Post by Khaosraptor on Oct 15, 2023 1:08:00 GMT
—--///—-------////—-------------/////—-----------
The moon of Elrynn-2c was by all means dormant; seemingly lacking all major forms of biomass, it appeared to be a casualty of total ecosystemic collapse. AncNet records of the moons history were spotty at best, with the original exploration teams sent to study the eerie phenomenon finding themselves suffering from episodes of mass paranoia, and eventually called off the expedition. Elrynn-2c was declared unfit for mass colonization, and for the past few hundred years, has silently continued its existence.
That was, until the moon seemed to break its vow of silence, suddenly broadcasting a series of signals out into the void. Erratic, sporadic, and seemingly without purpose, they appeared to be some sort of distress signal.
Theories rose from within the House of Valour, with many believing that the signal may be an attempt by some poor marooned souls, crashed on the desert moon. How else would the unexpected signal seemingly crop up out of thin air? However, the signal came to be, it had become the irresistible fascination of a few, who now travelled to the distant moon in order to put boots on the ground and find out what exactly was happening on Elrynn-2c.
With the current political and economic climate of the Ancerious galaxy, the notion of a joint research project was proposed, allowing the UEE to deploy fewer resources in dealing with the mysterious signal, as well as provide a profitable environment for diplomatic exchange. Even as the small expeditionary force left the Empire, confirmation of at least two other parties was relayed, and a muster point declared for the orbit of Elrynn-2c.
—---///—-------///////—--////////////—-------------
Elyrnn-2a deformed in Drasii’s HUD as she tracked their approach towards their destination; taking a second to observe the gas giant . While she had never been a terrible fan of looking into the black, she couldn't argue, there was nothing like seeing a new planet. Under the influence of FTL, the planet appeared to distort like oil on a canvas, sending a wash of green across the cabin.
The mercenary felt herself leaning backwards as they approached, keeping an eye on their trajectory and monitoring their slipspace drive. Her claws gripped tightly to the rungs on the top of her seat, bracing for the exit from FTL.
“Rendezvous drop, 20 seconds, Vol’Oridan.”
Drasii’s helm switched her gaze away from Elrynn-2a, looking over her shoulder to the command throne of the vessel, confirming visually with Kradis Oridan, who confirmed through the macrys as well as delivering a nod.
Kradis was her superior, by a great deal, but the Valour knight had a calm temperament, and Drasii had nothing but praise for him. His sleek armour was mostly obscured by the blue cloaks that hung from his shoulders, parting
“5 Seconds…Drop!”
Bright purple lightning danced across the void, heralding the arrival of the corvette as the vessel was pulled from slipspace and back into the material plane; the interior of the cabin jostled for a moment before settling once again.
Drasii felt a pit form in her stomach as the momentary feeling of plummeting took her, causing the Echo to grip tighter to her seat. She cursed under her breath, it wasn’t even that bad, but she never could get used to it.
“Doing alright up there, Vys?”
Makidus’s question hung over the macrys for a moment as Drasii attempted to recover herself, leaning forward in her chair to rest her head in her hands.
”This is so fucked. This is somehow worse than the drop pod sim’s”, Drasii shot back, to the amusement of her two companions. The wave of nausea finally fading as she let herself sink back into her seat.
“Somehow one of the worst cases of void-sea-sickness I've seen. You should honestly see a specialist once we get back.”
Kradis’s voice cut through the conversation, bringing them both back into attention, and onto the task at hand. Though his voice wasn’t harsh like that of a House Wrath Knight, his tone seemed to be well-practised into capturing the attention of others.
”Alright, enough chatter you two. Let’s get the beacons in place while we are ahead, give our compatriots something to lock onto. Standard greeting procedures are in order. Eros guides us all.”
-----------/////-------------------///-----------
The Order of Hastrax was also sending a force to investigate the signals, in coordination with the others. For the most part they expected something mundane, but nonetheless it was something worth investigating, given that previous efforts around the galaxy in exploring these anomalies usually were successful in finding all manner of curiosities.
"Elrynn-2c on long range, we're picking up nav-beacons for our rendezvous." Good. The others had already started arriving. Most of the science teams had already been discussing about what they might find and what to prepare for but now they jumped on the sensor data as it came in on long ranged nav sensors before the ship dropped out of FTL and all started becoming clearer still.
Then it did. The ship slowed with inertial dampeners running to take the worst off for the crew. The Order of Hastrax sends its greetings to the UEE. Looks like you're running slightly ahead of us, do you have anything to report yet?
Always on the lookout for more profit, the Svarthan have decided to send a team of their own. A 6 member group composed of a researcher, a heavily armed ex MHEA operative, and an advanced chemist along with a 3 man flight crew to ensure their ship remains operational.
As the planets blurred and distorted appearance draws ever nearer on their own screens Cyreg, the researcher of the group stares excitedly out at the view. Their powerful telescopic and microscopic optical implants not only let them filter out the disorientation caused by staring so deep into the rush of warped space, but also let them peer at the planet as if they were already in orbit.
They seem to be rather excited, if the large bursts of steam erupting from their shell are any indication. as they stare another figure draws up behind them, far larger, and bedecked in heavier modifications that the scientist.
"Staring at the stars again Cyreg? I still don't know what you see in them. They are just points of light, no different that the bursts of mortar bombs or grenades."
"Ohhh, quite on the contrary old friend!" Responds the researcher, one of their implants turning to look at the big warrior behind them "They are not mere lights, but POSSIBILITES! So many worlds to explore, catalogue and mine! So many adventures to have and things to see!"
The big warrior just laughs as their own eyes see the scene through the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio to gamma, a kaleidoscope of new views and new information to absorb.
Then, with an announcement from the captain the ship drops from its warp bubble, the Svarthan barely noticing due to the magnetic locks on their feet. The view clears itself, and now the planet and moons true glory can be beheld.
"I wonder what we will find down there Cy. Hopefully something I can blow up without pissing you off eh?"
"I certainly hope not! Anything you so recklessly destroy is a travesty to history my dear Kadrin. Now come, let us greet our allies."
[9:57 PM]
As the small converted civilian freighter readies its Orion and Medusa drives, and starts to crawl its way through space on the blasts of double digit kiloton weapons like some apocalyptic inchworm, the crew broadcast out to the other ships present, the captain's voice friendly and good natured despite sounding like a text to speech.
“Greetings Hastrax and UEE vessels. This is Captain Ayrdys Kagrugem of the Svarthan Trust. We see your beacons and are moving to join up with you shortly. Anything of note to report so far?”
Kradis was pleased with the expeditious arrival of their compatriots, both grateful for the support, as well as interested in working alongside non-Echotian forces in such a casual manner. Such opportunities were few and far between in these troubled times, and he was honoured to have his squad chosen for such a mission. The Echo responded to the hails with an open channel, inviting their guests to speak freely.
-/-Greetings and salutations, Vor'Torel of the Svarthan Trust and Order of Hastrax, this is Kradis Oridan of House Valour. My team and I have deployed reconnaissance drones to scan the moons surface. They should be returning to us shortly...-/-
Kradis paused for a moment, peering down towards the Drasii, who turned instinctively to meet his gaze. She had adorned a set of modest armour, appearing far friendlier visually speaking, somewhat stripped of her usual sharpened appearance. It more resembled Kradis's own armour, if not for a deep red cloak that was interwoven with the plating, House Wrath sigils covering its form. She appeared ready to have company, and gave a reaffirming nod.
-/-We are prepared to play host to both your parties, should you wish to come aboard while we sort out the data, or we can relay it to your vessels upon completion. The choice is yours, Vor'Torel.-/-
The Svarthan listen intently to the relayed message, before Cyreg gives a reply, sending it through their personal comms, to the ship, and finally out to that of their allies It appears the researcher is very excited for their meeting, if the slight intonations and changed to their mechanical voice are any indication at all.
"We would be honored to visit your fine ship Kradis. I am Cyreg Tesdussk, researcher for on of the trusts many subsidiaries, although that much is not relevant at the moment. My companions on the surface will be Kadrin Ulbeboss, former MHEA agent, and now turned into our muscle for this trip. Do introduce yourself Kad."
A different voice, still mechanical, but deeper and more collected speaks now, presumably that of Kadrin. "Greetings. I am Kadrin."
Now the first voice is back. "Yes, yes, quite a nice fellow once you meet them. And the second member of our surface party, advanced chemist for my very own subsidiary, Gesa Drasdiger. She will be here to help study any new and exotic compounds we may find."
A third voice, also deep, but way more laid back and subdued than that of Kadrin now gives a curt reply. "Sup"
"So uhmm, yes, we would be honored to come aboard your craft. Our captain will begin the approach as soon as they can."
With that the voice cuts off, and the ship begins to move on an intercept course with the Echotian ship, preparing magnetic attachment points for docking operations.
We will join you both aboard the Echotian vessel then as honoured guests. Pour over the data as it comes and make joint plans accordingly. We look forward to introductions in person. The Hastraxian ships also manuvered to close in, but they clearly intended to board via shuttle rather than a direct ship-to-ship docking manuver as various lower level command crew set about the appropriate messaging and clearance requests.
The ships themselves were making their own preliminary scans of the planet's surface, and for the most part crews were happier to have an assignment that wasn't patrol duty. War measures to increase vigilance were a useful tool, but they got old really fast for the crew and a change of pace didn't go amiss.
—--///—-------////—-------------/////—----------
As the two vessels entered into close range with the Echotian corvette, beacons would guide them to either side of the vessel, drawing them in and allowing for docking ports to connect. Pressurizations and calibrations for appropriate atmosphere compositions would be done almost automatically, while those aboard the Echo ship finalized preparations for their guest's arrival.
—--///—--------------
Drasii stood in the main hangar bay, patiently awaiting the final docking procedures to complete while her two companions spoke quietly to one another. The trio of Echotians planned to meet their guests here, in a space of relative neutrality, before moving further into the vessel. The security of the vessel was her responsibility, and she found herself wandering back to the sword hilt on her hip for comfort. Her mind wandered back to the name of one of the Svarthan Trust, the one they had referred to as ‘Kad’. She was certain it meant less to them than it did to her, and that she was perhaps making a deal out of nothing, but the thought cycled back around in her mind.
There was a blare of an alarm as the final docking procedures finished, and the twin doors of the hangar slowly slid open, allowing the entering of both parties from opposite sides of the room.
Drasii straightened her posture, as did her companions, and she took a quick moment to center herself, awaiting the arrival of their would-be cooperators on this investigation.
The docking procedure went smoothly, all told. The Hasraxian group watched consoles indicating pressurization tick over as they stood from their seats and prepared to make entry. This wasn't a formal diplomatic venture, yet it still would reflect well on them to make a good impression. The doors hissed slightly as they opened up to conect the ships.
The Hastraxian group strode forward, looking over the bay to the docking port of the other guests on the far side before looking over the Echotians they were approaching. "Greetings again, but now without a communications intermediary." They nodded slightly in respect, but were awaiting somewhere more comfortable and for the Svarthan before beginning any more formal introductions - they did not want to sound foolish having to repeat themselves.
The Svarthan ship draws near, switching to nuclear rockets as opposed to its bombs in order to make the final burn. Soon enough, magnetic docking systems attack it to their hosts ship, and the crew begins to run through their post boarding checklist, while the 3 crab like aliens prepare to disembark. As the doors connecting the ships slide open, a cloud of steam billows out, and the 3 Svarthan enter the bay.
The crab like aliens draw close, each one distinct due to their size and augments. In the lead is a fairly average sized Svarthan, of 7 feet in length and 4 in height, their body covered in sensors and measuring equipment of all shapes and sizes. On their left is another of similar length, but their shell has a tower like construction that gives them a maximum height of 6 feet. They also appear to have scientific gear, but while the leaders is observational in nature, their arsenal of cutting tools and the like seems intended to gather samples and preform more hands on research. Finally to the right of the one in the lead is a bulkier Svarthan, 8 feet in length and 5 in height, their shell clearly more armored, with two 3 barreled rotary cannons of medium size sticking out of it on either size, and between them lies a tube of some kind, just barely visible above the divot in the armor it rests in, possibly a mortar given its dimensions.
The leader moves up to the awaiting beings and speaks. "Greetings fellow researchers. We are the team sent from the Svarthan Trust. I am Cyreg..." Indeed, their voice matches that from the transmissions "... on my left is Gesa, and on my right Kadrin."
—--///—-------////—-------------/////—----------
Kradis bowed his head as both parties entered their hangar, his toothy grin hidden behind his helm, while Makidus stood at attention beside his superior.
Drasii stepped forward, lower hand still resting on the hilt of her blade, taking in the sight of the newcomers. She made a mental note of their arms and armour, though she had to admit, the Svarthan delegation was far from what she had been expecting. It was a rare sight so such lifeforms, though she made an effort to mask her surprise.
“Greetings, Vor’Torel.” Kradis spoke in galactic common, “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances. If you would please follow me, our reports are only just arriving.”
—//—------//—
The three parties made their way further into the ship, arriving shortly in a briefing room complete with holo-table, as well as arranged seating. As the last of the procession entered the room, Drasii took up a position near the door, to ensure that none of their guests slipped out without being spotted. It was purely a precaution, for neither of their guests had ever been properly vetted by House Valour. They could not be sure of their intentions until they were well on their way.
Kradis took the center of the room, accessing a control panel near the far side of the table.
Suddenly, a blue light illuminated the space as a holo-map of Elrynn-2c appeared at its center, clearly a high-resolution scan of the planets surface.
The Echo turned to the rest of the room, ensuring that everyone was gathered neatly.
“Welcome, everyone. Before we get started, I must delay to allow for proper introductions. My name is Kradis, and these are my compatriots, Drasii and Makidus.”
The Valour knight gestured to each of his companions respectively, who each gave a nod to their guests.
The Echo turned to the representatives of the Order of Hastrax, typing a series of commands into the holo-table, which allowed the holo-image to begin to calibrate slowly.
“I do not believe we have yet been introduced.” Kradis nodded, giving them the floor.
"We have not, Kradis. I go by Eiivar. My compatriots you may call Upxep and Verth." The Hastraxian briefly indicated to either to show which of the pair behind them was which. "As I'm sure you already know we're the Order of Hastrax side of this expedition." They wore formal garb at this point for the briefing, looking rather official and had no intention of running off like Drasii may have feared.
They looked to the holo-table. "Is that preliminary results already coming through? It seems this endeadvour is off to a good start."
Kradis gave a respectful nod to Elivar as they finished with introductions, gesturing to the holo as he began the briefing.
"Indeed, what our surveillance drones lack in timely efficiency, they make up for in quality of scans."
The Echo reached out a hand to the holo-projection, whose surface seemed to interact with the devices set into Kradis's fingers. There was a blink as Kradis seemed to activate something, before the whole holo flashed and began to unravel.
The forced perspective closed in, with the holo image plummeting towards the moons surface, towards a vast mountain range that highlighted a light orange. A second flash as the holo closed in again, singling out a single cragg nestled between two rather daunting peaks. The image pulled out, giving a cross section of the land, revealing a hidden crevasse that opened further into a cave system below. The holo-image seemed to run its course, displaying an extrapolated section of the cave, before a small red dot appeared deep within.
Data seemed to display itself in Ero'ta, the Echotian base language, which Kradis poured over for a moment before turning to those assembled.
"It would seem we have our work cut out for us. Whatever this signal source is, it must be quite powerful to reach us from such a depth, roughly fifteen-hundred meters below ground level. We can confidently rule out a rescue mission; no signs of craft or crash on the planets surface which leads us to believe whatever is down there has been so for quite some time..."
Drasii spoke suddenly,
"So its native to the planet? I thought this place was dead?"
"Unfortunately we don't have a lot of information to speculate, but there are no shortages of strange life in the universe. The idea of a biological entity is far from likely, but I don't want to make any assumptions before we see what we're looking at."
Kradis looked around the room, before stepping back from the console.
"Well, everyone? How shall we proceed?"
At them mention of it being below ground level the Svarthan's eyes "light up", in this case literally as they gaze at the map. Steam also bursts from their shells, possibly in excitement at this prospect. Kad is the first to speak, their "head" tilting a bit to the side, about as much as their crustacean like forms will allow. An arm pops out from a slot on their back and points at the map with a claw.
"You say it is below ground level yes, in a cave system of some kind? Do you perhaps know if the source of the signal has a direct route to it, or is it not accessible without digging? In either case I do believe me and my friends would be most suited to navigating this first stretch and aiding in locating the source of the signal on site. Our race is naturally highly capable at subterranean operations, and combined with enhanced claws, augmented camera eyes, sensors, and our drones, we can easily find our way about down there and lead you along as well, not to mention excavating anything that is needed.
That much is certainly true, and any glance at the armor and body features of the Svarthans will support that statement. Kad continues to look at the image, before speaking again.
"Any idea what this signal could be? I would hate for it to be an energy reading coming off some weapon primed to take out the first one to touch it."
"Access will be a problem, though one alleviated by the expertise present it seems." Eiivar chimed in.
"Yet we will need reliable access for all of us, as well as whatever that thing is if we intend to retrieve it. We will need to dig." Upxep posed.
"Upxep is right, even if the Svarthan have it in hand. We are still left with getting better information, and recovery. I would favour a slower more cautious approach until we have the full picture, especially if no rescue mission or anything of the sort puts time at stake." Eiivar reasoned.
Verth remained silent in thought, as things ticked over. The Hastraxians continued to pore over the information.
"If it's native, perhaps the Svarthan could be right about risks. It could have been left here or defended on purpose, not supposed to be recovered. It's unlikely such a powerful beacon would construct itself alone."
Kradis listened patiently to the concerns of both parties, nodding along with their points before speaking up again.
"Our scans of the surface revealed a likely entry point, though I am uncertain if the path will be free of any obstacles. Excavation will likely be necessary."
The Echo paused, seemingly thinking on the matter whilst looking at the still holo-image of the red flashing dot.
"I am hard pressed to make any assumptions about the nature of the signal, however the existence of the signal does make me skeptical of any desired secrecy. Weaponry seems unlikely as well, though we definitely should not rule it out entirely . Perhaps its a cache of some kind?"
Drasii replied.
"A cautious approach seems to be the most reasonable, at any rate. Whatever is down there isn't going anywhere in a hurry."
Kradis nodded again, using one of his clawed hands to pull the image out to focus on the entrance of the cave system.
"Indeed. We should take this slow, and with as much precaution as we can afford. The task of excavating a safe access point could work as a starting goal."
"That, as an initial goal, is reasonable. We will need good terrain that can support landings and heavy excavation equipment." Eiivar spoke.
"Also one not too far from the 'thing' buried below." Reminded Upxep.
The Hastraxians looked to the scans, before Upxep raised their voice again. "Detailed scans for possibe landing zones in this area would be best, if you haven't already done so." They gestured to a small radius around the object signal.
"Ground analysis and most suitable excavation method may be best assessed by experts on the ground once we have our site."
"Yes indeed, further observation is in all of our interests. If needed, my crew and I could do some preliminary exploration of the caves, and give more detailed and accurate reports about what conditions we may find, and where heavy equipment may best be used in order to maximize its efficiency." Cyreg comments fairly enthusiastically.
"I assume that our landing operations will be conducted individually? Unless either one of you is willing and capable of offering a shuttle for all of us?" Kad inquires, most of their camera eyes still fixated on the map before them.
Kradis began, motioning with a hand into the holo map once again, before identifying a plateau-like section of land that lit up with a yellow glow.
"There are some choice sites not too far off from our destination that could host our landing party, which we would be honoured to provide. This vessel is quite capable of acting as a base of operations for our current needs."
The Echo turned to Drasii, letting out a short burst of clicks, at which Drasii acknowledged with a nod, before leaving.
Kradis then continued.
"Should any of you have any preparations to attend to, now would be the opportune time to do so. Until then, Vys'vol will scout our landing site and secure a perimeter."
-------////////-----------------///-----
Drasii departed, somewhat anxious about the company she was leaving behind, but unwilling to disobey Kradis' orders. Her transport, a single-seat attack craft, exited from the corvette with a burst of its rear thrusters, before making her way to the intended drop site.
The moon was barren of life, that she had known, but as she gently touched down on its rough, green-tinted soil, she couldn't help but be disgusted by it. The Empire had its share of hostile worlds, with many of their populations being relegated to safe-zones or city-fortresses, but the feeling of a planet bereft of life made her stomach turn. It was as if she were walking on a great decaying corpse. Something was scratching at her mind, but her psionic-resistances shooed them away almost without her knowing.
This world was dead as far as she could tell, and after a short time securing the plateau that was to be their beachhead, she gave the all clear.
--------///------------
The base-camp was quickly established without issue, with all three nations cooperating in order to streamline the process. The odd feeling that seemed to inhabit the moon never quite disappeared, blanketing the operations with an unsettling feeling of being watched. For the Echo operatives, the sensation was like an itch that couldn't be scratched, though they kept these thoughts mostly to themselves. Paranoia maybe, but nothing to call off the operation for.
The corvette had landed in the center of the plateau, keeping their distance from the intended entry-point in case of an accident, but close enough to support those on the ground if need be.
The entry-point in question was as daunting as it had first appeared; a jagged crevasse, flanked on either side by hazardous cliffsides. It was clear to those who looked upon it that the entryway had only recently been uncovered, as if a whole section of the mountain had simply given way, spilling out onto the lowlands below, revealing the entrance.
Drasii made an amused series of clicks as she peered into the rift, kneeling near the edge of the cliff to get a better look at the goings on below.
With the Svarthan’s taking the leadership role in the excavation, she had been left to wait until the inner tunnels were breached before she could act once again.
The Hastraxians were not taking a lead in excavation likewise but kept themselves occupied checking on the results of the various ground-penetrating sensors, monitoring ground stability and seismic activity, and so on. They too waited on the Svarthan to dig deep. Results took time, or at least good ones did, so they were content in their patience.
The Svarthan for their part feel almost no discomfort by the lack of life present on the world. Many of their own planets are like this, often by design of their own claws, rather than simply by nature. They notice the psi disturbance more than the other members of their group, but their excessive cybernetics, combined with the flow of labor-enhancing drugs from them dull it to a point of only being nominal in their minds.
As the crabs touch down on the surface of the planet, together with their gear, they promptly get to work. While the expedition did not call for one of the truly massive earth-moving devices the Svarthan are known for, they did bring a very powerful ferrofluid excavator. The high-pressure blast of magnetic fluid and cutting cermets chews apart the rock leading to the larger caverns, from which the expedition team heads down into the smaller caverns. Kad leads these expeditions, revealing their immensely upgraded digging claws which let them breach even the tough stone given enough time.
Eventually, the crabs report that the paths have been mapped and cleared sufficiently for the group to descend down to where the signal is coming from. They have not yet breached that cavern, however, they have made enough progress to be able to do so at a moment's notice.
Kradis had kept in close contact with Kadrin throughout the process, keeping the web of information accessible to each prong of their investigation. Data from the Hatraxians would be ferried to the Svarthans deep underground and returned back without delay thanks to a web of macrys beacons deployed across the surface of the dig site. Data had to be cataloged, and several reports had to be sent back to the Empire to keep their mission status green. Though he often found himself occupied with his duties, Kradis found himself growing ever more restless with every passing day.
The Echo had to give credit where it was due, the Svarthans had made incredible progress in the relatively short time they had been here. He admired the speed and precision they possessed, especially given the relative mundanity of their task.
When the announcement from the crabs finally came; that their waiting had finally paid off, the sudden energy of the camp seemed to pulse once again.
—------------///////////—--------////////—-------------
The Svarthans were joined by the Echotian delegation underground, armoured and armed for their own protection. Rifles and blades decorated the cloaked, armoured forms of Kradis and Drasii, as there was no guarantee what lay beyond the breach.
Makidus however, lacked weapons of any kind, instead carrying on his back a variety of surveying and medical equipment.
A holo map was displayed before them as Kradis inspected their scans from earlier in the mission. Beyond this next breach would be uncharted territory, though thanks to careful monitoring by the Hastraxians, a better estimate of its structure was more accurately reconstructed.
Angular in shape, and roughly one hundred meters from tip to tip, the cavern appeared to be far more alien in appearance than previously proposed. Symmetrical on either end like a rhombus, the chamber beyond clearly showed signs of advanced stoneworking.
Kradis examined the holo-readout, before turning it over to the other representatives.
“Damn”, Drasii said plainly, both surprised by the sight, as well as impressed at the scale. This far underground, it was a miracle it still remained at all.
Makidus followed up shortly after Drasii, gesturing to the shape of the room.
“This is still a rough estimate, Vys’ra. I’m sure it will be far less impressive once we’re on the other side.”
Kradis looked to Kadrin, before gesturing to the image before them.
“What do you make of it?”
The trio of Hastraxians looked on curiously at the data. If it was accurate, it was impressive it was even down here and not damaged or consumed by some geological processes. The diggers had done well, and their report from the head of the dig was much anticipated even as Kradis had already asked it.
As for their own equipment, they weren't bereft of PDWs, but were far more occupied with the technical side of things, engineering, science, and recording. Whatever was down here couldn't be alive much less hostile after all this time, surely?
The Svarthan seem quite at ease underground, their large TBM having been left resting where they used it last. Since their gear is cybernetic in nature they all always carry it, and now is no exception, as they stand ready to breach the cave at any moment.
Kadrin looks at he map, and pulls up their own seismographic readings and maps, comparing them with the Echotian's. While his shows more detail owing not only to their proximity and time spent underground, but also to their basically unmatched technology in the field of underground exploration they really don't show anything new aside form some mild warping and weathering of the projected space indicating its age. However even that is orders of magnitude less than what it should be given the circumstances. Kadrin thinks for a moment more before giving a reply.
"Well, to be honest I have never seen anything like this. The completely enclosed nature of the structure suggests either the entrance has collapsed, which is unlikely as we would have seen the damages left by such, or that it is hidden extremely well to the point we cannot detect it. That would indicate a level of stone working beyond even what my people are capable of potentially even a race with lithokinetic powers."
Verth spoke in response to the Svarthan comments. "There is a much simpler possibility, Kadrin. As unlikely as it is for being this deep it is possible that the structure was always meant to be enclosed, and never had an entrance. Completed externally and then left to preserve something within."
"True, but even then we would see evidence of entry points for tools or workers. There is the option of something nanite-like being used that would need nothing like that but the low porosity and smooth walls also make that seem strange. However excluding the possibility of magic or other anomalous effects, your explanation does make the most sense."
Kradis spoke openly with the other representatives, sharing his thoughts.
"Perhaps whoever built this structure never meant to escape it. There have been many cultures throughout the millennia that bury their honoured dead alongside servants and other creatures."
"Perhaps we are best placed to make a small penetration into the place first. Perhaps a sensor probe rather than a full opening. Then we can assess."
This suggestion seemed to sit well with the Echotian representatives, and they appreciated the air on the side of caution. They wouldn't want to accidentally trigger anything inside that might come crashing down on them, nor alert any dormant defenses that might still linger within.
"Very well." Kradis nodded, "Let's take a look inside then."
The Svarthan bob their frontal carapaces up and down slightly in agreement, as Kadrin moves close to the wall that separates them from the chamber beyond.
"Of course. We shall deploy a fiber optic probe into the room via a small bore hole. Please stand back."
One of Kads arms rises from their shell, revealing a thin nozzle of some kind. With a low hum of electronics followed by a loud hiss of highly pressurized fluid, a thin stream of the ferrofluid the Svarthan love to use blasts out of it. It glimmers in the lights of the group, its cutting elements reflecting differently than the liquid. As it pushes through the rock, a slurry of pulverized stone and ferrofluid splatters all over Kadrin's shell, before flowing back along it under magnetic influence leaving the rock behind as the ferrofluid is regathered for continued use.
Finally, the spray stops, and the nozzle retracts back into the shell. A long thin length of fiber optic cable shrouded in metal unspools from Kadrins back next and enters the hole, light shining down it to illuminate the chamber as a video feed is projected of the inside of the chamber for all to see.
The feed emerges into the dank chamber, lighting up its immediate vicinity. Above, a canopy of rugged stalactites clung to the ceiling like the teeth of a great fish. Faint light drifts throughout the cavern as the feed continues, panning over a circle of tall, cylindrical-like structures in the center of the room, that gleaned with condensation in the wet cold.
A light could be seen originating from the center of the room, though its source was obscured by one of the seven standing obelisks. The piercing illumination of the feed revealed heavy weathering on the surfaces of the column's outer face, as though its touch had lessened the tole of time. The glow from beyond flickered, sending a shiver through the dust of the room.
The feed continues, revealing a rubble-strewn basin encircling the raised dais at its center, almost akin to a moat, though it was filled to the brim with what looked like a porous rock.
Stalactites were probably natural from the permeation of rock. Weathering inside a structure was a bit odd.
"This place must be quite old of some sort of liquid has crystallized into rock. Perhaps a gap in my knowledge, but why does there appear to be weathering indoors?"
Kradis studied the image for a moment, seemingly grappling with his own theories.
"Curious indeed. The space is clearly ancient, the moisture contained within may have caused some erosion, however..."
The Knight lifted a clawed digit to highlight his attention, tracing the source of the obscured light.
"What exactly is that?"
Drasii stood at Kradis' side, placing a hand on his shoulder as she leaned past her superior to get a better look. Nothing about the light seemed normal, even the way it interacted with the rest of the room.
"Is that... a stasis field?"
The Svarthans found the interior walls highly versatile and resistant to weathering or drilling, but nevertheless, the crab-like beings were eventually able to create a wide enough hole in order to allow the exploratory party to enter.
The circle of obelisks in the center of the chamber begins to pulse quicker in the presence of the aliens, reflected in the central podium’s contents: a bright crystal-like device.
Upon further inspection, the crystal seemed to have once been used as some sort of preservation device for an ancient race of beings locked within their vaulted obelisks.
Having suffered a catastrophic failure long ago, many of the inhabitants of the columns are long fossilized within the stone tombs, but they all appear to still be somewhat cognisant of their surroundings, even appearing to reach out of an ethereal mist in order to communicate with the dig team.
Beyond saving, horrified that their presence on the planet has been causing world-wide desertion rather than strengthening their people, the beings within the stone tomb wished to be released form their eternal sleep, and allowed to join what remained of their species beyond the final curtain.
Respectfully, the team obliged, removing the mysterious crystal at the heart of the system, and allowing the beings to sleep once again, this time for good.
The moon of Elrynn-2c was by all means dormant; seemingly lacking all major forms of biomass, it appeared to be a casualty of total ecosystemic collapse. AncNet records of the moons history were spotty at best, with the original exploration teams sent to study the eerie phenomenon finding themselves suffering from episodes of mass paranoia, and eventually called off the expedition. Elrynn-2c was declared unfit for mass colonization, and for the past few hundred years, has silently continued its existence.
That was, until the moon seemed to break its vow of silence, suddenly broadcasting a series of signals out into the void. Erratic, sporadic, and seemingly without purpose, they appeared to be some sort of distress signal.
Theories rose from within the House of Valour, with many believing that the signal may be an attempt by some poor marooned souls, crashed on the desert moon. How else would the unexpected signal seemingly crop up out of thin air? However, the signal came to be, it had become the irresistible fascination of a few, who now travelled to the distant moon in order to put boots on the ground and find out what exactly was happening on Elrynn-2c.
With the current political and economic climate of the Ancerious galaxy, the notion of a joint research project was proposed, allowing the UEE to deploy fewer resources in dealing with the mysterious signal, as well as provide a profitable environment for diplomatic exchange. Even as the small expeditionary force left the Empire, confirmation of at least two other parties was relayed, and a muster point declared for the orbit of Elrynn-2c.
—---///—-------///////—--////////////—-------------
Elyrnn-2a deformed in Drasii’s HUD as she tracked their approach towards their destination; taking a second to observe the gas giant . While she had never been a terrible fan of looking into the black, she couldn't argue, there was nothing like seeing a new planet. Under the influence of FTL, the planet appeared to distort like oil on a canvas, sending a wash of green across the cabin.
The mercenary felt herself leaning backwards as they approached, keeping an eye on their trajectory and monitoring their slipspace drive. Her claws gripped tightly to the rungs on the top of her seat, bracing for the exit from FTL.
“Rendezvous drop, 20 seconds, Vol’Oridan.”
Drasii’s helm switched her gaze away from Elrynn-2a, looking over her shoulder to the command throne of the vessel, confirming visually with Kradis Oridan, who confirmed through the macrys as well as delivering a nod.
Kradis was her superior, by a great deal, but the Valour knight had a calm temperament, and Drasii had nothing but praise for him. His sleek armour was mostly obscured by the blue cloaks that hung from his shoulders, parting
“5 Seconds…Drop!”
Bright purple lightning danced across the void, heralding the arrival of the corvette as the vessel was pulled from slipspace and back into the material plane; the interior of the cabin jostled for a moment before settling once again.
Drasii felt a pit form in her stomach as the momentary feeling of plummeting took her, causing the Echo to grip tighter to her seat. She cursed under her breath, it wasn’t even that bad, but she never could get used to it.
“Doing alright up there, Vys?”
Makidus’s question hung over the macrys for a moment as Drasii attempted to recover herself, leaning forward in her chair to rest her head in her hands.
”This is so fucked. This is somehow worse than the drop pod sim’s”, Drasii shot back, to the amusement of her two companions. The wave of nausea finally fading as she let herself sink back into her seat.
“Somehow one of the worst cases of void-sea-sickness I've seen. You should honestly see a specialist once we get back.”
Kradis’s voice cut through the conversation, bringing them both back into attention, and onto the task at hand. Though his voice wasn’t harsh like that of a House Wrath Knight, his tone seemed to be well-practised into capturing the attention of others.
”Alright, enough chatter you two. Let’s get the beacons in place while we are ahead, give our compatriots something to lock onto. Standard greeting procedures are in order. Eros guides us all.”
-----------/////-------------------///-----------
The Order of Hastrax was also sending a force to investigate the signals, in coordination with the others. For the most part they expected something mundane, but nonetheless it was something worth investigating, given that previous efforts around the galaxy in exploring these anomalies usually were successful in finding all manner of curiosities.
"Elrynn-2c on long range, we're picking up nav-beacons for our rendezvous." Good. The others had already started arriving. Most of the science teams had already been discussing about what they might find and what to prepare for but now they jumped on the sensor data as it came in on long ranged nav sensors before the ship dropped out of FTL and all started becoming clearer still.
Then it did. The ship slowed with inertial dampeners running to take the worst off for the crew. The Order of Hastrax sends its greetings to the UEE. Looks like you're running slightly ahead of us, do you have anything to report yet?
Always on the lookout for more profit, the Svarthan have decided to send a team of their own. A 6 member group composed of a researcher, a heavily armed ex MHEA operative, and an advanced chemist along with a 3 man flight crew to ensure their ship remains operational.
As the planets blurred and distorted appearance draws ever nearer on their own screens Cyreg, the researcher of the group stares excitedly out at the view. Their powerful telescopic and microscopic optical implants not only let them filter out the disorientation caused by staring so deep into the rush of warped space, but also let them peer at the planet as if they were already in orbit.
They seem to be rather excited, if the large bursts of steam erupting from their shell are any indication. as they stare another figure draws up behind them, far larger, and bedecked in heavier modifications that the scientist.
"Staring at the stars again Cyreg? I still don't know what you see in them. They are just points of light, no different that the bursts of mortar bombs or grenades."
"Ohhh, quite on the contrary old friend!" Responds the researcher, one of their implants turning to look at the big warrior behind them "They are not mere lights, but POSSIBILITES! So many worlds to explore, catalogue and mine! So many adventures to have and things to see!"
The big warrior just laughs as their own eyes see the scene through the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio to gamma, a kaleidoscope of new views and new information to absorb.
Then, with an announcement from the captain the ship drops from its warp bubble, the Svarthan barely noticing due to the magnetic locks on their feet. The view clears itself, and now the planet and moons true glory can be beheld.
"I wonder what we will find down there Cy. Hopefully something I can blow up without pissing you off eh?"
"I certainly hope not! Anything you so recklessly destroy is a travesty to history my dear Kadrin. Now come, let us greet our allies."
[9:57 PM]
As the small converted civilian freighter readies its Orion and Medusa drives, and starts to crawl its way through space on the blasts of double digit kiloton weapons like some apocalyptic inchworm, the crew broadcast out to the other ships present, the captain's voice friendly and good natured despite sounding like a text to speech.
“Greetings Hastrax and UEE vessels. This is Captain Ayrdys Kagrugem of the Svarthan Trust. We see your beacons and are moving to join up with you shortly. Anything of note to report so far?”
Kradis was pleased with the expeditious arrival of their compatriots, both grateful for the support, as well as interested in working alongside non-Echotian forces in such a casual manner. Such opportunities were few and far between in these troubled times, and he was honoured to have his squad chosen for such a mission. The Echo responded to the hails with an open channel, inviting their guests to speak freely.
-/-Greetings and salutations, Vor'Torel of the Svarthan Trust and Order of Hastrax, this is Kradis Oridan of House Valour. My team and I have deployed reconnaissance drones to scan the moons surface. They should be returning to us shortly...-/-
Kradis paused for a moment, peering down towards the Drasii, who turned instinctively to meet his gaze. She had adorned a set of modest armour, appearing far friendlier visually speaking, somewhat stripped of her usual sharpened appearance. It more resembled Kradis's own armour, if not for a deep red cloak that was interwoven with the plating, House Wrath sigils covering its form. She appeared ready to have company, and gave a reaffirming nod.
-/-We are prepared to play host to both your parties, should you wish to come aboard while we sort out the data, or we can relay it to your vessels upon completion. The choice is yours, Vor'Torel.-/-
The Svarthan listen intently to the relayed message, before Cyreg gives a reply, sending it through their personal comms, to the ship, and finally out to that of their allies It appears the researcher is very excited for their meeting, if the slight intonations and changed to their mechanical voice are any indication at all.
"We would be honored to visit your fine ship Kradis. I am Cyreg Tesdussk, researcher for on of the trusts many subsidiaries, although that much is not relevant at the moment. My companions on the surface will be Kadrin Ulbeboss, former MHEA agent, and now turned into our muscle for this trip. Do introduce yourself Kad."
A different voice, still mechanical, but deeper and more collected speaks now, presumably that of Kadrin. "Greetings. I am Kadrin."
Now the first voice is back. "Yes, yes, quite a nice fellow once you meet them. And the second member of our surface party, advanced chemist for my very own subsidiary, Gesa Drasdiger. She will be here to help study any new and exotic compounds we may find."
A third voice, also deep, but way more laid back and subdued than that of Kadrin now gives a curt reply. "Sup"
"So uhmm, yes, we would be honored to come aboard your craft. Our captain will begin the approach as soon as they can."
With that the voice cuts off, and the ship begins to move on an intercept course with the Echotian ship, preparing magnetic attachment points for docking operations.
We will join you both aboard the Echotian vessel then as honoured guests. Pour over the data as it comes and make joint plans accordingly. We look forward to introductions in person. The Hastraxian ships also manuvered to close in, but they clearly intended to board via shuttle rather than a direct ship-to-ship docking manuver as various lower level command crew set about the appropriate messaging and clearance requests.
The ships themselves were making their own preliminary scans of the planet's surface, and for the most part crews were happier to have an assignment that wasn't patrol duty. War measures to increase vigilance were a useful tool, but they got old really fast for the crew and a change of pace didn't go amiss.
—--///—-------////—-------------/////—----------
As the two vessels entered into close range with the Echotian corvette, beacons would guide them to either side of the vessel, drawing them in and allowing for docking ports to connect. Pressurizations and calibrations for appropriate atmosphere compositions would be done almost automatically, while those aboard the Echo ship finalized preparations for their guest's arrival.
—--///—--------------
Drasii stood in the main hangar bay, patiently awaiting the final docking procedures to complete while her two companions spoke quietly to one another. The trio of Echotians planned to meet their guests here, in a space of relative neutrality, before moving further into the vessel. The security of the vessel was her responsibility, and she found herself wandering back to the sword hilt on her hip for comfort. Her mind wandered back to the name of one of the Svarthan Trust, the one they had referred to as ‘Kad’. She was certain it meant less to them than it did to her, and that she was perhaps making a deal out of nothing, but the thought cycled back around in her mind.
There was a blare of an alarm as the final docking procedures finished, and the twin doors of the hangar slowly slid open, allowing the entering of both parties from opposite sides of the room.
Drasii straightened her posture, as did her companions, and she took a quick moment to center herself, awaiting the arrival of their would-be cooperators on this investigation.
The docking procedure went smoothly, all told. The Hasraxian group watched consoles indicating pressurization tick over as they stood from their seats and prepared to make entry. This wasn't a formal diplomatic venture, yet it still would reflect well on them to make a good impression. The doors hissed slightly as they opened up to conect the ships.
The Hastraxian group strode forward, looking over the bay to the docking port of the other guests on the far side before looking over the Echotians they were approaching. "Greetings again, but now without a communications intermediary." They nodded slightly in respect, but were awaiting somewhere more comfortable and for the Svarthan before beginning any more formal introductions - they did not want to sound foolish having to repeat themselves.
The Svarthan ship draws near, switching to nuclear rockets as opposed to its bombs in order to make the final burn. Soon enough, magnetic docking systems attack it to their hosts ship, and the crew begins to run through their post boarding checklist, while the 3 crab like aliens prepare to disembark. As the doors connecting the ships slide open, a cloud of steam billows out, and the 3 Svarthan enter the bay.
The crab like aliens draw close, each one distinct due to their size and augments. In the lead is a fairly average sized Svarthan, of 7 feet in length and 4 in height, their body covered in sensors and measuring equipment of all shapes and sizes. On their left is another of similar length, but their shell has a tower like construction that gives them a maximum height of 6 feet. They also appear to have scientific gear, but while the leaders is observational in nature, their arsenal of cutting tools and the like seems intended to gather samples and preform more hands on research. Finally to the right of the one in the lead is a bulkier Svarthan, 8 feet in length and 5 in height, their shell clearly more armored, with two 3 barreled rotary cannons of medium size sticking out of it on either size, and between them lies a tube of some kind, just barely visible above the divot in the armor it rests in, possibly a mortar given its dimensions.
The leader moves up to the awaiting beings and speaks. "Greetings fellow researchers. We are the team sent from the Svarthan Trust. I am Cyreg..." Indeed, their voice matches that from the transmissions "... on my left is Gesa, and on my right Kadrin."
—--///—-------////—-------------/////—----------
Kradis bowed his head as both parties entered their hangar, his toothy grin hidden behind his helm, while Makidus stood at attention beside his superior.
Drasii stepped forward, lower hand still resting on the hilt of her blade, taking in the sight of the newcomers. She made a mental note of their arms and armour, though she had to admit, the Svarthan delegation was far from what she had been expecting. It was a rare sight so such lifeforms, though she made an effort to mask her surprise.
“Greetings, Vor’Torel.” Kradis spoke in galactic common, “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances. If you would please follow me, our reports are only just arriving.”
—//—------//—
The three parties made their way further into the ship, arriving shortly in a briefing room complete with holo-table, as well as arranged seating. As the last of the procession entered the room, Drasii took up a position near the door, to ensure that none of their guests slipped out without being spotted. It was purely a precaution, for neither of their guests had ever been properly vetted by House Valour. They could not be sure of their intentions until they were well on their way.
Kradis took the center of the room, accessing a control panel near the far side of the table.
Suddenly, a blue light illuminated the space as a holo-map of Elrynn-2c appeared at its center, clearly a high-resolution scan of the planets surface.
The Echo turned to the rest of the room, ensuring that everyone was gathered neatly.
“Welcome, everyone. Before we get started, I must delay to allow for proper introductions. My name is Kradis, and these are my compatriots, Drasii and Makidus.”
The Valour knight gestured to each of his companions respectively, who each gave a nod to their guests.
The Echo turned to the representatives of the Order of Hastrax, typing a series of commands into the holo-table, which allowed the holo-image to begin to calibrate slowly.
“I do not believe we have yet been introduced.” Kradis nodded, giving them the floor.
"We have not, Kradis. I go by Eiivar. My compatriots you may call Upxep and Verth." The Hastraxian briefly indicated to either to show which of the pair behind them was which. "As I'm sure you already know we're the Order of Hastrax side of this expedition." They wore formal garb at this point for the briefing, looking rather official and had no intention of running off like Drasii may have feared.
They looked to the holo-table. "Is that preliminary results already coming through? It seems this endeadvour is off to a good start."
Kradis gave a respectful nod to Elivar as they finished with introductions, gesturing to the holo as he began the briefing.
"Indeed, what our surveillance drones lack in timely efficiency, they make up for in quality of scans."
The Echo reached out a hand to the holo-projection, whose surface seemed to interact with the devices set into Kradis's fingers. There was a blink as Kradis seemed to activate something, before the whole holo flashed and began to unravel.
The forced perspective closed in, with the holo image plummeting towards the moons surface, towards a vast mountain range that highlighted a light orange. A second flash as the holo closed in again, singling out a single cragg nestled between two rather daunting peaks. The image pulled out, giving a cross section of the land, revealing a hidden crevasse that opened further into a cave system below. The holo-image seemed to run its course, displaying an extrapolated section of the cave, before a small red dot appeared deep within.
Data seemed to display itself in Ero'ta, the Echotian base language, which Kradis poured over for a moment before turning to those assembled.
"It would seem we have our work cut out for us. Whatever this signal source is, it must be quite powerful to reach us from such a depth, roughly fifteen-hundred meters below ground level. We can confidently rule out a rescue mission; no signs of craft or crash on the planets surface which leads us to believe whatever is down there has been so for quite some time..."
Drasii spoke suddenly,
"So its native to the planet? I thought this place was dead?"
"Unfortunately we don't have a lot of information to speculate, but there are no shortages of strange life in the universe. The idea of a biological entity is far from likely, but I don't want to make any assumptions before we see what we're looking at."
Kradis looked around the room, before stepping back from the console.
"Well, everyone? How shall we proceed?"
At them mention of it being below ground level the Svarthan's eyes "light up", in this case literally as they gaze at the map. Steam also bursts from their shells, possibly in excitement at this prospect. Kad is the first to speak, their "head" tilting a bit to the side, about as much as their crustacean like forms will allow. An arm pops out from a slot on their back and points at the map with a claw.
"You say it is below ground level yes, in a cave system of some kind? Do you perhaps know if the source of the signal has a direct route to it, or is it not accessible without digging? In either case I do believe me and my friends would be most suited to navigating this first stretch and aiding in locating the source of the signal on site. Our race is naturally highly capable at subterranean operations, and combined with enhanced claws, augmented camera eyes, sensors, and our drones, we can easily find our way about down there and lead you along as well, not to mention excavating anything that is needed.
That much is certainly true, and any glance at the armor and body features of the Svarthans will support that statement. Kad continues to look at the image, before speaking again.
"Any idea what this signal could be? I would hate for it to be an energy reading coming off some weapon primed to take out the first one to touch it."
"Access will be a problem, though one alleviated by the expertise present it seems." Eiivar chimed in.
"Yet we will need reliable access for all of us, as well as whatever that thing is if we intend to retrieve it. We will need to dig." Upxep posed.
"Upxep is right, even if the Svarthan have it in hand. We are still left with getting better information, and recovery. I would favour a slower more cautious approach until we have the full picture, especially if no rescue mission or anything of the sort puts time at stake." Eiivar reasoned.
Verth remained silent in thought, as things ticked over. The Hastraxians continued to pore over the information.
"If it's native, perhaps the Svarthan could be right about risks. It could have been left here or defended on purpose, not supposed to be recovered. It's unlikely such a powerful beacon would construct itself alone."
Kradis listened patiently to the concerns of both parties, nodding along with their points before speaking up again.
"Our scans of the surface revealed a likely entry point, though I am uncertain if the path will be free of any obstacles. Excavation will likely be necessary."
The Echo paused, seemingly thinking on the matter whilst looking at the still holo-image of the red flashing dot.
"I am hard pressed to make any assumptions about the nature of the signal, however the existence of the signal does make me skeptical of any desired secrecy. Weaponry seems unlikely as well, though we definitely should not rule it out entirely . Perhaps its a cache of some kind?"
Drasii replied.
"A cautious approach seems to be the most reasonable, at any rate. Whatever is down there isn't going anywhere in a hurry."
Kradis nodded again, using one of his clawed hands to pull the image out to focus on the entrance of the cave system.
"Indeed. We should take this slow, and with as much precaution as we can afford. The task of excavating a safe access point could work as a starting goal."
"That, as an initial goal, is reasonable. We will need good terrain that can support landings and heavy excavation equipment." Eiivar spoke.
"Also one not too far from the 'thing' buried below." Reminded Upxep.
The Hastraxians looked to the scans, before Upxep raised their voice again. "Detailed scans for possibe landing zones in this area would be best, if you haven't already done so." They gestured to a small radius around the object signal.
"Ground analysis and most suitable excavation method may be best assessed by experts on the ground once we have our site."
"Yes indeed, further observation is in all of our interests. If needed, my crew and I could do some preliminary exploration of the caves, and give more detailed and accurate reports about what conditions we may find, and where heavy equipment may best be used in order to maximize its efficiency." Cyreg comments fairly enthusiastically.
"I assume that our landing operations will be conducted individually? Unless either one of you is willing and capable of offering a shuttle for all of us?" Kad inquires, most of their camera eyes still fixated on the map before them.
Kradis began, motioning with a hand into the holo map once again, before identifying a plateau-like section of land that lit up with a yellow glow.
"There are some choice sites not too far off from our destination that could host our landing party, which we would be honoured to provide. This vessel is quite capable of acting as a base of operations for our current needs."
The Echo turned to Drasii, letting out a short burst of clicks, at which Drasii acknowledged with a nod, before leaving.
Kradis then continued.
"Should any of you have any preparations to attend to, now would be the opportune time to do so. Until then, Vys'vol will scout our landing site and secure a perimeter."
-------////////-----------------///-----
Drasii departed, somewhat anxious about the company she was leaving behind, but unwilling to disobey Kradis' orders. Her transport, a single-seat attack craft, exited from the corvette with a burst of its rear thrusters, before making her way to the intended drop site.
The moon was barren of life, that she had known, but as she gently touched down on its rough, green-tinted soil, she couldn't help but be disgusted by it. The Empire had its share of hostile worlds, with many of their populations being relegated to safe-zones or city-fortresses, but the feeling of a planet bereft of life made her stomach turn. It was as if she were walking on a great decaying corpse. Something was scratching at her mind, but her psionic-resistances shooed them away almost without her knowing.
This world was dead as far as she could tell, and after a short time securing the plateau that was to be their beachhead, she gave the all clear.
--------///------------
The base-camp was quickly established without issue, with all three nations cooperating in order to streamline the process. The odd feeling that seemed to inhabit the moon never quite disappeared, blanketing the operations with an unsettling feeling of being watched. For the Echo operatives, the sensation was like an itch that couldn't be scratched, though they kept these thoughts mostly to themselves. Paranoia maybe, but nothing to call off the operation for.
The corvette had landed in the center of the plateau, keeping their distance from the intended entry-point in case of an accident, but close enough to support those on the ground if need be.
The entry-point in question was as daunting as it had first appeared; a jagged crevasse, flanked on either side by hazardous cliffsides. It was clear to those who looked upon it that the entryway had only recently been uncovered, as if a whole section of the mountain had simply given way, spilling out onto the lowlands below, revealing the entrance.
Drasii made an amused series of clicks as she peered into the rift, kneeling near the edge of the cliff to get a better look at the goings on below.
With the Svarthan’s taking the leadership role in the excavation, she had been left to wait until the inner tunnels were breached before she could act once again.
The Hastraxians were not taking a lead in excavation likewise but kept themselves occupied checking on the results of the various ground-penetrating sensors, monitoring ground stability and seismic activity, and so on. They too waited on the Svarthan to dig deep. Results took time, or at least good ones did, so they were content in their patience.
The Svarthan for their part feel almost no discomfort by the lack of life present on the world. Many of their own planets are like this, often by design of their own claws, rather than simply by nature. They notice the psi disturbance more than the other members of their group, but their excessive cybernetics, combined with the flow of labor-enhancing drugs from them dull it to a point of only being nominal in their minds.
As the crabs touch down on the surface of the planet, together with their gear, they promptly get to work. While the expedition did not call for one of the truly massive earth-moving devices the Svarthan are known for, they did bring a very powerful ferrofluid excavator. The high-pressure blast of magnetic fluid and cutting cermets chews apart the rock leading to the larger caverns, from which the expedition team heads down into the smaller caverns. Kad leads these expeditions, revealing their immensely upgraded digging claws which let them breach even the tough stone given enough time.
Eventually, the crabs report that the paths have been mapped and cleared sufficiently for the group to descend down to where the signal is coming from. They have not yet breached that cavern, however, they have made enough progress to be able to do so at a moment's notice.
Kradis had kept in close contact with Kadrin throughout the process, keeping the web of information accessible to each prong of their investigation. Data from the Hatraxians would be ferried to the Svarthans deep underground and returned back without delay thanks to a web of macrys beacons deployed across the surface of the dig site. Data had to be cataloged, and several reports had to be sent back to the Empire to keep their mission status green. Though he often found himself occupied with his duties, Kradis found himself growing ever more restless with every passing day.
The Echo had to give credit where it was due, the Svarthans had made incredible progress in the relatively short time they had been here. He admired the speed and precision they possessed, especially given the relative mundanity of their task.
When the announcement from the crabs finally came; that their waiting had finally paid off, the sudden energy of the camp seemed to pulse once again.
—------------///////////—--------////////—-------------
The Svarthans were joined by the Echotian delegation underground, armoured and armed for their own protection. Rifles and blades decorated the cloaked, armoured forms of Kradis and Drasii, as there was no guarantee what lay beyond the breach.
Makidus however, lacked weapons of any kind, instead carrying on his back a variety of surveying and medical equipment.
A holo map was displayed before them as Kradis inspected their scans from earlier in the mission. Beyond this next breach would be uncharted territory, though thanks to careful monitoring by the Hastraxians, a better estimate of its structure was more accurately reconstructed.
Angular in shape, and roughly one hundred meters from tip to tip, the cavern appeared to be far more alien in appearance than previously proposed. Symmetrical on either end like a rhombus, the chamber beyond clearly showed signs of advanced stoneworking.
Kradis examined the holo-readout, before turning it over to the other representatives.
“Damn”, Drasii said plainly, both surprised by the sight, as well as impressed at the scale. This far underground, it was a miracle it still remained at all.
Makidus followed up shortly after Drasii, gesturing to the shape of the room.
“This is still a rough estimate, Vys’ra. I’m sure it will be far less impressive once we’re on the other side.”
Kradis looked to Kadrin, before gesturing to the image before them.
“What do you make of it?”
The trio of Hastraxians looked on curiously at the data. If it was accurate, it was impressive it was even down here and not damaged or consumed by some geological processes. The diggers had done well, and their report from the head of the dig was much anticipated even as Kradis had already asked it.
As for their own equipment, they weren't bereft of PDWs, but were far more occupied with the technical side of things, engineering, science, and recording. Whatever was down here couldn't be alive much less hostile after all this time, surely?
The Svarthan seem quite at ease underground, their large TBM having been left resting where they used it last. Since their gear is cybernetic in nature they all always carry it, and now is no exception, as they stand ready to breach the cave at any moment.
Kadrin looks at he map, and pulls up their own seismographic readings and maps, comparing them with the Echotian's. While his shows more detail owing not only to their proximity and time spent underground, but also to their basically unmatched technology in the field of underground exploration they really don't show anything new aside form some mild warping and weathering of the projected space indicating its age. However even that is orders of magnitude less than what it should be given the circumstances. Kadrin thinks for a moment more before giving a reply.
"Well, to be honest I have never seen anything like this. The completely enclosed nature of the structure suggests either the entrance has collapsed, which is unlikely as we would have seen the damages left by such, or that it is hidden extremely well to the point we cannot detect it. That would indicate a level of stone working beyond even what my people are capable of potentially even a race with lithokinetic powers."
Verth spoke in response to the Svarthan comments. "There is a much simpler possibility, Kadrin. As unlikely as it is for being this deep it is possible that the structure was always meant to be enclosed, and never had an entrance. Completed externally and then left to preserve something within."
"True, but even then we would see evidence of entry points for tools or workers. There is the option of something nanite-like being used that would need nothing like that but the low porosity and smooth walls also make that seem strange. However excluding the possibility of magic or other anomalous effects, your explanation does make the most sense."
Kradis spoke openly with the other representatives, sharing his thoughts.
"Perhaps whoever built this structure never meant to escape it. There have been many cultures throughout the millennia that bury their honoured dead alongside servants and other creatures."
"Perhaps we are best placed to make a small penetration into the place first. Perhaps a sensor probe rather than a full opening. Then we can assess."
This suggestion seemed to sit well with the Echotian representatives, and they appreciated the air on the side of caution. They wouldn't want to accidentally trigger anything inside that might come crashing down on them, nor alert any dormant defenses that might still linger within.
"Very well." Kradis nodded, "Let's take a look inside then."
The Svarthan bob their frontal carapaces up and down slightly in agreement, as Kadrin moves close to the wall that separates them from the chamber beyond.
"Of course. We shall deploy a fiber optic probe into the room via a small bore hole. Please stand back."
One of Kads arms rises from their shell, revealing a thin nozzle of some kind. With a low hum of electronics followed by a loud hiss of highly pressurized fluid, a thin stream of the ferrofluid the Svarthan love to use blasts out of it. It glimmers in the lights of the group, its cutting elements reflecting differently than the liquid. As it pushes through the rock, a slurry of pulverized stone and ferrofluid splatters all over Kadrin's shell, before flowing back along it under magnetic influence leaving the rock behind as the ferrofluid is regathered for continued use.
Finally, the spray stops, and the nozzle retracts back into the shell. A long thin length of fiber optic cable shrouded in metal unspools from Kadrins back next and enters the hole, light shining down it to illuminate the chamber as a video feed is projected of the inside of the chamber for all to see.
The feed emerges into the dank chamber, lighting up its immediate vicinity. Above, a canopy of rugged stalactites clung to the ceiling like the teeth of a great fish. Faint light drifts throughout the cavern as the feed continues, panning over a circle of tall, cylindrical-like structures in the center of the room, that gleaned with condensation in the wet cold.
A light could be seen originating from the center of the room, though its source was obscured by one of the seven standing obelisks. The piercing illumination of the feed revealed heavy weathering on the surfaces of the column's outer face, as though its touch had lessened the tole of time. The glow from beyond flickered, sending a shiver through the dust of the room.
The feed continues, revealing a rubble-strewn basin encircling the raised dais at its center, almost akin to a moat, though it was filled to the brim with what looked like a porous rock.
Stalactites were probably natural from the permeation of rock. Weathering inside a structure was a bit odd.
"This place must be quite old of some sort of liquid has crystallized into rock. Perhaps a gap in my knowledge, but why does there appear to be weathering indoors?"
Kradis studied the image for a moment, seemingly grappling with his own theories.
"Curious indeed. The space is clearly ancient, the moisture contained within may have caused some erosion, however..."
The Knight lifted a clawed digit to highlight his attention, tracing the source of the obscured light.
"What exactly is that?"
Drasii stood at Kradis' side, placing a hand on his shoulder as she leaned past her superior to get a better look. Nothing about the light seemed normal, even the way it interacted with the rest of the room.
"Is that... a stasis field?"
The Svarthans found the interior walls highly versatile and resistant to weathering or drilling, but nevertheless, the crab-like beings were eventually able to create a wide enough hole in order to allow the exploratory party to enter.
The circle of obelisks in the center of the chamber begins to pulse quicker in the presence of the aliens, reflected in the central podium’s contents: a bright crystal-like device.
Upon further inspection, the crystal seemed to have once been used as some sort of preservation device for an ancient race of beings locked within their vaulted obelisks.
Having suffered a catastrophic failure long ago, many of the inhabitants of the columns are long fossilized within the stone tombs, but they all appear to still be somewhat cognisant of their surroundings, even appearing to reach out of an ethereal mist in order to communicate with the dig team.
Beyond saving, horrified that their presence on the planet has been causing world-wide desertion rather than strengthening their people, the beings within the stone tomb wished to be released form their eternal sleep, and allowed to join what remained of their species beyond the final curtain.
Respectfully, the team obliged, removing the mysterious crystal at the heart of the system, and allowing the beings to sleep once again, this time for good.