NationStates Jolt Archive

Nirai Kanai, Altera

"Now don't go too far, Tim."

"I won't, mom."

The young twelve-year-old boy was playing hide-and-seek with his brothers on the tropical Alteran island of Nirai Kanai (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y160/DragoonKVess/Schematics/nirai_kanai_01.jpg) during a family reunion. He dissapeared into the trees to seek out his hiding brothers.

Actually two islands, one, Nirai, contains ruins not of Ancient Alteran origin, the other, Kanai, is covered by a city built due to the tourist trade. Both are connected by surface and sub-surface tunnels and bridges.

Tim found what he thought was an out-cropping of rock, but was really part of the ruins, and climbed on top. He slid down to the other side to see if any of his brothers were hiding there.

Then, he heard a cracking noise beneath his feet. Looking down, Tim saw the ground beneath his feet cracking into little chunks. He was frozen with a mixture of fear and curiosity, unable to move. Suddenly, the ground gave way, and he fell into an air shaft of an ancient underground complex that had been covered by nature over the years.

Greg, one of Tim's brothers, saw the whole thing from his hiding spot a few yards away. The fourteen-year-old boy ran over to the whole and looked in. Tim lay at the bottom a few meters down. He had twisted his ankle on hitting the floor of the tunnel.

Greg marked the rocks with his jacket and ran back to where their parents were to get help.

Fifteen Days Later - Archeological Base Camp

One of the women in the main tent was holding a walkie-talkie conversation with another member of the team who had repelled down into the newly discovered underground complex.

"Hey, Doc, got enough light down there?"

"Yes. There are what appear to be light strips down here. Power source unkown."

"Any clue as to who built the place?"

"None at the moment. However, I can tell you this, judging from the arcitecture, it definitely wasn't the Ancient Alterans."

The connection started to get a little fuzzy at this point. The voice of the man exploring underground started to fade in and out with random periods of pure static punctuating his words.

"Find anything yet?"

"Not......ing......ye............My God!"

"Doc!? You find something!?"

"Ya.....coul........say.........som.....th...ng......like.....that."

Neo Roma, Botany - Twenty-Seven Days Later

"Are they sure about this?"

"Yes. They want us to send out a signal to all G.F.F.A. members inviting them to this world. Once here, they will be taken through the Stargate to Altera."

"Very unlike them to actually invite non-SeaQuestians to Altera."

"I know. But orders are orders."

"Go ahead and send the message."

"Yes, ma'am."

Messages

Coded Broadcast To All G.F.F.A. Member Nations:

The Imperial Nycarian Grand Navy Of SeaQuest requests that all member nations of the Galactic Federation Of Free Alliances send a team of scientists, engineers, and archeologists to our Botany colony. While your ships are left in orbit, the representatives you send will be taken to Altera via the Stargate. This is in regard to a recent archeological discovery of epic propertions.

Word of the discovery arrived in the Commissariat of Science. Flush from its present success in New Monterrey, it opted to send a team to investigate.

A reply was sent to the SeaQuestians-

"Regarding the recent "discovery of epic proportions," Commissariat of Science officials in the Archaeological Division would be happy to assist. We are sending a team right now."

A Tsolisovsky Science Ship, the Margaret Mead, filled with chemists, engineers, all kinds of scientists and archaelologists soon appeared at Botany Colony, awaiting instructions from SeaQuestian Authorities.

OOC: Guess its time to delete the bump posts.

IC: A transmission was sent up to the Margaret Mead:

We are sending up co-ordinates. Depending on what tech your ship is equipped with you can send a shuttle down to them as landing co-ordinates or transport your representatives down to them as a beam-down point.

OOC: Guess its time to delete the bump posts.

IC: A transmission was sent up to the Margaret Mead:

We are sending up co-ordinates. Depending on what tech your ship is equipped with you can send a shuttle down to them as landing co-ordinates or transport your representatives down to them as a beam-down point.

The Margaret Mead said:

"We have teleporters available, recently installed. They should be working, though some of our staff are nervous. We're beaming them down to the coordinates now..."

Sure enough, the first recorded New Dornalian use of a transporter commenced, as with transporter coordinates received, personnel and equipment made it to the surface in one piece.

Ambassador Terinxx, a Furling with a blonde fur coat, stood waiting for them at the co-ordinates. The co-ordinates were located in a field midway between Neo Roma and the mountain that contained the Botany Stargate Complex. Several vehicles were waiting behind him with Furling and Alteran marines in armor as the drivers.

"Greetings. Welcome to Botany. I'm Ambassador Terinxx."

Ternixx held out a furred paw-like hand in greeting after giving the usual SeaQuestian bow in welcome.

Ambassador Terinxx, a Furling with a blonde fur coat, stood waiting for them at the co-ordinates. The co-ordinates were located in a field midway between Neo Roma and the mountain that contained the Botany Stargate Complex. Several vehicles were waiting behind him with Furling and Alteran marines in armor as the drivers.

"Greetings. Welcome to Botany. I'm Ambassador Terinxx."

Ternixx held out a furred paw-like hand in greeting after giving the usual SeaQuestian bow in welcome.

Dr. Frederick Chagnon nodded and shook Ambassador Terinixx's hand heartily, saying with a big grin, "Hello. I'm Doctor Frederick Chagnon, Professor of Archaeology at University of Texas at Austin. I'm the head of the Commissariat's team for this project."

He pointed at the large convoys of men and vehicles the Commissariat had sent, and said, "Not sure if I sent too much. We sent a large team, with a mobile lab, student interns, all the necessary experts....everything but the kitchen sink. You said something about a Stargate?"

OOC: I will send someone. Only one person, to avoid problems when my civil war breaks out. Which it should quite soon. (Post soon)

OOC: @Starnell: Understood.

IC: Terinxx said, pointing a thumb towards the SeaQuestian vehicles behind him, "We actually were planning on suppling transport for everyone and any equipment they bring.

"As for the Stargate," he moves hand to point at a lone mountain sitting by itself, "its in that mountain. That's an hour or so drive away from this spot. I believe their should be enough room in the tunnels to the Gate Room. If not, we can just open the roof and lower the stuff in."

After receiving this transmission the Flightopian Congress sent a team on the Columbus-Class Research Ship F.T.S.C. Cessna.

After the 15 minute FTL trip to the Colony a message was sent from the ship now holding in orbit over the world.


This is the Flightopian research ship Cessna. We request permission to send down our research team to join with the other scientists to travel though the Stargate. We have brought mobile labs, full research teams that specialize in engineering, FTL travel, wormholes, archeology, chemistry, any field you can think of. Once we receive corrdinates we shall send shuttles down with the expidition.

The same message and the same co-ordinates that had been sent to the Margaret Mead was sent to the Cessna, with a slight addition of the mention of vehicles ready and waiting at the co-ordinates to transport passengers and cargo. This was to become the standard message for every craft that arrived in response to the message.

OOC: Basically, everyone can now arrive and get down to the co-ordinates with their people and supplies. I didn't want to have to make a seperate response post that was basically giving the same info and this will also allow things to speed up a little.

Master Scientist Orian read the report on the screen of his small ship. He had new orders from the Ministry of Science. They wanted him to go to the planet of a Staric ally, and see what was going on there, something about a big archeological discovery. Sounded ok, and maybe he would find something to do. He was a decent archeologist, but this would probably be boring. He was getting far to old for this, he wanted to settle on a nice primitive planet and study the native society. Oh well, another job couldn't kill him. Orian entered the coordinates for the jump into his nav computer, and as soon as he was out of the planets gravity his ship disappeared with naught but a small flash of light.

OOC: He is more of an anthropologist than anything else, but he is a jack of all trades and can help on other stuff too.

Commander John Undergon, the commander of the Cessna, gave a crisp salute to Colonel Rodger Sherman, the leader of the Flightopian expedition. Rodger returned the salute and boarded his shuttle. One out of the 10 that were bringing the team of 700 men and women to the site. Along with them were ATVs, mobile labs, scout UAVs, and full bathrooms.

The flight was brief one. As Sherman walked around the LZ he could see the plain excitement on the faces of him men. He would have been scared if he didn’t, Flightopia had once found something also called a Stargate. But, before it could be activated it was destroyed by a group of religious extremists. Now hearing of another discovery that could be the same thing everyone was ready to see how far the rabbit hole really went.

He colleted his people and cargo and they boarded their transports. The driver of Rodger's vehicle said they were heading to the mountain in the distance. About an hour or so away.

OOC: @Starnell: Hehe, the discovery is the kind that would need all the specialities that are coming, perhaps more. There is also a military aspect to the discovery, so don't be surprised when you get to Nirai Kanai and find your 'guide' is part of the Marines or Navy.
@All: Lets just say everyone gets to the planet, down to the co-ordinates and to the Gate Room. I don't want to make multiple posts about basically the same thing (the whole meet and greet thing).

IC: Before the Gate would even be powered up, every representitive was asked to sign a confidentiallity waiver to not discuss what they would see with any unathorized personnel.

As Terinxx handed out the waivers, he said, "The plan was to get at least five nations involved. Do any of you mind waiting to see if any more nations send representatives?"

OOC: Oh fun. Got to go to dinner, IC post when I get back.

OOC: Oh fun. Got to go to dinner, IC post when I get back.

OOC: Just wait till you get processed for the security I.D.s.

OOC: What do you mean?

"We don't mind waiting at all," Sherman said. He looked over his sholed at his men signing the waivers. Then he himself signed the form.

OCC: Is this an Atlatis style gate or Sg-1 style?

OOC: @Starnell: You'll find out when the time comes.
@Flightopia: I actually use both designs (SG-A version for formal locations like embassies and the SG-1 style for informal locations like starting colonies), but all mine have gold chevron lights instead of the cannon colors.

IC: Terinxx said, "Sorry about having to put you all through this, but the main reason for it is that the find is on Altera itself and they are very cautious about who they let on the capital planet. Another, not as major however, reason is the seriousness of the find. I've been told that it isn't of Ancient Alteran origin like all the other ruins on the planet."

OOC: Ok. So no post for now?

OOC: Ok. So no post for now?

OOC: Make an IC post whenever you want.

OOC: Ok. Tell me if this post is wrong.

Orian had left his ship and was now entering something called a Gate Room. As he came in he looked for some sort of leader in the room. Spotting Terinxx he walked over "Master Scientist Orian, Staric Ministry of Science."

OOC: @Starnell: The Botany part is just to get everyone together and get organized. No big IC things are really required at this stage.

IC: Terinxx rasied an eyebrow before handing one of the confidentiality waivers to Orian.

"I'm Ambassador Terinxx. Sign this please. Its a waiver saying that you won't disclose anything you see, hear, or learn at Nirai Kanai to any unauthorized personnel."

"Sure" Orian took the paper but grumbled under his breath cynically.

OOC: @Starnell: Hehe, the discovery is the kind that would need all the specialities that are coming, perhaps more. There is also a military aspect to the discovery, so don't be surprised when you get to Nirai Kanai and find your 'guide' is part of the Marines or Navy.
@All: Lets just say everyone gets to the planet, down to the co-ordinates and to the Gate Room. I don't want to make multiple posts about basically the same thing (the whole meet and greet thing).

IC: Before the Gate would even be powered up, every representitive was asked to sign a confidentiallity waiver to not discuss what they would see with any unathorized personnel.

As Terinxx handed out the waivers, he said, "The plan was to get at least five nations involved. Do any of you mind waiting to see if any more nations send representatives?"

Chagnon then signed the waiver, and then had his men sign it as well...

He then said, shrugging: "Well, Ambassador, when we send a team, we send a team....UCLA, UTexas, and Harvard wanted in, and so did a whole bunch of anthropology and archaeology majors. Sorry if its a bit much."

(OOC: You guys don't mind pausing do you? I'd really, really like to get in on this, but RL dictates that I won't be able to post until late tomorrow.)

A Tidani Whitestar appeared in orbit above the Botany Colony. After authorization was transmitted from the colony a shuttle decended and landed. On board was Dr. Frey Prasov, one of Tidan's most brilliant scientists and the one who had already spent much time working with SeaQuest on the Odyssey.

When the shuttle landed, Dr. Prasov and his team exited the craft and proceeded to arrival processing.

OOC: @Kyanges: I don't mind waiting. Its my thread, so I'll make sure we don't leave Botany without you. I'll just RP like I already got a message from you saying you wanted in and haven't been able to send anyone yet.

IC: Terinxx walked over and greeted the Tidiani scientists. He gave them copies of the waiver and told them what it was for.

An aide handed him a PADD and he turned to the group, "I've just recieved word that all five slots for participating nations have been filled," he hands the PADD back to the aide, "That PADD contained a confirmation from the fifth. We will depart after their represenatives have arrived and gone through the same procedures you will and signed the waivers."

Terinxx then turned to Chagnon and said, "You'll be surprised. It may, in fact, turn out to not be enough. As I was on Altera when the find was made, I can assure you that you all will be plenty busy with work. Hopefully, someone brough Linguists with them."

Frey took the waiver and the scientists signed the forms. "Well, we have a cryptographer and a few experts at reverse engineering designs and programs. Perhaps they will be of some help to the linguists."

"Well," Terinxx said apologetically, "I've actually already revealed a little more than I was supposed to," he turned to address everyone again, "If you will all follow me, we'll get you your security I.D.s."

With that, he propped open the door and waited in the hall.

Orian quickly moved towards the hallway, looking quite like a military recruit as he entered.

The tidani scientists followed the others.

Frey had been sent for two reasons. First because of his experience working with SeaQuest's scientists, and second because he was responsible for most of the major breakthroughs in tidani technology for the last 40 years. He was the best help they could send to their friends, but also if for some reason their hosts suddenly decided that they should no longer wish to share the find then Frey would have the greatest chance to recover or reconstruct anything he had worked with.

This last reason was only considered by a few of the decision makers in the background of Tidani politics, but others had noticed a change in the administration's attitude lately. Several generals had noticed this paranoia beginning to spread, but any who said anything or spoke out had been removed or restricted in their responsibilities and access. Fortunately these changes had not affected the leadership of either the government or military, but dark plans kept these paranoid thoughts and motives burning in the background. How long they would stay there was anyone's guess.

(ooc: I am just filling some time by having some fun setting up for things to come later. When they do come they will not affect this thread or the discovery/work at all and so don't worry about the secret paranoia.)

Terinxx scratched the tip of his right ear as he told one of his aides to run ahead and let them know they were ready to be processed for the security I.D.s.

"Well," Terinxx said apologetically, "I've actually already revealed a little more than I was supposed to," he turned to address everyone again, "If you will all follow me, we'll get you your security I.D.s."

With that, he propped open the door and waited in the hall.

Chagnon and his men followed into the hall, as many as could fit (mainly his command staff). He thought about what Terinixx had said, how there might not be enough men in his sizable company. Something told him this was gonna be big.

He also thought about linguists. No, they had only two or three, mainly archaeology and anthro majors here, many on internships, some on assignment, some on work-study. It'd be cool though if he could get more.

OCC: Sorry about this but I will have to withdraw from this RP. Some things have come up that need my attention.

(OOC: Sorry for slightly violating procedure. Just want to catch up. I'll edit it if it's a little too invasive.)

IC:

Flash, a light, shining with brilliant intensity burst over a small patch of ground near the group. The entire environment dimmed for an instant. Within seconds, the small spectacle ended, and amidst the fading light, a small team stood.

A few ES Marines, unarmed, and purely ceremonial, held their hands at their sides flanking floating boxes of equipment, several scientists clad in exosuits, and one strangely ornately dressed woman.

"The Sovereignty bids its greetings." The woman said with a slight bow, and a simple hand greeting gesture.

She looked at her surroundings for a second, then her clothing morphed into something more suited to the task at hand. Her ornate threads replaced by a simple exosuit. The formfitting uniform revealed her to be a rather typical Eshirian female. Athletically built, though slightly short. Despite this, she still seemed a little too much on the pretty side for the kind of down and dirty exploration mission the excursion was likely to become. Typical Eshirian... Howver, her figure was widely out of touch with her changed attitude.


"Sorry...Shoren training almost drills complete formality. Never liked it much."

The Shoren looked towards the group. "Hello, name's Mio. Greetings from us and the rest of the Sovereignty."

With a double take, Mio backed up a step. "Oooh...sorry, interrupting something, huh? And I thought my Psionics would help me avoid awkward situations like this..." Mio muttered under her breath.

OOC: @Flightopia: Understood. If it is possible, could you RP leaving IC'ly? If not, we can say they decided to stay on Botany.
@Kyanges: Nah, no transporter inhibiters installed on Botany, yet. So, its fine.

IC: Terinixx turned his attention from watching his aide dissapear around the corner on his errand to Mio.

"Welcome to Botany. I'm Ambassador Terinixx," he says.

He turns to another aide and has her get some more confidentiality waivers for Mio and her group. When she gets back with them, he distributes them and explains what they are for.

"Once you sign those," Terinixx says, "my aide here will take you to the area where everyone is to be processed for security I.D.s.

"And no, you aren't interrupting anything."

OOC: @All:
1.) Feel free to use Fluid Time to get to the same stage as the others.
2.) As Flightopia is unable to stay, that leaves one slot open for a G.F.F.A. member nation to join.

(OOC: Sorry for slightly violating procedure. Just want to catch up. I'll edit it if it's a little too invasive.)

IC:

Flash, a light, shining with brilliant intensity burst over a small patch of ground near the group. The entire environment dimmed for an instant. Within seconds, the small spectacle ended, and amidst the fading light, a small team stood.

A few ES Marines, unarmed, and purely ceremonial, held their hands at their sides flanking floating boxes of equipment, several scientists clad in exosuits, and one strangely ornately dressed woman.

"The Sovereignty bids its greetings." The woman said with a slight bow, and a simple hand greeting gesture.

She looked at her surroundings for a second, then her clothing morphed into something more suited to the task at hand. Her ornate threads replaced by a simple exosuit. The formfitting uniform revealed her to be a rather typical Eshirian female. Athletically built, though slightly short. Despite this, she still seemed a little too much on the pretty side for the kind of down and dirty exploration mission the excursion was likely to become. Typical Eshirian... Howver, her figure was widely out of touch with her changed attitude.


"Sorry...Shoren training almost drills complete formality. Never liked it much."

The Shoren looked towards the group. "Hello, name's Mio. Greetings from us and the rest of the Sovereignty."

With a double take, Mio backed up a step. "Oooh...sorry, interrupting something, huh? And I thought my Psionics would help me avoid awkward situations like this..." Mio muttered under her breath.

Chagnon smiled with a big grin, and almost chuckling, said, his Texas drawl giving his speech a sort of sarcastic edge: "You know how to make quite an entrance, dont'cha?"

He then extended his hand out and said, "Dr. Frederick Chagnon. Professor of Archaeology at University of Texas at Austin. On assignment from the Commissariat of Science."

Mio smiled and made a small, casual bow while she accepted the papers. "Ahaha...That's good to hear." With a quick stroke of light from Mio's index, her signature appeared on the forms. The other members of the groups signed with normal pens.

"Never had to use these things for a long time..." one member commented to another.

They handed the stack of forms over to Mio, who handed them back Terinixx, "There ya go." and turned her attention to Chagnon.

Mio scratched the back of her head, and looked off to the side, with a sort of uncomfortable manner. "Yeah, well, it's flashy 'cause it has to be, not because we [Eshirians] like it." She brought her hand down, and extended it. "Pleased ta meet'ya." She said in a poorly imitated Texan accent.

"Terran, right? New Dornalia? Heard some crazy things about your people..."

Terinixx said, with his left hand behind his head, "Got to say again, sorry about all these security procedures you are having to go through. They are quite strict on who they let on the capital planet from outside the SeaQuestian Empire."

On of Terinixx's aides gathered all the signed waivers and took them to be filed. Paper forms were being used as that decreased the chance of some outside force managing to hack into Neo Roma's database and alter them.

Mio smiled and made a small, casual bow while she accepted the papers. "Ahaha...That's good to hear." With a quick stroke of light from Mio's index, her signature appeared on the forms. The other members of the groups signed with normal pens.

"Never had to use these things for a long time..." one member commented to another.

They handed the stack of forms over to Mio, who handed them back Terinixx, "There ya go." and turned her attention to Chagnon.

Mio scratched the back of her head, and looked off to the side, with a sort of uncomfortable manner. "Yeah, well, it's flashy 'cause it has to be, not because we [Eshirians] like it." She brought her hand down, and extended it. "Pleased ta meet'ya." She said in a poorly imitated Texan accent.

"Terran, right? New Dornalia? Heard some crazy things about your people..."

Chagnon laughed as he shook Mio's hand, and then his eyes narrowed in half jest, half seriousness, as he said, "What kinda crazy things? Like we're a buncha hard-drinkin' SOBs that like to fight, spread Socialist gospel with a railgun, steal other people's ideas and mistreat their minorities? Well, we're not all like that."

He then brightened up and said, "Relax! No need to be uncomfortable Miss....Mio, was it? Yeah. We don't bite. We're here to help investigate the ruins like you are."

OOC: Bump-cha-cha.

OOC: Time to do the Bump-a-hula.

OOC: Time to do the Bump-a-hula.

OOC: I'm waiting for the others. My security papers are filed...

OOC: I'm waiting for the others. My security papers are filed...

OOC: Understood. I know Kyanges is on the G.F.F.A. forums last I looked.
@All: We will be using the thread on the G.F.F.A. forums for the OOC thread (I don't really feel like having to make a duplicate copy).
OOC Thread: http://s14.invisionfree.com/Galactic_Federation/index.php?showtopic=463

(ooc: so are we waiting for something?)

(ooc: so are we waiting for something?)

OOC: Kyanges.

OOC: Kyanges will just have to catch up. Lucky thing Fluid Time exists.

IC: After everyone had signed the waivers and gotten their security I.D.s, Terinixx led them back to the Gate Room.

"Now that everyone's ready," he said, "we can get on to Altera.

"Oh, and just in case you were wondering, all the equipment you brought has already been sent ahead through the Gate."

OOC: I felt like speeding things up a little so I skipped the discription of the process of how you got the IDs. Lets just say, they stopped short of a full body cavity search.

(OOC: Lol, I was waiting for you to do something. Oh wait, you meant the ND post...)

IC:

Mio gave Chagnon's hand a strong grip, and a very steady shake. Never get used to the touchy, feely Terran greetings...

At Ter's announcement, Mio whirled around, and sure enough, all her crates were gone. Now who gave them permission t- whatever...

Mio smiled at Chagnon's self description. "I know..." She said simply, with a somewhat smug expression and tone. And with that, she let go, turned to the gate, and waited for Ter to give the word.

OOC: Kyanges will just have to catch up. Lucky thing Fluid Time exists.

IC: After everyone had signed the waivers and gotten their security I.D.s, Terinixx led them back to the Gate Room.

"Now that everyone's ready," he said, "we can get on to Altera.

"Oh, and just in case you were wondering, all the equipment you brought has already been sent ahead through the Gate."

OOC: I felt like speeding things up a little so I skipped the discription of the process of how you got the IDs. Lets just say, they stopped short of a full body cavity search.

Chagnon marveled at the gate and said, "We've got things like those in New Dornalia. Use 'em for traveling long distance."

He then whistled and said, "I'm ready."

Terinixx raised his left hand and signaled the people in the Control Room. The man stationed at the dialing device nodded and input the Gate Address for Altera. As each Chevron activated, its gold indicator light lit up. After all eight Chevrons had been locked in place, the Gate was activated. The usual plume of destructive energy as the wormhole formed appeared and dissapeared as the wormhole stabalized.

Terinixx said, "We will be arriving in New Cape Quest on Altera. Once on the other side, everyone will be taken to a ship in the harbor for a twelve hour journey to the island where the ruins are located."

OOC: The ship will be a double hulled aircraft carrier that is double the size of the largest RL one.

Mio glanced around, and had a quizzical look on her face. "Alright, after you."

Frey noticed no one was moving yet. "Aliens first then." He led his team to the gate turning back just before the event horizon. His team entered as he waited. When they were all through he waved the others to follow. "Come on then. Last one through has to lock up." He smiled, then turned and disappeared into the wormhole.

The Sergant at the controls rolled his eyes at the Tidani's joke. Terinixx just grasped the bridge of his nose between two fingers and sighed.

"We can only hold the Gate open for so long before having to redial," he said, "Would everyone please step through. All the equipment is already on Altera and should be on its way to the island right now."

Without words, Mio lead the rest of her group into the gate. "Almost exactly like the Eshirian system..." she noted to herself.


(OOC: Yeah, we really should get this moving along.)

Chagnon then clapped his hands and called to his team, "Okay boys and girls, let's go! Time to rock!"

The rest cheered, and the team--the interns and all-- marched through the gate, saying, "Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to work we go!"

OOC: I'm just going to Fluid Time to the point where everyone is at the harbor. Sorry, I don't currently have a picture of what the ship looks like. Then we'll just Fluid Time the voyage to the island. For the insides of the ship, picture a standard aircraft carrier design and you've got it.

IC: Fluid Time Later

Terinixx pointed at a double hull ship sitting in New Cape Quest's harbor.

"That," he said, "is the Sea Mist. She will take us to Nirai Kanai. If you would please step aboard, we can get under way and I'll give you the tour once we're en route."

"Sounds good." Mio replied. "About how long will the journey take?"

IC: Fluid Time Later

Terinixx pointed at a double hull ship sitting in New Cape Quest's harbor.

"That," he said, "is the Sea Mist. She will take us to Nirai Kanai. If you would please step aboard, we can get under way and I'll give you the tour once we're en route."

Chagnon and his team stepped aboard, and then, Chagnon said, "Same here. I'm wondering how long this'll take."

Terinixx raised his right eyebrow before saying, "I could have sworn I mentioned it was twelve hours from here to the island back on Botany. The length of the trip will allow yourselves to become accustomed to Altera's atmosphere, pressure, and gravity. All of which, I am sure, are different from your own homeworlds."

"I'm sure there's no problem in double checking." Mio replied. "Call me cautious." She added with a shrug.

OOC: Time to use Fluid Time to speed things up.

IC: After everyone had boarded the ship and they had gotten underway, Terinixx gave them the grand tour. He even showed them the ship's barber shop.

OOC: Its an aircraft carrier. Not much is different from a RL one on the inside.

IC: Twelve Hours Later

As they had departed New Cape Quest around mid-day, the sun was setting by the time Nirai Kanai came into view. Terinixx called everyone to the flight deck so they could see the beauty of the view.

Half-Hour Later

The ship slid through an opening in the dock of the Nirai Kanai base. The door slid up from its slot under the water's surface and closed with a clang of metal.

"Welcome," Terinixx said, "to Nirai Kanai."

One Hour Later

Quarters had been assigned to all the guests and the basics of each apartment explained. Then, they were all taken, through a tunnel from the base, to the ancient underground complex that had been discovered.

Once there, Terinixx said, "We've done some Carbon Dating, and this facility is at least sixty-five million years old. That means it was built around the time a mile-wide ice comet struck the planet's northern ice-cap and caused massive flooding and seismic activity. Also places it around the time of a mythical sunken continent that was supposed to be populated by an advanced people.

"Also, we've managed to go down thirty levels. However, seismec scans and sonar show that we've only scratched the surface and that more levels exist all the way down to the sea-floor, perhaps even farther. We can't go any deeper than we have due to the 'bad air' that built up."

"Astounding." replied Frey. "This is quite a remarkable discovery. On my world we have periodically found relics from prehistory on the ocean floor. Materials and technology that baffle scientists and historians alike, but to find a whole city... just remarkable." He looked over some of the readings, a flash of excitement came over his face. "Are these tunnels flooded? If so, I volunteer myself and my team to explore them. We would be better than any divers I'd chance. No need to worry about our air supplies running out, and I'm quite sure we could handle any pressures at these depths."

Terinixx said, "I don't know about the bottom levels, but last I heard they were letting the level's below thirty air out to a safe level before venturing deeper into the complex. I'm sure you know about the 'bad air' that can build up in air-tight enviroments for so long.

"Though, sonar scans do reveal a 'surface' complex around the island's base at 33,476 feet, or 10,203 meters, deep. SeaQuest has only one suit that can reach that depth, but its on Draconia right now and won't be available for a few weeks.

"Of course, we haven't checked the lagoon yet with sonar, so their may be some ruins hidden in that much shallower enviroment."

Terinixx said, "I don't know about the bottom levels, but last I heard they were letting the level's below thirty air out to a safe level before venturing deeper into the complex. I'm sure you know about the 'bad air' that can build up in air-tight enviroments for so long.

"Though, sonar scans do reveal a 'surface' complex around the island's base at 33,476 feet, or 10,203 meters, deep. SeaQuest has only one suit that can reach that depth, but its on Draconia right now and won't be available for a few weeks.

"Of course, we haven't checked the lagoon yet with sonar, so their may be some ruins hidden in that much shallower enviroment."

Chagnon nodded as he heard this, and said, "We have some minisubs and ROVs if you need 'em. And some civilian-grade pressure suits. And, we could scan the lagoon; we have ground penetrating radar and sonar. We did come prepared, after all."

Terinixx smiled.

"Of course," he said, "Let me take you to where all your equipment that was brought has been set-up."

He led the group to a large chamber where everything was set-up to the best know how of SeaQuestian scientists and engineers.

"As soon as you all check your equipment, I can show you the reason why this complex warrented an international call-out of Alliance member nations instead of SeaQuest just keeping this find to itself."

Terinixx smiled.

"Of course," he said, "Let me take you to where all your equipment that was brought has been set-up."

He led the group to a large chamber where everything was set-up to the best know how of SeaQuestian scientists and engineers.

"As soon as you all check your equipment, I can show you the reason why this complex warrented an international call-out of Alliance member nations instead of SeaQuest just keeping this find to itself."

Chagnon then whistled and yelled to the team members, "Alright team! Fall out, check your gear! Let's go!"

The men hurredly examined their equipment. The SeaQuestians had done a pretty good job setting things up as it was. Most of the minisubs, ROVs, and sonar/radar equipment was in good order, and the suits were too. Some minor adjustments were performed, and some fixes had to be made. But, Chagnon's team reported mostly good news....

Terinixx said, "This chamber is not part of the ancient complex we found but was created later using Tunnel Crystals. The roof of this chamber was removed and replaced with a sliding hatch quite similar to the tops of our Stargate silos on worlds other than Altera. If need be, we can retract the two halves so equipment larger then the doorway can be taken in and out. It was how we got everything in here in the first place."

Terinixx said, "This chamber is not part of the ancient complex we found but was created later using Tunnel Crystals. The roof of this chamber was removed and replaced with a sliding hatch quite similar to the tops of our Stargate silos on worlds other than Altera. If need be, we can retract the two halves so equipment larger then the doorway can be taken in and out. It was how we got everything in here in the first place."

Chagnon nodded, and said, "I see....a fine setup, yes."

He looked about, and shouted to one of the interns playing with one of the powered diving suits, "BE CAREFUL WITH THAT! THAT COST 40 GRAND!"

The man went, "Sorry, sir!"

Chagnon then said, "Git out of that suit! You break it, it goes out of your tuition!"

The man got out and sighed....Chagnon then turned to Terinixx and said, "Kids...so, why was this operation opened to all Alliance members?"

Terinixx winked and said, "Please follow me and I'll show you."

He led the leaders of each nation's represenative group through the tunnels to a location underneath the step pyramid visable in the middle of the lagoon.

"Welcome," he said, "to the Room Of Ra."

Terinixx looked at one of the Alterans by some controls that obviously didn't match with the originals.

"Hit the lights," he told a Sargent

"Aye, sir," came the reply.

The man worked at the controls and the flood lamps that had been brought in and installed came to life. Their light partly revealed a giant humanoid figure in what appeared to be a free-standing pillar of water beyond the edge of the floor.

"Any luck finding the original light switch?"

"Not yet, sir."

Terinixx turned towards the others and said, "We've come to call that object the RahXephon. Why you ask. Look down and you'll find the answer. That name is one of the few things, along with the name of this chamber, written in English, that we have found."

The word RahXephon was written below a circular seal containing a winged humanoid female.

"We can't tell if the image of the seal was worn away due to time, but," Terinixx said, "due to the durability of the rest of this place, I highly doubt that."

OOC: I don't have a pic of what the seal looks like right now, but I'm working on it.

Terinixx winked and said, "Please follow me and I'll show you."

He led the leaders of each nation's represenative group through the tunnels to a location underneath the step pyramid visable in the middle of the lagoon.

"Welcome," he said, "to the Room Of Ra."

Terinixx looked at one of the Alterans by some controls that obviously didn't match with the originals.

"Hit the lights," he told a Sargent

"Aye, sir," came the reply.

The man worked at the controls and the flood lamps that had been brought in and installed came to life. Their light partly revealed a giant humanoid figure in what appeared to be a free-standing pillar of water beyond the edge of the floor.

"Any luck finding the original light switch?"

"Not yet, sir."

Terinixx turned towards the others and said, "We've come to call that object the RahXephon. Why you ask. Look down and you'll find the answer. That name is one of the few things, along with the name of this chamber, written in English, that we have found."

The word RahXephon was written below a circular seal containing a winged humanoid female.

"We can't tell if the image of the seal was worn away due to time, but," Terinixx said, "due to the durability of the rest of this place, I highly doubt that."

OOC: I don't have a pic of what the seal looks like right now, but I'm working on it.

Chagnon then leaned in and looked at the strange word....he mumbled, "RahXephon...." noting it to himself.

He then looked about the chamber, and then kneeled down to examine the seal, pulling out a magnifying glass and a brush to peek at it, and brush away excess material-gently of course. He then said, looking it over, "I don't see much wear. You're right about that. It'd be nice to find that light switch though."

(OOC: I'll let you decide what the switch does. If anything.)

IC:

"You don't mean this?" Mio stumbled across a strange planel that seemed like a likely place to put a light switch. "Or perhaps there is a sensor disabled somewhere..."


The other members of Mio's team walked around the room. A few took a closer look at enigmatic figure, while the rest simply looked around, their brain embedded biochips taking holo-shots for later study.

Chagnon then looked at the panel Mio found. He then waved over one of his men, who looked it over and said, "Looks like a likely place. But then again, it'd be best to keep looking."

Chagnon said, "Dr. Eckener, look along the walls, get some men to go with you. I'll examine the rest of this complex."

Chagnon then, with some other men, began to take their own photos, plus they began scanning in the room and chipping off little samples of the environment for analysis. Chagnon himself looked at the RahXephon, and looked deep into the column.....he wondered what it was, and asked one of his men that. All he did was shrug. Didn't matter, Chagnon couldn't tell himself. For that, he had an extra light brought into the area, and shined onto the column.

Eckener, meanwhile, pushed the panel, and waited...

OOC: @ND: As for what the extra light you're shining at the RahXephon reveals depends on what type of light it is.

IC: Unfortounately, Eckener didn't hit one of the depressable symbols located within the 'panel'.

Terinixx walked over, pulled out a pair of reading glasses, and took a look.

"You may be right in theory," he said running his palm over the structure, "Hey! These two circular marks are flush with the wall, yet the border goes deeper than it looks. I'm going to try one."

Terinixx depressed the top symbol with his thumb. For a couple seconds, nothing happened. Then, as long disused power conduits started working again, bank after bank of what had earlier thought to have been panels containing text came to life and revealed themselves for what they really were, computer terminals.

"Hmm," Terinixx wondered aloud, "I wonder how many of these symbols are actually depressable buttons as well."

He sat down at one of the consoles and looked at the free-standing holo-screen.

"Now, how do I work this thing?"

He accidently kicked the part of the console underneath the keyboard as he was adjusting his seat and it sprang open on its hidden hing revealing the complex crystal circuitry inside.

"Anyone up for attempting to hot wire the lights? Or should we wait for the translation to try it the old-fasioned way?"

"Sir," said the Sargent from earlier, "We've found some kind of lever...."

Whatever the man was going to say next, he was interrupted by the groan of old mechanism's from the ceiling of the chamber. The part above the pillar of water opened up and natural sunlight filtered in revealing the RahXephon in all its slumbering glory with its head-wings folded in front of its face and chest.

"Damn," exclaimed a voice in the distance of the chamber.

"Sorry, sir," called another, "Jack tripped and grabbed the lever so as to not break his neck."

Terinixx laughed, "Well. At least we know what that lever was for. It must have been a mechanical way of opening the launch tube if the computers ever went down."

OOC: Oops, forgot to mention how the 'buttons' work. My bad.

OOC: Basic Halogen.

IC:

Chagnon stared in awe at the RahXephon, and said, "Holy f**king shit."

He dropped his brush and glass, and picking them up, walked up to the...thing. He then called to Eckener, and said, "Doc, what does this look like to you?"

Eckener said, "Perhaps a statue."

Chagnon then said, "Then why take all the time and effort to trap it here? Perhaps it might be something to save for later..."

He looked at the launch door and the now-active terminals.

"...perhaps this was some kinda launch bay, and this was a Mobile Suit of some kind somebody had on ice, in case of invasion. After all, why would that hatch above it exist? And why the computers?"

OOC: Halogen? Isn't that some kind of gas?

IC: Terinixx shrugged.

"Don't look at me," he said, "I just read the reports and was briefed myself shortly before I met you on Botany."

A Chief Petty Officer came over to Terinixx and said, "Sir, I think you'll want to see this. We sent a Seeker (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10511487&postcount=34) down into the levels with the bad air, and we found something."

Terinixx looked at the others and said, "I guess we best see what they found."

The Chief Petty Officer directed them back to the main chamber where the equipment was set-up. On a display was an arch way that had Alteran text written around it and what looked like some sort of biometric lock* in it.

Terinixx peered closely at the Alteran text.

"My Alteran is a little rusty," he said, "but this appears to be in one of the oldest known dialects. I think it says: 'Only those of the blue blood can unlock the hidden secrets of Mu.' Perhaps 'Mu' was the name of this place, or the name of the people who built it."

OOC: * Think the hand thing from "Total Recall".
Just trying to speed things up. Most of the planned 'surprises' are behind that door. But we can't get to it yet due to the 'bad air'.

Mio glanced up, in a cheapish cool manner. "Impressive." The other scientists immediately began scans, and HoloShots of the massive construction, the computer banks, and the large mecha itself.

Mio then glanced around the rest of the room, and then glanced towards the exit. I wonder... If there's something that good in one room...


"The air back there...doesn't feel...right. Old and stale as they say...We can stand out here and wait for the air to return to acceptable purity, or..." A sort of helmet appeared over Mio's head, completely covering her face. It was almost a one piece deal, and Mio's face was completely hidden behind a semi biker style helmet. Her voice sounded a bit more synthesized now, "we can enter and search for more surprises..."

Terinixx asked a Chief Warrent Officer, 3rd-Class, "When are those Marines going to show up with that air-tight armor of theirs?"

"I don't know, sir. Try asking Colonel Kunugi. Last I saw him, he was up in the command tower."

"Understood."

Terinixx watched what the others were doing in the main chamber as well as kept an eye on those not there through the moniters displaying views from cameras that had been set up in various locations.

Terinixx asked a Chief Warrent Officer, 3rd-Class, "When are those Marines going to show up with that air-tight armor of theirs?"

"I don't know, sir. Try asking Colonel Kunugi. Last I saw him, he was up in the command tower."

"Understood."

Terinixx watched what the others were doing in the main chamber as well as kept an eye on those not there through the moniters displaying views from cameras that had been set up in various locations.

Chagnon then said, getting Terinixx's attention: "I can get some of my power suits in there, if you want. They're more meant for dives, but they should hold up in the atmosphere."

OOC: Halogen is a kind of gas, but also a type of lamp used in cars, etc.

"Well," Terinixx said in response, "Then go ahead. I'm only the liason between the SeaQuestian scientists and you guys, so I don't really see why you're asking for my permission. You've already been given access and clearance to do your own work here. As long as it doesn't conflict with anyone else's work, its fine."

"Well," Terinixx said in response, "Then go ahead. I'm only the liason between the SeaQuestian scientists and you guys, so I don't really see why you're asking for my permission. You've already been given access and clearance to do your own work here. As long as it doesn't conflict with anyone else's work, its fine."

Chagnon's eyes brightened, and then he said, "WooHoo!"

He then said to the other New Dornalians, "Boys! We're going spelunkin'! I need vounteers to strap on the pressure suits, and volunteers to man the cameras. We're goin' in!"

A buzzing could be heard, as men put on the pressure suits, powered and ready to navigate the depths below. Men also got the video feed from the suits ready, and set up monitors in the main room to observe events. Then, after about 15-20 minutes, a squad of eight suited men was ready to go.

Then, Chagnon an a crew went to the monitors, and the men descended into the tunnels, eventually entering the areas with bad air....

Terinixx said, "The probe is on level fifty. That's twenty levels below the deepest we've been. Be careful and watch out for nitrogen narcosis and pressure sickness."

Terinixx said, "The probe is on level fifty. That's twenty levels below the deepest we've been. Be careful and watch out for nitrogen narcosis and pressure sickness."

The men radioed back, "Roger. Suit pressure reads normal, we're fine so far."

The men moved carefully, trying to avoid the dangers Terinixx mentioned. These were pressurized power suits, but they did not totally eliminate the risk of pressure sickness or nitrogen narcosis.

As they moved down deeper and deeper, the suits began filling with a mixture of helium and oxygen, to ensure things were okay.....

Chagnon observed things, and said to the men, "What level are you on? Outside pressure is getting awful high, and your suits are deploying the mix now."

The men radioed back, "Somewhere about level thirty? Not sure. Kinda dark, floodlamps are keeping us from bumping into things. We might get there soon."

(ooc: I've been a little lost in this thread for a while but now that we have free reign I'll send my men out to explore the surrounding water area where they will be best use.)

Frey had observed the alien rooms and corridors, now he decided to start looking around outside the base. There very well might be something of use barried in the sand and debris in the water outside the complex.

Frey approached the SeaQuestian scientist. "Terinixx, I'm taking my team outside. We're going to have a look around the ruins and see if there is anything out there of interest."

OOC: You always had free reign to find the things we talked about in the OOC thread. I've been trying to get that across IC'ly. I'll only take active control for the big things.

IC: Terinixx replied, "Ugh, I never did like swimming that much," he wrinkles his snout, "the results, shall we say, never smelled that good. Honestly, a wet dog would smell better than I did.

"As for your trip, make sure to take lots of pictures and shoot some video."

(ooc: ah, tbh I was just never sure what was around, plus busy so I just stayed out of the way.)

Frey smiled. "Will do." He and his team left to prepare their equipment for diving.

"This would the right time to begin." Mio announced to the rest of her team. Quick flashes of light masked the process, but each of the team members had donned their clad black exosuits. Various signal lights for the dark depths flicked on, and all manners of sensors, from the lowly sonar, to the more situation specific PsiCommus began to take readings. Video links initialized, and the team was quickly set to go.

Initial scans indicated a first path likely to yield interesting finds, and the team slowly submerged into the depths.

<We are right behind you, Chagnon. We will take this tunnel.> The image was sent via PsiLink, and the team continued on their path. <I hope you find something good.>

Chagnon then radioed to Mio from the console, "Roger."

He then radioed his men, "Boys, how's it going?"

The men had wandered to level 32 about now....and had entered what looked like an old room, which was preserved relatively well, though in less shape than the Room of Ra.

One of the men, who flashed his lights at a wall with tons of rubble in front, found a crack in one of the piles of rubble. He then said, "Boss, this looks interesting, I'm shining lights at it."

The man then walked up to it, and began picking at the rubble. He saw a shining glint. He motioned to the others, who helped him move or at least push the rubble aside.

One of the men then said, "There's a buncha s**t...but, we've got a door."

Chagnon then brightened and said, "Good Lord.....keep at it. Remove that rubble, and see what's on it."

The man said, "Roger," and then they resumed excavation....

A Ensign came over and whispered something in Terinixx's left ear. Terinixx softly muttered back at him. A whispered conversation broke out between the two. Words and phrases, like 'so soon,' 'interesting,' 'use Alteran D.N.A.,' 'and let me know,' could be picked out by any evesdroppers. Eventually, the Ensign departed.

The rubble on the door was eventually cleared out, and the rubble placed to one side. The door shone clearly, with a clear glint on it, and the men had to adjust the lights on their suits a little to ensure they were not blinded.

The men said, "Okay, were going to try and see how it can be opened....lemme see if there's a lock...."

He then began scanning the door with his hand, feeling around, and using his lights to peer for any panels or switches. He encouraged the others to look for the same.

Then, somebody found the mother lode...as a panel was pushed, and then a rumbling was heard.....lights came on in the room, and a panel and a series of buttons near the door appeared.

THe man radioed back, "I think we just uncovered a keypad of some kind. It's got some symbols on there...."

Chagnon then radioed back, "Zoom in on that."

The man then focused his cameras on the keypad, and then it showed up clearly on the monitor. Chagnon then said to Terinixx, "Terinixx, you got any linguists here? We found something."

Terinxx replied, over the same channel, "There's Dr. Alister and her team. I'll see if any of them are over in the Linguistics Lab. Be right back."

He smoothly, yet quickly, left the room. A few minutes later, he returned with a young Alteran woman.

"I've got Dr. Alister with me," he said when he got back, "What have you found?"

"Some sort of Rosetta Stone would be nice," said Dr. Alister.

Terinxx replied, over the same channel, "There's Dr. Alister and her team. I'll see if any of them are over in the Linguistics Lab. Be right back."

He smoothly, yet quickly, left the room. A few minutes later, he returned with a young Alteran woman.

"I've got Dr. Alister with me," he said when he got back, "What have you found?"

"Some sort of Rosetta Stone would be nice," said Dr. Alister.

OOC: Didn't think of that.

IC:

Chagnon, who was one the console monitoring the dive team, said, pointing to the screen, "Here's the keypad they found.....looks like a keypad anyway, perhaps a gateway into a secure area."

Chagnon then gestured to the symbols on the pad.

"Would you know what they mean, perhaps?"

Dr. Alister looked at the screen as she studied the symbols.

"In design," she said, "it is apparently similar to a standard Goa'uld key-pad. Of course, the differing number of symbols creates a different number of possible combinations.

"As for what the symbols mean, I can only guess, due to the layout of the symbols, that they are the equivilant of numbers."

Dr. Alister looked at the screen as she studied the symbols.

"In design," she said, "it is apparently similar to a standard Goa'uld key-pad. Of course, the differing number of symbols creates a different number of possible combinations.

"As for what the symbols mean, I can only guess, due to the layout of the symbols, that they are the equivilant of numbers."

Chagnon then radioed back, "Didja get that?"

The man said, "Loud and clear. It's a keypad. Now, what numbers go where?"

He then began pushing some of the buttons, and then hit what seemed to be an "enter" key. But, it glared, and denied him entry.

Then, he said, "I have nothing. It won't let me in....want me to try and hotwire it?"

"Pry open the cover," said one of the male Alteran scientists that had gathered around the screen, "if you pull the control crystal and send it up here, I may be able to re-program it," he turned to Ferinxx and continued, "Judging from the sophisitication of the rest of this place, I doubt they would have used ordinary wires but instead used a crystaline system similar to the one we still use today based on the Ancient Alteran model."

Ferinxx asked him, "You sure you can do this, Dr. Juster?"

The man nodded and said, "I didn't get all my degrees in computers for nothing, you know."

"Pry open the cover," said one of the male Alteran scientists that had gathered around the screen, "if you pull the control crystal and send it up here, I may be able to re-program it," he turned to Ferinxx and continued, "Judging from the sophisitication of the rest of this place, I doubt they would have used ordinary wires but instead used a crystaline system similar to the one we still use today based on the Ancient Alteran model."

Ferinxx asked him, "You sure you can do this, Dr. Juster?"

The man nodded and said, "I didn't get all my degrees in computers for nothing, you know."

The man then said, "Okay. Lemme see..."

He then grabbed the cover, and began pulling, saying after a frustrating five minutes, "Stupid piecea-s**t-move-you-littlemuthaf**ka-I OUGHTA!"

After the string of expletives, the cover came off and sure enough, a control crystal was revealed. He then removed it, and sent one of the team members up to the surface, who promptly walked up to Chagnon and the Alterans and held it out to them, saying, "We got it."

Juster takes the crystal, takes it to a computer station, and plugs it in. A few taps of the keyboard and he has the computer code running on the screen (OOC: Picture Matrix code).

"This is in machine code for some reason," Juster says as he sits down and starts clacking away at the keyboard, "It'll take me a few minutes to set up the computer with a binary-machine code translation program. Then, it will be much easier to translate the binary into a language we know."

Juster takes the crystal, takes it to a computer station, and plugs it in. A few taps of the keyboard and he has the computer code running on the screen (OOC: Picture Matrix code).

"This is in machine code for some reason," Juster says as he sits down and starts clacking away at the keyboard, "It'll take me a few minutes to set up the computer with a binary-machine code translation program. Then, it will be much easier to translate the binary into a language we know."

Chagnon then said, "Understood."

The man then said, "How long will it take for translation once the program is made?"

Meanwhile the Tidani scientists had been busy exploring and mapping the lagoon floor. They had found another set of ruins further out near where the coast of the suken continent used to be. There they found something unusual too.

Frey contacted the SeaQuestian base. "This is Dr. Prasov. We have found something interesting down here. There are ruins down here off the old coast of the continent. There appears to be a partially burried access tunnel to a compound. The significance of this however, is that whatever used to use this tunnel and compound would have been underwater even in the time before the island fell. We are going to continue exploration and see if we can't open up some of the tunnel for further exploration."

OOC: Tidan, actually, its the peak of a mountain on a sunken continent due to the giant ice comet that struck the planet's northern ice cap (thus, prior to the sinking, even the base of the mountain would be above water). I apologize if I wasn't clear about that before.

IC: Response to the Tidani message:

"Acknowledged, Dr. Prasov. We've managed to dig out an old Mark I SeaCrab (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y160/DragoonKVess/Schematics/crab.jpg) from storage at the military base. We are sending it down now."

OOC: A Mark I SeaCrab is for hydrospheric use only. A Mark II has atmospheric abilities (ie, on land and some hovering) and a Mark III is space worthy.

(ooc: ok I thought it was a large island, not a continent. I'll fix my last post a little.)

"Thank you. I will keep you informed of any discoveries."

Soon, the SeaCrab moved into view of the Tidani. It was flanked by two Mark I Stinger class (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y160/DragoonKVess/Schematics/stinger.jpg) ultra high speed scout interceptors. The two thresher shark shaped craft darted around while the Alteran inside each took a look at the area and the crab-like SeaCrab touched down near the tunnel entrance.

OOC: Note: The Stinger acheives(sp?) its ultra high speed and acceleration (at least 100 knots if I recall correctly) due to its two engines and that motion of its tail.

Chagnon then said, "Understood."

The man then said, "How long will it take for translation once the program is made?"

"Depends on how complex the coding is," Juster replied, "but shouldn't take more than a day, at least, not if I have anything to say about it."

Exterior

An Martian class (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y160/DragoonKVess/Schematics/MARTIAN20DUTCH.jpg) air car approached the island. It landed inside a hanger at the naval base on the tip.

"Depends on how complex the coding is," Juster replied, "but shouldn't take more than a day, at least, not if I have anything to say about it."


Chagnon said, "In that case, we'll mark off that area, and go back to it later, while you decipher it."

Chagnon said, "In that case, we'll mark off that area, and go back to it later, while you decipher it."

Juster nodded in acknowledgement before turning back to his work.

Ferinxx snorted and rolled his eyes. He knew that Juster wouldn't even get up to eat until he was done now. He made a mental note to have someone bring meals to the Doctor while he worked.

Juster nodded in acknowledgement before turning back to his work.

Ferinxx snorted and rolled his eyes. He knew that Juster wouldn't even get up to eat until he was done now. He made a mental note to have someone bring meals to the Doctor while he worked.

Chagnon then told the man near him, "Mark that spot off. Dr. Juster here's gonna take a while. Put like, a camera there or something, and keep searching."

The man said, "Aye, sir."

The men then took a remote camera back with him, after putting his suit back on, and upon returning to the site, told the men about it. They nodded, understood, and then attached the camera there and turned on its remote feed, before going on deeper.

The pressure was getting tighter now, but the suits were holding. Still, the numbers were mind boggling.....and the complex only seemed to get larger.

Finally, the men reached a deep area that seemed to open up. One of the others shone their lights on the walls, revealing a network of tunnels that eminated out from the massive, cavernous vaulted room.

One of the men said, "Look! There's a control room off to the side," pointing to a room with large windows to the side. The men then walked up to it, and found a lever that opened a door leading inside.

Walking into the room, they searched about, and then said, "There's a map, and a bank of Computers here. We're gonna try to turn them on."

They then began searching for a switch, a lever, anything....

OOC: Tidan, actually, its the peak of a mountain on a sunken continent due to the giant ice comet that struck the planet's northern ice cap (thus, prior to the sinking, even the base of the mountain would be above water). I apologize if I wasn't clear about that before.

IC: Response to the Tidani message:

"Acknowledged, Dr. Prasov. We've managed to dig out an old Mark I SeaCrab (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y160/DragoonKVess/Schematics/crab.jpg) from storage at the military base. We are sending it down now."

OOC: A Mark I SeaCrab is for hydrospheric use only. A Mark II has atmospheric abilities (ie, on land and some hovering) and a Mark III is space worthy.

With the help of the SeaCrab they were finally able to make some progress moving the ruble. When they made it through into the large cavern what they saw was amazing. Inside were a number of docks most held giant mechanical seamonsters.

"Get some data recorders and imaging devices in here. And start looking for some way to access the rest of this complex."

Finally, the men reached a deep area that seemed to open up. One of the others shone their lights on the walls, revealing a network of tunnels that eminated out from the massive, cavernous vaulted room.

One of the men said, "Look! There's a control room off to the side," pointing to a room with large windows to the side. The men then walked up to it, and found a lever that opened a door leading inside.

Walking into the room, they searched about, and then said, "There's a map, and a bank of Computers here. We're gonna try to turn them on."

They then began searching for a switch, a lever, anything....

They found what they were looking for. How?

One of the men tripped, and hit something.....he got up with the help of his friends, and as he was fumbling about, he said, "Holy poop...." as the computers turned on. He ran up to them, and began looking at them.

The man said, "I musta hit something."

Another said, "What, this?" and pointed out a small button that was depressed. "This must be the auxiliary power switch. Look, it has a cover and everything, man."

The leader of the team said, "That's awesome. Professor Chagnon, do you kn-"

Chagnon radioed back, "Damn right. You boys did good. Now, find a way to make that whatchamacallit work again."

The team began fiddling with the control console, pushing the buttons, and pulling whatever levers were there, and noting their effects....

...eventually, one button they pushed caused the lights in the room to turn on, albeit dimly. Another button they pushed caused a whirring sound.....and what looked like a train to arrive.

One man remarked as the train pulled to a stop and opened its doors, "It's like farkin' Grand Central, man."

Another radioed back, "I think we found a transportation hub of some kind, boss."

Chagnon radioed back, "Good. One or two of you has to stay there, the rest can go on the train and find where it leads."

Two of the team members volunteered to stay at the controls, and the others boarded the train, keeping visual and audio contact at all times. As the train's doors closed and the train zoomed off, the other two kept watch....

----------

Several minutes later-

The train carrying the other team members stopped in what looked like another, large, vaulted room.

"Boy, these Mulians really loved their vaults, didn't they?" quipped the first woman to get off the train.

The next man that got off said, "Maybe it's a coincidence, Professor Milodragovich."

Having disembarked, they began shining their lights into the room, and scanned all around. Right away, they noticed something at the far end of the room...the overwhelming darkness and the dust that had accumulated obscured it, but they would be able to find out soon enough...

OOC: This leads up to where Mechagodzilla gets discovered.

The team walked all the way to the end of the hall....shining their lights, they saw a massive symbol on the door.

"What's it say, Milodragovich?"

Milodragovich replied, "The hell should I know? Tag that, and send the pic up for analysis."

A snapshot was taken, and was sent back to Chagnon's computer. Meanwhile, the team found what looked like a lift....they climbed on, and after cracking open the panel, began jimmieing the wires.

The next thing they knew, the lift roared to life, and the lift shot up to what looked like a control room.

Milodragovich said, fuming, "Another one?"

Another team member then retorted, "Chill professor. We need to get that door opened."

They began to search the room for any sort of emergency lever, or perhaps try to hotwire the controls, or whatnot....they did find what looked like an alcove, with an emergency lever on it. They pulled the lever, and lights flipped on. Now, to find the thing to open the door...

Now, to find something to activate the door....the team sat back, and looked at the consoles. Then, they began to try and find a way to open that door...

...finally, after some time, as they tried to open it...

One man said, "I think this is it, hold on..."

*Whirr*

Milodragovich said, "What happened!?"

One member said, "Look!"

The man's latch revealed the blast doors slowly opening....and its contents revealed by the lights. Surrounded by a latticework of pods and what looked like catwalks, was a giant, metal machine that looked like a dinosaur.

Milodragovich said, "Holy poop. That's Mechagodzilla."

The man who had opened the doors said, "You sure that's what they called it?"

Milodragovich said, her excitement growing: "You ever Godzilla versus Mechagodzilla II? That's farkin' Mechagodzilla. It's unmistakable. That nose, the chest, the hands-that's him!"

The man said, "It pays to take a closer look though."

Milodragovich said, "Go ahead. Chagnon, do you see this?"

Chagnon radioed from above: "I see it. Goddam, that's amazing."

Finally several airlocks were located in the massive dock. The Tidani scientists began searching the connected complex.

Meanwhile, the data recorded and captured from the dock was being sent back to the SeaQuestian expedition headquarters.