| abstract
| - Corridor The deckplates of this broad corridor are layered in padded beige carpet. The starboard wall is adorned with a 3 foot by 3 foot placard with Consortium Commercial Explorations' logo. Recessed globe lights illuminate the passage. A ladder well leads up to the bridge and down to engineering. Hatches to port lead to the crew cabin and medical/research lab. Starboard hatches grant access to the captain's quarters and the mess hall. Directly forward, a hatch leads to the Telltale Heart's nose cavity, which contains her cargo bay. Cubana motions towards a section of he hallway crowded with gear, "That is ours I believe." Hight thumps out of the research lab. Denick enters through the hatch of the ship. Denick has arrived. T'ralthon nods, and selects the gear assigned to him. Poe arrives from CO Quarters. Poe has arrived. Stephen nods and moves towards the gear, selecting a set for himself.. Cubana moves to the edges of the hallway, the floor here is cluttered with gear. Hight presses a button on a panel on the sleeve of his atmosphere suit. Comm static crackles. "Apparently, my gear is in full functioning order," comes his voice, over a speaker. Cubana grabs an environmental suit and steps into it, in a matter of moments she has put on the suit and locked the neccesary closures. Poe steps out of his quarters dressed more for the environment. He is now using only a cane, instead of full crutches. Though he leans very heavily on the cane. Denick kneels down, selecting a bundle of cold weather gear as well. Cubana touches a button on her sleeve and speaks into the built in communications headset, "Testing..testing 1-2." T'ralthon steps into his suit, and checks the fittings. Poe simarlily presses a button and says, "Is everyone aboard?" Denick steps into his suit as well, checking the seals. Cubana speaks into the headset, "Everyone, report." Hight activates his helmet comm. "Set." Denick taps at the button on his sleeve as well, and speaks, "2nd Lt. Kraken reporting." Cubana responds, "Reading you, Lt. Next." Cubana takes her rifle and holds it in an assault position as she speaks. Stephen begins suiting up, grumbling about cold weather all the while..Finally he manages to get the suit sealed up. Picking up the helmet he settles it on his head. With a gentle swoosh of air it is sealed. He turns his wrist over and touches a series of commands.. "Doc in the box here.." he chuckles.. T'ralthon presses the button on his suit. "Testing communications.." Cubana responds, "We're reading you Doc. Your clear, general." Cubana looks to those collected, "Mr. Poe, please test your communications systems." Poe presses the button. "How's this?" Cubana nods, "Reading you loud and clear. All equipment is a go." Poe nods, "Are we ready for departure? Finally I get to do some flying." Denick checks the saftey, and the energy pack on his pistol, and replaces it at his side, he pops his knuckles nervously. Hight glances slowly toward Poe. "You aren't wearing your atmosphere suit gloves while you fly, are you?" Stephen bends over awkwardly to pick up his pulse rifle laying on the floor..As he straightens up he mutters into the comm, "An excercise all by itself.." Cubana has reconnected. Poe laughs. "Hadn't thought of that," he says in his comm unit. He takes off his gloves. "Again, are we ready to depart?" Cubana looks twoards teh General. Hight shuffles toward the research lab. "I think I'll pass on climbing the ladder to the bridge, and wait out our descent in my lab." T'ralthon says, "Ready when you are, Mr. Poe." [Loudspeaker]: This is you friendly captain speaking. Please prepare for undocking. You feel a sudden lift as the Telltale Heart glides forth from the docking bay. You feel a sudden jerk as the ship speeds up. Hight shuffles back into the corridor. Cubana looks towards hight and nods, "Are you ready, Professor?" Hight activates his helmet comm and nods. "Ready." Cubana nods, "I'll go first, Professor your next and the the Doc and Lt." Cubana prepares to disembark. Cubana disembarks to the surface. Cubana has left. Hight follows the colonel. Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Stephen exits from the Telltale Heart. Stephen has arrived. Denick exits from the Telltale Heart. Denick has arrived. Hight puts a gloved hand up to the top of his visor as he gazes around. "Remarkable..." You can barely make out the sound, muffled in his helmet. Cubana steps out of the ship and to the left, her eyes taking in the surroundings, "Gorgeous..." she speaks into the helmet. Denick gazes out, "Reminds me of one of the winters back home." Stephen glances from right to left, "Damn cold.." he mutters.. "If our suits loose integrity, we won't last long out here.." Leave it to the doctor to be cynical.. Cubana nods towards the north, "Come on..stay within hands reach of each other, we dont' want anyone getting lost." Cubana heads into Ice Plain . Cubana has left. Hight nods and follows. Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Stephen arrives from Ice Plain . Stephen has arrived. Denick arrives from Ice Plain . Denick has arrived. Hight squints against the storm. He looks all around him. "Where's the ship?" Denick looks around, he points towards the southeast, "I think it was that way... Cubana stops, looking in a 180 degree circle, "Its directly behind us.." Hight nods slowly, turning around to follow the lieutenant's pointing. Denick says, "I'm not sure though, I can't see a damn thing with all this snow." Hight turns back around. "Where to now, Colonel?" Cubana adds, "Its why its crucial we stay together...as long as we walk in a striaght line the ship will always be behind us..." Cubana turns, once again walking to the front of the group, shoulders hunched slighlty against the blowing wind. "Back to the ship and then off to another direction.." Denick nods. Hight nods, then prepares to follow. Cubana heads into Ice Plain . Cubana has left. Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Stephen arrives from Ice Plain . Stephen has arrived. Hight looks around, puzzled. "Are we going in circles?" Denick arrives from Ice Plain . Denick has arrived. Cubana shakes her head, "We just turned aroudn doctor.." Hight looks down at his wrist compass, tapping it. "I don't think so..." Hight sighs. "Ok, who knows...? Next?" Cubana turns to look in Hight's direction, "What do you mean?" Hight chuckles. "Nothing much - just that we went north for a while...I could have sworn we bore east during the last trek. I think we may be thrown off a bit." Stephen glances around him, "Anybody care to check back on the ship what sort of core this chunk of ice has?..There may not even be a magnetic field.." Cubana turns to the southeast, "Lets continue southesat..we'll watch the compasses to make sure we're walking the right way." Hight nods to Cubana, shuffling after her, his boots ankle deep in the snow. Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Denick keeps and eye on his compass, and grips his pistol a bit tighter, he follows. Cubana heads into Ice Plain . Cubana has left. Denick heads into Ice Plain . Denick has left. Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Cubana stops, handcoming up to the visor as she scans the terrain, "Lets head due south.." comes the muffled voice through the headset. Hight activates his helmet comm. "All right." His breathing seems rather labored. Cubana glance sback in Hight's direction then continues South, "Crew, keepon your men." is all she says. Cubana heads into Ice Plain . Cubana has left. Denick heads into Ice Plain . Denick has left. Hight follows, shuffling through the snow. Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Denick 's voice crackles over the comm, "There she is." Cubana encounters the Telltale Heart and shakes her head, "I think the Professor's right, we're going in circles.." Stephen mutters into his comm, "We're not getting anywhere except the state of confusion.." Hight puts a hand against the forward landing strut of the Telltale Heart. "Indeed." Cubana shrugs a little, her movements re blurred by the falling snow, "Lets try that again..this time we'll turn north. We have no choice but to continue looking, perhaps we'll find those ruins." Stephen shrugs, "Your the boss.." Hight removes his gloved hand from the landing strut and moves back out into the maelstrom to stand near the colonel. "Lead on." Cubana asks, "Everyone holding up alright?" she asks as she begins walking in that direction. Hight chuckles. "Yes, the old man will live." Hight shuffles after her. Stephen says, "Yeah yeah..fine.." Cubana heads into Ice Plain . Cubana has left. Stephen heads into Ice Plain . Stephen has left. Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Hight shuffles through the snow, stopping occasionally to look down at his compass. He turns toward Denick. He notices the others missing. "Well, this is a fine thing." Denick comes trudging up in the rear, he looks up at hight. Denick says, "Perhaps they continued that way." Denick points eastward Hight nods. "Perhaps. Shall we continue that way as well?" Denick says, "I think I can see their tracks." Denick nods. Cubana speaks into her headset: "Everyone report in." Hight glances down at the snow. "How can you see anything?" Hight puts a hand to his helmet. "Picking up comms." Denick nods, "Me too." Denick speaks into his headset. Hight speaks into his headset: "Hight here. Where are you, Colonel? I am with Lt. Denick."'. Denick speaks into his headset: "Lt. Kraken here, where are you guys?" Cubana speaks into her headset: "The Doctor and i are southeast of your position, Professor." Hight speaks into his headset: "Acknowledged. We will endeavor to find you." Denick motions eastwards, "They're this way. Denick heads into Ice Plain . Denick has left. Hight nods and moves to follow the lieutenant Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Denick looks around, and looks at hight, "Weren't we just here?" Cubana pages: We will hold our position until we reunite. Hight stops to get his breath, then gazes up at the stars. "Yes." He looks back to Denick. Hight says, "Southeast again?" Denick says, "Thats my best guess." Hight nods and prepares to follow. Denick heads into Ice Plain . Denick has left. Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Denick appears through the snow, trudging along with the professor. Hight releases a sigh of relief over his helmet comm. "I thought we might have lost you." Cubana is standing with Stephen, facing North and not moving. Cubana speaks into her headset, "Everyone keep a hands length from the man in front of you, its to easy to loose sight of someone out here unless we do." Hight grunts. "Colonel, I was staring at my compass and went north as you suggested." Hight thumps the compass. "Of course, fat lot of good it has been doing me." Denick looks at his compass as well, and shakes it. Cubana says, "Forget the compass for now Professor, its obviouselly not working." Hight nods. "So, what now?" Cubana motions towards the moutain ranges barely seen in the distance, "We'll use those as guides." Stephen quietly stands there..waiting Hight prepares to follow, adjusting the satchel under his right arm. Cubana heads into Ice Plain . Cubana has left. Hight trudges north. Denick nods, motioning Hight in front of him. Ice Plain Roaring wind, freezing cold, whips ice crystals in a whirling frenzy across this broad flat expanse of greenish-blue ice, beneath a glittering expanse of black sky and stars. The surface appears to be a frozen-over sea. In the distance, through the blinding maelstrom, one can barely make out the impressive peaks of a mountain range that towers like a great spiked spine of the planet. Stephen arrives from Ice Plain . Stephen has arrived. Denick arrives from Ice Plain . Denick has arrived. Hight continues shuffling along and then suddenly trips over a dip in the ice. The archaeologist falls face first into the snow with an OOF! sound. Cubana continues trudging onward obviouseely not seeing Hight fall. Denick shouts, "Wait ma'am!" Denick scrambles over to hight, and offers a hand, "You alright sir?" Stephen quickly pulls his rifle up, swinging it line with the professor..The quiet keen of the charge in the device starts building up.. Cubana stops as a voice screams into her comm adn turns looking behind her at Stephen, "What happened Lt?" she calls, hands on her rifle. Hight grunts, activating his helmet comm, still face flat on the snow. "I appear to have found something." He turns his head to the right. As the snow flurries subside, you see a tunnel leading down into the ice. Denick 's voice crackles over the com, "The professer tripped." Cubana makes sure to grab a hold of Stephens suit as she trns towards the other two, the grab seems a signal for him to follow. Hight gets to his hands and knees, snow spilling off the shiny fabric of his atmosphere suit. Stephen sighs slightly, lowering his weapon..He follows quietly, nodding.. "Your not injured are you, Professor?" he calls into the comm.. Hight takes Denick's hand and works his way back to his feet. "I appear to be relatively undamaged, save for my pride." He turns back toward the passage that descends into the ice. Cubana looks twoards the passage and makes a futile attempt to clear some of the snow from in front of it with her rifle The passage has just a small drift of snow at its entrance. It looks as if one could enter it. Cubana speaks into the headset, "Same order as before gentlemen. And keep your weapons at the ready." Hight readies his...satchel. Cubana begins to step into the passage. Cubana heads into Ice Cavern . Cubana has left. Hight follows. Ice Cavern The sloping tunnel broadens into what appears to be a spacious natural cavity in the thick layer of ice that seems to glow an eerie blue with its own inner phosphorescence. Icy stalactites dangle from the cavern roof, indicating that during what counts for summer here some marginal thawing must occur. But perhaps the most striking feature within this cavern juts from the rippled, dusty ice floor - a great spiked spire that seems to be the top of a tall glass and steel structure. The glass is frosted over. A shattered floor to ceiling window grants entrance into the ruins of the structure. Stephen arrives from Ice Plain . Stephen has arrived. Denick arrives from Ice Plain . Denick has arrived. Hight drops the satchel from his shoulder and gapes at the sight before him. "I can't believe it..." Cubana steps in and to the left of the passage entrace, her eys survering the ruins with her weapon at the ready. Cubana speaks into the headset, "Looks like you where right, Professor.." she says calmly. Stephen chuckles lightly, "Well, I'll be..they actually survived to build this.." Hight speaks through his helmet comm. "This is part of something larger, Doctor..." Cubana asks, "A civilizatioin?" Hight nods, looking grim. "A dead one, from all appearances." Cubana speaks into the headset, "If its all the same to you, we'll keep our weapons at the ready" Hight steps closer to the ruins, spellbound. "Of course, Colonel." Denick flicks off the safty on his weapon, and checks the power pack. Hight almost forgets his satchel, then breaks his eyes away from the building to look back at the baggage and sighs. "Getting far too old to daydream." He shuffles back to get the satchel. Cubana rases an eyebrow and steps forward towards the structure, "Come on gentlemen." is all she says. Cubana heads into Office . Cubana has left. Hight grabs the bag, slings it over his right shoulder, then nods and shuffles after Cubana. Office A large corner office, royal blue carpet faded and frosted over, glittering with ice and broken glass in the eerie blue glow emanating from the walls of the cavern beyond the shattered window. The room contains a toppled metal desk and bookshelves containing dozens of documents in folders. A doorway leads into a shadowy corridor. Stephen arrives from Ice Cavern . Stephen has arrived. Cubana hmms stepping in and to the left, "Looks like someone left in a hurry." Denick arrives from Ice Cavern . Denick has arrived. Denick trudges along in the reary, occasionally looking behind him. Hight seems to notice something on a nearby bookshelf and steps closer. A bound notebook containing hand-scrawled notes in some sort of alien script. Hight waves a hand. "Colonel..." Cubana walks along the perimeter of the room, studying everything, she stops before crossing the hallway entracnce." Cubana turns towards Hight and walks in his direction, "What is it, Professor?" Hight points at the object on the shelf. "Book of some kind." "V tg stjjl zc rcvb nvzs lco zcatl vb nstz nvqq pc acnb vb svqzcel tq zsy peytzyqz aygcbqzetzvcb wce weyyacg vb zsy svqzcel cw coe btzvcb." Cubana grabs the object carefully. Stephen walks over to the desk and begins opening drawers, searching through them slowly.. Cubana opens the notebook and hmms, "A script of some kind..." she hands it to Hight, "Looks like something along your line of work, Professor." Denick keeps an eye on the hallway entrance, pulse pistol at the ready. Hight takes the book and looks at it. "Dear God, this is unintelligible gibberish." Denick says, "May I have a look at it, professor?" Hight chuckles. "With most translation works, I at least have some comparative evidence to work with - some sort of Rosetta Stone." Hight nods to Denick, handing the book over. Denick takes Folder. Denick nods, "Indeed." Denick hands the folder back. Office A large corner office, royal blue carpet faded and frosted over, glittering with ice and broken glass in the eerie blue glow emanating from the walls of the cavern beyond the shattered window. The room contains a toppled metal desk and bookshelves containing dozens of documents in folders. A doorway leads into a shadowy corridor. Cubana continues, "Perhaps we'll find a 'rosetta stone' somewhere near here." Hight turns toward Cubana. "Well, at least another book or something, then we could start the work of translation." Hight glances up at the ceiling, then back at the shattered window and the ice cavern. "What happened here?" Stephen hmms, "Too bad we couldn't find a local science text book..that would serve.." Denick gestures towards the hallway, "Maybe we'll find something else this way." Hight nods. "I doubt we'll find anything standing here." Hight shuffles toward the hallway, stopping to defer to the Colonel. Cubana nods to Hight joining him in walking in that direction. Cubana heads into Corridor . Cubana has left. Stephen heads into Corridor . Stephen has left. Denick takes rearguard, as always. Office A large corner office, royal blue carpet faded and frosted over, glittering with ice and broken glass in the eerie blue glow emanating from the walls of the cavern beyond the shattered window. The room contains a toppled metal desk and bookshelves containing dozens of documents in folders. A doorway leads into a shadowy corridor. Corridor Shadows lurk heavy in this narrow corridor, lined with shattered office windows. A chill breeze whispers through the darkness, and from somewhere nearby comes the thirsty lapping of water. Damp carpeted steps lead down into the cold darkness. Denick arrives from Office . Denick has arrived. Cubana steps out into the corridor and to the lft ducking down jst a bit, "Sounds like there's water out there.." she says into her headset. Denick says, "Don't know how it couldn't freeze in this weather."" Stephen raises his rifle, sweeping it over the hallway in front of them.. "Gives me the spooks.." he murmers into the comm unit.. Cubana speaks into the headset, "Agreed, Doctor. And it may get warmer the furthur down we go." Cubana begins trudging off down the steps, "Somethign definetly happened in this palce though." Cubana heads into Crosswalk . Hight glances toward the steps. "There's only one kind of water I can think of that wouldn't freeze...at least, not at a certain depth and certain temperature..." Hight stomps after the colonel. Crosswalk The stairwell ends abruptly at the jagged edge of the superstructure of what once served as a crosswalk between this building and the next. Phosphorescent blue-green waves slap against the lowest step, which drops off into a watery abyss of indeterminate depth. The water appears to be frigid, but warmer than freezing at this depth beneath the ice. Across a gap of about twenty yards, you can make out the twisted remains of the crosswalk superstructure that once connected the far building to this one. It looks like you might be able to swim east to reach it. Stephen arrives from Corridor . Stephen has arrived. Denick arrives from Corridor . Denick has arrived. Hight nods slowly, hissing through his helmet comm. "Ocean water." Cubana stops a couple of steps from the bottom. Stephen lets out a slow whistle.. "A whole ocean under the ice.." Cubana calls, "Anyone have somethign that floats?" she asks. Denick shakes his head, "It's a good thing we didn't land the ship over this, we all would have been in for a supprise. Hight turns toward Cubana. "Colonel, the atmosphere suits come with inflatable sleeves...never tested them before." Cubana raises an eyebrow, "really...then perhaps its time we did." Cubana asks into her headset, "Can you all swim?" she glances towards Hight and then adds, "Are you all strong enough to make the swim to that crosswalk." Denick nods, "I can, generally better under then on, but I'll make it." Hight takes a seat on the step. "I used to be on the swim team at Oxford..." He sighs. "But that was more than half a century ago. I will wait here." Stephen gives his affirmation through the comm unit.. "You think that thing will hold us up when we get there?" Cubana nods, "I think so...especially if only one of us at a time tries to make it." Cubana looks towards Hight not liking the idea of leaving him alone. Cubana looked at me Denick says, "I'll stay here with Mr. Hight, I still don't like the look of the shadows up there." Hight waves a hand dismissively. "Just keep me apprised via comm, if you would." Hight glances toward Denick. "Go on, Lieutenant. I will be fine." Cubana turns towards Denick and nods, "Agreed, but we don't know what we'll meet upw ith up there." Cubana looks towards Stephen, "Give the professor, your rifle." Hight ahs and nods, brightening at the prospect of a weapon. "Reminds me of my old safari days in Kenya..." Stephen frowns, but it is mostly hidden by the helmet. "Yes, sir.." he speaks into the comm unit. He turns around and holds out the pulse rifle to the professor, "Here you go, doc.." Stephen drops Assault Pulse Rifle - 6400. Hight picks up the weapon and begins expertly checking the charge and the safeties, spinning it around deftly to inspect it. He thumps it Marine-style, then leans it against his left leg. He smiles serenely. Cubana grins a little as she watches the Professors handling of the weapon and turns back towards hte water a bit more confident. Denick chuckles, "I feel sorry for anything that comes crawling down the steps after you proffesor." Cubana says, "All right, Lt you said you where a bit weak with the swimming, inflate your arms and go first. If you need help we'll be aroudn to provide it." Hight smiles wryly. Denick nods, and looks at his arm panel a minute, he then taps a few buttons, and inflates his arms. Denick keeps a firm hold on his gun, and dives in, he begins kicking his way towards the other side. Denick leaps into the frigid water and begins spanning the gap from one side to the other. Denick just barely reaches the other side. Denick has left. Cubana nods as she watches him make the other side, "Your turn doctor." Stephen shrugs, "Here goes.." he taps his control panel..As the sleeves inflate, pushing his arms out to the side a bit he mutters, "I feel like a stuffed doll.." With that, he too dives in.. Hight pats his rifle. "Good luck, Colonel." Stephen slowly but surely begins swimming to the other side.. Denick speaks into his headset: "What's keeping you guys? The water isn't that bad." Stephen leaps into the frigid water and begins spanning the gap from one side to the other. Stephen just barely reaches the other side. Cubana nods, "Watch your back Professor." she responds before inflating her arms and diving into the water. Cubana leaps into the frigid water and begins spanning the gap from one side to the other. Cubana just barely reaches the other side. Cubana speaks into her headset: "We'll head up those stairs, same order as before. You two stay to the left, check all the doors on that side before crossing, i'll give the signal when the right side is clear. Let's head in here.. Denick speaks into his headset: "Yes ma'am." Cubana speaks into her headset: "We seem to have entered a computer room of some sort. Take it and keep searching, I'm sure the professor will appreciate anything we find." Denick speaks into his headset: "I think the professor would like to have a look at this, looks like a key to code of some sort. Professor, could you describe the first few markings in that book?" Hight speaks into his headset: "One moment...V tg stjjl'. Denick speaks into his headset: "Amazing, it really is a key to it, that sentence says, 'I am happy.' Colonel, take a look at this. Cubana speaks into her headset: "It's just what we've been looking for." Hight speaks into his headset: "That seems incredibly convenient...". Stephen speaks into his headset: "Why would they leave that laying about?" Cubana speaks into her headset: "Too convenient, come on, let's get back to the Professor. Same order as before, go ahead, Lt." Denick has arrived. Cubana speaks into her headset: You're next, Doctor. Hight chuckles as the dripping lieutenant with the inflated arms arrives. Stephen has arrived. Denick grins as well, and deflates his arms. Cubana has arrived. Hight gets to his feet, handing the gun to Stephen. "There you go. The hunting was dismal." Dropped. Stephen takes Assault Pulse Rifle - 6400. Stephen smiles slightly as he deflates his arms, "Glad to hear it.." Cubana climbs up and uninflates her arms, proceeding to unholster her weapon Hight says, "Who has the key? I'll let them have the book." Cubana steps twoards Hight handing him the key. Cubana drops Code Key. Denick gestures at Cubana, . Hight shakes his head, then points to Denick. "Lieutenant, I could use your help...been staring at this gibberish and Nall language too much already this week. Take that key. And the book." Denick nods. Denick takes the piece of metal, and inserts it in the folder, which he holds onto. Cubana looks around, "If its all right with you Professor..I'd like to return to the ship, this place is too quiet for my taste." Hight nods, then prepares to follow. He says, "If we can find it." Cubana nods, "We'll find it.." she says, hand on her weapon as she heads up the staircase. Cubana heads into Corridor . Cubana has left. After wandering through the blinding snow for a while, the group finally returns to the Telltale Heart... Corridor The deckplates of this broad corridor are layered in padded beige carpet. The starboard wall is adorned with a 3 foot by 3 foot placard with Consortium Commercial Explorations' logo. Recessed globe lights illuminate the passage. A ladder well leads up to the bridge and down to engineering. Hatches to port lead to the crew cabin and medical/research lab. Starboard hatches grant access to the captain's quarters and the mess hall. Directly forward, a hatch leads to the Telltale Heart's nose cavity, which contains her cargo bay. Cubana take off the helmet placing it on the ground and then proceeds to remove her suit. Hight steps back out of the research lab, sweating but free of his gear. "Thank God for small blessings." Stephen tosses his gun to the deck and reaches behind his neck to hit the seal release..With a woosh of air he pulls off his helmet.. "Remind me never to join a landing party where I need one of these again.." Denick drops Code Key. Denick drops Folder. Cubana grins a little, "As the only qualified doctor you'll be joinig us on quite a few i'm sure." Denick has disconnected. Stephen rolls his eyes, "Great.." he murmers..but he can't keep a faint grin from his face.. Hight grabs the code key and book. "I should put these in the lab." Cubana turns towards Hight, "Is there somewhere onboard where i could bunk my crew for the night?" she asks. Hight gestures toward the crew cabin. "There, I suppose. Or the cargo bay. But perhaps we should get back to the Versailles first." Cubana nods, "All right...would Mr. Poe mind if i just took us up and docked us?" Hight shakes his head. "Go right ahead." Hight turns and strides into the research lab. He drops the materials off, then returns to find the new trainee, Charles Gunn, in the corridor. Cubana yells, "Climbing!" Cubana heads into Bridge. Cubana has left. Hight emerges from the research lab and nods to Gunn. "Ah, trainee. Good to see you lad." The ship rumbles as it lifts off the ground and arches skyward. Gunn says, "Hello. Ah, sir." Hight smiles, waving a gnarled hand dismissively. "No formalities with me, lad. I am just an old bonedigger." [Loudspeaker]: Docking Gunn says, "Do I occupy a station, sir? Anything I should be doing?" Cubana arrives from Bridge. Cubana has arrived. Hight says, "Brace yourself." He smiles faintly, putting an arm against the bulkhead. Gunn holds himself against a bulkhead Cubana calls down, "Descending!" and then drops down the hatchway to the floor below, "We're all docked, Professor." she says as she watches him brace and smiles a little, "She went in nice and gentle.." Hight quirks and eyebrow. "This ship does move smoothly." He chuckles. Gunn straightens up. Hight turns to Gunn. "Well, trainee, you've spent plenty of time exploring the cargo bay. I should probably fill you in on tonight's activities." Cubana grins a little. Cubana says, "If you'll excuse us, i think i'll have my men return to the ship." Gunn says, "Righto. I'd appreciate that." Hight nods to Cubana. "Oh, Colonel..." Cubana walks towards where the gear is stowed and grabs a pair of gloves,putting htem on and picking up the rifle. She stands and turns to face Hight, "Yes?" Hight gestures to Gunn. "Colonel Cubana of the Vanguard carrier vessel Versailles, this is Charles Gunn, a CCE trainee. Mr. Gunn - Colonel Cubana and her medical officer." Gunn says, "A pleasure to meet you both." Cubana nods to the trainess, "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Gunn." Gunn bows slightly at the waist Gunn says, "Ma'am, sir. How do you do?" Cubana smiles a little, "Just fine, recruit. If you'll excuse me.." she nods to him then to the Professor,"well be getting back to our ship." Hight runs a liver-spotted hand through a sweaty mass of silver hair atop his head. "Whoever thought a walk through the snow would be so...exerting. Good night, Colonel." Cubana turns fro the door, ad stops at Hight's comment and chuckles turning around, "Or taking a swim...but you surprised me Professor. You looked like you could handle a rifle out there." Hight grins wryly. "Colonel, I've done a lot in my day." He gestures to the research lab and looks to Gunn. "After you, lad." Gunn says, "Righto" Gunn heads into Research Laboratory. Gunn has left. Cubana chuckles a little adn nods, turning for the door once again. Cubana disembarks from the ship. Cubana has left. Research Laboratory This chamber serves as both medical treatment facility and research laboratory. It is equipped with a pair of autosurgeon beds to handle many emergencies. A medical database computer whirs busily between the beds. A stainless steel autopsy table and a prerequisite flex-arm tool tray are just to one side of the beds to port. The ship's medical officer has a desk in one corner of the room. The scientific research staff, on the other hand, share a long cubicle containing a table with a carbon-dating scanner, microscopes, and a sink for artifact cleansing. Hight walks in and works his way into the science cubicle, running his hands over the folder and code key on the table. "This is what we found tonight, planetside on a previously uncharted world." Gunn says, "So, if you'll pardon me, are you in charge of the ship?" Hight smiles faintly, eyes widening as he settles onto his stool. "Me? Good heavens no, lad. I am but the archeological consultant to the CCE - attached from the University of Agincourt on Earth. Poe Haldon is the commanding officer of this proud vessel." Gunn says, "Is this a code, or another language?" Hight gestures to the book. "That appears to be an alien language. The code is...well, it's in our own, oddly enough." Hight says, "We found it in the ruins of a city that seems to have been flooded somehow - perhaps melting icecaps, ages ago. We entered through the top of a skyscraper that was within an ice cavern." Gunn says, "The first letter of each pair on the code key is in correct order for our alphabet." Gunn says, "that is very odd." Hight glances toward Gunn. "What do you make of it, lad?" Gunn says, "Are the second letters in any particular order?" Hight shrugs. "I haven't even taken the first glance at it. My eyes are old - and they've been pushed to the limit this week trying to translate those tiny Nall scribbles and poring over datastreams." Gunn says, "May I have a bit to look at it?" Hight grins and nods, patting Gunn on the shoulder. "By all means. I'd rather someone from the CCE beat the Vanguard to the punch, anyway. Lt. Denick seemed intent on translating it." Gunn says, "I'm almost sure I've got it licked sir." Hight quirks an eyebrow. "That's rapid work, my boy." Gunn says, "It almost obvious that the code key are the translations for the message, the code key is the code breaker, as it where." Hight nods. "The Rosetta Stone. Yes. So, tell me what this mysterious book tells us. These aliens, did they leave behind a journal of their fate?" Gunn says, "Just let me get the first page done, and I'll tewll you." Hight grins and leans back on the stool, crossing his arms and watching the trainee work. "Very well." Gunn says, "No, that doesn't work." Hight raises an eyebrow, leaning forward. "Trouble?" Gunn says, "The code key doesn't Match the letters. Translated, it's still gibberish." Hight furrows his brow. "Odd...Lt. Dennick seemed to think the first few words might be..."I am happy..." Gunn says, "Maybe the code is reversed each time." Hight chuckles darkly. "Though why a treatise on the demise of a civilization would commence with THAT phrase, I have no idea." Gunn says, "I think he's right!" Gunn says, "Are you sure this is all there was to it?" Hight nods. "All we could find. Just those few pages. Why?" Gunn says, "Well, as you pointed out it makes no sense if we consider it as a journal. But that may be a false assumption. If we think it is a journaODODO...." Hight glances toward the book, then back at Gunn. "What do you think it is, Mr. Gunn?" Gunn says, "Just a person's journal, it may make more sense. Where was it found in the city? What were its surroundings?" Hight says, "In a skyscraper. Some kind of data analysis facility from the looks of it." Gunn says, "but even so, even if it doesn't tell us about how they died, it may very well tell us how they lived, which could be infinitly more important." Hight smiles and nods. "Indeed, indeed. So, keep at it, my young friend. Enlighten me." Gunn says, "The first page says "I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration of freedom in the history of our nation" It appears to be a speech." Hight quirks his eyebrows, then squints his eyes and looks at the scientific study equipment on the counter before him. Gunn says, "Know what a symjosic is?" Hight scratches his chin, looking to Gunn. "In what context?" Gunn says, "Well, the first part of the second page is, "Five score years ago a, great american, in whose symjosic" and I think the next word is shadow." Hight drops his jaw. "American?" Gunn says, "If this doesn't sound too farfetched, it sounds like Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream," a bit, doesn't it?" Hight furrows his brow and nods. "Symbolic. Not symjosic. Symbolic." Gunn says, "No, I'm sure I translated it right. I checked it twice." Gunn says, "Symjosic." Hight quirks an eyebrow and looks to Gunn. "Yes, I am sure *you* translated it correctly. From *their* translation, which was wrong." Gunn says, "Whoops, you where right. Some of these letters have two translations. Symbolic." Hight ahhs. "Curious alphabet these aliens had." He taps a finger on his knee. "Mr. Gunn, what in the name of the Trevi Fountain were these aliens doing translating Martin Luther King into their native tongue?" Gunn says, "Haven't the foggiest. Perhaps they picked it up from space. They weren't very cautious about that sort of thing back then." Hight nods. "As I said, we found this material in some kind of data analysis facility. They were trying to decipher it...I wonder..." He glances at the book in the trainee's hand. "What did they make of it?" Gunn says, "That's an interesting question." Hight crosses his arms, considering it. "I doubt we'll ever know. Their civilization seems to have died." Gunn says, "I definitely think it's the "I Have A Dream" speech. Certain of it." Hight nods. "Good work, Mr. Gunn." He smiles mischievously. "That should show those Vannies, eh?" Gunn says, "I don't have to translate anymore of it to know that. Thanks." He grins widely. Hight lets his eyes drift over to the atmosphere suit, dripping wet, draped over a chair. "The planet was quite a confusing place - snowstorm was terrible. I *tripped* over the entrance to the tunnel leading into the cavern..." Hight glances back to Gunn. "I am getting too old for this, but I must say, lad, that I am energized by the exploration of uncharted worlds. And, there may some commercial value to this planet. It is only a few days from Consortium space at faster than light speeds. The water here could be mined for shipment to Demaria and other desert worlds." Gunn says, "Good lord. How many years ago must it have gotten here, I wonder?" Hight shrugs. "It has been centuries..." He scratches his chin. "What if they didn't get it here?" Gunn says, "What next for me?" Gunn says, "So we're going to be towing ice?" Hight chuckles. "Not quite yet, lad. We still have the mission to complete with the Vanguard. But, the water mining will be a consideration for the profit makers, I am sure." Gunn says, "I see what you mean... What if they had been to earth, or another, closer planet?" Hight nods, his eyes going back to the book. "Here I was, thinking this book would hold answers. All it does...as with so many things in life...is raises more questions." Gunn says, "Do you think it could be a colony of the people who invented the OtherSpace drive?" Hight gets a rather ashen look on his face and shakes his head. "No, I doubt that. The Hivers built nothing like this city and their language was nothing like this." Gunn says, "No, the ones who transcended, the Kimm, or whatever they were called?" Hight scratches his chin. "The Kamir? They never mentioned being out this far when they took me to the realm beyond..." Gunn looks at hight wonderingly slightly. "You've been there?" Hight nods. "I was one of the Circle." Hight quirks his mouth in a faint smile. "The first, in point of fact. Gunn says, "Good lord!" Gunn says, "Here I thought I was just talking to another old fart academic, if you'll pardon me." Hight bursts out laughing. "Well, I am an old fart academic when it comes to that, lad. But, I do come with some credentials." Gunn rubs his hands together. "It'll be a pleasure working with you Mr. Hight. What is up for me next? Hight chuckles. "Well, you'll probably want to see your quarters. And, perhaps, visit the Versailles?" Gunn grins wider. "Yes, I think I'd enjoy that very much." Hight nods, then gets off the stool and steps toward the door. "I look forward to *not* slogging through snow and wind this time."
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