Act I: Mercurian Underground

[Halbarad]

The terminal is still active; it's in some sort of power-save mode, you find as you let your awareness enter the system. A bit of cursory checking around reveals that this terminal is linked with this city's main computer grid, which IS still active; however, all of the ports out of this particular terminal leading into the city's mainframes are firewalled rather securely. You'll have to do some hacking work if you want to get into the mainframes from here.

[thepanda]

“Ladies and gentlefolk, the city’s main grid is still operational,” Christopher says, a little awe touching his voice. To think that after all these years it still worked boggled the mind. The sheer wealth of knowledge alone was giving him goose pimples. “Let’s see here, before heading off into the ether to do battle with dragons and the like I’d better shine some light on our current situation, yeah?”

He switches the terminal from power saving mode, deciding that a hack job, while quite probably fun, was not number one priority. He begins checking the docking systems (if in fact this terminal is part of that), first for like and then diagnosis on the state of repair of the docking bays. It would be nice to get the ship in and out without worries.

[Halbarad]

Lights... aren't happening. You'll need administrative level access to pull the system out of power-save mode (this is a pretty heavy-duty lockdown, from the looks of things.) The only things that are receiving power at the moment are the computer core and a very few scattered pieces of equipment - the docking bay systems being among those few.

As far as those systems go, the status report is fairly easy to pull up. Both doors are operational; now that you've got more direct access to the control systems, you can see that the docking procedure is airlock-based. Once a ship or other large object enters the access tunnel, the outer door will close and pressurize as the ship descends to the main entry door, which will open once pressure has been equalized with the inside of the docking bay.

There's also a couple of interesting notes in the log file. The first is of a failed entry within the last hour - the date on that entry is 22/9/11106. The last entry in the log before that is of a ship departure, dated 27/3/1047.

[thepanda]

“Ok, that’s going to take some doing,” can be heard over the coms as Christopher learns of the lockdown. “The system’s been locked down from waaay high up on the command totem pole. I’ll have to crack the system just to get lights down here. On the other hand it doesn’t appear as though there should be anything wrong with docking the ship down here. The docking process is airlock-bases, oh esteemed pilot. I can access that without problems, at least. Everything else is shut up so tight you’d be able to squeeze water out of rock before getting in.” If anyone is looking his way they’ll see a smile spread across his face.

“Luckily, I’m not you. If we have time I’ll try to force it now, but if not we should proba-” he cuts off shortly. He just remembers something and he tries for floor plans or blueprints; something that would tell them how to get around at least their area without wondering aimlessly.

“Right, probably get ready to head up.”

[Halbarad]

There's not much to be seen, unfortunately. You've got the automated docking plans for the bay itself - tugs to the right, ships to the left. Aside from that, there's no information at all as far as floor layouts go. At least not on this system.

[Ebiris]

Rowan takes a closer look at the spilled circuitboards or whatever they are, setting the crowbar on top of the crate so she won't trip on it, later. I wonder... were they unloading when it all happened? Or something else? So many mysteries...

Hearing Chris over the radio, she abandons her inspection, heading over towards the lights that indicate his position. The entire computer system is still functioning?! This is insane...

Something does stop her dead in her tracks as she nears Chris. "If the computers are still active... what about automated defence systems?"

[Jon]

Michael types up a report -- the landing, the docking doors, the service enterance, and the expedition inside -- and beams it off to HQ. That done, he heads to his stateroom for a book to read until further contact.

[thepanda]

“The system ’s on lockdown. I’m sure any defense systems are as well. It’ll take me some time to bring it back out of power-saving.”

[Carthrat]

"Any other Mercurian colonies we visit will likely be locked down the same way," muses Arkian. "If you break open the network here, would it make it easier to get into the other colonies?

Or perhaps there's a core access code embedded in the Mercurian system.."

[Ebiris]

"Good point," Rowan nods as she reaches the console. "Even if they're functional, they couldn't remain active all this time... could they?

"That's what puzzles me - where is the power coming from? A solar collection facility would never last even one year without constant maintainance this close to the Sun. Mercury has no geothermal activity, and wind or tidal power sources are a laughable concept, here.

"Even the most efficient fusion reactor would never last ten thousand years without more fuel coming in..."

[Carthrat]

"There isn't that much consumption," replies Arkian, shrugging. "Not compared to the requirements of an entire colony. And who knows what the Mercurians had that we don't? So much has been lost...

My guess is that there's either plenty of stored energy, like a row of superbatteries or something, or some kind of next-generation power plant."

[Ebiris]

"Well, we'll find out soon enough, I'm sure," Rowan nods, waiting for Chris to finish up what he's doing at the console.

[thepanda]

"One way or another, accessing this system will probably make the going easier on the next, if for no other reason than that I'd gained so familiarity with the set up." Failing any other interuption, Christopher begins heading back the way they came.

[Ebiris]

Rowan likewise follows Chris up and back to the ship so they can land it in the docking bay.

[Halbarad]

Returning the way you came isn't too difficult, although you find an airlock door has engaged where the tunnel switches from horizontal to vertical - you have to go back and seal the door into the maintenance hallway to open it, but it offers no trouble once you do.

The ascent is rather slow - you don't remember this ladder being THAT long when you came down, but you can feel every step as you climb back up. Finally, you make it back to the hatch on the surface, after what seems like an eternity of climbing. The ship is visible as you emerge, although the floodlights have been turned off.

Michael: After a few minutes, your radio kicks back on, the voices of your fellow explorers coming through - a bit staticy at first, but gradually improving.