Chapter 4: Dark Side of the Moon

[Marullus]

Ambiance: Dark Side

A blood-red sunset stains the overcast skies as you pack up and lock the Greater Kumekhna flatbed truck, securing your excess gear for your return. With the power partially restored, the parking lot floodlights flicker dimly, not adding much confidence or comfort. The faint hum of the station-keeping drone providing overwatch in the sky above and the whir of fabricators in the garage at least gives some assurance. The craggy badlands stretch off in all directions and you can see far from the bluff this old strip mall was built on - you know that two more days to the west the facility of the Sons of Vukodlak. Back east lies the path you came from, the farmhouse smoke no longer visible, and beyond the horizon the town of Prudence where Judge Lira Bunt waits for your return and Sister Amalia watches over the rebuilding of the church and to discover the status of the basement hellgate. You pause and take it all in, hoping it isn't for the last time.

Descending the stairs, you return to the the room where the portal has been assembled. It fits awkwardly in the smaller room, but you're able to queue single file, committed to action if the pathway is clear. The Heavy is plugged into hardline power and data cables here, pulsing slowly.

"The portal is ready and the batteries will support a minute of connection - I've configured it to the coordinates for the space station, which appears ready to receive," the cube says in its soothing tone. "It will be ready for reactivation after an estimated 6-8 hours of sunlight upon the panels. I will maintain this end for your return."

There is a whirring tone with an escalating pitch as the portal activates. Energy crackles between the nodes, a reflective film forming in the door-sized space in its center with ripples flowing across it like on a pond that only looks still on its surface. Báleygr pilots his armed drone through first. The signal crosses the barrier - he can see beyond as you all look at your own reflections.

On the other side of the portal, he reports a medium-sized rounded room with a control station in its center and six portals around the perimeter. The station is powered, motion-sensing overhead lights flickering on as the drone enters. The air is not stale, ventilation and environmental systems still operational. A closed bulkhead door leads to the station beyond, the drone unable to interact with it.

Báleygr relays what he sees to the others. The Heavy notifies you there is only 30 seconds before the portal will close. Committed, you step through.

As the last of you step through onto the hollow-sounding metal floors and adjust to the slight differences in gravity, the portal winks out behind you. The reflective energy breaks and dissipates, the wall behind it now visible, a ready light on the panel turning to red.

You are in space, for some of you the first time.

[greyarea]

Emile passes through the portal, SunShoooter at the ready. He remains quiet in the room, listening for movement and to see if anything is amiss. Does this place look like it’s seen recent use? Anyone home?


Notice [2d6+1]=10+1=11

[redwarrior]

Hansel steps though. Combat rifle at port arms, he walks through, immediately scanning for any threats, giving special attention to anything above eye level. Assuming no immediate threats, he will perform security duties, leaving it to the more tech-savvy folks to get information from the machines. He'll help if his low level fixing or piloting skills can be of use.


Notice [3d6c1+2]=7+2=9

[jemmus]

Taavi enters, rifle ready. He cautiously goes over to the red light.

[cybersavant]

Báleygr Gangleri

steps through the portal and immediately steps up to the control station to see where the other portals lead, who is listed as owning the station, station schematics, etc.

Hacker
You have a considerable fluency with digital security measures and standard encryption methods. You know how to make computerized systems obey you until their automatic failsafes come down on your control. Level 1: Gain Program as a bonus skill. When attempting to hack a database or computerized system, roll 3d6 on the skill check and drop the lowest die.
Level 2: Your hack duration increases to 1d4+Program skill x 10 minutes. You have an instinctive understanding of the tech; you never need to learn the data protocols for a strange system and are always treated as familiar with it. program1 : :
12, 11, 10, 9, 10, 10

[Enoch]

Shadrach steps through, his knees slightly bent and the bolt-thrower sweeping the room. As he swivels to the right, the shadow-hound sweeps left, letting out a low moan as it pads into a shadow beneath the control station.

"Wonder where those other portals go to. Not keen on having so many unsecured avenues of approach. Any way to shut those down from this end?"

[Marullus]

Shadrach, Taavi, Hansel, and Emile all step through, guns ready. The drone hovers, only a few inches above your heads with the ceilings here, and Báleygr successfully divides his attention with the slick high-tech rig he is wearing on his head, looking at the control systems as well. Grimm lets out a steady low rumbling noise from where it crouches beneath the control station. Just before the portal closes, Oliver and Nora come through as well. Oliver's eyes light up with excitement, Nora's hand gripping his shoulder, white-knuckled. "We're really in space!" he exclaims.

Taavi notes that the ready-light on the portal you just came through is now red. Given that you expected the other end to power down and need to recharge, you surmise that these indicators relate to the paired gates. Looking to the other five, you note that only two of them are currently green.

Emile looks around as Shadrach and Hansel provide wary security, their breath steaming. They confirm that the bulkhead door, while sealed, is not locked and could be cycled open normally. Emile notes that the temperature here is just above freezing, a good sign that it is not regularly used. Báleygr comments that cold temperatures are better for the electronics, too. There's no dust and no real signs to indicate foot traffic, except for wear near the bulkhead door which is the only obvious exit. The chill air blows from the vents overhead, smelling slightly of artificial lemon. Switching to his panspectral optics through his cyberware implants, Emile finds a clue - only the green-lit portal to Kumekhna City has the oil residue of a handprint where someone touched it going through. It was perhaps six to eight weeks ago, the handprint likely small and female.

Báleygr's fingers fly over the keyboard, strings of code rolling down the monitor display. Normally looking awkward in the cowboy scenarios the group finds itself in, he now is clearly in his element... a fish back in his pond. You try to not imagine his hidden gills. He identifies standard firewalls and virtual intelligence systems that balance station function, but finds no opposition that he can't easily surpass, meaning it is likely humans and not AI. Running diagnostics on the other portals is simple as they are controlled directly from this system. All six of them connect to matching gates on the surface of the world, but four of the gates are not responding. Four are mapped to the continent you came from - one from Kumekhna City, the one you just entered through from the Badlands Waypoint, and a third site which matches the coordinates for the Vukodlak suspected base. "That one's New London..." Nora comments, looking at the fourth spot on the map. "That's where mom's portal went... nothing living there since the war, just problems." The last two don't map to locations on the map - instead they are on standby fpr the orbital pass, their connection points currently over the horizon and on the far side of the planet. The green lights are on New London and Kumekhna City. The control system also predicts connectivity as the station transits its highly-elliptical orbit - it spends approximately 48 above this orientation of the planet, and the portals are expected not to be able to connect for six hours while the station passes around the far side: that will occur in seven hours.

His other queries find that the original owners of the station were the Exchange, which maintained banking and commerce before the Scream. Current communications reference the station leadership as The Eternals; there's a perfunctory internal news channel among residents which is actively being used, so the station is definitely inhabited. The basic schematics show that you are in a portal module below the station proper, ensuring the physics for the portals' operation. The station has four decks above you - the one that connects to you is Deck D, which houses various engineering and station-keeping functions. Deck A and C are firewalled. Deck B appears to be primary living space and the station is balancing life support for roughly 120 lifeforms.

[cybersavant]

Báleygr Gangleri

"Ah, so refreshing. If we have time, Oliver, I'll show you a lot more. Has anyone besides me been to space before? We'll need to determine the intentions of the station residents - i'll see if there is log for portal use to see how often this room is used. Nora, you said your mother's portal went to New London? That's what Petyr wanted it for - i wonder why he didn't just come here and then go there?"

[redwarrior]

Hansel speaks up Yes, I've been to space many times before I ended up on this world. But someone else did all the things with the machines. I can pilot OK, and some basic fixing of systems. My skills lay elsewhere.. But I don't know enough about electronics or computers to be super useful right now. From what you say, it appears that this group of "Eternals" seem to be using this, but without the knowledge of the population in general. Can you tell if they're the leadership of this world, the secret leadership/underground, or if they're from somewhere else?

[Marullus]

It has been a long time since the game started, so it may be best to reintroduce some of the original background plot again at this juncture....

Emile and Hansel have both been quiet before now about their off-world origins. Their ships refueled at Glendore station, where they bartered passage down to the planet via orbital shuttles, arriving at Kumekhna City. They couldn't get access to the station proper, but saw nothing to dissuade the rumors of wealth and technological affluence which surround it.

They and Balygyr recognize that, with its highly elliptical orbit, where you stand must therefore be Langtang station. This place has been a dark hole, a mystery for more than 30 years which hasn't returned any attempt at communications and from which no reclaimer ship has ever returned.

Identifying already that this station was a hub of the Exchange of Light is a revelation -- their abrupt collapse has remained a true mystery. As the 15 year Civil War raged on the planet below, no one you know paid attention to the orbital station. That it went dark shortly after the war ended is as much as anyone has ever known about its fate.

...yet here you stand. On Langtang station. With proof that it still has a population.

From what you say, it appears that this group of "Eternals" seem to be using this, but without the knowledge of the population in general. Can you tell if they're the leadership of this world, the secret leadership/underground, or if they're from somewhere else?

Common knowledge is that the civil war and weapons of mass destruction killed 80% of the population and sunk the planet into local, at most regional, control. You have all lived in it as a place with no real government at all.

In fact, you began as representatives of the first real push for restoration of regional control... your deputization as Marshalls of the Greater Kumekhna government. Your move to bring regional control to the local Sheriff in Prudence led to Judge Bunt and Sister Amalia establishing efforts there and the rest of you setting out to being the Sons of Vokodlak to justice.

[Marullus]

i'll see if there is log for portal use to see how often this room is used.

Balygyr determines that the portals were recalibrated to their current linkages six months ago. Over the period from six months ago to two months ago, each portal was used exactly twice, with one person outgoing from the station each time. There are no records of anyone transiting to the station. The most recent was to Kumekhna City just about two months ago, matching the handprint.

He has no problem interpreting the logs and Metadata, but notes that the documents and news are all in French.

Hopefully that helps get you orientedfor more detailed questions...

[jemmus]

As things appear to be safe for the moment, Taavi takes a moment to look around at the wondrous technology. The Langtang Station still functioning? What have they been doing all these years? What do they do for nourishment? And most importantly-- if they discover six people from the surface here, will they allow them to carry the news back?

This is my first time in space. My first time out of Kumekha, really. He speaks his concern. This place has been operating in secrecy for over a decade. How will they feel about intruders learning of it, and taking the knowledge back to the surface.

I hope understood the backstory correctly and the post fits into it right.

[greyarea]

So these were activated from six to two months ago? muses Emile. And when did the troubles restart? About that time? It seems obvious to point out that the creatures we pursue have been using this to get to their locations on the surface. A kind of seeding process... sowing evil across the surface of this planet. The question to me is, do we destroy this station: make it like it was rumored to be? Or do we use it to pursue the werewolves and vamps and whatever else might have been seeded?

Also, with one hundred-twenty so folks on this thing, do we need to take action here?

[cybersavant]

Báleygr Gangleri

"Even trying to destroy the station would be foolish and dangerous. It is useful. Plus, we don't have the full schematics yet - or they equipment to destroy it. And what about the inhabitants?

Anyone speak French?"

"Nora, how often did your mother use her portal? Did you ever go through it?"

[redwarrior]

Hansel mutters to himself I wonder if they have any interstellar ships...

[Marullus]

"Nora, how often did your mother use her portal? Did you ever go through it?"

Nora smiles faintly, mixed emotions on his expression. "She used to commute, before the Scream. It was the bargain struck, that she would move to the country for Dad's sake but she didn't have to give up her work in New London. She was talented enough that they thought it worth the investment." She scuffs the metal flooring with her boot. "She didn't go often, after. Enough to get things she needed from the lab. Petyr went with her, not me... he felt there were things there he could learn when he was apprenticing to her, before..." she trails off into silence. Before Oliver. Before the necromancy. Before he became what he was when he died.

Báleygr notes activity on the monitoring station - the central systems are querying status updates, apparently there was an alert of the portal's use. He prompts the panel to respond with an 'all clear' but that's surely temporary...

You can continue to discuss amongst yourselves, but I need you to post your next most immediate actions. Computer investigations, physical investigations, activating a different portal?

[redwarrior]

Hansel will start detailed scanning the immediate area in detail, looking for anything dangerous or of immediate value, while the technical people do their thing.



Notice [3d6c1+2]=11+2=13

[cybersavant]

Báleygr Gangleri

"We've been noticed. I can stall for a bit, but we better hurry. What's the plan?"

[greyarea]

Emile says, I say we meet the locals. If they have fangs--well, we know where that leads. He tips up his brim with the barrel of his gun.

I'll watch the door. You guys do your tech things. Maybe have one of those portals ready in case we need to beat feet.

[jemmus]

Taavi
Agreed-- no choice now but to meet the locals. They know we're here and the portal at the bar needs six to eight hours to recharge. He considers flicking his rifle's safety to on. But decides against it and keeps the trigger live. He adjusts his still slightly uncomfortable hide armor. And contemplates the title of a future memoir, if he gets around to it, and also survives to retirement. "Lawyer in Armor." Or "Lawyer in Space," which has a better ring to it.