Captain's Log 03 - Landing Party

[universal_charm]

Who: Jim Kirk & Anyone Who Wants to Come On an Expedition
Broadcast:No
Action: Yes - On the moon, in the Terraformers
When: Sometime this week

Tests have been run, data has been gathered, packaged, looked over, highlighted with all sorts of colored sharpies. There is only so much the data can prove. What's needed now is an actual investigation, getting the final clue to a puzzle that, Kirk thought, they were running very short of time on.

Which was how he ended up down on the surface of the toxic moon, in front of the nearest terraformer.

Time to go find some answers.

<sub>[ ooc: Since I didn't want to flood the comm, it can be assumed that Kirk announced he would be going to explore the terraformers and asked if anyone wanted to come and form an expedition party. So, if you want to come, feel free to jump in.

Also feel free to start your own side threads. I will put up some sections, but feel free to start your own as the group explores. The ultimate goal is just to gather information (but this is a Jim Kirk Expedition (TM), so something may very well go wrong!), so have fun!)

If you need help starting things or want a refresher, here is the original mod post. ]</sub>

Comments

TRAVEL TO THE TERRAFORMER

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Tyrion - Open

[tallasaking]

Tyrion fixed his gas mask a little more firmly to his face, and hobbled forward to catch up with the others. He had a rather hefty backpack with his tools inside attached to his back, but even this march was better than the one he made to the Eyrie. Or Meeren, if he was going to be honest.

Still, always good to ask.

"How much further?"

[spontaneouscombustion]

Let's see... The map says it's just a liiiiittle bit further!

[If you're wondering if she's been saying that the last couple of times, yes. Yes she has. Also, how do ponies unfold maps like that with just their hooves? Why is there a paper copy of the map in the first place?]

[dancingmd]

Beverly stops for a moment while Tyrion catches up, using the opportunity to shift her own pack a little more comfortably, and to scan their surroundings with her tricorder. It's not particularly a necessary activity, perhaps, but it's one she does out of habit. Despite the seriousness of the situation, she is actually feeling a bit... buoyant about the expedition. It feels like something she'd be doing at home. Familiar.

"I don't think it's too much longer now." She smiles and sticks out a hand to shake. "I'm afraid I haven't had the chance to introduce myself yet. I'm Dr. Beverly Crusher."

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Kirk looked back to Tyrion, his own back-pack weighed down with tools and ways to record what they found, or even take back a few things. You never knew what you might come across, after all. He glanced to their guide, then up the path. They could no longer see the terraformer in the distance, which led him to believe they were closer now.

"I don't think that much further," he consoled him. "I'll call for a rest and re-group when we get there before heading inside."

KIRK - OPEN

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Try as he might, he couldn't keep the excited clip form his step as he walked down the path behind the guide towards their destination. He had been itching to get permission for this for awhile, and might have been considering just doing it anyways. But luckily patience had won out and been rewarded, and his explorer's heart trilled in excitement even though he knew that this trek had a more somber purpose.

"Everyone doing all right?" he called, looking back to the group as he wiped sweat from his brow and around the edges of his mask.

[cajunspice]

"Ya know, when ya said 'hey, Remy, wanna do something physical', didn't really guess it was this." Ha ha, yes, he's so funny, his voice coming out muffled thanks to his own mask as he kept up with Kirk and the rest of the group. He didn't really mind the hike, it was good exercise and it was nice to get out of the ships, even if it was into a polluted atmosphere.

OUTSIDE THE TERRAFORMER

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Hera; open;

[firstrebel]

It's not unusual for her to be doing something like this - what's unusual is that she doesn't have to worry about evading authorities.

Also, Kanan's not here, that's weird, too. He's not always right by her side, but he's never more than a comm-ping away. She misses him more than she thought she would, honestly.

But that's a feeling she'll have to pick apart later, after this is all over. Right now, they have a moon to save, and she'll be damned if they let these people keep suffering, regardless of how it came to happen.

"I suppose a blaster would be a bad idea to get inside, huh," she offers with a slight smile. Probably not a good idea to damage the incredibly expensive and complicated-looking technology.

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Well, hopefully they won't be doing that here. You never knew when Jim Kirk was in charge of an expedition, but one can hope.

"Let's save that for plan C," Kirk chuckled right next to her. "Even assuming that these things are meant to run with minimal human oversight, they are machines. They would need to be maintained, so there has to be a way to get inside of them without damaging them. Even if they haven't not been touched in years, the actual entrances should have some sort of manual override for safety."

Or at least one would assume.

"Once everyone has checked their gear and rested up, we'll head in. This thing looks like it'll take a minimum of several hours to explore."

TRAVEL TO THE "ROOTS"

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Allen Walker - open!

[save_the_souls]

[Allen had mostly come for security reasons, but that didn't mean he wouldn't do a bit of help with the exploration part. When they walk through the roots, it becomes pretty clear they are going to get too small for humans to travel. Which is...weird, considering this was supposed to be built by humans.]

[But when Allen reaches that point, he thinks before addressing the golem that's been riding on his shoulder this whole time]

Tim, I think you'd fit. Try flying down there and seeing if you can find anything, okay?

[Tim seems to give an affirmative gesture before jumping off Allen's shoulder and flying further down the small passageway. Allen meanwhile crosses his arms. Now it's just a matter of waiting]

Re: Allen Walker - open!

[tallasaking]

You know ... it's nice to see something smaller than me going down there. I was terribly afraid I would have to volunteer.

[Was Tyrion's wry response, as he took out his notebook and started to write down everything he was seeing.]

What is that fascinating creature, anyways?

/waltzes in forever late to her own post

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_{[ Kirk was glad to have Allen along, even if it was just for security. Considering the unknowns of the situations, having people with some higher offense capacity than himself was a welcome thing. He paused to watch Allen address the little golem, intrigued by the creature and its association with Allen. ]}

Handy. Does everyone have a little guy like him where you're from?

_{[ Seemed like a good time, seeing as they were stuck in a holding pattern until Tim came back. ]}

KIRK - OPEN

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<sub>[ Kirk had to say, he was impressed with these machines. They were obviously very advanced, and if he had to have his guess - fired from orbit. That would make sense rather than having them built on site. But even as fascinated as he was, the walls were beginning to feel oppressive - very unlike those of the Enterprise, or even his little Tourist.

It's not long before he finally understands why and he makes a 'tch' sound behind his teeth. ]</sub>

I think this will have to be as far as we can go without long-range scouting equipment. The passages are definitely getting narrower.

_{[ While he did have to wonder what was at the end, it was to risky to press further and potentially get stuck. ]}

TRAVEL TO THE CORE

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hank mccoy; open

[beathach]

[he debated for a long time whether or not to come down as himself, rather than as he is now. While the moon was relatively safe in general, he'd never been here, and he was admittedly a little paranoid. But eventually, he decided that it wasn't just a few of them, and if he had to it wasn't as though he couldn't force a switch anyway.

But from the beginning of this little adventure, Hank has had his head half-buried in a notebook he brought along, taking notes on . . . well, practically everything. Descriptions as they walk around, quick sketches in the margins to better explain some of it, detailing as much as he can in the event that they need the information later on.

Every so often, though, you might hear him mutter something under his breath, a curse or an exclamation of "This is amazing/fascinating", just loud enough for anyone nearby to hear]

[save_the_souls]

[While people like Hank took notes, Allen was mostly watching their surroundings. He had mostly volunteered to go along as a form of security, after all. Since in his experience, exploring old ruins and machines usually resulted in a lot of problems]

[But so far the way has been peaceful, which was a relief. He starts to feel relaxed enough to get curious when Hank mutters yet again about this being amazing.]

What is it?

Re: hank mccoy; open

[tallasaking]

[Hank is not the only one taking notes - and honestly it should be no surprise that sooner or later Tyrion runs into Hank while paying more attention to his notes than what was coming up in front of him.

Muttering an apology, he looked up, then grinned.] Well, well, it seems we will be meeting over mechanics as opposed to drinks.

KIRK - OPEN

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<sub>[ It seemed that travel in the other direction wasn't a lot better in terms of space. The more he wandered in here, the more he considered the fact that this place was not actually meant for much human interaction. There was nothing about it that was welcoming in the least, and while he didn't think it would be lush since it was a work machine, surely they would be more things like labeling or other instruction and direction for ease of use and maintenance.

It brought up curious questions, though. He paused in front of a panel, examining it critically though there was little to actually see of it. He crossed his arms, glaring at it like it might magically produce answers for him. ]</sub>

Anyone else get the feeling that this thing wasn't really meant to have people inside of it?

[goldenglasses]

Yeah. You're not the only one thinking that. [Vash who had been pretty chipper and talkative on the way to the site has grown more quiet and subdued the closer they moved towards the core.]

Which is a bit strange. Surely they must have some way into some of these areas for maintenance and upkeep. At least, that's what I would have assumed before coming this far in.

[The layout was similar to some of the larger SEEDs ships Vash knew, but on the same hand very different. It left him feeling just a bit uneasy.]

THE CORE

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Vash | Open

[goldenglasses]

[Once the core is open many may first go towards the command center and finding what the computers there will tell them.

But not Vash. The moment the bulb is reviled the outlaw gasps in surprise. Instead of any computers or exposed wiring his first point is to walk right up to the glass bulb. There is nothing there. He can feel that none of his sisters were here. He would have know the moment he set foot inside if they were here. These Pla-machines where not the same.

Still he can't help himself. He reaches forward and gently places his gloved right hand out onto the glass. He stands quietly and with his eyes closed for some time.]

Later

[Eventually Vash will check on the information the console has. He seems pretty comfortable with the set up. Easily finding what he needs and navigating quickly around the core when he needs to.

Someone may catch him muttering 'last run' at some point as he quickly scans some files at first. Then relief when he can't find it mentioned anywhere.]

Clay | Open

[geonomy]

[Clay's on his back under the base of the terraformer, getting a look at what's been done and trying to figure out what can be done. So, removing the battery didn't work... Then what's powering this thing? That's what he'd like to know.

He carefully removes what the locals had assumed to be the battery, opens it up with the same care, and... Whoa. Whoa. This is weird.]

What the... [There's... not much in there save for some weird looking residue. He can't reach his tools from down here, but maybe someone can help him out with that, or even with figuring out just what this stuff is.] Guys, I found something weird!

KIRK - OPEN

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<sub>[ Scotty would love this, Kirk thought when they finally entered the core, seeing the array of screens. He looked down over the walkways down to what he assumed to be a power or memory core. It was certainly impressive and a little awe inspiring, and he wished he both the Scotsman and Spock here.

His eyes narrow, though, when considers the whole layout. There is something... familiar about this. Earth tried to not terraform as much as possible, thus preserving a planet's natural state, but there were some cases where it was deemed both necessary and acceptable. He had reviewed some specs in his engineering classes, and these looked similar if not quite the same.

For the moment he puts the away and focuses instead on the control system, tapping at the screen, trying to input commands or at least draw up the last information he could on when it had been initially deployed, last maintenance, the last set of orders given. That should give them some clue into what was happening here... ]</sub>

What the hell is up with this? None of my commands are working...