First Guardian ruins - Synuefe XR-H D11-102 (20/03/3304)
24 Mar 2018Archived
Previously in James' LogbookThe rescue operation in Pleiades was only a partial success - James found Sib's brother, but the circumstances were far from what they hoped for with Sib. It turned out that young Adam Hudson has joined Ant Hill Mob, a group of pirates terrorizing Maia system, but has been captured and now was on death row in nearby detention centre. Aftern learning about it Siobhan took the Diamondback Scout trying to clear her head and barely survived a lost battle with Ant Hill Python. James took her back to the bubble and left in hospital in Eranin, before setting off with Prof. Goldstein at a promise expedition to the Guardian ruins...
***
Terran Colonial Forces HQ
Prospect Five
LP 98-132 System (Alliance Space)
“James, don’t be naive. These ruins have all been explored and checked inside - out. You’ll just be wasting your time” - Chancellor Sammy Palmer, also known as ‘Joker’, crossed his arms on chest - “And we need you here. The cold war with iBootis Democrats is getting, ehm.. hotter. And preparations for a real one are under way”.
“I know, Sammy. I’ll help ya when I get back, promise. But I’ve signed a contract with the professor and I am going to fulfill it. Besides, it won’t take long. Two days max”.
“Do what you want, of course. You’re a free man. But you’d make much more money with us, staying here”.
“Hey, who knows? Perhaps he will notice something that others have missed?”
“Others like AEGIS, Ram Tah and Palin? Somehow I doubt it. But since you’re planning to be as stubborn as a mule, I’m not going to waste any more time trying to convince you otherwise. Let me know when you’re back”.
“I will, yeah”
***
Cockpit of the Boondock Saint
Docking Bay 03
Prospect Five
“Alright, professor, you ready for this?”
“Of course! I have to admit I haven’t been as excited since...”
“I don’t wanna know, prof. I’ll do the flying, and you do the sightseeing, alright?”
“Yes, this ship offers a splendid view indeed!”
“Grand. Once we get to Synuefe, Cmdr Hajdu will join us. Just in case.”
“I don’t expect any trouble. These ruins have been found and cleared a long time ago. But it seems to me as a perfect starting point for my research”.
“Alright. I’ll get the take off clearance then” - before contacting tower, James opened the security console and disconnected co-pilots cabin from steering and engine controls. Just in case.
***
Deep Space
Jackson’s Lighthouse
“Wow... will you look at this.. truly amazing” - Prof. Goldstein was mesmerised. Typical neutron star is always quite a sight, but this particular one was extraordinary. It’s two arms were not stationary but constantly moving, as if waving at the passing ships.
“Aye, it is a deadly sight. Now hold on, prof. We’re up for some rather shaky ride”.
James turned the ‘Boondock Saint’ towards one of the two tails and increased the throttle. As soon as the ship entered thw stream of particles, it began to violently shake.
“Warning! FSD operating beyond safety limits” - warned Betty.
“What’s happening!?” - a hint of panic was audible in Goldstein’s voice.
“Nothing, Professor. Just preparing to take a little shortcut, that’s all”.
Suddenly everything stopped. James checked the right panel and grinned.
“Alright, hold on...”
“But...The system you have chosen is more than 200 light years! How... oh, of course!” - James grinned wider, hearing sudden realisation on the comms - “Neuton star! Now I remember reading about it, how interesting!”
“Only four more jumps and we’ll get there. FSD... engaged.”
***
Planet surface
SYNUEFE XR-H D11-102
“Slow down, please, James. Beautiful! Please try to approach from the northern side... hm.. two circles on both egdes of the ruins... around 700 meters from side to side by the first look...” - the sentences spoken by Goldstein were becoming less and less coherent, as the old man began to speak to himself and take notes”
“Heads up” - it was Cmdr Blasius Hajdu on short range radio - “Asp Explorer on the ground, starting its engines”
“Tally... he is clean, probably a tourist” - Barrett hailed the departing commander, but received no response. Soon after he jumped, leaving a high wake behind.
“OK Blasius, let’s land and have a look around. Prof, anything in particular we should be looking for?”
“Yes. Glowing obelisks that could be scanned, these contain valuable data I might be able to decypher. Also, people found ancient artefacts of different kinds months after the ruins were explored. So far nobody was able to tell how it happens. One of the hypothesis says that these are organic and are somehow grown here, but...”
“That is amazing, professor, but let’s keep these stories for the way back. We are deploying SRVs and will need the comm channel clear. Please focus on the video feed from mine and tell me if you want me to do something specific, OK?”
“Yes, of course. Ready when you are, gentlemen”
***
They spent next three hours at the site, first learning the topography, then dividing the whole area into sectors and checking each of them together. They got lucky - indeed, they found an old relic that rose from the ground on top of a stone obelisk. They also managed to discover some other types of Guardian items, classified as an urn and a tablet by onboard computer. Blasius also found out that carrying one of these in the hold and coming very close to the carved stones somehow activated them - they started to glow with a blueish light and it was possible to scan them. After this discovery, they went again through the sectors that they have checked, just to be sure they didn’t miss anything.
“This is incredible” - Blasius was just finishing scan of another one - “ I never though I would be so close to the alien - built structures.. or have their artefacts in my hold! Professor, what do we know about these Guardians?”
“Actually, thanks to Ram Tah and others - quite a lot. We know they were humanoid and that they became extinct around 2 million years ago. These ruins are remnants of faster-than-light communication network that they built and come in three basic types: Alpha, Beta and Gamma. If I am not mistaken, this site is a Beta”
“So if Ram Tah did all this, why do you want to do the same?”
“Because he just shares the outcome of his analysis but not the source. If I had access to all of the intel he has, I might come to different conclusions than he did”.
“No offence, professor, but he had hundreds of independent pilots that helped him gather all that data, while you only have James...”
“But I have a generous grant from the Federation, if need be I will also ask others for help, including you, Admiral, if you’re up for it”.
“I don’t mind doing some sightseeing” - interrupted James - “especially if we can learn something useful for defeating the Thargoids. But if I remember correctly Ram Tah has some deciphering device that is necessary to learn more about the Guardians..”
“Yes, yes he does. I was thinking about developing my own system, but there would be no harm in installing his version if we can...”
“Thought so. Will do it once we get back to the bubble, professor.”
***
One hour later they stopped roughly in the middle of the structure.
“I think that’s all of the obelisks” - the turret of Blasius’ SRV was turning around, as if he was scanning the surroundings. James nodded and stowed his - “Aye, let’s get out of here. I think Goldstein has enough of data. Thanks for coming along, Blasius”.
“Got you. Thanks for the proposal. This is very interesting plus I hear that some of these ruins are still defended by some ancient constructs... better to check them together”.
They turned their Scarabs and started to drive towards their respective ships. After take off, James turned the “Boondock Saint” around and looked at the ruins once more. Were these the first of many more to come? Is Goldstein really capable of making any sense off all this data they scanned? Will he want to visit more sites? Guess the time will tell. The time will tell...