes if that's all right."

Recieving confirmation he closed the channel and went to find the three team members who were just finishing lunch in the mess.

"I've arranged for you to take a shuttle over to the Dagda - I'll have your gear moved, but the shuttle leaves in 15 minutes with or without you."

He smiled at this last bit.

"Of course you could leave early - take a quick trip around the planet."

Five minutes later the hangar doors were opening and the three talked as the shuttle left the bay and accelerated away to do a lower level pass of the planet before meeting up with the Dagda.

"Figures I ask the obvious question." Grumbling, the doctor joins the softly snickering lieutenant and leaves via the 'west' door while Depaulto shrugs and goes through the 'east' door.

=This is unusual.=

What, the gender segregation? Different nation, different culture.

Depaulto
A tall woman with short black hair in a blue flight suit was floating upside down with her back turned, doing something with a garment that looked a lot like a plasticized wetsuit. Hearing the door close, she started to speak.
"Ella, araphalaí tanhl- aí." She cut off as she turned and saw Janice. "You... are... not crew? Are, ah, Bhara... em, Sunseti? Or Scolopendra? One moment." The woman pulled out a PDA-sized white box while grabbing onto a rack of the suits on the south wall, and started talking into it. She flipped a switch, and held it out towards Janice while the box spouted out english. "Stupid interlingua. So, are you Scolopendran or Sunset, and do you need an environmental suit, or do you have your own?"

The room was long, like a locker room, with doors at the far end marked "Lavatory" in roman letters, and probably the equivalents in three other scripts. Also at the far end of the room was a door in the down wall, or floor. Ladders ran down the centers of the up and down walls. The north wall was covered in doors with the semicircular red/green locks so often found on porto-potties. Only one was red, and a muffled voice speaking Celí ímin-na issued from it. The door opened and out floated another woman who most definitely looked more like a gropo than a spacer. Apparently half-way through getting dressed, she wore a white full-body garment looking like thermal pajamas, with clear plastic tubes stuck in at the neck and wires connecting on the abdomen and chest. Her legs were in one of the plasticized wetsuit-thingies, but the upper half of the suit flopped around in zero-g.

"Well, hello. I am pleased to meet you. My name is Huiría, exoplanetary geologist." Yup, definitely a gropo. "Who are you?" While reasonably fluent, a lack of contractions shoud've been noticeable, and she carried a heavy Celdr accent- trilled /r/s, dropped /l/s and /r/s, misplaced emphasis and a sing-song rhythm.

Al-Asali & Clarke
The men's room was the same, but mirrored. The blue-suited attendant didn't bother adressing the Scolopendrans, being preoccupied with zipping up the back of another man's suit while the pair rotated lazily. Said other man, however, talked quite easily.

"Hello! Heard you were coming aboard. If you're who I think you are, anyway. Name's Arthur, xenolinguist. Guy behind me is Nernos-"
"Yo."
"-Zav is already on Brigit, and Vigo's in one o' them stalls."

Feet hooked securely under the ladder rungs, Nernos 'stood' on the 'floor', inspecting his gloves.

Sunset Team
The bits of the surface that were visible looked a lot like a chalk version of Mars as far as topology. The occasional river ran through multi-colored lakes, some steaking, others iced over, others somewhere in between. Cinder cones of all sizes jutted out of the landscape at seemingly random intervals. The rest of the surface, obscurred by clouds, showed up on IR with starkly contrasting hot and cool zones, often outlining lakes and short stretches of quickly fading river spreading out from them.

The shuttle whipped around Labyrinth as the team studied the surface below.

"According to the initial exploration reports the planet is riddled with tunnels and cave systems. A highly porous mantle and plentiful water combined with an active geology. We are going to need to be careful - conditions could change rapidly once we are down there."

Jon finished and looked over to Wilson who was manipulating the controls on his 'window' to get a closer look at the surface.

"Yeah - I've taken the liberty of checking out hard suits for all of us. I've also put together a kit for each of us. It's a load, but better safe than sorry."

The shuttle finished it's orbit and deceleated for docking with the Dagda. Matching speeds the pilot rotated the shuttle to bring the docking port on the top close to the tube on the Dagda.

"No gravity on the other side - I'll stay here for now. If you want a lift down just give me a holler."

The three floated through the tube - they would leave their equipment on the shuttle until they figured out how they would reach the surface.

East Side
"Stupid interlingua. So, are you Scolopendran or Sunset, and do you need an environmental suit, or do you have your own?""Scolopendran." Janice jerks a thumb at her bulky backpack, a worn and eternally dusty Mobile Infantry field pack. It has a large cloth addition, apparently holding a suit. Most definitely a gropo, but one who's finally used to space; her other fist jerks to counteract the moment of her thumb. "I got a suit in here of Sunset make. It has a history with me."

"Well, hello. I am pleased to meet you. My name is Huiría, exoplanetary geologist." Yup, definitely a gropo. "Who are you?"Janice grins, recognizing the trooper attitude. "Janice Depaluto, ex-Scolopendran M.I., currently freelancing as a xenobiologist and xenopsychologist, if you believe it." Finding a set of foot-grips (which are probably rather common) she slips her feet in and unslings the backpack. Opening it up, she pulls out an only slightly less dusty SDF space suit, somehow managing to look both very carefully maintained--in the fact that it works--and hideously abused, given its cleanliness. A basic low-volume hard suit covered in fabric patch-pockets. The left-shin pocket is notably burned through with no attempt to patch it up. "This is Oscar."

West Side
"Hello! Heard you were coming aboard. If you're who I think you are, anyway. Name's Arthur, xenolinguist. Guy behind me is Nernos-"
"Yo."
"-Zav is already on Brigit, and Vigo's in one o' them stalls."
"I'm Lieutenant Clarke, TYCS; this is Doctor Al-Asari... um..."

"Physicist, geologist, chemist, engineer, and dry wit."

"Oh, yeah, one of them." Clarke shrugs. "Anyway, if we're going to a dead rock, what'dwe need with a linguist anyway?"

Al-Asali sighs. "Ever hear of being prepared?"

The three floated through the tube - they would leave their equipment on the shuttle until they figured out how they would reach the surface.

A woman in blue flight suit was on the other side of the door.

"'Lo. Cybernator Níanthaím, at your service. Planning on going down with the Brigit, or just here for a mission overview?"

East Side
"Stupid interlingua. So, are you Scolopendran or Sunset, and do you need an environmental suit, or do you have your own?""Scolopendran." Janice jerks a thumb at her bulky backpack, a worn and eternally dusty Mobile Infantry field pack. It has a large cloth addition, apparently holding a suit. Most definitely a gropo, but one who's finally used to space; her other fist jerks to counteract the moment of her thumb. "I got a suit in here of Sunset make. It has a history with me."

"Well, hello. I am pleased to meet you. My name is Huiría, exoplanetary geologist." Yup, definitely a gropo. "Who are you?"Janice grins, recognizing the trooper attitude. "Janice Depaluto, ex-Scolopendran M.I., currently freelancing as a xenobiologist and xenopsychologist, if you believe it." Finding a set of foot-grips (which are probably rather common) she slips her feet in and unslings the backpack. Opening it up, she pulls out an only slightly less dusty SDF space suit, somehow managing to look both very carefully maintained--in the fact that it works--and hideously abused, given its cleanliness. A basic low-volume hard suit covered in fabric patch-pockets. The left-shin pocket is notably burned through with no attempt to patch it up. "This is Oscar."
The blue-clad woman went back to fiddling with the environmental suit, and summarily ignored the remainder of the conversation.

"Oscar? I don't think my suit has a name. Is that something traditional, or a special case because of this 'history'?" Huiría finished slipping her arms into the softsuit, turned around, and took hold of one of the grips on the up wall. "Would you mind zipping me up? Xenopsych... that might be useful for some trivia, even if we don't meet anything intelligent on the planet."

West Side
"Hello! Heard you were coming aboard. If you're who I think you are, anyway. Name's Arthur, xenolinguist. Guy behind me is Nernos-"
"Yo."
"-Zav is already on Brigit, and Vigo's in one o' them stalls."
"I'm Lieutenant Clarke, TYCS; this is Doctor Al-Asari... um..."

"Physicist, geologist, chemist, engineer, and dry wit."

"Oh, yeah, one of them." Clarke shrugs. "Anyway, if we're going to a dead rock, what'dwe need with a linguist anyway?"

Al-Asali sighs. "Ever hear of being prepared?"
"Eh, probably won't need me, but I'm going anyway. Wherever Zavier goes, I go. I warn you, I'm not entirely sane. But that's practically a requirement for being out here anyway. Well... Nernos and Vigo'll be useful, anyway. Nern?"
"Got that right. Vigo's got the experience, and I've got the brains. We balance each other out." Nenros finally looked 'up', satisified with the gloves. "Look out for Zavier. He can be very jealous if another engineer gets on his baby."

A strange email arrived at the ESEC office...

From: Unknown
To: ESEC Central Command
Heading: I'm in.
Message:
My name's Dekker Bray, a mercenary who does some explorationa and bounty hunting on the side to stay sharp. I'd like to go along on your little picnic, from the atmosphere description it sounds like a lot of fun. I've participated in the exploration of planets Rime and Reason, both of which where interesting, to say the least. If you'll have me, I'll tag along. I've attached a bio so you can learn a bit about me.

Name: Dekker Bray
Age: 30 years
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Nationality: American
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 280 lbs
Bio:
Born in Hazard, Kentucky. Bray is one of two twin sons born to gunfighter Samuel T. Bray, a mercenary of some renown among Russian and Italian mafia circles. Dekker joined the United States Marine Corps out of high school, rising to force Recon and later to the SEAL team six. Bray has served in numerous armed conflicts, including Grenada and Desert Storm. Bray is skilled with small arms and unarmed combat. He also holds a master’s degree in Ancient History from Eastern Kentucky University, which he has just recently completed.

East Side
"Oscar? I don't think my suit has a name. Is that something traditional, or a special case because of this 'history'?" Huiría finished slipping her arms into the softsuit, turned around, and took hold of one of the grips on the up wall. "Would you mind zipping me up? Xenopsych... that might be useful for some trivia, even if we don't meet anything intelligent on the planet.""Don't mind at all." Relocating to a more convienient set of footholds, she begins zipping up the softsuit. "Oscar's got a name definitely because of the history. Taken 'im around everywhere ever since Rime and hasn't let me down yet. Just another case of applying a personality where one really doesn't exist.

"As for xenopsych... let's just say I've an inside track on unfamiliar minds."

West Side
"Eh, probably won't need me, but I'm going anyway. Wherever Zavier goes, I go. I warn you, I'm not entirely sane. But that's practically a requirement for being out here anyway. Well... Nernos and Vigo'll be useful, anyway. Nern?"
"Got that right. Vigo's got the experience, and I've got the brains. We balance each other out." Nenros finally looked 'up', satisified with the gloves. "Look out for Zavier. He can be very jealous if another engineer gets on his baby.""I'll be sure to," Al-Asali smiles gently, "although ship systems really aren't my forte. I'm mostly here so I can mix the soil with various chemicals and watch them change color."

"So," the lieutenant broaches, "should we get suited up?"

"The mission overview and the ride down - as long as you have the room that is. We have about 100 kilos of gear each on the shuttle."

Jon and Wilson floated while they talked, while Janice latched her claws onto something and sat above them like a zero-g predator ready to spring. She was clearly enjoying the experience - her tail slowly swished back and forth.

East Side
"Don't mind at all." Relocating to a more convienient set of footholds, she begins zipping up the softsuit. "Oscar's got a name definitely because of the history. Taken 'im around everywhere ever since Rime and hasn't let me down yet. Just another case of applying a personality where one really doesn't exist.

"As for xenopsych... let's just say I've an inside track on unfamiliar minds."

"Thanks." Huiría turned to face Janice again. "You should probably get into that suit as quick as possible. You could wait and get suited up on Brigit, but it's bound to be a lot less convenient." She waved towards the north wall. "Choose a stall if you prefer privacy."

Huiría started rummaging through the racks of suits on the south wall, mumbling. "Large, small, small... ah, medium. Helmet, helmet, helmet...." Four hoses hooked onto sockets on the front of the suit, and then to a combination chestplate/backpack. A metal ring clamped around the neck of the suit, providing an attachment point for the helmet, and two similar smaller rings clamped the joints between gloves and sleeves at the wrists. After retreiving a medium-sized duffle bag from her stall and grabbing a helmet under her arm, Huiría took up position floating over the door at the far end.

West Side
"I'll be sure to," Al-Asali smiles gently, "although ship systems really aren't my forte. I'm mostly here so I can mix the soil with various chemicals and watch them change color."

"So," the lieutenant broaches, "should we get suited up?"
"In that case, there's no reason to even bother mentioning you're an engineer." At that moment, a bang came from one of the stalls, after which the door flung open and a frustrated looking Vigo floated out, tumbling backwards and flicking his wrist as if there was something stuck to his fingers. Which there was.

"Stupid fraggin' felgercrab useless peice of- oh. Hello. New guys?" Nernos qickly grabbed him and started helping with the gloves.

"Yes, you should get suited up."

"The mission overview and the ride down - as long as you have the room that is. We have about 100 kilos of gear each on the shuttle."

Jon and Wilson floated while they talked, while Janice latched her claws onto something and sat above them like a zero-g predator ready to spring. She was clearly enjoying the experience - her tail slowly swished back and forth.
"Brigit definitely has room. It's basically a complete flying xenology lab, plus bathrooms. I can take you straight to the locker rooms to get onto Brigit, and they'll have all the relevant information aboard, or I can take a couple of you to the sim room for the overview while your equipment's unloaded."

----------------
From: Dr. Helmer, ESEC
To: Dekker Bray
Heading: Re: I'm in.
Message:
Dr. Gage gives you a good recommendation. Will you be needing transport, or can you provide such for yourself?

The return email states that Dekker will rent a spacecraft from neighboring Driddain. He will arrive shortly.

The Scolopendrans suit up quickly, Janice in her 'Oscar' and the males in their standard red-colored Scolopendran hardsuits. They accomplish this with a minimum of side conversation, although Janice seems to make odd quips and snickers quietly to herself at times. Once suited up, she tests motion with a few simple kata-like movements; despite its advanced age Oscar still seems to work quite well. After getting everything in order, Janice floats up and joins Huiría.

Meanwhile, on the West Side, the ensign removes the powergun pistol holster clipped to the segmented steel belt of his uniform and clips it to the outer thigh of his hard suit; this weapon is soon joined by a pulse-laser carbine modified into a machine-pistol shape slung over the shoulder. Instead of weaponry, the chemist hefts about a large case and a variety of personal computing devices.

Grinning, Al-Asali shakes his head. "If we're going to a dead rock, what'dwe need with heaters anyway?"

"If Mister Arthur can't talk to the rocks," Clarke responds with just a hint of sneer, "maybe I'll have to shoot 'em.""

"Understood."

'It has been my life's dream to be a porter. Really.'

The shuttle pilot began moving the three equipment bundles into the Dagda. Chaining them together he kicked from wall to wall through the passageways to the Brigit.

'Big shuttle - longer than a Chariot.'

"I need a stow for this gear. Nothing fragile - got an overhead bin to shove it in?"

"If Mister Arthur can't talk to the rocks," Clarke responds with just a hint of sneer, "maybe I'll have to shoot 'em.""
Vigo answered that before Arthur had a chance to laugh sarcastically. "Y'know, if this were Harvest, you just might have to do that. But it's not Harvest."

Huiría led Janice through the door in the floor, into a long tunnel extending northward. Several side tunnels led to the east some ways down, but the first led west, further into the ship. Turning into the tunnel, the last of the males from the west side could be seen dropping through a down tunnel. Through that tunnel was another, smaller version of the Ladder Room, with the first doors only 3 meters down the ladders, but this one was not spinning. Going through any one of these doors put the explorers on the bridge of Brigit, where was waiting Zavier Berata, Chief Engineer. There was a definite up and down orientation, as though the ship were designed for gravity (which it was, of course), but the bottom edges of the walls, instead of meeting with the floor at a sharp angle, formed an arc. Corresponding to the doors in the cieling through which they came, there were five doors in the walls as well, with ladders running along the floor from them. Several computer consoles were installed around the walls of the circular room, mouted so that they could be swiveled to be operated no matter which way gravity was pulling. In the center of the room was a black, glass-topped pedestal, about of a meter and a half high. Zavier was busy typing something into a console on the side of this pedestal when the party entered.

"I need a stow for this gear. Nothing fragile - got an overhead bin to shove it in?"

Not even bothering to look up from his work, Zavier mumbled "Yeah, yeah, just leave it floating for now, I'll get it secured before we launch."

Dekker drums on the comm system a few times.

"Never did understand these newfangled things..."

He mutters as he locates the 'on' switch for his communications array.

"Bray to Scolopendaren vessel..."

TYWS-MCR Hornet
Command Room
(OOC: Assuming he's insystem... this system.)

"Ma'am, we're getting an unexpected call. We've got a ship with a Driddain registry calling for the Scolopendrans."

Flag Captain Sato shrugs. "We'll have to do, then. Let's hear it."
"Bray to Scolopendaren vessel..."
"Ah, it's another person interested in the expedition... actually, it's the Rime explorer to boot. Depaulto should be pleasantly surprised. Respond on the same frequency, Comms." The transmit switch clicks audibly. "Bray, this is Flag Captain Hitome Sato of the Triumvirate of Yut WarShip Medium Cruiser Hornet. We are currently running cover for the SEACTO mission to Labyrinth. The vessel in closer orbit of the planet is the Eniqciri vessel Dagda; you'll want to be docking with them.

"The area is secure, but I can dispatch a flight of fighters to escort you if you desire. Awaiting response." A flick of her open hand under her chin, and another snap of the transmit switch.

"Shall I tell two ready pilots to heat up for launch, ma'am?" The Flight Command officer taps a few buttons on his console, then looks up at Sato.

"Might as well. We can at least pretend that we're earning our pay out here."

* - * - *

Eniqciri Vessel Bridgit
Bridge

The Scolopendrans find seats and strap in, preparing for the ride down. Depaulto looks up at the sight of an SDF officer and grins. So, they're on this ride too? Good, good.

There is a slight hesitation before Dekker responds.

"Uhh... yeah, that'd be great. Don't think I'd find it otherwise. Can I get a quick brief while I'm en route?"

Dekker asks as he finally figures out how to work the comm controls, his tone turning quickly to buisness.

Space near Hornet

Two Excalibur aerospace fighters slip out of the sleek cruiser's portside bay and quickly power their way to Dekker's ship. After introducing himself as Lieutenant Nelson, the pilot of the lead fighter sends Dekker the flight vector and a data packet.

Mission Data:
Group Objectives: Explore planet "Labyrinth" on a mission of pure discovery. Land on planet's surface, take measurements of properties, and record all pertinent data.
Triumvirate Additional Objectives: Identify exploitable resources and recommend utility relative to resource expendature required to efficiently exploit resources. If life is found, make contact and determine its conducivity to beneficial relations with the Triumvirate. If hostile, determine threat potential and estimate possible counters.

Location Data: 37GemB is terrestrial. It is 6,764 kilometers in radius and orbits at an average distance of 154,200,000 kilometers from its primary on a moderately eccentric path. It's atmosphere is composed primarily of ozone, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide, with trace amounts of methane, water vapor, and varied sulphur compounds, and has an average surface pressure of 650 millibars. The limited hydrosphere is composed of water with large amounts of dissolved sulphur compounds, nitrates, and salts. The lithosphere is composed of calcium, carbonates, silicates, iron oxides, sulfur, phosphorus, and potassium. Areas of high geothermal activity are streaked with potassium sulfate and iron sulfate. Low density indicates a relatively lightweight core, possibly composed of a sulfur/iron/nickel composite. There is heavy geothermal activity, partially generated by tidal effects from two small, close moons. There is inconclusive evidence of surface bacterial matts, and subteranean life is possible despite the poisonous surface conditions. Average surface gravity is 6.13 m/s^2.

Jon and Wilson kicked into the room and settled into likely looking chairs, while Janice sprang to the ceiling, then down into a chair with a backflip.

"No one designs chairs for people with tails," she muttered as she tucked her's around the side. Jon smiled at this and stood while holding the arm of the chair to keep from drifting.

"Time for some introductions then. My name is Jon Thorgardson, this is my friend Captain Mark Wilson, and this is Lt. Janice Lightpaw."

---

The pilot returned to the shuttle, settling back into the comfort of artificial gravity. With a clunk the ship detached and accelerated for the shuttle bay.

---

Captain Falicsi opened a comm channel to Jon aboard the Dagda.

"Since you have a ride down I'm considering heading to one of the local stars to do a little exploring on our own. Is your team ok with that?"

Jon talked to Wilson and Janice for a moment.

"Yes - go ahead. Check back in say a week?"

"Sounds good - I'll mark my schedule."

Falicsi closed the comm channel and turned to the helmsman.

"Find the closest star that's not been explored, lay in a course, and get us there at all reasonable speed. I'm going to lunch. Commander Ernesto - you have the bridge."

All the chairs on the bridge, like everything else, are designed to be used in either of two orientations, positioned at the midpoit of the arc between floor and wall, with the seats and backs identical, and therefore interchangeable, and armrests that can be flipped in either direction as well.

Zavier opened one of the doors out of the bridge, and pushed through the Sunset team's equipment. About a minute later, he returned.

"Now that's taken care of, everybody secure? Good, good." He picked up a remote control velcroed to the pedestal, and took a seat himself. "So, if that's everybody, we can get going." With the press of a button, the room started to spin slowly, just barely enough that the occupants could feel some centripetal effect.

"Introductions, eh? Well, I'm known as Zavier Berata, acting captain of Brigit and chief engineer." A cylindrical bluescreen came into existance over the pedestal, as Zavier continued talking to apparently no one in particular.

"Brigit to Astrogation, ready for launch any time."
"Roger, Brigit. Releasing clamps."
A soft hissing noise could be heard as the outer doors to the Ladder Room slid shut and locked.
"You are cleared for launch. Have a good trip."

The disc-shaped Brigit slid out of it's bay in the underside of Dagda, twirling slowly, and started falling towards the planet. On the bridge, Zavier replaced the bluescreen with a globe of Labyrinth.

"Quick and dirty overview. The oribtal VNP wasn't where it's supposed to be, so we assume that it crashed, although we have no idea why. Consequently, locating the lander was a bit more difficult, but we found it about 12 degrees north of the equator, in the middle of a geyser field. There's a minor cinder cone nearby, but it doesn't seem to be active. We'll touch down, contact the lander, and make further plans from there. Any questions?"


FYI: Closest star to 37 Geminorum is LP308-10, type DC9 VII, 1.4 LYs distant.

Depaulto watches Lightpaw's entrace and blinks. Holy [deleted], that can't be her.

=The neko? It feels like Celestial's spawn.= The Gasu simply translates the concept of family into terms it understands; being used to it, Janice doesn't misread.

I know... but last time I saw her she was a teenager. Looks like she's aged at least six years... but that was three years ago... and she's an oh-two goldspot now. That puts her in definite mid-twenties.

=As you thought, 'unstuck in time.'=

Depaulto frowns softly to herself. Too true.

Finding the defacto leader deep in thought, the young ensign takes control. "Introductions? We have here Ms. Janice Depaulto, explorer; Doctor Al-Asali, Galaxy Exploration Command; and myself, Ensign David Clarke." He half-smiles, coming off just a little more smug than he probably intends to.

JtY waves at JtE across the room as the ship decends.

"Hello! How's life been?"

Turning to Jon and Wilson she does a little aside before Janice can reply.

"I was named after Janice by my mother - I haven't seen her in several years. Just after graduation in fact."

Jon paid polite attention, while Wilson was studying the rapidly approaching surface on a monitor.

The mercenary manuvers the small craft into the docking bay with little difficulty. He squeezes out of the small ship, stretching for a moment before retrieveing a small duffel bag.

"Dammit it's cramped in those things..."

He mumbles as he pops a crick out of his neck.

JtY waves at JtE across the room as the ship decends.

"Hello! How's life been?"
Janice the Elder brushes off her dissatisfaction with the realities of multiversal fluid temporality and waves back to Janice the Younger with a genuine smile. "Oddly interesting, Jan. I've spent the however-long-one-wants-to-call-it out of the system more than I've been in it. After my ambassadorial stint with Nameless, I get back just in time to hitch a ride on Snoopy back out to BESS-7 and survey that rock. I get back again, and now I'm here.

"I see you've made lieutenant," she smiles broadly, "and I'm sure you've heard me prate about o-ciffers enough that you're doing fine. Sorry to have missed so much of it."

The fact that the Great Ms. Depaulto--renowned across the GEC and by association the TYCS for either despising or grudgingly respecting officers--actually compliments an officer and then apologizes to the same draws quizzical looks from both the ensign and the doctor. Noting this, Janice smirks at them with a sideways glance. "What? She's the daughter of my best friend, named after me in fact. Not allowed to be nice to an honorary niece?"

"Oh, no problem." Al-Asali raises his hands in a slightly defensive gesture; Clarke just shrugs.

Dekker glances around with a slightly puzzled look on his face.

'Is this the right ship?'

He thinks to himself as he glaces around.

A green light shone from the 'floor' and 'cieling' of the tubular tunnel in which Dekker found himself. A soft klaxon sounded, seemingly from a distance.

A computer's voice adressed him. Unscheduled entry of Dock E2 complete. Dekker Bray is requested to report to the sim room.

A line of green lights became illuminated, leading through the tunnels to an EVA prep room, then a tall, thin, rectangular corridor, and finally to a circular doorway guarded by a flightsuited woman.

"Dekker Bray, freelance explorer? Briefing inside, please hold still."
The woman took out a y-shaped device with two white discs on the prongs, adjusted the width, and waved it over Dekker's eyes. She then pressed a button on the handle, and out popped a tray holding two large grey-rimmed contact lenses. "Put these in, and the sim room does the rest. Too bad you just missed the Brigit."

Aboard Zee Brigit
There was a slight bump as they whacked the atmosphere, and electrostatic surfaces on the hull began shaping the airflow around it for a (relatively) slow, smooth descent. As Brigit got nearer the surface and lost orbital velocity, two things happened: The first was that the globe stopped its slow rotation, and the display zoomed to become a 3D map of the landing site, not unlike Yellowstone in winter, complete with lazily drifting fog. The second was that the reason for the curved floor became obvious as the ship's spin slowed and the planet's downward pull became more pronounced, rotating the apparent pull of shipboard gravity by 90 degrees.

A rather confused Dekker sets his bag down outside of the sim room before stepping inside.

"Oh yes! I've gone from the Fleet over to the Marine divisions - trained in Eniqcir - and then back to the Fleet after 4 months of grunting. Had my share of adventures along the way of course..."

Wilson interupted her at this point - "And what she will fail to tell you is how she got those pins back about 2 weeks ago - after getting busted down a rank for going AWOL."

"It was training! The commander even agreed - but the rules are the rules. Just because you get lost for a week..."

Jon laughed silently at this - the tale had made it's way around and Wilson had told him about it on the trip to Labyrinth.

Janice the Elder chuckles. "Can't believe you'd go back to the bus-drivers after earning your pay the Infantry way. Nevertheless, it's good to see you're still a troublemaker... just like your mother. Speaking of her, how is she doing? I haven't been in touch as much as I would have liked over the years."

Dekker slides the lenses into his eyes, unsure of what will happen. His sidearm was outside in his bag, along with a few others.

"I suppose you could say she has settled down. Dad went into retirement and they have been tramping around Sol in an old yacht Dad got from one of his friends. They've been kicked out of a couple places too - Mon's fault of course."

JtY put on an exajerated innocent face.

"No officer, I have no idea who painted 'Flesh Peddler' all over that whore house and every other one on the street."

---

Wilson had turned back to the console - he was watching the touchdown estimate as well as the distance to the surface. He liked to be prepared to get out as fast as possible just in case something happened.

Dekker slides the lenses into his eyes, unsure of what will happen. His sidearm was outside in his bag, along with a few others.
The first thing to see in the sim room was... nothing. Just a grey wall of mist. But once inside, the scene changed dramatically, as the contacts did their job. An illusion of gravity drew Dekker's feet to the floor, allowing him to walk around. In the center of the room appeared a globe of 37GeminorumB, aka Labyrinth, complete with orbiting spacecraft and moons.
Second planet of the star Thirty-seven Geminorum, currently under exploration by the SEACTO. While larger than Earth, the planet has only two-thirds of it's gravity due to unusual low density, brought about by unusually high levels of geothermal activity. While most of the surface appears as barren as the primal Moon, the crust and upper mantle house a vast cave system, providing several times the equivalent area of Earth's biosphere, and the search for subterranean life is hopeful. What information do you desire?

Wilson had turned back to the console - he was watching the touchdown estimate as well as the distance to the surface. He liked to be prepared to get out as fast as possible just in case something happened.
Punching through a cloud bank, Brigit's cameras revealed a vast field of steaming geyser mounds and multicolored hotsprings- though whether the color was bacteriological or chemical alone had yet to be discovered- with little rivulets of alternately scalding and freezing water running between them, carving gulleys in a thin layer of snow and frost. On the edge of the field of view was a small mound of metal with various robotic protrusions, towards which the ship slowly drifted, looking for a safe spot to touch down.

"No officer, I have no idea who painted 'Flesh Peddler' all over that whore house and every other one on the street."
Janice chuckles, half-grinning. "Oh, that's great. A 'settled-down' Celestial will just be trouble enough for only a planet or two instead of the entire system." Glancing over at the camera feed, she cuts off abruptly and immediately turns more professional. "Planetfall soon. This'd be about the time the platoon lead would tell us to shut it. Talk to you more on hit dirt."

The three grew very quiet as Bridgit ended her descent. Jon was a little nervous while Wilson was planning their first move. Janice (tY) was the most relaxed - a cat always lands on it's feet. As long as she was aboard the ship would be fine.

had you been there to see it, and possessed the eyes or 'eyes' with
which to do so, you would have noticed what appeared to be a bubble of distortion form in high orbit above the world tenatively
named 'labrynth' in an article that had appeared in the journal
of xenogeophysics, an article that gave no coordinates, only a passing
mention that had captured the curiousity
of a most curious carlemnarian of lananaran decent. an at times
resourceful though frequently unpredictable carlemnarian.
as this distortian ebbed back into the normalcy of space what emerged
resembled nothing more then a large (or small depending on what you were describing it in terms of) psychodellicly painted but otherwise nearly featureless brick.
a brick some 12 feet accross and high, and arround 35 feet in length, though i can assure it was much much smaller inside.
inside there was ... me
what shall i call myself today
ah fingol sounds good
always liked that name
fingol of the green woods
though there's not much of that out here
in the tiney ship's cramped and instument encrusted control cabin fingol sits, looking out through view screens and remote sensors at a world he dreams may hold great hope and promis
and an opportunity to fulfill one of his greatest aspirations.

the brick's only external appendages are manuvering thrusters and sensor packages.
certain of the solid state manuvering thrusters begin to glow an erie bluegreen clearly exertin some sort of force on the orbiting brick.

with no great fanfare fingol begins his decent to the planet's surface. noting in passing that he was not alone in space above it, but far enough away from whatever other craft may have been orbiting above it to have gone undetected or at least unnoticed by them.

this was a not alltogather surprising development, that others would be here first, after all someone had to have written the mention in passing he had noticed and if he had certainly others likely would. still he hadn't particularly counted on it or giving it much thought.

he began wondering what else might turn up he hadn't counted on or expected. little time for that now. he was making planet fall, and had to do so in such a way, as a ship like his always did, relying on thrusters and gravity modules, so as to not build up heat friction that it was inadiquitly equiped to compensate.
in otherwords the proccess of landing a singleship from orbit was a rather long slow one, taking most of a day, through any but the thinnist of atmospheres.

and labrynth's, his instruments was telling him, was anything but thin. just highly toxic and corrosive.

*oh joy* he thought to himself.

=^^=
.../\...

The pedestal display switched from a visual to a sonar image, revealing near-surface waterways and varirations in the solidity of the rock. Finding a suitably large section of exposed bedrock, Brigit's five landing struts extended from the underside and made contact with the ground with a dull thump.

Zavier unclipped his seatbelts, stood up, and walked to the closest door, which opened automatically in response to his proximity. "Well, come on. Can't sit around here all day." Nernos and Arthur snapped on their helmets and followed him out, the rest of the group trailing behind.

A single hallway curved around the bridge immediately outside, with several lockers and storage racks. Zavier quickly located the Sunsetters' gear and set it on the flor, and proceeded to remove several more small equipment packs and hand them out.

"Got yer flashlight, sample bags, pocket knife, spare oxygen, trail tape, suit patch kit, etc. Don't loose this stuff."

Oh no, we're being attacked by e e cummings... in his earlier period when he actually used punctuation once in a while!

Janice (the Elder) buttons up, twisting her helmet on with the clunk of a well-oiled seal and a locking snap before raising the safety collar on it. "Well, Oscar," she mumbles again to no one in particular before chinning on her suit microphone, "here we go again." Shouldering her field kit, she leads the Scolopendran party out, mostly because she's the first up and the other two work hastily to catch up.

Grabbing three bags, she first tosses one lightly to Al-Asali and then the other to the ensign before snapping her own to a convenient hardpoint on her own suit. Staying close behind the Eniqciri, she smirks. "Skids on dirt, people. Time to get off the ride." All business.

The three Sunset explorers took more time to get out of the ship - they had been expecting an opportunity to put on their suits. All three suited up in standard hardsuits and locked their packs into place.

Cycling through the lock Jon was the first to step outside, followed by Wilson and Janice (tY). She quickly went past and walked out past the group and posed against a rock formation.

"Jon - take a picture!" she called over the commlink.

Jon turned, set his 'corder, and took a picture. Then he turned and grabbed a wide area shot of everyone going about their tasks. He liked action shots, not poses.

"The action is all underground - so where is the closest tunnel entrance?" Wilson asked as he walked up to Zavier. He was loaded with gear - besides his pack he carried a standard energy rifle, a spatha, and a long tube with four handles on it.

Dekker watches the image rotate, considering his questions.

"Any hostile species? I'd like size, shape, that kind of thing."

Brigit, it turned out, had found the rock it needed near the edge of a small cliff, over which run several streams from the thermal pools into a 100th-scale Niagara Falls-esque basin. Dotting the landscape were large off-white edifices of various strange shapes and with faint streaks of color. A quick chemical test revealed them to be mostly calcium carbonate and sodium chloride, indicating that the region had probably been underwater at some past time. But, alas, no living thing had constructed them. They were the simple results of rocksalt and calcium precipitation.

There were at least 5 pools within a hundred yards from the landing site, ranging from carribean blue to canary yellow to deep crimson in hue, most with fuzzy-looking bands on their bottoms.

Zavier almost immediately set out towards the VNP lander, pausing accosionally to yell back a word of warning- "Don't wander too far, you might hit a weak spot! And be careful not to disturb the pools!"

"The action is all underground - so where is the closest tunnel entrance?" Wilson asked as he walked up to Zavier.
"My best guess would be somewhere at the bottom of those waterfalls. But hopefully there's a drier way in someplace. Maybe the Lander can give us directions."

"Any hostile species? I'd like size, shape, that kind of thing."
Nature of native life presently unknown. Standby, incoming data... Alpha Objective completed. Touchdown successful, contact made with VNP lander.

"So what would happen if we mixed pool number one with pool number two?"

"We would end up with red and white chunks."

"Huh?"

"Explosive reaction."

Jon and Wilson finished arranging their gear. With the lack of a potentially easy way in they took out bundles of rope and clipped climbing harnesses onto the front of their suits. Arm, shoulder, and headlamps were next.

"You two look like something out of ET." Janice said as she bounded over to them.

"ET?"

Janice the Elder looks over at the Sunset team and nods. "That looks like a good idea." Looking back at her team, she taps the spool of climbing cord attached to her belt. "Everyone got this ready?"

After the usual assortment of nods and answers in the positive, she folds her arms. "Okay, Zee, set up your equipment and help find any soft spots. Radar pulse and very mild sonic vibration is acceptable, but I want rout-step on those sonics. No need to get resonance going and shake the whole place down."

"On it, Jan." Zeyad kneels down and unshoulders a simple rectangular kit with rounded edges and a very flat bottom. Setting it down, he opens up the thin lid and turns the geology suite on, starting a quick scan of the local area. "I'll have a 3D soon enough."

"Good," Janice nods curtly, "and, Ensign, go along with Zavier over to the lander and make yourself useful."

"Isn't he the one who doesn't like engineers tinkering with his stuff?" Clarke folds his arms. "'Sides, it isn't my area of expertise."

"Your 'area of expertise' is bus-driving and star-gazing, neither of which is really useful at the moment with Zee or the Sunset team. At least you can default to tech-knowledge of piloting if you go help Zavier. Play nurse. Help hold stuff. Get to know him better or whatever. Just be useful."

Clarke grumbles a little under his breath, nods, and sets off to join Zavier. Janice, seeing everyone assigned, bounces to join the Sunset team. "So, what's the plan?"

Up close, the lander looked like the Viking-meets-Spirit, plus rocket engine. Zavier set down his pack of exploration stuff next to the lander, located the small "Short Circuit"-esque control panel, and hit the "on" button. He plugged in a polymer memory DataCube(tm), and stood by as lines of information scrolled down the screen and into the cube. Upon the arrival of Clarke, he... did nothing, being rather zoned out, and mumbling to himself.such things as "Interesting... might have to check out the cinder cone... Looks like lava tubes...."

Huira, Arthur, and Nernos walked over to the edge of the cliff, stopping every once in a while as hot mist floated by and obscurred their view of the ground, and proceeded to look over the edge.

"Looks like Devil's Throat."
"Yup."
"Probably a cave down there."
"Yup."
"Doesn't look too friendly, though."
"Yup."

Jon looked up from as he finished securing the last of his equipment.

"Depends - I'm deciding if we want to freeze to death or get boiled alive. We seem to be caught between two extremes - plotting a safe course between them will be difficult."

"Why don't we start by finding out what those extremes are?" Wilson suggested. "We can drop probes into the shafts and get a good indication of what the temperature extremes are. I think we would want cold instead of hot though - the suits are designed for space and thus cold more than heat."

He dug around in a smaller pack and pulled out some string and a 'corder.

"I'm thinking the various heat levels will mess with the readings, so we can lower a 'corder down with this."

Dekker shurgs. He turns back towards the door to the sim room.

"Alright, I'm done. Anyway I can get down to the surface?"

Dekker was a bit worried about going into situations that he knew little about. It was entirely possible that he was just being paranoid, it wouldn't have been the first time, but his gut told him something wasn't quite right, like the first time he entered Rime...

Janice nods to Jon. "Should work as well as anything else."

* - * - *

Clarke stands quietly beside Zavier for a moment, then folds his arms and taps one finger on his suited bicep. "Anything I can help you with, sir?"

[edited for context]

OOC: Who's that directed at?

Clarke stands quietly for a moment, then folds his arms and taps one finger on his suited bicep. "Anything I can help you with, sir?"
"Probably." A moment of silence. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and posit that what you meant to say was 'what can I do to help', to which the answer is take this," Zavier unplugged and handed the DataCube to Clarke, "and see if you can find a reasonably close entrance to a deep cave system that isn't entirely submerged. There's at least a slim chance that you'll find one before Al-Asali does. I'd suggest lookin' at the cinder cone over yonder. Oh, and you'll need this, too." Zavier knelt down and ruffled through his pack of stuff for a moment before coming up with a 20cm square LCD screen with a dataport on one side. "Kinda hard to look at the data without it."

Zav popped in another DataCube, and waited for the next set of data to download.

Wilson's "'corder-on-a-string" picked up basically the same thing at each pool- surface water temperatures avergaing around 75 degrees celsius, getting steadily hotter once inside the shaft of the spring, none of which turned out to be large enough for a person to enter anyway- typical Yellowstone structures.

Tests on stream water revealed traces of complex hydrocarbons in addition to the expected sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, and other nasty chemicals.

Wandering around the edge of the cliff, Huiría suddenly stopped, backed up a few paces, and looked more carefully at a particular section of the wall. "Hey, Nernos, what do you think of that?"
Nernos walked over and knelt down on the edge to take a look at the water-slicked rock. "That green stuff?"
"Yes."
"I think it looks promising. Hand me a gripper."
Nernos accepted the simple lever-actuated claw-on-a-pole, reached out, plucked a strand of greenish bubbles, and carefully sealed it in a sample bag. "Definitely not a rock formation."
The xenobiologist walked back over to the Sunset group with his prize. "I think I've found something to keep me busy for a while. Might be good to get down in that splashpool and see if there are more of these things, but not in person. Anyway, I was just going to get a ROV, and I think we should take a closer look at those color bands in the thermal pools as well, as long as it's out.

"Alright, I'm done. Anyway I can get down to the surface?"
Next window to depart on Brigit is 1 day, 11 hours, 5 minutes away assuming no delays. Inquire at Astrogation for alternative methods of transport.

(OOC: Carlemnaria- don't worry, I'm not ignoring you, just waiting to get everybody in the caves at about the same time.)

"I'm going to go out on a limb here and posit that what you meant to say was 'what can I do to help', to which the answer is take this," Zavier unplugged and handed the DataCube to Clarke, "and see if you can find a reasonably close entrance to a deep cave system that isn't entirely submerged. There's at least a slim chance that you'll find one before Al-Asali does. I'd suggest lookin' at the cinder cone over yonder. Oh, and you'll need this, too." Zavier knelt down and ruffled through his pack of stuff for a moment before coming up with a 20cm square LCD screen with a dataport on one side. "Kinda hard to look at the data without it."
Sighing, Clarke takes the proffered items, fiddles them together, and sits down to look at the data. "Okay... close entrances... deep caves... not submerged. Whoooooboy, join the TYCS. 'An adventure,' they said it'd be. Here I am, sitting on my rump on an alien world, looking for cave entrances. Whoopie, my life is complete."

"Animal, vegetable, or mineral?"

Jon crouched down and took a look at the contents of the bag while Nernos still talked.

'Is it sentient? An important question to be certain. On a place like this we don't have a good way of knowing what is and what isn't.'

He pulled out his 'corder and took a careful and detailed scan without being intrustive on whatever it was if possible. He wasn't a biologist but he could always take a look at it later if he had a moment.

Wilson pulled the 'corder out of the pool and let it drip dry.

"Not going in that way - unless you want your claws banded shut first and being served with butter. A good idea. I'll grab some recorders and point them at the pools to check for change over time - just in case something doesn't want to be in the same pool as a ROV."

He looked at the Janice's - Janice(tY) was fiddling with a climber rig. "Why don't you two give me a hand with that? There should be a good dozen 'corders in that bag - seems those things are always lost."

"Well," begna Nernos, "it is a bit small. I'd put my money on it being a entirely non-sentient plant. I'll just be off to get the ROV, then...." Nernos made a quick retreat back to Brigit with the sample, and emerged a few minutes later carrying an oversized six-wheeled articulated R/C car with rasp and gripper attached, and wheels large enough that inversion wouldn't be a problem.

"I've got some of that green stuff running through a spectrometer, so we should know what it's made of pretty soon. But for now, let's see what's in them pools."
He set down the ROV, plugged in an F/O cable, sat down with a mini-laptop a few meters away, and started driving it into a cyan-colored pool. A wave of steam washed over the ROV as it reached the edge, temporarily obscuring the view. The laptop showed a camera-eye view as it dipped under the surface. The image jerked around a bit as the vehicle went over a small ridge, and then showed a landscape of irregular yellow, red, and green bands with bright yellow specks in all of them radiating from the water source at the center. A temperature guage at the top right corner of the screen rose steadily as the ROV moved over the bands of color towards the center, stopping every few feet to scrape a bit of fuzzy colored stuff from the current band. Right at the edge of the shaft, the final ring was a hard wavy ring of yellowy-brown, which the ROV also took a chip out of before Nernos called it back out.

"Oh goody. Alien archeaobacteria. I hope."

OOC: It's aight, I'm enjoying the story as it is.

(ooc: not worried might take me a post or two to get there)

it had been a long if not overly taxing day.

the decent and finding a nice flat place just big enough to set down, solid enough to set down on (though gravity balance could be left on indeffinately to avoid actualy resting the full weight of elsbereth elthoniel on an uncertain surface)

still it was time for a nap before attempting anything more interesting, strenuouse or requiring a reasonable degree of alertness

so he made his way back to the living quarters, nearly as cramped as the control cabin up front, through the interviening space that doubled as air lock, made himself a light nibble from concentrates and went to sleep.

several hours later, comfortably rested and once more awaike he sent out the remote spyeye to have a look arround, brought it back in, decontaminated it along with the airlock/'cargo' space and sent out the masterbot to take precautionary samples and do a bit of safely remote exploring.

unlike radio links the psionic interfacing to it is not affected by interviening rock massess.

the landscape the spyeye and ships own sensors showed was more interesting then he had expected.

he had landed in an area of very few flat spaces. something a bit different then he had been expecting but certainly not unwelcome.

the spy eye had explored the entrances to several openings that a suited person or a masterbot might enter without too much risk of tearing themselves fataly on jagged lithic projections or having to wade pools of liquids of exotic and likely threatening chemestry

most had proven no more then shallow recessess, as might well be expected. of the two remaining, the masterbot had entered one and was sending back immages.

it had a dry and level if somewhat sandy floor, that remained a somewhat not entirely natural seeming width, always sloping slightly downward into the subsurface interiour, gently curving this way and that as it went, though its walls, unlike its floor were jagged and tumbled and quite naturaly as one would expect of a millinias old lava tube.

no other features had been detected. no pools of liquid and nothing that could be construed as organic, let alone biological.

this had taken most of the 'morning' of the (his) second 'day' and so after a light lunch it was time to go personaly have a little closer of a look see.

in for a penny in for a pound fingol though to himself as he donned his envirosuit, its various packes and appendages, cycled the 'airlock'/'cargospace' and walked down the ramp.

the masterbot sat unmoving solidly on its four tyres at the ramp's foot and the spyeye hovered quiescently in the atmosphere above it.

he kept them still for the moment as seeing through three 'sets of eyes' in his mind at one time might otherwise have been a bit disorienting while descending the ramp on foot, wearing the heavy suit, and who knows what a stumble or fall might cost, possibly his life, in the granted remote but still existing possibility something should happen to tear or a seam fail.

for this reason too he would mostly ride the masterbot where he could. thus he positioned himself more or less comfortably lotuslike atop of it, on the pad/'seat' in the middle of its flat horizontal top that is there for that purpose.

no longer needing to concentrate on the movement of his own limbs he sent the spy eye one ahead down the long passage and the materbot with himself seated on it trundling after at a sedate and cautious pace.

meanwhile instruments back on the elthoniel recorded everything sent back to them by sensors aboard the masterbot and spy eye both.

(ooc: ok that was quicker then i thought. i never know how long my wordy verbal picture painting is going to take)

The few pools liquids of exotic chemistry to be seen would've had the same ring patterns as those encountered by Brigit's passengers, had they not been completely obscurred by steam. As it was, though, nothing much was being missed, as they were mostly rather dull browns and greys.

no other features had been detected. no pools of liquid and nothing that could be construed as organic, let alone biological.
...
no longer needing to concentrate on the movement of his own limbs he sent the spy eye one ahead down the long passage and the materbot with himself seated on it trundling after at a sedate and cautious pace.

meanwhile instruments back on the elthoniel recorded everything sent back to them by sensors aboard the masterbot and spy eye both.
A barely noticeable breeze issued forth from the cave, carrying faint traces of sulphur dioxide and sulphuric acid vapor. The light of 37 Geminorum quickly faded away as he proceeded into the tunnel, necessitating the use of artificial lighting. Not too far along, perhaps a hundred meters, was a large dome-roofed cavern. In some places, the sand became more fine ground, particularly near the edges of a few shallow pools of dilute sulphuric acid, whereas in other places stood large ourcroppings of uneroded pumice. Scattered through the pools and in a few depression that may have once been pools sat complex crystal structures of solidified salts, and though there may have been bacteria galore, no macroscopic life was to be seen.

Beyond the cavern, the tunnel began to slowly look less like a lava tube as the uniformity of the rock began to degrade, and a few small side tunnels opened up. Finally, a major obstacle came up- the floor had collapsed, leaving a gaping chasm from which came a noticeable warm wind, causing eerie whistlings to reverberate through nearby tunnels. By then, the lava tube had almost totally degraded, the sand gone, with regular fractures in the base rock, streaks and occasional chunks of pyrite and lime, and erosion channels everywhere. On the other side of the chasm, what looked to be continuation of the lava tube went off in one direction, while an entirely different sort of tunnel, more like a limestone erosion cave, went off in another.

Wilson finished setting up his 'corders and wandered over to the rest of the group. Everyone else was done - he had found an interesting rock formation and had taken time to get a good picture of it.

"Any luck in finding an entrance tunnel yet?"

Jon was watching over Clarke's shoulder as he went through the data.

"There are some promising options Mr. Clarke has found - we could pair off and take a look at them."

"Let's get everyone together then and discuss it."

Wilson began walking over to the other groups to get their opinions on the idea.

Zavier mumbled into the screen he was holding. "Yeah, yeah, just a minute, I'll jst get the rest of this uplinked to Brigit...."

Snapping on the display and pressing a few buttons on the lander, he straightened up and looked around to see where everybody was. He came very close to yelling before he remembered that they were all in suits... so he let out his breath and just talked normally, trusting the helmet radio to work.

"Right-o, everybody. We should have a pretty good general idea of this place, what's next? You all want to get underground as soon as possible and leave the follow-ups here for later, or focus on something else?"

Vigo, having not much better to do as of yet, had wandered off in the direction of some fumaroles before turning back to see what Nernos was up to. At the time of Zavier's announcement, he was poised on the edge of the waterfall with Nernos, watching him lower the ROV down into the pool at the bottom.

"Hell, tunnels are how I got my start." Janice the Elder grins. "I'm all for going down there."

"Agreed," offers Zeyad, "I'm a geologist. I'm afraid I'm not much help when it comes to goo."

"And I'm the meatshielding," Clarke huffs, "so if the goo doesn't pose a threat there's no reason for me to point guns at it." He grumbles slightly. "I hate being a third wheel."

*so much for the easy ride* fingol thought to himself, seeing with the hovering vision system as clearly as if it were his own eyes, the uv it was useing for illumination and returned an erie and intreguiging glow from some of the formations in the first 'room'. *note for log, rock garden room*.

the spy eye scaned back and forth now looking for some way for fingol and the masterbot to somehow go arround or cross the chasme it had found, as they continued cautiously to approach it. the masterbot using its stout jointed manipulators to lift itself over and pick its way past the now uneven terrain.

he knew what he would likely have to do, though he haddn't anticipated comming on the need for it this soon.

rumaging in one of the masterbots compartments, when he and it had reached the point beyond which it could no longer navigate, the edge of the chasim itself, he removed a coil of very light very strong line. one end of this he attatched to the hitch one the end of the masterbot that was currently the 'front'. the leg/arm/manipulators found good solid anchorage for themselves, the machine and the weight of fingol which it would soon have to support horizontaly instead of virticly. it also this also ment of course that the masterbot itself would not immediately be able to fallow.

fortunately microbots, like the line, though unfortunatly not fingol himself, could be carried by the spy eye. though only a fraction as many as rode the masterbot could be ferried accross at one time.

only those neccessary to secure the line on the other side would be carried on the first transit accross as it paid out the line as it went, keeping it taught.

at the enterence to the limestone passage fingol had made a gut level guess seemed more likely to prove interesting, it set down a trio of small hand sized and only partialy self directing machines.

these made short work of providing a solid anchor for the line on that side, one through which the slack could be pulled taught and wedged, in the limestone wall at a hight just above where fingol's suited head would come standing.

with the 'bridge', more of a thightrope really, being but a single line, the spyeye began the timeconsuming task of ferrying the masterbots many 'microbots' accross.

meanwhile fingol mounted a kind of motorized bosun's chair arraingement to the line, and very carefully seated himself in/on it hanging somewhat pricariously over the edge of the precipace in order to do so.

once seated the its small but powerful motor pulled him safely accross.

returning would be no problem. and he could return for the line if he needed it. the masterbot could release its end of it and of course the spyeye could always airlift one end back.

while the spyeye's power source would last for several weeks of continuous hovering and manipulating it would of course eventualy have to be recharged.

but by then fingol figgures he will likely have found what he came for or determined a reasonable probability of it not being here.

from this point on of course fingol would be 'hoofing it' with a raggle taggle band of little toy sized looking robots fallowing in his wake like little ducklings fallowing their mother. those that were capable of movement on their own that is. those which were not equiped to were either ment to be carried by those that are or in the spyeye, which has only space to carry about six of them.

sturdy little munchkins though they are, most are not entirely acid proof so keeping them safe fingol realizes will require at nearly all times at least some of his attention.

fortunately they ARE replacable, are only small machines after all, and there's a whole nother replacement set of them back on his psychodellicly paint brick, his singleship elthoniel.

fingol also realizes this is not a place to proceed onward from hastily without examining more closely. he almost wishes he had taken the time to examine 'the garden' personaly and in greater detail. however the ship's computer's will likely do as good a job analysing what he saw there as had he stayed to do so.

still this is as good a place as any to set up a first camp and let the spy eye do the visual exploring for the remainder of the 'day'

=^^=
.../\...

SEACTO Team
"I guess we're going under, then. The good entrances all seem to be in the general direction of the cinder cone. I think I've located a fairly good entrance to a limestone erosion cave apart a klik yonder." Zavier waved his hand a little off to the right of the volcano. "According to the lander, it's got a stream running into it, but there should be enough ground to walk around on. Clarke, you got anything?"

Fingol
The other side of the chasm provided little space for standing and walking, or driving for that matter, around, with only a thin ledge before the limestone tunnel began. The likely once-jagged edges where the limestone tunnel broke through had eroded and had new chemicals deposited on them for unknown long amounts of time, producing a not-quite completely smooth transition between the differing types of rock, with thin mid-sized stalactites hanging from the upper edge of the entrance. The walls, as is to be expected in an erosion cave, were slightly moist and the rock slippery. A thin layer of grey-black grime and dust was settled over most of the cave, but the walls and and formations were streaked with off-whites where the grime had been washed off, and occasional yellows and purples. Stalactites and stalagmites were scattered seemingly randomly through the slighty downward-angled tunnel, with the occasional one or two meeting to form a collumn of calcium carbonate. Additionally, thin layers of moisture flowed over mushroom-shaped rocks and series of stepped platforms like lithic tree-fungus growing near or out of the walls. Not too far down, a tiny stream formed from the runoff, which had carved a thin reddish channel in the floor, twisting around stalagmites and just plain broken rocks sitting in its path.

[NOTE: Carlemnaria, if you need to make minor additions to the cave for whatever reason, like adding a shallow recess or some sort of clear flat area to chill out on, 'tis fine, just don't go /too/ far out. Scolo- you like Zav's suggestion, fine, otherwise I've got no problem with Clarke suggesting something else. Lava tube, erosion cave, dried up and collasped spring, whatever, within some sort of reason.]

(OOC: Works for me... 'sides, Clarke probably can't make heads or tails of it anyway.)

Clarke shrugs. "I can't make heads or tails of this data anyway... so... yeah. What you said."

"Let's walk then. You know what they say about journey's..."

Jon picked up his gear and put it away in the various pockets and pouches while Wilson went over to a pool and tore down the 'corder stand.

"What do they say about journeys Mr. Thorgardson?" Janice (tY) asked. Jon looked at her for a moment in mild amusement. "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Amoung other things."

"I hope this one isn't a thousand miles. My feet would get tired and I'm pretty sure my tail would fall off."

The three finished packing and were ready to go in minutes.

Janice tE just chuckles and smiles, shouldering her equipment pack again. "Goodness, feels like eleven years ago. Well..." She smirks gently, looking down for a moment. "Like since before you were born, by your reckoning."

"Oh, great. You're notoriously hard on ensigns," Clarke grumbles. "Maybe toting around the guns was a good idea."

"I don't care how the movie treatment portrayed it, bloodspot," Janice growls, "I was out cold back on Columbia when that ensign tripped over a stun grenade. And he didn't die, he's now a lieutenant commander in charge of a destroyer squadron back near Saturn."

"No matter, you were within a light year. I'm still going to be on my toes--whup!" Tipping forward, Clarke flails as he trips on a rock and tries to regain his balance, saved only by an arm from Zeyad.

"Careful there, Clarke."

Janice rolls her steel-grey eyes. "Bloodspots..."

Nernos seemed rather oblivious until the last moment before everyone else was about to leave, at which time he suddenly snapped back into reality and was frantically trying to grab as many samples as possible before pulling the ROV back up the cliff.
Huiría and Vigo went back aboard the ship for a moment, and Huiría quickly returned with a coil of rope over her shoulder, a flashlight helmet, and an extra backpack of spelunking equipment, while Arthur just... did whatever it is that Arthur does. Kinda hard to tell, with a guy like that.
Just as Nernos finally managed to pull himself away from the extremely interesting waterfall, carrying both a kid+candyshop smile and a large clump of sample bags containing who-knows-what kind of slimy grossness, hydraulic cylinders began to work to lower a second boarding ramp from Brigit, carrying Vigo and a souped-up rover.

"Vigo."
"Yes, Zavier?"
"There's a reason I didn't unload that."
"What?"
"How many people do you see?"
"Oh."
"Right. Four person buggy, more than four people."
"Right. I get shotgun!"
Zavier sighed, rather audibly. "Vigo, just leave it. Walking won't kill you."

And behold, the group was off.

(ooc: fallowing your lead, just gonna sit and chill for a spell. the spyeye floats on gravs and can go anyplace i can and quite a few that i can't. but as noted it can only carry half a dozzen of the microbots and doesn't have any more rabbits in its hat then that, well except for one, but i seriously doubt that will come into play here. at any rate it's waaay too small to lift either the masterbot or me. the masterbot had to be left where it was, where it will remain dutifuly till returned for or summoned back to my 'ship' by me if by any wierd combination of circumstance i should at some time find myself back there without it. the mirobots are hand sized and smaller ambulatory power tools, like a cross between an r/c car and a mikita battery power drill. very simple devices mostly. no two alike because form strictly fallows function. and each is limited to but one or two functions, like drilling holes or carrying each other. simple things like that.)

fingol finding a dry and relatively safe looking place to sit does just that. microbots arrayed quiescently beside him. he leans back and closes his eyes.
time to rest and recouver expended strength.

hope and excitement are one thing but he knows to avoid unneccessary risks, at least he likes to think that he does.

the spy eye does not require his constant attention. it continues its catalogueing of the limestone formations ahead.

fingols mind watches through it as it does for a time, but only with partial attention as he begins to drift off into a nice, relatively safe little nap. the first of what he expects to be many down in here.

before he drifts entirely off to snooze land he has his suit run its standard selftests which conferm that everything with it is still just fine.

he also checks to make sure his walking stick is fully functional.

he realizes he is on a world he's never visited before and that the unexpected is always possible even likely. so far a lava tube looks like a lava tube and a limestone cave looks like a limestone cave and both of these are comfortingly familiar.

=^^=
.../\...

(ooc: i've also just posted an illo on side7 of a masterbot clambering over uneven terrain inside a lavatube. my gallery there is in the 'o's as in 'of lananara')

Clambering over the landscape the group came across an odd rock formation - they wouldn't have noticed it at all if Janice hadn't nearly tripped and bumped her head on it.

"Will you look at that - little stars."

Jon turned and looked at her. "Stars? You sure you caught yourself in time?"

"Look, seriously, little stars. Made out of rock."

Jon walked over and took a look, then called everyone else over. "I'm no geologist, but that looks like a prime example of something I barely understand at work..."

Very much like the basalt pillars of Earth, the rock formation was made up of small intersecting stars with diamond shapes between them. Some had cracked off and had an odd cleavage plane that gave the cracked side a oblong star shape. The pillars ranged from only a few inches to a foot in diameter and up to three feet tall.

Huiría hurried over to take a look. "Oooh... this is nice. Good find." She pulled a mini digital camera out of her pack, and crouched down to take close-ups, first of a group of smaller ones, then hopping around a larger pillar to get all angles. After a couple of minutes of picture taking, Huiría took out a tiny hammer and knocked off a chip from one of the pillars and placed it in a sample bag. Satisified, she stood up. "Right. That should do. Let us continue on our way."

(Stayin' alive, stayin' alive....)
Nearing the cinder cone, the terrain got less smooth, with the occasional jagged rock jutting out of the landscape and quite a few uninviting cliffs and the depressions of dried-up hotsprings. There were, of course, active springs as well, and the occasional mudpot which, had the entire party not been in protective suits, might've caused a few gag-reflexes.
The water of several large hotsprings ran together forming a system of secondary collection pools and rivers. Eventually, the output of these collected into a single blue-green stream in a shallow valley. Here, however, instead of collecting into a lake, a hillside had apparently collapsed wholesale, revealing the gaping mouth of a cave into which the stream drained, rimmed with jagged edges like teeth.

"Well, you've found our cave entrance. Now do we know we want to go inside?"

Jon walked around to the edge and shined a powerful lamp inside. Groteque shapes and glittering edges did odd things with it, but sweeping it down to the floor everyone could see a narrow ledge caused by a water level that had suddenly dropped some time ago.

"There is our safe way in - do we want to rest here first? I'm all for taking a quick 15 to survey it before we head inside..."

Wilson nodded to second this idea, and began taking holos of the cave mouth though neither lowered their packs in case everyone else wanted to move on immediately.

"Always good to send in a robot first." Nernos set down the ROV just inside the cave and began driving it along the ledge. Inside was pretty much your everyday Earthling limestone cave, walls glistening with condensation, stalactites and stalagmites scattered about, and the occasional mushroom formation. Just beyond the point where external light failed, the river dropped off a cliff some seven meters high and then ran into a side tunnel, while the ledge opened up into a medium-height dome cavern. Shining it's headlights over the cliff, the ROV revealed a large ledge at the bottom, and at least one tunnel running off in the same direction as the river.

*bump*

"In keeping with the cliches - I feel like Alice going down the rabbit hole."

Jon walked into the cave after Wilson and Janice. Jon was no soldier and had his weapon in it's holster but Wilson and Janice had both slung rifles across their chests within easy reach. While they were not expecting hostile life it never hurt to be prepared.

They watched the ROV crawl forward and into the darkness again as it sniffed out the trail ahead of them. As soon as Nernos gave the signal they walked forward again until they could see the ROV. Slow going, but safe.

Janice the Elder watches the little rover-robot wander into the tunnel with a frown. Sure, there's safety... and then there's just being a wuss. She makes no effort to stifle an almost theatrical yawn.

"Bored, Janice?" Zeyad grins, sitting on his closed geology case.

"Won't deny it," Janice smirks wryly, "this just smacks of not enough adventurous spirit. If we had been this cautious on Rime..."

"You wouldn't of had that thing stuck in you," the ensign offers in a less-than-helpful tone.

Steel eyes lock with brown, and the bloodspot gets the definite feeling like two holes are suddenly going to appear in the bubble helmet of his suit. "And did it turn out so bad for me?"

Clarke responds with only a frown and a defensive posture, unconsciously leaning back. Damn, bitch, don't leap down my throat.

Janice steps closer, kills her suit mic, then grabs Clarke's helmet and pulls it to butt up against her own. Her voice comes through faint but distinct as she enunciates. "That's cast iron bitch to you, boy. If you're worried about things going down your throat, I'm sure I can talk to my Trilat friends and get you a nice Gasu friend as well. Savvy?"

"Um..." David blinks, arms waving slightly to keep his balance in the low gravity. "Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am."

The woman nods curtly and lets him go, stepping back as she reactivates Oscar's mic. "Oh, and stop thinking, Ensign. It doesn't suit you, and it'll give me less to overhear."

Upon seeing the cliff, Huiría's eyes lit up like a kid in a candy shop. "Aha! Time to break out the Equipment. Hope nobody minds getting wet...."
"Probably a good idea to check pH first."
"Right you are, Vigo. And that's what the ROV's for." Upon successfully ambling over the cave floor to where the ROV now sat, Nernos pulled out a large spool of thin black ribbon, wrapped it a couple of times around the middle of the robot, and tossed it over the cliff into the splashpool.
"Dang. Just how sturdy are those things."
"Never broken one yet. Well, not from getting tossed around, anyway. HCl isn't nice to them, though. Well, looks safe to me, 'round 6, 6 and a quarter. Feel free to climb down, Huiría."

(*subtle nudge*)

OOC: With things settling down hopefully we can get this back on track.

IC:

"So I'm assuming it's through the water then?" Jon knelt at the edge of the pool, looking over the varicolored bands that decorated the bottom. Wilson knelt as well, and started humming something. "Sounds familiar - what's that from?"

"It's an old Beatles song - Yellow Submarine."

"The Beatles? I didn't know you liked 20th century music."

The two got ready to hop down into the pool and make their way into the cave. Janice however had other ideas and leapt over their heads to land with a splash next to the ROV.

"Last one to get lost is a rotten egg!" she yelled as she ran into the darkness. There was the splash of boots in water then "AAaaaaa! Shit!" as everyone heard something large and possibly furry hit the water and then another sound that was quite new.

Huiría took a bit less dangerous route, bothering to actually climb down rather than leap.
"Rather risky that was. How did you know that the floor wouldn't collapse under your weight? Are you all right?"

Vigo and Nernos followed, with Nernos softly singing "I am under the world looking down on creation and the only explanation I can find are the rads and the oxidizers scouring the surface lands, a poisoned surface put me under the world...."

"Well, two choices," said Vigo. "We can go through water, or take the drier route and hope they end up in the same place. Eeny meeny miny...."

*bump*

"Life follows water - perhaps we should do the same?"

Jon climbed down and started walking through the water towards Janice's last audio position.

"Janice - are you ok?"

Silence greeted his query and Jon ran forward. As he entered the shadowy cave he flipped his light on. It fell directly on Janice, who was poised on the edge ready to leap.

"You weren't thinking of leaping on me and scaring me were you?" Jon asked as Janice froze in the spotlight.

"No. Never. Ever."

"Follow the water. OK. Looks like we're in for some swimming, then."
(OOC: Fast forwarding so as to avoid the mundane boring bit.)

Huiría led the group into the water tunnel, trailing a guideline behind. There was the occasional tight squeeze, but nothing that could not be passed.after several hours of steady downward descent, small bubbles began to rise from the floor, forming bubbles at the tops of submerged caverns. At four kilometers depth, the bubble became large enough, and the tunnel high enough, to comfortably stand, until the underground river poured itself over a short waterfall and into a steaming multicolored spring, with a slight rippling bulge in the center indicating the place where water rose from below- thankfully, a handy, and very large, ledge was available on which to bypass the unpleasantness of the thermal pool. From said pool came forth three more streams, two of which flowed into two of several connecting tunnels, but the last of which flowed through a meter-wide gap between wall and floor at the far end of the room. Closer inspection revealed it to go over a spectacular wide waterfall into yet another pool.

((OOC: Is it too late for me to jump in? Hi Tim! Still using Janice, I see? lol ^_^))

((OOC: Is it too late for me to jump in? Hi Tim! Still using Janice, I see? lol ^_^))

OOC: No objections here.

IC:

Jon and Wilson mostly walked quietly, though occasionally they would stop to look at an interesting formation or take a quick break for some water or a snack. Janice was a little more enthusiastic - In one narrow corridor she bounced from wall to wall slowly tumbling through the water.

((OOC: Is it too late for me to jump in? Hi Tim! Still using Janice, I see? lol ^_^))
(Jump in any time. Just so long as it makes some sort of sense.)

((OOC Hmmm... It'll take a moment to figure a way to write myself into the RP. Will definately post laster. ^.^))

(OOC: Janice == t3h awexome. Of course she's still used, albeit eleven years older.)

The Scolopendrans follow along, glad that they're wearing high-pressure hardsuits. Space suits have a nasty habit of being engineered to keep moderate pressures in, not ludicrous pressures out. Visibly relieved once they make it into the bubble, they look around a bit.

"Damn, and I forgot my camera." Janice the Elder grins, looking over the underground rapids. "Too bad Oscar didn't come with one."
"Don't worry, Jan, I'll get enough pictures for all of us." As Zeyad looks around, the spherical camera in an armored (or at least well-built; with Scolopendran technology it was always hard to tell) mount on his shoulder--an idea borrowed from two Austrin-Ontis explorers--pans about to match his gaze, recording everything.

The ensign wanders about unenthusiastically, rather sullen to say the least.

*Bells jingled in the distance, steadily approaching. The captain of the Krowehmohian Deep Space Explorer Shokon shivered as the sound reached his feline ears. Those bells always gave him the creeps. They seemed... Malevolent, somehow...*

Captain: "Miss Lightpaw, we are preparing to enter Hyperspace, please have a seat."

Lara: "I think I'll stand."

*The owner of the bells said, a smirk on her face. The captain felt down right uncomfortable around the ruins explorer.*

[code:1:23d337ec14]Transmission to ESEC

Greetings and salutations. I am Chenkov Rembrandt, head of the Explortion Division for Vector Industries. Pending your approval, I have formed a small team to join your expendition. Namely, Lara Lightpaw and Rico Tyrell. Lara and Rico are currently our most experianced explorers and researchers. We believe that they will be of tremendous help on your expedition.
Attached is the background information for both Lara Lightpaw and Rico Tyrell, as well as the indentifier for the ship that will bring and house them, the Shokon.[/code:1:23d337ec14]

((OOC: Bio for the characters
Name: Lara Lightpaw
Age: 45 (Looks 17~18 )
Gender: Female
Occupation: Vector Industries' Ruins Explorer
Appearance: Short blue hair and bright red eyes, with a knife scar across her nose. Lara is 5'7" tall and is of slim build. She commonly wears a 'sailor girl' outfit with silver bells on the sleeve. Pic available, ask for via TG.
Background: The younger sister of Rebecca "Celestial" Lightpaw and Hell Bovines Ambassador Kuro Lightpaw, Lara grew up following in the path of her sister, joining Vector Industries' Exploration Division. She has much experiancing exploring the alien ruins on Planet Krowemoh and it's sister planet Ragol. Well trained and with plenty of experiance under her belt, Lara is among the first people Vector Industries calls upon when they discover any strange ruins.
Work History: Lara is a member of Vector Industries Exploration Division in excellent standing. No negative marks or complaints.
Equipment: Vector Industries standerd issued Hardsuit, Plasma Pistol, Vector Industries standerd issued Explorer's Kit (Includes flares, 55ft industerial strength nylon rope, first aid kit, thermal blanket, emergency locator beacon, and three days worth of food rations for two people), Realian Control device, personal effects.

Name: Rico Tyrell
Age: 29
Gender: Female
Occupation: Vector Industries' Researcher
Appearance: Rico has red hair and jade green eyes. She wears a white and red top with a red mini-skirt and red mid-thigh high stockings. She wears glasses, although she has 20-20 vision without them. On her left wrist is a red bracelet.
Background: Rico Tyrell, an intelligent girl with a knack for computers and anything technological. At the age of nineteen, she joined Vector Industries Research and Development team and has personally lead the way in numerious technological breakthroughs. She has personally requested to go on the Labrynth expedition with Lara Lightpaw.
Work History: Rico is a member of Vector Industries Reseach and Devlopment team in excellent standing. No negative marks or complaints.
Equipment: Vector Industries standard issued Softsuit, and personal effects.

Is this good? ^^;; ))

Is this good?(Aye.)

Chenkov Rembrandt
Exploration Division
Vector Industries

Your request to join the expedition to 37 Geminorum is approved. Your vessel is authorized to rendez-vous with the Dagda at whatever time is to your convenience.

Dr. Helmer,
Extra-Solar Exploration Command

--------------------

Huiría edged around the hotspring, eyeing the roiling water at the center for a bit before moving to one of the exiting tunnels behind Nernos and Vigo. Suddenly, there was a loud crunch, and Vigo looked down.

"Crrrrap!" Huiría seemed distressed. "Vigo! Watch where you're going? I hope you didn't just detroy something interesting and irreplaceable."

Vigo backed up and crouched down to see what had made the noise. "Ah."
"Ah? What does 'ah' mean?"
"It means I think I know what this is."
"What?"
Huiría and Nernos crouched down next to him to get a good look at some mixed fragments of clay and crystal and a smudge of off-white gunk.
"Looks darn similar to a miniaturized methanogen collumn to me," said Nernos.
"If you ask me, that's darn close. Looks disturbingly similar to what we found on Harvest." Vigo shined his flashlight down the nearby tunnel. To Nernos and Huiría's- but not Vigo's, if his face was any indication- surprise, the walls glittered with fractal-branching patterns, while mineralized trees of all descriptions grew out weird angles and intervals.
"If that ain't life, it's protolife at least. Nernos, make sure you keep a sample of the white stuff. We probably won't find anything more familiar nearby. That bubbling gives me the creeps, and if that pool ever blows like I'm paranoid about it doing, mineralife is probably all that could weather it- heck, it'd thrive. Looks like it is thriving."

Huiría looked skeptical. "You're jumping to conclusions, Vigo. It is impressive, but it could be entirely abiotic. I'll give some support to the idea that the pool could be a geyser. The cieling seems to support that. It would be unusual, to be sure, but this is, after all, an alien planet."

Nernos suddenly pulled Huiría's arm. "Huir, I think I saw something move!"
"Oh, don't be silly."
"No! I'm serious! Over there, under the ridge." Nernos waved a finger at the wide, short gap between the cieling and wall into which the pool emptied. Huiría carefully stepped over and shined her light back and forth through the gap.
"Well, I don't see anything moving, but it looks cavernous and interesting. Does anyone feel like exploring these other tunnels first?"

Janice the Elder raises her hand. "No risk, no gain. I vote we go for it."

"Agreed. We should drop a repeater package here though, just in case communications get spotty later on though."

Wilson proceeded to do just that - taking a micro-repeater and placing it on a bare patch on the wall. A press of a button and it had secured itself to the wall.

"Should survive a couple hot baths. Let's get moving."

"So, um, these guns are going to be kinda useless if we are underwater arn't they?" Janice asked, fingering the guard on her pistol.

"That's what the sword is for - unless someone brought a speargun? Just remember to lunge. Don't try to swing or it will likely bounce off. A knife in the off hand would be good too."

"Thank goodness this thing doesn't use chemical propellant. Water has no effect on it." Ensign Clarke softly pats the powergun on his hip.

"Bloodspot, what did I tell you about thinking?" Janice sighs, giving the ensign a wry look. "Fine, you can fire it underwater. How does a powergun work?"

"Um... it annihilates an extremely pure copper lattice."

"Turning it into energy, right?" Janice takes on the tone of a very tired second-grade teacher. Zeyad, knowing full-well what's coming, coughs lightly and examines the structures on the walls.

"Yeah."

"What does this energy do to the air it goes through?"

Clarke begins to realize his error. "Turn it to plasma."

"What do you think it will do when it fires through water?"

The ensign grimaces. "Explosively vaporize it and turn it to plasma."

"Right. Now, is exploding things in an incompressible medium like, oh, water a good idea or a bad idea?"

"A very bad idea, ma'am."

"Right. Now I don't want to see your hands near that weapon until you figure out how to use it properly. Damn, what are they training you Navy boys anyway nowadays?"

Clarke quietly seethes to himself as Janice shakes her head and pats her knife. "Sharp objects are definitely the way to go here... that or magnesium flares." Wry grin. "Those are handy makeshift weapons at times."

"Well, rather violent thoughts we're having. I think I'd prefer to take my specimens alive if possible."
Vigo gave Nernos a nudge. "Hey, better safe than sorry. Nothing moved on Harvest, but I doubt the same will hold true here. If there's anything here at all, that is. Um, Huir?"

Apparently asking her question only as a courtesy, Huiría was already squirming through the crack and tapping a piton with rope threaded through into the rock. Quite suddenly, one hand slipped, and she dissapeared over the cliff edge- except for the fingers of her other hand, conveniently placed for balance while hammering.
"Huiría! Are you all right?"
"Uh... guys, I think you'll be interested in this. It's slippery, it's slimy, and there's something large and long and definitely not geologic-looking hanging off of it." The hand disappeared.
Nernos walked to the edge and peered over, to find Huiría swinging on the rope a few feet below. A patch of the off-white "rock" had scraped away where Huiría's hands had been, revealing a pinkish interior and sparkling grey, hopefully real this time, rock beneath. Huiría had her lamp focused on one particular part of the wall where a series of yellowish-green bubbly strands were hanging onto the white stuff.
"Looks sortof like the bubble strands we found on the surface."
"Aye. But that's not the most exciting bit."
Tilting her head to one side, Huiría's lamplight illuminated a thick grey wrinkly rope in the middle of the waterfall. Hanging from the wall by one blunt end, the other end tapered off and swung loosely. Blood red feathery fringes hung out along the sides of its bottom half.
"Whoa. Cool. Hey, everybody, come see!"

(*bump* Live, thread, live! We are barely a tenth through the storyline!)

*The Shokon entered Hyperspace, travelling at a speed greater then light could travel. What would have normally tooken years to reach now took only a matter of hours. After travelling in Hyperspace for a short time, the Shokon dropped back into real space a couple hundred kilometers from the Dagda's current position. it opened a com channel with them.*

Captain: "I am Captain Hitoma of the Vector Industries Exploration classed Cruiser, the Shokon. Requesting permission to transfer Lara Lightpaw from Vector Industries Exploration Divison and Rico Tyrell from Vector Industries' Third Research and Development Divison for Mission Briefing and transfer to planet."

*Lara was by the captain's side, her tail swaying back and forth slowly. She was bored, personally she hated being on a ship, she'd much rather be down on the planet.*

Lara: "I wonder where Rico is right now? I haven't seen her since we started preparing for the Hyperspace jump..."

*She thought outloud, a slightly annoying habit she had.*

Janice the Elder cants her head while looking at the strange creature (?), frowning slightly. "Interesting. What is it?"

Orbit
Captain: "I am Captain Hitoma of the Vector Industries Exploration classed Cruiser, the Shokon. Requesting permission to transfer Lara Lightpaw from Vector Industries Exploration Divison and Rico Tyrell from Vector Industries' Third Research and Development Divison for Mission Briefing and transfer to planet."
"Understood, Shokon. Dock Starboard 3 is open. Please follow the blinkenlights. Dagda out."
On the starboard side of the brick, a ring of green light began flashing.

'Crystaline Creature' Room
"Not a friggin' clue, but I can take a guess. Betcha the red bits are for hydrogen sulphide gas exchange. Anybody wanna poke it? No? Alrighty, Huir, keep movin'."
Nernos set down his pack and took out a telescoping gripper before clipping himself followed by his gear onto Huiría's line and lowering himself through the fissure and down the cliff face. Reaching out with the gripper, he took hold of the rope, finding it to be rather squishy. Immediately upon being touched, the object pulled in its red plumes and contracted into a wrinkly blob, tightly gripping the wall with its blunt end as hot water dribbled over it.
"Whoa! If that don't mean it's alive, I don't know what would."
A good tug separated the creature from the wall, taking a chunk of the thick bacterial mat along with it. Nernos held it as far away as possible as the creature squirmed.
"Go, go! Down, I need something to stand on!"
Keeping one hand on the climbing rope and the other hand holding the squirming rope, Nernos slowly slid down the cliff above Huiría until they reached the cave floor. Nernos set down his catch on the ground, keeping it pinned with the gripper while directing Huiría to find the proper bits of equipment in his pack, eventually slipping the creature into a large plastic bag perforated with tiny airholes. Once inside, the creature curled up around its block of bacteria and settled down.

With that job taken care of, the two of them started looking around. Almost in unison, Huiría and Nernos yelled "Hey, everybody! This place is incredible!"
Feeling something hit his arm, Nernos looked up to see the cieling arched hundred of feet high overhead covered in strings and loops of snottites dripping sulphuric acid. The cavern's gypsum walls were sculpted and waved as though they were being melted away, and every few meters held branching patterns and patches of rust-colored scratches and pits. The waterfall fed into a single large lake covering most of the cavern floor, and several pools so clear that you could easily mistake them for being empty had formed from condensation. The lake bubbled with methane and hydrogen sulphide gas, and contained black, blue, orange, and white reefs and collumns near its center, while pallisade walls of thin black collumns stood in the shallows. Brilliant blue and orange mats covered nearly every submerged surface, while waving sheets and strings of white mucus floated free along with fuzzy pods broken off of the yellow-green 'weeds'.

*The Captain looked to Lara.*

Hitoma: "The Ambassador vessel is ready to transport you and Rico. I trust you know how to find it?"

*The blue haired catgirl ran a hand through her hair.*

Lara: "S'yeah! Lata Cap!"

*Hitoma shook his head as the ruins explorer left the bridge, heading for the docking bay where the small starship would carry her and Rico.*

Hitoma: "I really wished she wouldn't call me that... Megumi, open a channel with the Dagda."

Megumi: "Aye aye sir."

*The catgirl heading up communications confirmed the order, opening a channel with the Dagda.*

Hitoma: "Dagda, this is Captain Hitoma of the Shokon. I have a special request given to me directly from the CEO of Vector Industries. On board this vessel is a platoon of prototype A.G.W.S., or Anti-Gravity Weapons System, as well as MechWarrior Grade Realians who will be piloting them. The request is as follows: 'In the event of a combat situation, we respectfully request permission to deploy our A.G.W.S.s ahead of any military forces you may have to engage the hostile units, in order to gauge the combat effectiviness of our humanoid weapons platform. There is no need for you to supply combat support, and the A.G.W.S.s units themselves are to be considered expendable.' That is all. I await your response."

*Lara found Rico in her assigned chamber, vomiting in the bathroom.*

Lara: "What's the matter hun?"

*The red haired catgirl wiped her mouth, then went to the bathroom sink to wash out her mouth.*

Rico: "I-it's no-nothing... Jus-just a lil motion sick, that's all..."

Lara: "AhHA! You got hyperspace sickness, don't you? Oh wow, I've never meet anyone who has that before. What's it like? Does it feel like your stomach is trying to kick your lungs out of your body? How's your vision? How many fingers am I holding up? Seventeen? Twenty?! This is so neat!"

*Lara meant well, but Rico didn't find it funny. She felt like crap, and Lara's teasing did little to make her feel any better.*

Rico: "Shut up, and leave me the hell alone!"

*Lara ducked as a bar of soap went flying though the air towards her head.*

Lara: "Geez, I was just joking! Come on, we're getting ready to go over to the Dagda."

Rico: "I can't... I can barely walk straight, and if the ship doesn't stop spinning I'm gonna throw up again. I'll go when I'm over this..."

*Lara shrugged.*

Lara: "Okay. See ya later gator..."

*She left Rico's room, took an elevator to the docking bay level. In the center of the largely empty bay was the Ambassador ship. Lying one wall were four A.G.W.S.s, the Realian storage units next to them. Lara wanted so bad to pilot one of those babies, but she heard only Realians could. Something about normal nekos not being able to handle the stresses involved with piloting something so advanced. She boarded the ship without further ado.

Minutes later...

*Docking with the Dagda, the ambassador ship disembarked it's cargo, one Ruins Explorer with all her gear. She wore her trademark schoolgirl outfit with the bells on the sleeve, the ones that when they jingled caused Captain Hitoma to break out in a cold sweat. Her kipsack held her personal effects, minor tidbits she liked to bring with her: clothes, various objects of dubious nature, communication devices, and such forth. The Realian Control Device hung from her wrist, attached by a lyard string to a bracelet. She waved to the welcoming committie.*

Lara: "I'm here, Lara Lightpaw, the greatest Ruins Explorer to grace the universe with her subtle charm and uber cuteness! I'll be signing autographs later. Rico was suppoed to come too, but she's got hyperspace sickness and can't come yet. Poor her. Ya know, I hear that only one in every six hundred or so Krowemohians get Hyperspace sickness... Well, luckily I don't have it, cause I was born to travel in space! Hmmm... So um, what's up? What's the mission?"

*The Eniqcirans woud never know what hit them.* :P

"Wow..."

Jon had looked up almost as soon as his feet hit bottom, and he barely stepped back before Wilson then Janice hit the ground beside him. After a moment of staring around the room in wonder he turned and looked at the stream of liquid flowing over the spot where the creature had been.

"Where there is a silt feeder, there is silt - it didn't seem to be stripping away the rock so there must be some bacterial or similar life in the liquid."

Taking out another pouch he removed a sample bag and held it in the stream. Wrapping it in another bag he put it in a sample case.

"Now let's take a look at the water..."

Cupping a hand he let some liquid pool there before examining it with his 'corder. Working the controls with one hand he switched to a microscopic view and started slowly moving the device over the liquid looking for whatever the creature fed on.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not, nothing identifiable lived in the water. It was, however, heavily laden with dissolved hydrogen sulphide, iron phosphate and numerous nitrates and sulphurous salts.

Employing gaffer tape, Nernos hung the bag containing his worm into the water near the base of the fall, just incase it needed to be wet, as it likely did. Soon after, following a bit of aweful gazing, Nernos and Huiría got busy setting up a large inflatable tent.

When Vigo and Zavier made it down the cliff, they began helping Huiría and Nernos with the tent, and got a couple more from their own packs. After inflating them, the three tents were coupled together, and, after checking the seals to ensure no nasty chemicals got through, the four entered, and vocally indicated that the rest should follow at some point.

Past two rubber seals and a honkin' huge can of lysol was the rubbery yellow tri-chambered interior living space of the tent. Each explorer claimed a corner, and began spreading out their 'stuff'.

Retreating to a corner out of site, Huiría began carefully peeling off her MCP Environmental Suit so as to change into something more comfortable. Meanwhile, Vigo and Zavier pushed each other back and forth in the center section until Vigo gave up, let Zavier have his spot, and crawled over to see what Nernos was doing, who was sitting cross-legged typing on his trusty laptop and watching the ROV feed as it rolled into the lake. Nernos piloted the little robot through the muck until it came to a shallow point where it could crawl over the palisades and into the center of the pool. Finding the ROV suddenly in rather deep water, Nernos spun the wheels for a moment before switching on corner-mounted fanblades to swim about with, albeit erraticaly.

Making its way in between two large black pillars, the ROV was suddenly jerked to the side and jiggled about violently, the image of one tentacular object flashing across the screen for a moment before the rov was suddenly floating freely again.
Nernos took a deep breath, and held up a finger. "Haaa... I do believe that the worm is not alone."

[quote="Eniqcir"]The ESEC is currently looking for volunteers from the Triumvirate for a SEACTO mission to the planet GEM37b.

Currently designated "Labyrinth", the planet's common name has not been finalized yet. Among the nominations are Arawn and Llyr.

The expedition will be led by the recently completed Dagda-Brigit, first of the Legendary-class exploratory vessels. Interested parties are asked to contact Dr. Helmer at Extra-Solar Exploration Command, Down South, Amazonia Province, Eniqcir. National governments are asked to use the usual channels through the Council of Diplomacy. Limited living space is available aboard the Dagda, but participants are welcome to send their own vessels as well.

Incoming Transmission from Lord Colonel Dresk.
"I send you greetings from the Steel Legion of Armageddon. We a re interested in your mission. We wish to provide military support for your mission if you do not already have it. We are a highly advanced, mechanized military with large amounts of infantry and advanced teleporting technology should you need it. Please accept our offer as we seek as many allies as possible."

Fingol
fingol finding a dry and relatively safe looking place to sit does just that. microbots arrayed quiescently beside him. he leans back and closes his eyes.
time to rest and recouver expended strength.

hope and excitement are one thing but he knows to avoid unneccessary risks, at least he likes to think that he does.

the spy eye does not require his constant attention. it continues its catalogueing of the limestone formations ahead.

fingols mind watches through it as it does for a time, but only with partial attention as he begins to drift off into a nice, relatively safe little nap. the first of what he expects to be many down in here.

before he drifts entirely off to snooze land he has his suit run its standard selftests which conferm that everything with it is still just fine.
Fingol awoke to find a flanged black disc had bounced off of his arm and now lay on the ground beside him. Moving jerkily, the disc began rocking back and forth, before spontaneously jerking forward several centimeters. Two paddle-like structures extended and began flailing as the object jerked its way towards the small stream, finally plunking in. After a few moments, the disc shot up out of the water and lazily glided down the length of the cave until it was completely out of sight, leaving a small section of the stream bed devoid of color.

Dagda
Lara: "I'm here, Lara Lightpaw, the greatest Ruins Explorer to grace the universe with her subtle charm and uber cuteness! I'll be signing autographs later. Rico was suppoed to come too, but she's got hyperspace sickness and can't come yet. Poor her. Ya know, I hear that only one in every six hundred or so Krowemohians get Hyperspace sickness... Well, luckily I don't have it, cause I was born to travel in space! Hmmm... So um, what's up? What's the mission?"
A women in blue flightsuit floated at attention along with a brown suited man.
"Cybernator Níanthaím, at your service. Mission parameters may have been altered since the last updates from Brigit, it is best that we go to the Sim Room. Come."

Green lights lined the 'floor' and 'cieling' of the tubular hallway. Níanthaím grabbed onto a set of rungs and began handwalking to the north end. The brownsuit whispered something just barely inaudible just before opening the door into a cylindrical spacewalk prep room.
Rather hyper.
Agreed.
Just beyond the prep room was a long rectangular hallway of submersible dimensions. Somewhere along here, Níanthaím dissapeared, but the brownsuit continued to lead Lara to the end of the hallway, down a cylindrical shaft and into a relatively open area where waited another blue-clad women floating in front of a sliding doorway.
"Here we are, Sim Room. She'll take care of you for now,we'll have some else down here to escort you to temporary quarters before we send the next team out."

The blue-clad guard instructed Lara to stay still for a moment while she waved a Y-shaped device over her eyes, then popped a cylinder out of the bottom and removed to grey-rimmed contact lenses.
"Just put these in, and then you're prepped for the Sim Room."

Upon opening the door, only a misty grey wall was visible. After pushing through, though, the bland grey gave way to a TRON-esque blue wireframe environment. A simulated lightsource glowed yellow-ish off-white in the distance, and a globe of 37Geminorum b floated in the center of the room. An androgynous voice spoke.

The second planet of Thirty-Seven Geminorum, temporarily labelled 'Labyrinth' is an extremely geoactive world. Hotspot volcanos, calderas, and geyser fields are ubiquitous. Extreme axial tilt causes a reversal of Tellurian environments, with tropical conditions near the poles and permanent winter at the equator. The atmosphere is heavy with ozone, hydrogen sulphide, and sulphur dioxide, making it completely poisonous to humans, and indeed most known lifeforms, save in equatorial regions where the concentration of ozone is reduced. The first surface team has confirmed the presence of life, though its extent is unknown. The only available samples at this time indicate the use of nitrogenous bases on a tetrose chain as the mechanism of genetic transfer.

What further do you request?

Incoming Transmission from Lord Colonel Dresk.
"I send you greetings from the Steel Legion of Armageddon. We are interested in your mission. We wish to provide military support for your mission if you do not already have it. We are a highly advanced, mechanized military with large amounts of infantry and advanced teleporting technology should you need it. Please accept our offer as we seek as many allies as possible."

Lord Colonel Dresk,

To be perfectly honest, I don't see much use for a military presence at Labyrinth. However, I am just a scientist, and have often been shown wrong in these matters, so I am open to the possibility, if only becuase it is, as they say, better to be safe than sorry. If you're looking for a field testing area, I'm afraid we must decline, but if you simply wish to join us in exploration, arrangements can be made. May I inquire, do you have suitable transportation of you own?

~Dr. Helmer,
Extra-Solar Exploration Command
Down South, Eniqcir

The Scolopendrans follow suit, entering the tent and getting more comfortable. Janice leaves her suit on, just in case--every team should always have one person ready for action... if she learned anything from Rime, that would be part of it.

Making its way in between two large black pillars, the ROV was suddenly jerked to the side and jiggled about violently, the image of one tentacular object flashing across the screen for a moment before the rov was suddenly floating freely again.
Nernos took a deep breath, and held up a finger. "Haaa... I do believe that the worm is not alone."
"I'd say that's a good call." Janice grimaces, prepping her helmet just in case something goes wrong. Kay, are you getting anything? "Oh, and Ensign?"

=There is something out there. We do not know if it is sentient or not. We will examine further.=

"Hmm?" David looks up, seeming very tired and none too happy with Depaulto. "Now what? Something about not shooting it?"

"Feel free to shoot it if it looks like trouble," Janice replies, "but not in here. Suit up and get ready to move."

"Right." Ensign Clarke gets up lazily, stretches a little, then slowly works back into his hardsuit. "So, please tell me we've got some more data incoming on this thingie."

"Right you are! Turning around..."
Nernos spun the ROV around, to face back where it had been a moment before. The water was now murky with disturbed silt, but a silhouette of something showed up between the bases of the pillars. Just a blob, possibly with fuzzy bits sticking out, although that could've just been the silt blurring its edges. The ROV cautiously moved closer, until once more it suddenly began spinning wildly as if smacked with a baseball bat. Frantically tapping the controls to get it stabilized, Nernos managed to bring the ROV back around just in time to see two long thick tentacles slithering out onto the lake bed as two more retracted underneath the blob. As its tentacles dragged the blob out of its hiding place and beyond the obscurring silt cloud, it became far more defined. The blob itself was a shape halfway between that of a squid and an octopus, with four slits running down its length with the ends of blood-red feathers just poking out. The blob-like body split seamlessly in the front into the two long tentacles now dragging it across the lake bed, with two more tentacles dragging along in the back. Almost immediately after a forward tentacle nudged into a fuzz-covered reef, the animal became a blur of movement, all four major limbs propelling it up onto the rockface where it sat like a splayed-out octopus, with four more tentacles hanging lazily from its underside. Not noticed for a moment due to distraction with the blob was the fact that the reef was suddenly no longer fuzzy.

So absorbed in this creature was Nernos and the ROV that yet another was almost overlooked- a small arrowhead with four 'tongues' arranged around a bony beak- until the blob moved again, two of its major tentacles flashing out to snatch the smaller creature and pass it onto the minor ones, which began scraping at and feeding the arrowhead up into the body of the blob. Just below, fuzz reappeared on the reef as crumbs fell.

"Sweetness. Must not've liked the taste of the ROV. I sure hope that thing is as exclusively aquatic as it looks. Anybody feel like trying to capture it? Eh? Eh?"

Arthur, so far remaining unusually quiet, replied with "I wouldn't try to talk to it, let alone capture it. And I'll talk to just about anything."

*Lara pointed to her catears as she passed the two who had lead her to the SimRoom.*

Lara: "Ya know, these aren't here just for decoration. They work much better then normal human ones."

*Winking and sticking her tongue out at them playfully, she slid past into the SimRoom and let the other blue clad female wave an odd Y-shaped device over her eyes, then she put in the contacts given to her. She assimulated the data given to her, then nodded, serious etched on her face.*

Computer: "What further do you require?"

Lara: "Give me all the data that has been collected up to this point in time, as well as display for me a topographical map of the current location of the Away Team. Also, if you could be so nice as to show me a timeline of events and data acquastion beginning with the touchdown of the away team to now, I would be very happy. And one last thing... Could you forward all I just requested to the Shokon's computer as well as Doctor Tyrell's U.M.H. Device?"

*Despite being overly hyper and rather... Escentric, Lara was professionally serious when it came to doing her job.
*Meanwhile, onboard the Shokon, Captain Hitoma await the Dagda's reply to Vector Industries' request concerning the A.G.W.S.*

~~~~~~~~

*Popping a pill into her mouth and washing it down with a flavored soft drink, Rico finally managed to get over her HyperSpace Sickness. She looked terrible though, her almost all the color drained from her face, her hair matted to her skull with sweet. She'd have to take a shower before she went over to the other ship. Staring at herself in the mirror, she turned on the sink and splashed her face with some nice cold water.*

Rico: "Damn... I hate this... Ugh..."

*She grabbed at a small device on her thigh, her U.M.H. Device, then brought it up to her face, activating the communicator on it. His face appeared on the holographic screen that floated just above it.*

Rico: "Captain Hitoma, I will be ready to transfer to the Dagda in twenty minutes. Please have an Ambassador Ship ready for me by that time."

Hitoma: "Will do. It's good to see your back to normal."

Rico: "Yeah... Thanks."

Hitoma: "No problem. May the Goddess Cori smile on you."

*With a hiss the holographic screen vanished, the device falling silent.*

Computer: "What further do you require?"

Lara: "Give me all the data that has been collected up to this point in time, as well as display for me a topographical map of the current location of the Away Team. Also, if you could be so nice as to show me a timeline of events and data acquastion beginning with the touchdown of the away team to now, I would be very happy. And one last thing... Could you forward all I just requested to the Shokon's computer as well as Doctor Tyrell's U.M.H. Device?"

*Despite being overly hyper and rather... Escentric, Lara was professionally serious when it came to doing her job.
*Meanwhile, onboard the Shokon, Captain Hitoma await the Dagda's reply to Vector Industries' request concerning the A.G.W.S.*
Complying....
The globe expanded and unfolded into a square topographical map centering on Brigit's landing site. The VNP and Brigit were highlighted as narration picked up again.
Brigit touched down as close to the von Neumann Probe as possible, on a cliff in the center of a hotspring field. ROV exploration of the area uncovered advanced plant and bacterial life in the hotsprings and streamwater, but all nonsubmerged surfaces were confirmed sterile. Samples were returned to Brigit for preliminary analysis, which has uncovered TNA as the genetic molecule. Bacterial cells seem to be varients on Tellurian stromatlites. Plant tissue is also mostly analogous to its Tellurian counterpart, but lacks identifiable analogs to chloroplasts. Primary energy source is the oxidation of hydrogen sulphide.

The map began to scroll, highlighting the path that the team took to enter the caves.

Cave types so far identified are basaltic lava tubes, eroded pumice beds, and gypsum from eroded limestone. Primary cave formation agents seem to be volcanic activity and sulphuric acid, as opposed to carbonic acid. The team followed a subsurface river to an approximate depth of 2.5 kliks. Numerous signs of methanogenic life were seen, but no samples have been returned for analysis, and this conjecture remains unconfirmed.

During the last sequence, the map became a translucent wireframe, and the simulation continued to highlight the team's path through the caves.

The team encountered a cavern apparently formed by a subsurface geyser. In this room were identified several candidates for methanogenic life, including multiple candidates for crystalline life of the type encountered on Harvest. No samples have been returned for analysis. Beyond this, the team encountered a much larger gypsum cavern, with undeniable animal lifeforms. So far encountered are a wall-worm and two cephalopod-analogs. Possible plant-analogs have also been observed. Likely energy source is the oxidation of hydrogen sulphide, but the area appears to have a limited oxygen supply. Further analysis is required.

Do you require further data?

"Dagda, this is Captain Hitoma of the Shokon. I have a special request given to me directly from the CEO of Vector Industries. On board this vessel is a platoon of prototype A.G.W.S., or Anti-Gravity Weapons System, as well as MechWarrior Grade Realians who will be piloting them. The request is as follows: 'In the event of a combat situation, we respectfully request permission to deploy our A.G.W.S.s ahead of any military forces you may have to engage the hostile units, in order to gauge the combat effectiviness of our humanoid weapons platform. There is no need for you to supply combat support, and the A.G.W.S.s units themselves are to be considered expendable.' That is all. I await your response."
"Assuming it becomes necessary, you are authorized to apply whatever force you deem necessary for your own protection. I certainly hope that doesn't happen, though. Dagda out."

*Lara shook her head.*

Lara: "Nah, but keep me up to date... On second thought, do we have any live feeds coming from the away team? Like a suit camera, or something?"

((OOC: Um... The information was transfered to the Shokon, right Eni-chan?))


*Captain Hitoma grinned as his com officer relay the response.*

Hitoma: "Looks like we have a go. Let's get those Units prepped and ready for action."

*His XO relayed the command. Down in the docking bay, there was a flurry of activity as Realians were awaken from their storage units and the four A.G.W.S. were put through their pre-launch process. It would take a few minutes, as systems had to be checked and double checked to ensure optimum performace.*

*Lara shook her head.*

Lara: "Nah, but keep me up to date... On second thought, do we have any live feeds coming from the away team? Like a suit camera, or something?"
Insufficient Bandwidth.

((OOC: Um... The information was transfered to the Shokon, right Eni-chan?)) Aye.

Computer: "Insufficient Bandwidth."

*Lara sighed and smacked her forward.*

Lara: "Insufficient bandwidth? What kind of response is THAT?! Don't answer that... Ugh... Insuffieint bandwidth... In this day and age... HA! ANyways, keep me up to date then. Hmmm... Do you know when I will be able to go planetside?"

Yes.
...
Experience suggests that you meant to say 'tell me when I will be able to go planetside'. Estimated Time of Departure 2 hours.

Jon had crawled inside along with the other two, though he was the only one still awake. Janice had yawned, said something about being a little tired, and drifted right off. She had kept her suit on, and likely a good thing as she was making occasional pawing motions in her sleep. Her tail was twitching as well - Jon hoped it was a rodent and not a human she was dreaming of hunting.

Wilson had watched the ROV monitor for a while as well, but had then taken off most of the hard plates from his suit and laid himself out in a corner. How he slept on his helmet Jon would never know.

Jon still watched the monitor however. Taking occasional notes and making some quick sketches he tried to extrapolate hidden parts of some of the creatures from their looks - if they didn't get a sample he wanted something to put next to the description. An 'artists rendering' though he was no artist.

"You ready?" Janice locks her helmet in place, then looks over to the suited-up ensign who nods in response, securing the last connections. "Good. We might as well go out to see if anything's taken an interest in the campsite."

"Fair enough, ma'am." Clarke unslings his relatively low-caliber powergun machine pistol and holds it at low-ready. "Now... is this a stand-up fight or just another bug hunt?" He manages a grin.

Janice the Elder chuckles despite herself and the shriveled-up nature of the joke. "Bug hunt, most certainly. Just don't shoot things instantly... you don't know who you may piss off." Speaking of which, Kay, tell me if you start sensing anybody in that way you do.

-We have not felt any sentient minds yet, but I will keep feeling.-

Good. Janice and the junior officer cycle through the airlock, looking about outside the chain of bubble tents.

((OOC: Should I take up the role as DM like I did for Rime or Reason, or does Eni-chan want the honor?))

[OOC: For now, only Eniqcir knows what the cave looks like and what aliens are coming. ; ) ]

((OOC: Well then... DO something. ;P))

((OOC: Well then... DO something. ;P))
Your wish is my command... in this case, anyway.
IC:

After a stretch of boring video in which nothing at all exciting happened, Nernos glanced over his shoulder at Jon. "Y'know, I can just capture some frames for you to sketch at leisure if you want."
Following the single sentence, however, something twitched, and his eye was again fixed on the display.
"Well, wake me up if the tent starts getting ripped up." Arthur crawled away into his own little corner, peeling off the rubbery MCP suitdown to white longjohns and curling up inside a handy-dandy low-volume spaceblanket sleeping bag. With his eyes open. Very, very open.

Outside, all seemed calm. Shortly after Janice & Clarke exited, the ground vibrated almost unnoticeably for a few seconds, rippling the surface of the lake. On a quick scan of the waters, something seemed to be cauing a wave out in the middle, but whatever it was completely submerged before any sort of detail could be seen.
For a brief moment, a small gust of wind blew past Clarke's ear, followed by a short buzz, and the silence until something went 'clink' far away. Moving away from the small ambient noise of the tents, the steady dripping of water from the cieling and walls could be heard among the background of the trickling waterfall. Numerous ledges and small hollows jutted out or delved into the cavern walls at semi-random intervals, the occasional one of which was just deep enough that the back, if any existed, was out of site. The only definite exit tunnel to be seen was at the far end of the cavern, where the lake curved around and flowed out through an extremely low channel, the jagged edge of the rock just centimeters above the water's lightly sloshing surface. Deep growls reminiscnet of the Dragon's Throat issued forth from here. But just over the other side of this shallow projection of the lake ran a thin ledge along about half of the back wall, connecting to a downward leading tunnel about 1.5 meters high near the same wall thatheld the lake drain. In this part of the cavern, something tickled at the mind of telepathic persuasion. No clear words, not even clear concepts, but a feeling that something was definitely thinking, and possibly about you.

Up on the surface, Brigit began warming up her EK cells, getting ready to return for the next group of explorers before retrieving the first.

Deep Under Ground
A few more shallow rumbles hit the cavern, forcing Arthur to adjust the position of his pillow. Instead of quickly passing, though, this time the tremor continued for several minutes straight. Nernos, now trying to pull the ROV out of the lake, decided that nothing was likely to destroy it anyway, and it could be left until the water stopped sloshing.

At the end of the cave, the number and type of vague feelings quickly transformed into a sense of anxiety. Just as the tremor reached its peak and began to subside, a scratching noise came from the exit tunnel, as well as several points high up on the wall, and a small creature emerged from the tunnel moving rather quickly. The creature was arched over, covered in hard plates, and possibly bipedal. Any further detail would have to wait, however, as it did not stick around for inspection, but took a flying leap up onto the wall of the cavern and dissapeared into one of the recesses. Just then, the waterfall stopped.

"Hokay... that's weird."

"I'm not getting anything from Kay," Janice replies, "so sentience is still up in the air, bordering on 'no.' Odd feelings though... that must've been what Celestial was talking about on Reason."

"What?" The ensign asks intelligently.

"Never mind."

"What was that - did you get a good shot of it?"

Jon didn't wait for the answer, but began pulling on his outer suit again.

"Maybe it left some droppings or something - I'm going out there as soon as I..."

With a whump he fell back onto the pile of stuff he had in one corner, the boot he had been wrestling with finally defeating him. Pulling it on with a quick jerk he grabbed the other and shoved it on as well.

"I wonder what's happening out there. Maybe we should get our suits on, just in case."

Nudging Wilson with one hand he continued to strap pieces on - the next being his helmet.

Janice toggles Oscar's suit radio, speaking quietly. "Depaulto here. Ensign Clarke and I are out here and had eyes on the critter. Some sort of armored rat-sized thing, no idea on locomotion. I'm not going after it; I willfully separated from the group back on Rime and I remember where it got me."

=We're not that bad, are we?=

Of course not, Kay. You just know full well how unenjoyable the experience and acclimation was.

"O dear. Jon, are you sure that's a good idea? I'm not liking these tremors." said Nernos. "Um... did it just get unusually quiet?"
Arthur's eyes were still open. Very open. "No more waterfall."

Unknown creatures of the depths began stirring up the waters of the lake, scurrying about for some unknowable purpose. There was stirring on land as well. The walls echoed with the scratches of Labyrinthian claws against the rocks, well out of view of the humans. A steady clonking was followed by yet another armored creature barreling out of the exit tunnel, practically straight for Clarke- but spinning on spindly legs and leaping up the walls like the first.

But this one paused. It was large, perhaps the size of a labrador. The thing turned for a moment as it hung by a claw from the ledge, extending a fleshy protrusion at the aliens out from beneath its armor.
Why do you loiter?
And then it was gone. And the noises stopped. All of them
Complete and utter silence.

For a moment.

Until water filled the air with the sound of a landing turbojet.

"Ummm..." Clarke says slowly, "ma'am?"

"Ya?" Janice frowns.

"I think this is our cue to run."

"Agreed."

The two bolt for the nearest shelter behind an outcropping on the wall, peering out carefully.

"Janice!"

The neko was already uphowever, and wisely reaching for her helmet.

"What's going on? It sounds like a jet engine outside!"

"I don't know - get your hardsuit on as soon at that helmet's sealed though. We might need to move any second now."

Wilson had already finished sealing his helmet and had manuvered his pack between the entrance and himself. He was buckling on the chest plate first - keeping the vital organs protected.

"Holy Crap! Holycrapholycrapholycrapholycrap...." Nernos scrambled with the keys to get the ROV feed back. Alternately covering his ears and pressing keys, he swiveled the camera up out of the water.

"Uh... guys... Do waterfalls usually go sideways?"
Arthur remained fairly undaunted. Something made a sloshing noise against the bottom edge of the wall of the tent. "Hm. Probably a good thing we didn't stay in the geyser room."


A wide thin sheet of steaming hot water poured horizontally out of the crack through which the team had entered. Replacing the cieling with a roiling wall of white, the steam and spary drifted about to fill most of the cavern, and rain pitter-pattered all over the lake.

Falling just short of the back wall of the cavern, the massive extrusion of hydrogen oxide crashed down into the far end of the lake, swelling it over its banks and refilling the various isolated pools scattered about the cavern. Very Large Waves repeatedly flooded the outlet tunnel through which the iron shrimp had come, and causing a most nauseating gurgling noise as the air which used to be there got shoved out of the way. Slightly Less Large Waves bounced back and forth between the ends of the lake in rather violent interference patterns, contributing to the bathing of the cavern floor in a thin layer of weak sulphuric acid.

All in all, Janice&Clarke got a pretty good view of a hurricane in a bottle.

The efforts of the three explorers to protect themselves from an imagined horror came to naught as the hurricane died down. Still, helmets were locked and plates were clasped and they might as well have a look. Passing through the tent seals they made their way over to where Janice and Clark were observing the effects of the micro-storm.

"So, um, what happened?" asked Jon somewhat sheepishly as he stood beside Janice.

*boing*
*Holy Ancient Thread Ressurection, Batman!*

Can I play the part of a skeleton you find laying on the floor somwhere?

Can I play the part of a skeleton you find laying on the floor somwhere?OOC: Skeleton of what? No other humans have ever been there.

*bump*