Act I: Mercurian Underground

[Halbarad]

By this point both Rowan and Michael have come over to investigate, having noticed both Arkian and Chris in the same area.

[thepanda]

“I think you’ll be needing my technical prowess for the moment, so I’m heading down. Any objections?” Christopher glances back at the others.

[Jon]

"None from me," Michael says. "Heck, given what we know of Mercury, you'll probably be much more busy than I ever will." He shrugs. Not that I really mind it that way.

[Ebiris]

"I'll come down," Rowan volunteers. "If the systems at the bottom have failed, it shouldn't be too problematic for me to force an entrance."

Before following Chris, she turns to Michael. "Might be a good idea for you to contact Mission Control to give them an update on our status so far," she suggests before descending the ladder.

[Halbarad]

With that, the three begin the descent, Arkian in the lead while Rowan brings up the rear.

The tunnel seems rather featureless for the most part; a smooth-walled bore like the main entrance was, the only distinguishing characteristics are spaced about every twenty meters - the rear sides of the landing lights for the main entrance,

The ladder goes on... and on... and on... After about ten minutes of climbing, it seems like you're in a completely black tube; no sign of light above or below you, only the lights on your suits providing any illumination. Another five minutes and the tunnel begins to curve a bit, bending in the direction of the main entrance. The gentle curve continues for several hundred meters, until finally the ladder disappears, the tunnel widening enough for you to walk along what used to be its side. And it's another good ten minutes of walking down the gently sloped tunnel before you finally come to a metallic access door, a keypad set into the wall next to it - a twin for the one on the surface.

[Jon]

Michael watches the three of them disappear into the ground, then heads back to the ship to send off the update.

[Carthrat]

Arkian glances at the keypad. "Chris, could you hack open the door, or must we resort to violence?"

[thepanda]

“Let’s find out, shall we?” Christopher tries jacking into the system, first making sure there is power to do so. If not, he’ll use a power source from his kit and try to hardwire it using his knowledge of electronic systems.

[Halbarad]

The pad is indeed powered, and it's little trouble at all to hack it - it's linked with the docking bay systems, just like the main access door. The code to unlock the door isn't hard to crack at all, either; a simple four digit code, and the door makes an audible *click* as the magnetic bolts release.

Michael: You make it back to the ship without incident and head up to the cockpit, where the communications equipment is located.

[Ebiris]

Rowan enters the now open door to see what lies beyond!

[Halbarad]

It's a maintenance corridor of some sort, it appears. Fairly low and cramped - the ceiling can't be more than a couple of meters high, and the walls and ceiling are lined with pipes of varying sizes. You're at the end of the corridor, and it looks like it goes on a ways to your left from here. There's absolutely no light at all in here, though; there are glass or plastic strips mounted in the ceiling that might be lights, but if they are they're not on.

[Ebiris]

After walking a few metres down the corridor, Rowan places her hand on one of the pipes to try and detect any vibration that indicates they are carrying something - unlikely, but then she never would have dreamed this place would have electricity, either. If nothing is felt with the first pipe, she tries several more before giving up.

[Halbarad]

None of the pipes seem to be carrying anything, although you do catch labels on a few of them, all in Lunarian script of course. "External Hydraulic Fluid Return" graces a medium-sized pipe running at waist level, that particular pipe showing a few puddles of liquid beneath it a few meters away. "Danger: High Pressure" is the label on a small pipe with flaking red paint near the ceiling. A massive pipe labeled "Recycler Return" runs at foot level.

[Ebiris]

"These pipes are probably related to spaceship maintainance in the docking bay ahead," Rowan tells Arkian and Chris. "Not surprising that they're idle, now, even if the core systems still function."

After relaying that, she continues onward down the corridor.

[Carthrat]

"We should try and find a security room, or control system," notes Arkian, tapping his radio.

"Michael, do you read me?"