Act I: Mercurian Underground

[Jon]

Michael looks up at Arkian. "Certainly." As he follows the pilot back to the ship, he asks conversationally, "Find anything interesting over there?"

[Carthrat]

"A skeleton," replies Arkian. "Amazing how it survived all this time, really, but it's hard to think of that when you're staring at a skull."

[Jon]

"Ah," Michael comments, raising an eyebrow slightly. "I expect vacuum had something to do with that preservation, though. We probably should run a scan for biologicals in that area, don't you think?"

Reaching the cargo hatch, he begins to unload things more or less at random.

[Carthrat]

"Why not? replies Arkian, also lugging out crates of scientific technical stuff which, in theory, someone here knows how to use.

[Halbarad]

Some of the tools are familiar to you; some are not. For Arkian, there is a handheld spectrometer for analyzing the mineral content of various types of rock, along with various other tools of the geologist's trade - perhaps not too much use here, but they could well be useful on other planets.

[Ebiris]

"A skeleton?" Rowan perks up from where she's been poking around the tugs. "Where is it? Is the cause of death apparent?"

[Carthrat]

"He got hit on the head by something, and it apparently hurt," replies Arkian, pocketing the spectrometre.

[Ebiris]

"Still, that's odd..." Rowan frowns. "It was just a skeleton? No skin? Perhaps this area hasn't been airless for as long as we thought..."

Bunny-hopping back to the ship, she sees about helping with unloading the equipment.

[Carthrat]

Arkian pauses.

"Well, there's nothing to actually consume any remaining oxygen left, is there?" he says, shrugging.

[Halbarad]

Rowan recognizes a few tools that belong to her as well as she assists with the unloading - it's hardly a difficult task in the low gravity. Among her tools are a handheld  magical field detector (one of the new three-crystal models) and a package of several magical 'batteries' - small, square devices designed to provide a small but strong magical field for an hour or two to power devices that are reliant on magic in its natural absence.

[Jon]

"Maybe it was vented when the lock was depressurized for some escapees just before the end?" Michael ventures, as he looks for his own equipment.

[thepanda]

“That’s what they pay me for, fly guy. You want I should try gaining access to the main system, yes? Maybe wake the sleeping princess?” Christopher heads over to the terminal he recalls from the first trip down, already mentally preparing for the run.

[Carthrat]

"Main system good," replies Arkian, breezily. "Try and turn some lights on and open all the doors, willya?"

[thepanda]

Christopher doesn’t say anything, only jacking into the system again and maneuvering toward the first firewall. Focusing his magic, his perspective…

… twists...

... and the fields of data lay before him in an entirely new way. Ramiel shivers a tad, not having had the chance to use this form in a while. Had his crystalline form a mouth, he’d have frowned. Stripped of his favorite programs by the boys and girls back on Luna, he was not a happy camper. He takes in the datascape before beginning penetration, pondering that tides of fortune that made him almost a neophyte again.

[Halbarad]

Chris:

[16:59] <Halbarad> Slipping your consciousness into the computer system takes little effort, and soon you find yourself in the somewhat familiar surroundings of the electronic landscape.
[16:59] * Thepanda is now known as Ramiel
[17:00] <Halbarad> However, this ancient Mercurian system even looks a bit different; where the landscapes of computers you're used to consist of clean, straight lines and angles, the Mercurian system is filled with graceful curves and soft tones.
[17:01] <Halbarad> Ahead of your current position is the main block barring entry to the mainframe systems, along with a smaller, offshoot block next to it - it's like a smaller, separate data block within the main system that wasn't visible to you earlier. Doesn't look like it's nearly as secured as the main system is, either.
[17:03] * Halbarad sets mode: +v Ramiel
[17:03] * Ramiel glides toward the smaller of the two blocks, holding at ranged weapon distance and examines it from there.
[17:05] <Halbarad> You don't see any immediate threat from either of the blocks; it's rather naive to think that they're NOT defended somehow, but any security systems aren't showing up to a cursory scan like this.
[17:08] <Ramiel> Lamenting his lack of options, Ramiel approaches the smaller of the two blocks at a curve.
[17:09] <Halbarad> As you near it, you notice a small turret emerge on the larger block, tracking your position with unerring accuracy. Doesn't begin an attack, though, simply tracing your progress. There's no sign of activity from the smaller of the data blocks.
[17:11] * Ramiel continues forward until he is either halted or reaches the block.
[17:12] <Halbarad> You reach the smaller of the two blocks without incident. It's one of the lowest-security locks worth mentioning you've ever seen. The only thing that would be worse is something like the keypad doors you accessed earlier to get into the docking bay in the first place.
[17:14] * Ramiel begins on the security block, keeping an eye out for changes in the tracking routine.
[17:15] <Halbarad> OOC: Roll a Computers (Security) check. -1 mod.
[17:19] <Ramiel> roll 2d8-1
[17:19] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8-1 and gets 8."
[17:21] <Halbarad> The lock opens easily, while the defense systems on the main gateway out of this system make no reaction. A datastream begins automatically with the release of the lock - headed for local memory, from the looks of it. A quick check reveals it to be a video/audio stream of some sort, but the data is moving too quickly for you to make much more of a determination than that.
[17:24] * Ramiel follows the stream to local memory (if possible) to playback what it is.
[17:26] <Halbarad> Unfortunately, it's not - most of the buses on this system consist of small-bore conduit that you couldn't possibly fit your consciousness through, even compressed. As the last of the datastream finishes its departure, the memory block reintegrates itself back into the main system, leaving it alone sitting on the pipe out of this terminal.
[17:29] * Ramiel curves toward the block across the alien terrain. "Alien inside and out, eh?"
[17:30] <Halbarad> A second turret emerges to track you as you approach the main block - the barrels of both come up with a greenish glow, but neither fires. You make it all the way up to the main lock on the pipe without anything happening... yet.
[17:34] * Ramiel first tries to gauge the difficulty of the block before beginning into it.
[17:35] <Halbarad> It's definitely complex. The only other one you've seen that comes close was the one time you managed to hack into the Royal Mugen Institute's database - and that little stunt almost got you caught. This won't be a simple hack by any stretch of the imagination.
[17:40] <Ramiel> Had it been possible, he'd have let out a disgusted sigh. This would definitely take some doing. Not to mention he no longer had the stealth or firepower he'd once used for the similar hack. He'd hate to brute force it, both because it could damage something and because it might brute force back.
[17:41] <Ramiel> Hopefully there was no black IC. He begins infiltration.
[17:42] <Halbarad> OOC: Computer Security check, +5
[18:13] <Ramiel> roll 2d8+5
[18:13] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8+5 and gets 16."
[18:14] <Halbarad> Unfortunately, you trip the security system JUST as the lock releases, both turrets simultaneously firing a blast of energy in your direction! (DCV check)
[18:15] <Ramiel> roll 2d8
[18:15] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8 and gets 11."
[18:16] <Halbarad> You're not fast enough to dodge the blast, the twin beams impacting on the crystalline surface of your alter ego! (40 damage)
[18:19] <Ramiel> rollroll 1d8+11
[18:19] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 1d8+11 and gets 15."
[18:20] <Halbarad> roll 1d8
[18:20] * Hatbot --> "Halbarad rolls 1d8 and gets 8."
[18:21] <Halbarad> With the impact having knocked you back a short distance, the twin turrets track your new position and fire again!
[18:21] <Halbarad> roll 2d8
[18:21] * Hatbot --> "Halbarad rolls 2d8 and gets 9."
[18:22] <Ramiel> "Crap, crap, CRAP!" Ramiel returns fire at weapons, a bright beam cutting through the cyber-ether!
[18:22] <Ramiel> roll 2d8
[18:22] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8 and gets 10."
[18:23] <Ramiel> OOC: nix that attack roll
[18:23] <Ramiel> roll 2d8 for DV
[18:23] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8 for DV and gets 11."
[18:24] <Halbarad> Your movement is too slow in the unfamiliar system, the laser-like turrets mangling another portion of the dataset comprising your consciousness! (40 damage)
[18:25] <Ramiel> "Crap, crap, CRAP!" Ramiel returns fire at weapons, a bright beam cutting through the cyber-ether!
[18:25] <Ramiel> roll 2d8 for AV
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8 for AV and gets 10."
[18:28] <Halbarad> OOC: Hit, roll damage.
[18:29] <Ramiel> roll 2d8 for damage?
[18:29] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8 for damage? and gets 8."
[18:32] <Halbarad> Ramiel's cannon strikes one of the turrets, neatly vaporizing it! A datastream begins to issue from the block, and you see the lock you just finished opening trying to seal itself shut again!
[18:32] <Halbarad> roll 2d8
[18:32] * Hatbot --> "Halbarad rolls 2d8 and gets 9."
[18:32] <Halbarad> But it holds open for the moment, unable to resecure itself.
[18:32] <Halbarad> OOC: Init
[18:34] <Ramiel> rollroll 1d8+11
[18:34] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 1d8+11 and gets 16."
[18:34] <Halbarad> roll 1d8
[18:34] * Hatbot --> "Halbarad rolls 1d8 and gets 4."
[18:36] <Ramiel> Wasting no time, Ramiel sends another blast screaming across the datascape!
[18:36] <Ramiel> roll 2d8 AV
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8 AV and gets 3."
[18:36] <Halbarad> OOC: Roll damage.
[18:36] <Ramiel> roll 2d8 for death in the machine!
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8 for death in the machine! and gets 6."
[18:37] <Halbarad> Once more, the cannon strikes true, disabling the security device! Once more, the lock attempts to reseal itself....
[18:38] <Halbarad> roll 2d8
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Halbarad rolls 2d8 and gets 14."
[18:38] <Halbarad> And still has no luck - apparently your hacking method was good enough to hold the lock open for some time.
[18:39] * Ramiel moves toward the open portal, going through if not stopped.
[18:40] <Halbarad> Unfortunately, it's not open - only the first layer of protection has been disabled. There's another system just past the first one, just as complex as the first.
[18:41] <Ramiel> "Well, crap."
[18:41] * Ramiel checks for programs similar to the two he just smashed.
[18:43] <Halbarad> There don't seem to be any further offensive subroutines here.... but you do note that the second layer is guarded by a feedback routine. A failure to hack this one correctly would probably be most painful.
[18:44] <Ramiel> No pain, no gain, right? Right? Ramiel begins cracking.
[18:45] <Ramiel> The security, that is.
[18:45] <Halbarad> OOC: Computer Security check again, +5 mod.
[18:45] <Ramiel> roll 2d8+5
[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8+5 and gets 12."
[18:47] <Halbarad> You slip past the second layer with ease, fortunately - bypassing the feedback routine was simpler than it looked at first. And what should appear to your eyes below the second layer... but a third. This layer looks far more simple than the others, though; not much more difficult than hacking an average security system back on the Moon.
[18:49] * Ramiel doesn't get cocky. He just tries to get the job done. It wouldn't be average if it didn't work consistantly enough to keep most of the rabble out.
[18:49] <Halbarad> OOC: +2 mod this time.
[18:50] <Ramiel> roll 2d8+2
[18:50] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8+2 and gets 13."
[18:51] <Halbarad> You manage to make it past the third layer without difficulty, although it almost seemed TOO easy. But with the third seal out of the way, the pipe into the local mainframe stands open before you - you've got access to the entire system for the colony, or at least what remains of it.
[18:52] <Halbarad> At a casual glance of the infrastructure, there are half a dozen different sections of the local net that are inaccessible for various reasons - there are ports leading out, but there's no traffic on them whatsoever.
[18:53] * Ramiel checks for the docking bay section, unless the entire system is still asleep.
[18:55] <Halbarad> The main system is still operating, although the main control section lies dormant until you actually access it. From here, you can see that there are control grids for several different areas across the colony: Residential sector, commercial sector, support sector, docking bay, transport system, and research sector.
[18:58] <Ramiel> "Sweet Queen of Luna, I've hit the jackpot!" Ramiel cheers both in and out of cyberspace, moving into the docking bay section to make like Prince Charming. "Time to wake up, beautiful."
[18:58] * Ramiel goes for a full startup. Lights, power; the whole shebang.
[19:00] <Halbarad> Unfortunately, things aren't quite that simple. Emergency lights are no trouble, but the system announces that the power system is only running at 6% of capacity, and that full lighting and power for the docking bay will deplete the system's reserves in a matter of hours.
[19:02] * Ramiel leaves well enough alone, then. Backtracking through the alien dataspace he goes to locate the power system, possilbly recalling some debate on it earlier.
[19:05] <Halbarad> Status on the power system is simple enough to find. The generation grid is running at nearly 70% efficiency, only a few 'strands of the net' broken - whatever that means. But the nightside battery storage system is in a shambles - with only a bare handful of power cells remaining operational.
[19:06] * Ramiel tries to locate the batteries and determine their nature. If they weren't strickly magical he might be able to do something about them.
[19:08] <Halbarad> It's a bit difficult. The computer system is only aware of their status - capable of holding a charge or not. Their physical location is near the research sector; a check for maps of the colony reveals that this is several kilometers away from the docking bay.
[19:13] * Ramiel searches for schematics, blue prints, and maps of any sort that would help the pioneers not get lost while traveling. Something tells him that the research section would probably be their first target.
[19:13] <Ramiel> In fact, now that he thought of it, there was no reason he couldn't look into what happened to the atmosphere in this place. If it was simply shut down rather than broken...
[19:16] <Halbarad> It's not hard at all to download a colony map into local memory; from there, you should be able to transfer it into a datapad, once you exit cyberspace. As far as the atmosphere goes, the system logs reveal a long, gradual loss of pressure over the span of about fifteen hundred years, beginning in 1047 and continuing until nearly 2600 (by the computer's internal dating system).
[19:20] * Ramiel decides, right then and there, that it was time to create a nice, easy way back into the system. Somehow, getting his brain fried did not appeal. Either by making himself a valid user or creating a backdoor.
[19:20] <Halbarad> OOC: Security check, no mod. Don't crit. >_>
[19:21] <Ramiel> roll 2d8 for "I never Crit! ;_;"
[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Ramiel rolls 2d8 for "I never Crit! ;_;" and gets 10."
[19:22] <Halbarad> There's no difficulty in reassigning the administrative password you just hacked to something familiar to yourself.
[19:26] * Ramiel looks for that audio/video from earlier. In fact, he looks for a com system to communicate with the others.
[19:27] <Halbarad> There's a colony intercom system, but like almost everything else, it's inactive during power save mode. The video is still sitting resident in the local terminal's memory, inaccessible to you at the moment.
[19:30] * Ramiel pulls out of the system, the magic twisting...
[19:30] * Ramiel is now known as Christopher
[19:31] <Christopher> ... his perspective until he is once again flesh, blood, and sweat. "Man, what a rush," he grins.