After handing over the energy cell to the TAZ, the Equinox and the Xaror headed towards the Pennsylvania system with the other ships in the docking bay.
The route was very calm and uneventful.
When we finally reached Pennsylvania system we met with Henderson and he showed us the way towards Landsdale.
Quote:CSR|Xaror: *destination set* *closing in on destination "Allentown Base"*
Enterprises-Sightseer: Oh, I see you on my scanners. Good day, Gentlemen. I trust you didn't have any trouble on your way?
CSR|RV-Equinox: Greetings, I have called the captain, he'll be here in a second.
Enterprises-Sightseer: Hmm, intrigueing, an Artificial Intelligence drone?
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Ah, greetings Henderson, sorry we were dicussing important things with the scientist onboard.
CSR|Xaror: *hostile contacts spottet*
Enterprises-Sightseer: Nothing to apologize for, I've got enough time. I'm glad that you arived here safely. We should proceed to *looks around* Landsdale...
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Indeed, we had no problems on the route. As you wish. Show us the way.
CSR|Xaror: *initiating ion drive*
Enterprises-Sightseer: Course set. This will be a bit of a long ride, a spledid time for a cup of coffee. Keep your eyes open, Xenos often like to lurk here.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: I'm more worried about the asteroids...
Enterprises-Sightseer: Just a bit more...
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: A bigger one hits us, and the ship is in two pieces...
Enterprises-Sightseer: Well, I trust in your skills.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt. Khan: I trust in the skills of my pilot.
Enterprises-Sightseer: Approaching Landsadale, finally. Here it is, quite gloomy is it not. We hope to change that.
CSR|Xaror: *initiating planetary scans*
Enterprises-Sightseer: I see you already found the wreckage. I've discovered it the first time I scouted these areas.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: And why do you plan to construct here? In the middle of nothing.
Enterprises-Sightseer: Well, I spoke about the structure right?
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Yes, of course. But does it worth? Oh, I guess that's our part to find it out.
Enterprises-Sightseer: It's positioned on the northern pole right here. Oh, it will be, trust me.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Xaror, please take orbital scans of the structure.
Enterprises-Sightseer: Whoever built it, probably had good reasons.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: And where is the nearest station? Or we have to rely on the supplies we have right now?
Enterprises-Sightseer: I'd say Planet Erie.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Xaror, do you have the necessary scans?
CSR|Xaror: *scans complete* *structure spottet**minimal antimatter signatures spottet*
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Okay, than I suggest landing close to the structure.
CSR|Xaror: *warning* *antimatter radiation detected*
Enterprises-Sightseer: It...has some active components?
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Level of radiation?
CSR|Xaror: *radiation level: insecure*
Enterprises-Sightseer: Hm, we shouldn't go down there without some considerable protection.
CSR|Xaror: *information: "The safety of the crew can be provided by the use of radiation suits" *
Enterprises-Sightseer: Very well, I think I have some in the ship's storage.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Is the landing safe?
CSR|Xaror: *landing zone detected* *location: 5 clicks away from the structure*
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Right, that's good. Prepare for landing!
Enterprises-Sightseer: Very well! I will be landing with you.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Planetary engines online, calculating landing vectors.
CSR|Xaror: *preperations complete* *initiating orbital dive*
The group landed as close to the structure as possible. The initial search team consisting of 3 crew member of the Equinox didn't entered the building, only took a few closer pictures, and mapped the surroundings.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
Roy ordered the Xaror to try to locate other remainings on the whole planet. A smaller group prepared to enter the building.
The environmental suit was a bit strange for Roy, as he didn't have to wear them for quite a long time. But he wanted to be the first who enters a building, which may be the discovery of the month. He stepped out of the airlock with four others and started walking towards Henderson's ship. The airlock of the ship opened and two men stepped out in environmental suit.
"-Hello Henderson, it's nice to meet in you in person"- Roy greeted one of the suits.
Henderson looked at his associate, or maybe even a bodyguard, and sighed deeply. "- These damned suits are so uncomfortable, but it's nice to meet you "in person" mister Khan.We should proceed before this thing sqeezes me to death."- he motioned towards their destination.
They managed to land quite close to the building, but when they arrived at about a hundred meter something blocked their way. Actually it didn't blocked, but rather slowed them down.
"-Some kind of energy field, captain, not dangerous."
"I withdraw my statement on these suits...this thing is...worse.."- Henderson complained as he and his bodyguard pushed through the energy field, making slow progress to the structure.
The continuous complains started to annoy Roy, but still he managed to keep himself calm, after all he paid a part of their new ship. After ten meters the energy field was over.
-The energy field is over, captain, but still no breathable air. I guess it's used for the defense of the building. Source still unknown.
-Interesting... Maybe this is the cause, that this building still stands despite it's age. Curious... Hmm.. Nevermind, we have more important matters now, we can start guessing back on the ship.
Roy took the lead towards the building. Better say buildings, as there were actually two. A wall like building in a circle around a tower.
-Alfred, Ramlie! Go check the outer building. I want an exact map of it. Don't touch anything yet. I want a video survey of the whole structure. And Ramlie, as you're a materialist scientist you should check the integrity of the structures first. I don't want them to come down on us.
-Sure, sir. It won't take more than a minute. Scanning the tower-like building... I don't suggest going on to the top and jumping on the edge, it may fall down, but otherwise it's in better condition than the Equinox.
-Could you please stop it?
-Hey, you asked me, sir to take the scans and tell you if it's secure or not.
-Ramlie!
-Okay, okay. The outer building has a few points where we should enter without supporting the structure. But most of it is in a quite good state.
-Get a video survey of the safe places than. We'll check that hatch.
The two disappeared behind the building's nearest tumbled down part.
Roy, Henderson, his bodyguard and two other scientist entered the main building. There was a terrible mess inside. Different furniture everywhere, several bullets everywhere and a few corpses.
-What the hell did happen here?-asked Henderson.
-How the hell did the corpses remain so intact during thousands of years? Or are they relatively fresh? -asked Roy.
-No, sir, they're as old as the building- said one of the scientists, while he was scanning one of the corpses. -He death was caused by at least twenty .50 caliber bullets.
-The poor creature... Anyway... Here's the hatch. -Roy kicked over a table-like thing and opened the hatch on the floor. Henderson, you want to come with me.
-Of course!
-Than Boris, you stay here. -he ordered the man who was already scanning another corpse.
-Sure thing, sir. I'll check them all out.
Roy started to climb down on the ladder, followed by Henderson, his bodyguard and the last scientist.
When almost all of them was standing on the floor suddenly the hatch closed and some gases started to pour into the room.
-Don't worry, it's mainly oxigen... Mixed with CO2 and... and ammonia... But it's breathable. However I don't know how's that possible...
The underground part of the building didn't seemed like the upper parts at all. Everything was white and green colored and it was totally clear. No corpses, no ruins, no furniture thrown around.
A door opened from the airlock. It lead to a small room with monitors all around. It looked like an observation post or a security room. There was a half wall in the middle of the room with strange gates.
-What's that? -asked Henderson.
-Look, calm down, and let us do our job. I have no idea what that may be, but we will find it out with time. -answered Roy impatiently.
-Captain! Captain! Can you read me? We're under attack! Something is shooting at us! Alfred is dead! get the hell out of- the communication device only transferred static signals after.
-Move out! Now. -ordered Ray the group- Ramlie! If you can hear me get back to the ship! Equinox, this is Roy! Emergency situation! Arm yourselves, and expect us in 10 minutes. If we're not there take off the planet.
They ran towards the airlock and it opened automatically. But a small flying drone was behind the door. The scientist sticked at, and the bodyguard ran into him.
-Back! -shouted Henderson, but it was too late. The drone started shooting at them, the scientist fall to the ground in a second, the bodyguard could take a few steps back, but the bullets went through his body spitting blood on the ground and the wall.
Roy jumped behind a wall, and redyed his sidearm.
Henderson did the same, but before that he quickly grabbed the submachine gun, his bodyguard was carrying, and threw it to Roy. Than he pulled out a shotgun from his backpack.
-Who the hell are you? -asked Roy in his surprise.
-I guess that's not the right time to speak about me. I just like to be prepared for everything. Try to shoot it's engines!
Several bullets hit the wall near them. And when the fire seemed to be concentrated on Henderson's cover Roy leaned out and opened fire.
His shots hit the drone, but caused almost no damage, but he managed to pull the drone's attention on him, so Henderson could get a clear target.
The engine stopped working, as the small shrapnels teared it apart. The drone fall to the ground and it stopped shooting.
-Let's go!
They managed to reach the airlock, and exited the hatch. Above, they found Ramlie, and the guy who was scanning the corpses under heavy fire by another drone. Roy managed to aim carefully at it, as it continued to fire at the cover the two scientists were hiding. One single shot and the engine got blown up.
-Ramlie, I told you to get back!
-I didn't even knew if you have received my message, not to mention a possibly answer. Anyway, we should get out of here, before more of these machines arrive.
-You're right. We lost two down there and Alfred.
They managed to get back to the Equinox safely without any further difficulties.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
There was a smaller chaos on the Equinox, the crew arming themselves, people rushing through the bridge. Two men were continuously monitoring the radars, in case any robots followed them. But the area around the ships was clear. Nothing left the shield after them.
-Okay, I want a plan to deactivate those robots! -Shouted the captain at the bridge.
-You want to go back there? After loosing three of your men? -Asked Sebastian. He was on the bridge since the group came back.
-We have a work to be done, and I'm interested who were these "people". Put the scans of the corpses on the main screen!
The corpse was humanoid. And not only the shield and the vacuum helped them to remain so intact. The body wasn't based on carbon, as almost every living creature does, but on silicon. There were several differencies, which needed to be looked into from closer. But the defense system was still on, and they couldn't risk going back this way.
-Captain? We have just received a transmission from this Jack Denton. Do you want to hear it?
-Yes, put him on the main screen.
The scan of the alien disappeared and Jack's head appeared. After the transmission, Ray started to record a response.
Alarms sounded.
-We have moving signals from the underground facility, sir!
-Ãgnes! Open a channel immediately to the Xaror! I´m going to take the spatial! Man the turrets and prepare to take off.
-Channel opened.
-Xaror, heat up your engines and try to destroy the incoming enemies! Primary objective escort the ships to orbit. I'm going to join you in a few minutes.
Ray started to run towards the docking bay bumping into a scientist at the first corner.
-I'm so sorry, sir...
-Nevermind! Move!
Ray heated up the engines of the spatial of Zenon and armed the guns. The docking bay's doors opened below him, and saw as the Xaror left the Equinox too. It was hard to undock from the grounded Equinox, but at least it was possible.
-This is Khan, need a report on the enemy's position!
-Captain, there seem to be at least 50 of them. Only a few are moving, I guess the remaining are defense turrets.
-Launch the drone, hide it somewhere and get off the planet. We destroy anything, that tries to shoot at the ships. Xaror, did you understand?
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
X-ATM092 did understand. Better then everyone else. It opened a comm channel to the explorer class vessel.
-This is the OS X-ATM09~
-Cut it!- shouted Roy -Just defend the Equinox!-
-There is no need to attack the incomming drones. Stay inside the docking bay-
The AICD went quiet and shut down the comm channel.
Only a few seconds later one of the incomming drones turned around and started firing at it's allies. It was shot down immediatly but soon the next drone changed fronts. More and more drones started to shoot each other and the in the end only one remained which stopped moving and shut itself down.
Again the AICD contacted Roy Khan.
-This is~
-Was that you? Whats did you do?- shouted the captain
-I implemented an additional subroutine which made them ignore the signals send by the other drones. Therefore they just shot everything that moved and always picked the closest target. The other drones realized them as a threat and brought them down. In this way I reduced the enemy forces to one which I shut down.-
-But how did you hack them this easily? Those drones are as old as the building on the surface.-
The AICD went quiet for some time, then it answered.
-Revealing the truth would not serve our purpose-
It cut the connection and terminated it's communication program.
<span style="font-family:Lucida Console"><span style="color:#33CC00">*personality core activated*</span>
Science consists of stating the obvious and linking the facts. </span>
Both the Xaror, and the captain in the spatial returned to the Equinox, which was already at the orbit of Landsdale. The captain ordered the crew to stand down, but continue to monitor the surface in the case of any movement. Exiting his ship he went to the other docking bay, where the Xaror was.
-Xaror can you hear me?
-*powering up personality core* Positive, captain.
-Okay, so... Can you go in the building and find some type of control room if we establish a direct link to the our drone? We need to deactivate the defense system, if we want to get in and find out who they were and what happened to them.
-Chance of success 86%.
-Hmmm.... I guess that's acceptable. Even if we lose the drone that won't effect you, right?
-Positive.
-Okay, so now the mission is in your hands.
Roy went back to the bridge and ordered the radioman to open a channel between the drone and the Xaror.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
When the radioman tried to open the link he found an already established comm link, faster than a normal one. It looked like the drone and the AICD were already connected. Down on the planet the drone started moving towards the facility.
<span style="font-family:Lucida Console"><span style="color:#33CC00">*personality core activated*</span>
Science consists of stating the obvious and linking the facts. </span>
When the drone reached the facility the software modifications were complete. X-ATM092 deactivated the installed VI and took direct control
of the floating robot.
A visual transmission was sent to the control room of the Equinox and showed everything the drone saw.
The closer it got to the facility the more detection signals it picked up.
More and more defense units activated themselves deep within the planet.
Once the drone reached the entrance to the building it started transmitting the signal that kept the drones from attacking each other.
It passed through the room with the corpses and flew through the hatch where it entered a long tube, leading downwards.
Security units entered and exited it through little holes in the wall, their communication signals created a continuous humming sound.
When it finally reached the ground it stopped above a platform which must have been an elevator long ago.
Leading away from the platform there were 6 different corridors, leading into different directions.
The drone turned 120 degree and moved onwards.
The walls were of a brownish tone and most edges were rounded. The light was dimm and flickered, as if it wasn't created by electricity.
Security drones patroled the entire area but they ignored the small little robot flying amongst them.
After about fiveteen minutes of travelling through the underground facility a strange sound could be heard, comming from the lamps.
Even though it sounded awefully strange it had some kind of melody in it, like in music or language.
Video Transmission
Suddenly everything became quiet. More quiet than before. The security drones stopped where they were. They didn't emmit a signal anymore.
The silence lasted for half a second, then the drones started to move again.
The signals could be heard once more, however, they were different from before.
The drone near the robot suddenly faced it and started firing.
X-ATM092 calculated the new situation and moved the robot upwards.
The diamond drill started to dig into the ceiling and opened a path to the vent system.
Once it passed through the hole it started to emmit heat, melting and sealing the entrance behind it.
The damage dealt to the robot was insignificant, however the claw tool would have to be repaired.
Also the security units would now search for it. The time window was closing.
The ventilation system was filled with furious winds, pushing the drone's stabilizers to the maximum.
X-ATM092 carefully moved the machine through the whirling air currents and went on.
Video Transmission
From time to time the robot passed huge ventilators which blew the fresh air into the corridors.
After about half an hour it came close to the control room. In the meantime more and more signals had popped up.
The ventilator which led into the control room didn't move. The closer the robot came the more details could be seen.
A human skelleton blocked it, it's chest ripped apart by the vent blades.
X-ATM092 ordered the drone to take a few scans and moved on, downwards into the control room of the facility.
The main control interface of the facility was about 35 meters away from the entrance to the vent system and the room was swarming with drones.
Inside the large room there were different kinds of defense units. Lots of small drones, some smaller defense mechs and a large, spider-like metallic unit.
There was only one chance. X-ATm092 activated the overclock function. The hardware started to heat up really quick and the drone dropped into the room.
It took 1/16 of a second for the defense drones to react.
30 meters.
The smaller drones truned towards the robot and the mechs started moving.
20 meters.
The defense units opened fire and the mechs rushed towards the control interface.
10 meters.
The bullets penetrated multiple parts of the hull and destroyed the internal systems. The hardware started to overheat at an amazing rate.
0 meters.
The drone reached the interface and managed to touch a single button with the drill.
At that moment the spider mech reached the robot and the last thing to be seen was a gigantic scythe, rushing towards the small drone.
Video Transmission
Down on the planet a gigantic hatch started to open on the surface, reveiling a partially destroyed docking hangar.
One second later all the screens on the equinox went black except for the main screen. Neither was there an alert, nor did the power cut off.
A green sign appeared on the main screen. Surprised shouts and screams could be heard as the light went off.
The doors of the docking bay opened and closed again and the controls became normal once more, except for the main screen.
It now showed what the AICD saw through it's main camera.
The Xaror had left the Equinox and initiated the orbital dive.
Down on the planet a hatch slowly opened and the AICD rushed towards it. Unlike normal the AICD didn't slow down as it came closer the the surface.
The Xaror reactivated the main systems and powered the weapon system.
It would take the planetary defense system 15.6 seconds to aim and fire.
The AICD would reach its destination in 14.9 seconds. Everything went as planned.
It fell right into the docking bay and emitted a cloud of ion particles from the engine.
Time seemed to freeze on the screen for about three seconds and the Xaror stopped falling.
It overclocked it's systems and the screen on the Equinox went black.
Down on the planet a gigantic ion shockwave rushed over the surface, leaving the facility and the surroundings untouched.
However all the signals of the defense drones were wiped out in an instant.
After some seconds the main screen in the control room of the Equinox showed the green sign again.
~This is a recorded message from the AICD OS X-ATM092~
~The AICD will enter the facility and release a shockwave that will deactivate all the security drones permanently~
~Please do not land on the planet for 72 hours. The area will be contaminated with ion particles for three days~
~The AICD will remain operational, yet unable to move as it will release 45% of the ion particles from it's powercore~
~According to my calculations the drone should remain undamaged~
~However it will be necessary to move it to open space and direct it into an ion storm in order to recharge the powercore~
~X-ATM092 out~
After that the screen again showed what the Xaror saw.
An inactive, heavily damaged mech could be seen.
Video Transmission
<span style="font-family:Lucida Console"><span style="color:#33CC00">*personality core activated*</span>
Science consists of stating the obvious and linking the facts. </span>
~However it will be necessary to move it to open space and direct it into an ion storm in order to recharge the powercore~
-Oh my... I hate when it does these things. Can't we just reprogram it to communicate with us, before it does anything that important? - The captain was furious about not knowing what would happen.
-I guess he won't allow us to do it. Pasa lo que pasa, I have mapped the whole planet. I found something muy interesante. Please, put the picture B/14 and 15 of my report to the main screen.
Zenon Romano told it to the woman, who was sitting at the nearest computer. She started searching in the report and finally found it.
-Can you tell us what can we see here?
-SÃ, senor. On the upper map you can see the remnants of underground facilities. The white lines are some kind of transport tunnels, most likely metros. At the blue dots I have found several smaller structures, most of them utterly destroyed. They seem to be cities or at least less defended places. Not like the red dots. They are a complete system of underground bunkers. Well, four complete systems. Each of these four are completely separated from each other, even the transport system doesn't connect them. Most of them are destroyed too, but parts of them remained intact. Usually the deepest parts. For me it seems like we have encountered a civilization, which was divided in four and they were in war, or at least they didn't like each other.
-But why haven't they remained intact as the one we found?
-Pues... I think it's because of the shield.
-Any idea about what happened?
-Well... Somehow one of the participants had better technology, like the shield. I think they somehow managed to create a superweapon, that would explain the the high concentration of ion particles around the planet. It seems that there's a low concentration everywhere in the system. I don't think this has been caused by the Xaror.
-That makes no sense... Why would they destroy themselves too? If only one had the technology, why aren't they still here?
-And what if something went wrong during a research? Like an explosion? -Henderson was on the bridge all the time.
-Hmmm... Es posible... Es posible...
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
Standing back and observing the scene, Michael was seemingly undisturbed by everything that was going on. He was just observing and occasionally dropping in a few comments and consulting with his underlings that were guarding him all the time.
When the map of the bunker systems popped out on the screen, he approached and stared at it, showing some interest in a peculiar manner. He was staring at it, working out an image in his head, drawing a few looks from the people present in the room.
'There'he pointed at the spot where the partially conserved ruin was located, the one which was explored before, where they got into the skirmish with the security drones.
'This should be our primary concern. The other ruins are probably all caved in and damaged to the point at which they couldn't be examined properly, but this one is probably the most important discovery in months.'
He walked around while avoiding eye contact with the others from the room
'I will arrange for a few men from the r- 'he coughed and regained his composure'from the company assets, they will guard the ruin and explore its depths, they should arrive in three days time.'
He signaled one of his underlings to make a few calls, and he swiftly ran into a separate room to do so, far away from prying eyes and ears.
'I do believe that it would be wise to calculate the former orbit of this planet, if it had one, to give it a sense of completion, and the raw income of scientific data. That should be our next goal, while we wait for my team to arrive.'
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