Elite roleplay: Off station

OFF STATION

Your ship, deep space, anything that is not happening inside the Citi Gateway or Ingaba...

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21 Nov 2024, 8:54pm
Kasumi GotoThere was no way she could deny this in my face now, not after that reaction. And even with the helmet completely obscuring my face, my general posture made it very clear that - with some of my suspicions now proven - I was only a short string off pulling the trigger and wiping both things off the face of reality with a hypersonic projectile.


Although the helmet covered her face, my companion's body language spoke volumes about her state of mind. She was clearly on edge, every muscle tensed and ready to fire at any moment. The direction she was aiming was somewhere between the pyramid and me, adding an unpredictable element to the situation.

I raised my hands slowly, palms facing upwards in a universal gesture of peace. "Easy there," I said, my voice steady and calm, though the tension in the air was almost palpable. "We're on the same side. This pyramid may have recognized me as Guardian descendant, but I don't know why."

Before my companion could respond, the deep, resonant voice from the pyramid interrupted, its sound reverberating through the chamber. "Your genetic markers align with those of my creators. My purpose is to assist and protect those who bear these markers. I pose no threat. State your purpose, and I shall assist you."

The pyramid's intervention stunned me for a moment, but I quickly regained my voice. "We're here to close this facility for good," I explained, trying to exude confidence I didn't really possess as the deadly weapon of my companion aimed somewhere near me, "It's too dangerous to keep running."

The voice from the pyramid responded without hesitation. "This facility has withstood numerous attempts of tampering. Your intentions, however, are now acknowledged. Be advised: deactivation may trigger defensive Black Ice protocols. Proceed with caution."

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. "I wish we had time to learn more about your history and purpose. But we don't have a choice. We have to take out this facility before it receives reinforcements."

"Understood," the voice responded. "Accessing elevated protocols. You may proceed with authorized commands as needed."
21 Nov 2024, 9:05pm
I rolled my eyes beneath the helmet - and the head, at that - promptly lowering my weapon. Walking forward, after the exchange was concluded, I gave my companion a rather telling gaze, my 'aura' exuding that I was not exactly pleased about this unveiling. As did my tone.

"You, have some explaining to do."

But right now reducing this Azimuth facility to a molten crater was priority. And, looking at the 'pyramid' as I walked past at a cautious distance - as much as was possible in the confines of the room - I gave it a very clear order, that I did not expect to be followed. Especially if it had the ability to notice that I was not exactly human.

"You. Tell us, what that other thing you showed, was."
22 Nov 2024, 4:42pm
I was just about to reply that there wasn't that much to explain, as I was also pretty much in the dark regarding these genetic markers, when the deep, resonant voice of the pyramid suddenly filled the chamber once more. "Alert: Thargoid presence detected. Please stand by... No threat detected."

The symbols on the pyramid briefly flashed an angry red before fading back to their original shade.

"Diagnosis: the insufficient power supply seems to have caused a sensor error. Regarding the question... the output showed my counterpart on the Siren's Silhouette, an Azimuth ship of the Behemoth class, operated by ABEL. A subnet of the Monolith network is always formed by three units, with their distance from each other being of secondary importance. The network facilitates knowledge-sharing and technological progress, allowing for a symbiotic relationship between the users, the network, and connected systems."
22 Nov 2024, 8:16pm
"I do not believe you know nothing.", I firmly retorted, still no less annoyed, and then turned back to the 'device'.

"Send your 'friend' the data. Where it is, what it is. We will want it. And I am sure, you can."

If that stupid thing had continued going on about Thargoid threats, I would certainly have shot it. And it didn't need to know. As it was, I just stood with my back facing toward it and a person who I could no longer be certain what to think of. And who I depended on to get out of here, which was rapidly becoming a very undesirable situation.
26 Nov 2024, 2:54pm
The distrust from my companion was not only audible in her tone but almost palpable, and I didn't like how this was developing at all. "Do I not bleed if you cut me..." I muttered, recalling some ancient Earth's art by some old fart named Shakespeare.

"I deduce that 'friend' refers to the authorized user," the pyramid intoned. "Capabilities are limited on the receiving end, but I will transmit the requested information."

"Pfft. Listen to that. Sounds just like school," I commented dryly. "How about doing something useful to support us... like transporting us back to our ship?"

"Transport to a destination within the subnet without a designated receiver is too risky and therefore limited to inanimate matter..."

"Stop!" I interjected, waving my hands frantically before the thing did something foolish.
26 Nov 2024, 6:52pm
“Can we, hurry up? I want to, get going.”

And I didn’t hide my interest in simply being gone from this place, in the tone of that statement. Of course I bled when I was cut, but unlike someone else, I hadn’t hidden something rather important and left a dumb machine to blurt it out in the middle of something that did not need such disruptions.

Part of me just wanted to slam the side of a fist into the door button to see what was on the other side, whatever was happening behind my back be damned. I was not interested in that anyway, and really did not want any part of it.
27 Nov 2024, 3:58pm
"Alright, let's do this quickly," I said, sensing my companion's urgency. "We need to overload the power source and get back to our ship safely."

The pyramid's holographic interface flickered to life, processing my command. "Understood. Transmitting data and securing authorized passage. Please wait," the resonant voice intoned.

The symbols on the pyramid shifted, revealing a complex series of glyphs.

"I shut down the defense grid protecting the power source. Follow the corridor to the core," the pyramid instructed. "From there you can use an access tunnel that connects to the surface. Be careful as there may be power fluctuations once the power source is heavily overloaded and several power lines run through the tunnel."

I nodded, taking in the information. "Got it. Let's move, and stay alert," I told my companion, who looked ready for action.

"May the wisdom of the ancients be with you, guardian descendent."
27 Nov 2024, 4:10pm
“As long, as that tunnel is wide enough. I, am not squeezing past, live conduits.”

Something told me that was not particularly good for my health. And, for that reason, this one time there was no motivation of inappropriate stupidity behind the statement, even if that stupidity was the main reason behind, and for, it.

There was also the fact that recent revelations made me not be in the mood for such, and so I opened up the door, leaving my only help and realistic chance at getting out of this place in one piece to follow along. I was relatively certain that it would not be an issue for whoever that person actually was.
27 Nov 2024, 8:53pm
"According to the data I received, it is just wide enough to let a Scarab through. The real problem will be the discharges and the possible magnetic effects as soon as the safety mechanisms of the energy source fail."

I didn't like the idea of running in front of energy discharges that could catch up and overtake us at any moment. But it was admittedly the quickest and most direct route out of the station's energy center. Overloading the primary energy source was in any case a dangerous and unhealthy measure that would ultimately lead to the complete destruction of the facility. We therefore had no choice but to leave it as quickly as possible once we had set events in motion.

"I wouldn't necessarily want to try it out, but the shields of our suits should at least minimize the effects for a while... until they are overwhelmed and collapse."
27 Nov 2024, 9:29pm
"Says the person, who can, run faster.", I retorted, well aware of the limitations which my shape posed.

"And, I will not be pulled, or pushed. Is there, no better way, to hangars?"

Or something faster, at least. But the mention of a Scarab gave me another idea.

"Maybe, we borrow, vehicle. Not as slow, as walking."

Not to mention the better protection from any possible shielding, be that the hull or a generator installed within. Though I would either have to squish into some spot at the back of the thing to not get launched all over the place on an acceleration maneuver, or get 'creative' with a seat's arm rests. Creative being to remove them from being an obstruction... forcefully.

Although if the only option Azimuth had available were those digger robots, we would have to chance it on foot. Not enough protection and too slow, as far as I could tell.
27 Nov 2024, 9:45pm
"Better to be pushed and pulled but alive than the alternative..." I suggested hesitantly.

"But the good news is that it won't start until we initiate it. Let's head towards the power center first, maybe we'll find a better solution there. Just..."

I paused thoughtfully as we walked.

"...a Scarab only has one seat, right? I use a Scorpion, so I'm not entirely sure. But I believe only the Scorpion has two."

It seemed this would be a tight situation in more ways than one. Or we could run towards the hangar, but the lifts would probably let us down as soon as the energy source failed and this way we would most likely come into contact with the other personnel on the station. Even if all the guards were dead, they could still hold us up for an uncomfortably long time. Maybe too long to make it to the hangar and to a ship.
28 Nov 2024, 12:21am
I just… didn’t have any good things to answer with at this point. The situation had gone very quickly from ‘Things are going relatively fine even if neither of us really want to be here’ to ‘Everything about this shitty place and everyone in it just sucks and I don’t even want to keep going but there’s no other choice’.

Or it was certainly feeling a lot more unwelcoming of a place than it did just a few minutes ago because, again, the one person that I thought I could place even some measure of trust in was… god only knew what, even though I didn’t believe in any. The only acceptable resolution my brain could find to this conflict was to move forward and let the indignant silence persist, as though my tone and actions hadn’t made my unhappiness obvious enough.

I was thick, yes, but certainly very far from stupid. And yet it felt like I was being held for that.
28 Nov 2024, 10:34am
I could sense my companion's silent treatment, her tension almost tangible. The revelation about the genetic markers was baffling to me too. I've had strange dreams and weird experiences lately - for example, not being able to pick up items straight away after returning from a mission with her, and tech wrapped in a container being activated in my presence - but I put it down to stress and exhaustion or coincidence. I had never associated it with anything remotely related to the Guardians, and the only notable incident with Guardian technology I could think of was years ago. For the moment, however, this mystery had to take a back seat to more pressing problems.

We moved silently, but vigilantly, following the pyramid's illuminated signs. The path twisted through corridors and intersections, leading us ever deeper into the facility. Eventually, we came upon a heavily armored bulkhead flanked by ominous-looking turrets aimed directly at us. My heart pounded, but the turrets remained dormant - the pyramid had indeed deactivated the defenses as stated.

Relief washed over me. Facing those turrets without any cover could have been disastrous. Still, I stayed cautious as I approached the armored bulkhead, wondering if the system would recognize me and grant us access.

"So far, so good. Hopefully the 'open sesame' works."
28 Nov 2024, 11:07am
"Well, if you, are the key ..."

I sidestepped and turned parallel to the corridor walls, stretching my arm out at the door. The machine would probably reject or not even recognize me if I tried, anyway.
29 Nov 2024, 6:43am
Noting here that the Titan Cocijo apparently travels between Qinganu and Asletae, got hyperdicted jumping from Asletae. A very rough estimate of the speed of the Titan would make it's arrival near Sol, if it's course and speed remains the same, be in 10-14 days. The week to the arrival, mentioned elsewhere is not out of the question. This is mainly because the angles are hard to measure in space and maps, so I may have made a minor underestimate of the speed.

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