Investigations

After the Gap - February 23, 317 @ 13:08

Leaving Chiskisk's office in the Lorespire Complex, the party agrees to return to Duravor Kreel's apartment and determine their next move. Bratrizik had turned the holovid on before leaving, and upon their return they catch Absalom Tonight Newsfeed. The top item is the conflict that surrounds the arrival of the derelict ship Acreon a few days ago with a large asteroid towed behind it. The report discusses the legal between Astral Extractions and the Hardscrabble Collective, as well as the future of the asteroid currently under Absalom custody.

Curious, Yiris checks the Absalom Station infosphere for details on both mining companies, Astral Extractions and Hardscrabble Collective. She discovers that Astral Extractions has extensive business ties throughout the Pact Worlds, and most of the company’s operations are centered in the Diaspora and the rocky moons of the outer planets, but it has also begun sending scout vessels into the Vast in search of new claims. More digging reveals that the company recently hired one of the Hardscrabble Collective’s ships, the Acreon, for one of these exploratory missions. Hardscrabble Collective, for its part, is a cooperative business comprised of a collection of dozens of ships' crews who work together for mutual benefit and protection, and members are very protective of each other. The Collective has filed several lawsuits over the years against various mining outfits, including Astral Extractions, DT43 and CIDERA.

Bratrizik returns to the Lorespire Complex and heads to the Archives. He searches the resources of the Starfinder Society for info on drifting asteroids. He also searches for any information related to the alien structure they discovered on H-7758. Though there are no direct correlation within the databases, there are several scientific papers that theorize that a methane-based life form would be possible under appropriate circumstances, and there is evidence that such micro-organisms could evolve and achieve a level of intelligence similar to humanoids. Research on previous dealings of the Starfinder Society with Astral Extractions and the Hardscrabble Collective reveals similar information to what Yiris discovered. He also finds that Astral Extractions is about a third the size of CIDERA's mining operations, and the two corporations are not direct competitors as they exploit different sectors of space. Further research on the doctor finds no more information than what Bratrizik already knew, but he does uncover 38 scholarly papers the doctor wrote, all of them dealing with various aspects of mentoring adventurers. His most successful ones were Professional Mentoring in Adventurers: Evaluation of the Starfinder Society Program and Mentoring and Guiding Adventurers’ Professional Learning : Realizing Research Impact.


Nict searches the infosphere for DT43. DT43 has an address in office downsides, but has no employees. The office building has nine suites, and a cursory search reveals that over 13,000 corporations are headquartered there. It is a shell company with no employees. Its securities filings indicate that last year it made roughly 900,000 credits. It has five shares outstanding, which are owned by a maze of other shell companies. Its business is to hire freelancers to conduct mining operations. The company incorporated in 299 After the Gap. Nict also discovers several messages on different virtual communities that DT43 has recently gone on a spending spree, putting out 17 million credits hiring several mercenary outfits, an uncharacteristic move for this small corporation. It is unclear where the finances for these are coming from. He also comes across corporate information that was leaked by an anonymous source. This information reveals that Astral Extractions hired DT43 twice over the last five years. A search of corporate officers reveal that there are three listed as contacts for DT43: Raad, Funen, and Hetu. Further research reveal that these three individuals, who work for the Eoxian Bank, cover for over 7,000 corporations. Furthermore, the Exoian Bank provides the corporate services for DT43.

While still at the Archives, Bratrizik consults the memory banks to find information on Audra Davis and her connection to the Starfinder Society. He finds two articles written by Duravor Kreel that refers to Audra Davis' work as a mentor in research lab settings: Peer Mentor Program for the Laboratory Designed To Improve Staff Retention and Enhancing Diversity in the Research Workforce: The Research and Mentorship Program for Future Scientists. Their relationship appears to be purely professional.

Hoping to find more information, Yiris attempts to penetrate Absalom Security, but quickly realize she has neither the equipment nor the expertise to successfully penetrate their computer network. Yiris turns her attention to Level 21. After some poking around Absalom's infosphere, she discovers that Level 21 is a street gang that claims Level 21 of Absalom Station’s seedy lower decks as its territory. Police reports and rumors suggest that they are involved in theft, fencing stolen goods, gambling, prostitution, racketeering, and smuggling. No other information is available on the infosphere.


@ 16:17

With their searches exhausted, the party regroups at Duravor Kreel's apartment, and share their findings. Clearly, finding more information about the gangs will require a trip to heads to Downside. Nict performs research on the neighborhood and finds that it is a party scene for the wealthy as well as the risk takers. After a light dinner, they head out.




@ 17:20

Exploring Downside, they come across a popular nightclub called the Fusion Queen. The stylized logo resembles the crown used by the Downside Kings as their symbol, only upside-down. Yiris does a quick search and discovers that the club is owned and operated by the Downside Kings as a base of operations. Located in a depressed neighborhood, the Fusion Queen is considered very trendy by the uppercrust youth and is usually filled with patrons at all hours of the day. From the various social media posts, it is clear that the vast majority of patrons are not associated with the gang.

After an interaction with the Fusion Queen's bouncers, the three of them enter the club. A cursory glance indicates that there are over 500 people dancing away on the dance floor. 

Bratrizik spots at least six other security personnel distributed around the facility. At the bar, they inquire about the Downside Kings, but get nowhere. Scanning the crowd, Bratrizik spots the Vesk holo wrestler star Saarak holding court in one of the club's private booth. Bratrizik recognizes the wrestler from the holovid feed on Duravor Kreel's screen.

Noticing one of the bouncers from the front door heading to the bathroom, Bratrizik follows him inside, and hides in a stall. Nict also comes in, and steps next to the Downside King, who is washing his hands at one of the sinks. Nict gives him a credstick worth 200 credits. He questions the thug about DT43 but the gang member evidently doesn't know his gang's relationship with the corporation. When asked about contacting Level 21, he looks around, and whispers to check out Mama Fats', a small grocery store run by a hafling on the 21st level of the station. Bratrizik does mind thrust on the gang member, and he collapses, causing a commotion in the bathroom that spills out into the club. Sensing danger, the three of them depart Fusion Queen, and head out to Mama Fats'...

Gang warfare on Absalom Station!

After the Gap - January 29, 317 @ 09:32

Following their maintenance routine operations, Bratrizik asks CASPER the status of the monitoring on the alien structure. CASPER replies that there have been no changes in the last 24 hours. The team's breakfast is interrupted when they receive a call on a secure channel from Audra Davis. She informs them that in-depth analysis of the computer found aboard the pirates' ship revealed that the pirates had been hired by an outfit called DT43, a small deep space exploration and mining surveying outfit based on Absalom Station. This company is known for its aggressive style of operations.

Furthermore, there were several deleted messages that were partially retrieved. These messages seem to indicate that DT43 has been hired by rogue elements within CIDERA to undermine the corporation's mining operations on planetoid H-7758. Audra Davis suspects that this is part of an intra-corporate dispute.

As soon as she mentions the dispute, communications between the research lab and Mine-2 are interrupted. Yiris runs a diagnostic on the communication system. The check indicates that the communication satellite received a power surge. CASPER is unable to identify the command source of the surge. Yiris is concerned that the power surge is a prelude to another attack, and she commands the planetary sensors to scan for intruders, both on the surface and in space.

Secure communications are reestablished, and Audra advises them that even with a secure channel it is not safe to talk for long. Bratrizik informs Audra about the alien structure they discovered, and mentions that it is made of woven titanium that can repair itself. Audra is impressed, but she tells them to bury this knowledge for now. She wants them to travel to Abaslom Station and investigate who is behind DT43 before H-7758 falls victim to corporate intrigue and good people die. The lab's medical officer has diagnosed all three of them with methane pneumonia, a highly contagious disease that cannot easily be treated on H-7758. As a result, a temporary crew from Mine-1 and Mine-3 will cover until a replacement crew be dispatched. They are to travel to Absalom Station under quarantine. Once there, their pneumonia will have cleared, and they will have roughly two weeks to investigate before they need to return to H-7758 aboard the Serenity.

Audra tells them that when they arrive on Absalom Station they will be met by Duravor Kreel, a corporate doctor for CIDERA. The dwarf doctor will escort them to CIDERA's medical facility and clear them for return to work. Duravor is an old friend of Audra and will not ask any questions, but Bratrizik, Nict, and Yiris should also not mention the true purpose of their trip.

With a day left before the arrival of the Serenity, Mine-2's crew gets busy. They remove all information concerning their investigation from CASPER's memories, and place them on a memory stick which is then hidden on Mine-2's level 400, disguised as rocks. Bratrizik builds a stone bulkhead to hide the shaft that leads to the alien structure, and CASPER's survey records are modified to show there is no rich titanium vein in that direction. Mining robots are reassigned to different sectors of the mine. Due to the imaginary methane pneumonia, bio-hazard signs are posted at the entrance to the level, and Nict rigs sensors to read a constant trickle of liquid methane. Yiris, meanwhile, triple locks all of their personal spaces, and places notices on the door requesting the replacement crew to respect their privacy. She also stashes away all of their favorite food, to ensure they have supplies when they return. Nict spends the remaining hours removing and hiding critical components out of the pirate shuttle, to ensure it will still be here when they return.



After the Gap - January 30, 317 @ 11:07

The crew prepares the landing strip for the Serenity, and complete their last minute tasks. Wearing isolation suits, Bratrizik, Yiris and Nict board the Serenity while a crew of two from Mine-1 takes their place. Security protocols are updated, and the staff exchanged is made official. With Mine-2's titanium cargo now on board the ship, the Serenity takes off and heads for Mine-3, where it completes a similar process.

Mine-2's crew have their own isolated quarters on board the ship, and they are instructed by Quehbeg, the Ysoki captain, to remain in their quarters during the trip to Absalom Station. The trip in the Drift will take between 5 and 30 days.



After the Gap - February 23, 317 @ 02:07

The Serenity emerges from the Drift a few thousand miles from Absalom Station. The transport ship heads to CIDERA's docking facilites, which orbit the station. Quenhberg informs the sick crew that the automated shuttle Okimoro will pick them up and transport them to Docking Bay 94 aboard Absalom Station. Bratrizik contacts Duravor Kreel and leaves a message instructing the doctor to pick them up at 08:00 at Docking Bay 94.

Absalom Station

@ 08:03

The crew from Mine-2 boards the Okimoro in their contagion suits. Duravor Kreel contacted them and told them he looked forward to meeting them at docking bay 94. The shuttle trip takes fifteen minutes. The crew sheds their contagion suits and stow them away. Docking bay 94 is a busy landing area, with merchandises piled high around the facility and robots moving cargo around. The bay is deserted, aside from a well-dressed dwarf with a trimmed beard.

Bratrizik is the first one off Okimoro, and Duravor Kreel moves forward with his hand outstretched, a happy smile on his face. Suddenly, two groups of humans, standing on opposite sides near the end of the docking bay draw weapons and fire on each other. Bratrizik runs foward, hoping to protect the doctor. Duravor Kreel turns around and jumps behind a stack of crates to protect himself, but he is struck before he makes it. Nict joins the fray, while Yiris takes cover and heads towards the doctor. Bratrizik clearly saw one of the gang members on the left side of the bay aim at the doctor. He first a series of shot, hitting the gang member and igniting him on fire.


Yaris pulls Duravor behind the shuttle and checks for pulse. Duravor Kreel has a hole in his chest and is bleeding profusely. Meanwhile, the vesk is hit and also ignites on fire. Nict grabs the fire extinguisher and puts the fire on Bratrizik out. Bratrizik casts mind thrust, and the Downside Kings who had shot him collapses.

Bratrizik hears sirens in the distance. He fires a flare, but misses his target and hits the docking bay's ceiling instead, triggering the fire suppression system and spreading foam all over the area.

Station law enforcement arrives on the scene and finds four out of the six gang members dead, with another one wounded. The last one managed to escape. Duravor Kreel succumbed to his wounds despite Yiris' frantic efforts to revive him. She pockets his identification chip. The officer in charge briefly questions them, but the video surveillance shows that they were innocent bystanders who were unfortunately involved in gang warfare between two groups of thugs.

Absalom Station Docking Bay 94

Using the station's public infosphere, Nict obtains Duravor's address. The dwarf lives alone in the Spikes in a small but cozy apartment. Searching his computer records, Yiris discovers that Duravor Kreel, aside from his work for CIDERA, was a member of the Starfinder Society. His contact list includes the name of Chiskisk with an associated address at the Lorespire Complex, the headquarters of the Starfinder Society. The Lorespire Complex is located six blocks from CIDERA headquarters, in the Eye section of Absalom Station. 



@ 11:32

They arrive at Duravor's apartment. It is very clean. Bratrizik turns on the holovid screen. Duravor watched a lot of holo-boxing, and the match currently being broadcast involve a Vesk wrestler, Saarak, who shows impressive moves. They clean up from their gun battle, and after raiding the dead dwarf's fridge for light lunch they head out to the Lorespire Complex.



@ 12:47

The teammates arrive at the Lorespire Complex. A sleek campus located on prime real estate on Absalom Station, the Lorespire Complex contains several famous areas, including the
First Seeker Ilyastre Memorial Museum and the large reception hall known as the Skyreach Room. Other important buildings include the Archives, where all of the Society's findings and discoveries are kept. The leadership of the society works out of the Hall of Discovery. Other buildings include the Adamantine Bastille, the Communion Vaults, and the training facility known as the Perplexity. Several other buildings serve as dormitories for Starfinder agents and for visiting dignitaries, but the central building is the tall spire that is one of the highest skyscrapers on the station. Emblazoned by the front door is the seal of the Starfinder Society.

Seal of the Starfinder Society

A large reception center welcomes them, and they quickly receive directions to Chiskisk's office, which is located on the 9th floor of the Hall of Discovery. Heading there they locate the shirren's office and, after meeting with Chiskisk's personal secretary, they sit in a comfortable reception area. The holovid feed is tuned to a news channel, and they catch a report about the firefight at Docking Bay 94, which mentions that two gangs, the Downside Kings and Level 21. The reporter explains what happens, with video surveillance footage, and then mentions the identity of the deceased, including an innocent bystander, a dwarven physician named Duravor Kreel. The report also describes the two gangs. The Downside Kings are a violent street gang which claim ownership of several decks of Absalom Station's lower levels, also known as Downside. This gang is involved in many criminal activities, but focus on smuggling and murder-for-hire. The Level 21 crew lays claim to the station's 21st lower deck, a seedy area populated by criminals and downtrodden individuals. This gang is also involved in many criminal activities, but generally focuses on theft, the fencing of stolen goods, prostitution, and racketeering. The reporter concluded her newscast by stating that the reason for this attack remains unclear at this time but is actively being investigated by Absalom security.

After a few minutes of waiting, Chiskisk arrives and welcomes the three to their office. Chiskisk is neither male nor female, but host, the third shirren sex, and as such is referred to with the pronouns “they,” “them,” and “themself.”

Chiskisk

Chiskisk is saddened to hear of the death of Duravor Kreel, who was a personal friend. They ask Bratrizik, Nict and Yiris to investigate his death and find the reason(s) why the dwarf was targeted by the Downside Kings. They advance credits to the group, and offers their personal contact information along with new datapads. The three of them now have another mission to complete.

Mining pirates!

After the Gap - January 27, 317 @ 14:28

Following their installation of a sensor device outside the titanium structure, Bratrizik ponders whether it would be possible to use it to communicate with the ship by beaming in a simple repeating signal. Yiris tests the strength of the communication link, and determines that the ship is still broadcasting out, but the countermeasures they took to protect the planetoid's infosphere remain in place.

Bratrizik questions CASPER whether the broadcast signal from the ship is being recorded. CASPER replies that it is, in a segregated secure module to ensure that it does not infiltrates the rest of the system. Bratrizik asks CASPER to use the seismic sensors to tap the first nine prime numbers, with a three seconds gap in between. After a further six seconds gap, repeat the signal. Throughout the process, CASPER is to monitor for a change in the signal that is being broadcast.   


@ 17:56

Mine-1 contacts Mine-2 and reports that a small freighter has landed in a small valley about a hundred kilometers from Mine-2. The observation satellite in orbit around H-7758 indicates the presence of five individuals. They appear to be humanoid, but their environmental suit is inhibiting their life signs. The freighter does not sport a transponder, and there are no expected ships landing on H-7758 at this time. This rogue crew is evidently setting up a drilling site about 200 meters from the ship. Yiris replies to Mine-1 that they will go investigate.


Bratrizik asks CASPER is there is a possibility that the freighter's crew is aware of the strange ship under the methane ice. Though unable to rule that out, CASPER estimate that their distance from the unknown ship indicates a 0.056% chance of these events being related. 

Given their present status aboard CAT-2, the crew decide it will be quicker to return to Mine-2, board a freighter of their own, and fly to the rogue ship. Once at the base, they ignite the landing strip before taking off in FS-345, one of the two CIDERA freighter ships parked in the mine's vast underground vehicle garage. The flight is uneventful but requires major corrections as the winds buffer the freighter dangerously close to methane mountains on several occasions.

@ 20:19

As they near the space where the other ship landed, visual sensors indicate that one of the brigands is outside the ship, standing by the drill. The sensors also report that the trespassing ship is nothing more than a rusted hunk of space debris that shouldn't even be able to to fly. Sensors are not able to penetrate the other ship's armor, but that's the only place the remaining individuals could be. There is a thick layer of methane snow here, so landing the ship will certainly ignite the entire area. Bratrizik suggests that while doing so might endanger the freighter, it will certainly deal with the individual by the drill, and might destroy the other ship. 

Pirate Ship Tier 1

Nict maneuvers the trusters and lands the ship. Methane snow flies everywhere and ignitates, transforming the landing zone into a fiery green ball of heat. The sentry is instantly killed. At the same time, Bratrizik drops from the freighter's hatch and rolls in the dying flames. Nict transfers the piloting to Yiris, and follows the vesk outside. Figures emerge from the other ship, and begin firing on the two prone targets. Yiris lands her ship and joins the fire fight. Three of the four vesk soldiers targets are quickly eliminated, but the lashunta technomancer retreats aboard his shuttle and attempts to fly off. Nict enters the shuttle just before the doors seal, and exchange fire with the enemy before dealing the killing blow.

Bratrizik casts grave words on the tehnomancer, attempting to obtain information on their mission, but unfortunately the dead refuses to talk. Searching the bodies, they find one electrovore glove (1d4S), 3 credstick worth 95, 100, and 750 credits, and a signal jammer.

The three confer on what to do with the brigands' ship. They decide that Yiris will fly it back to Mine-2, while Nict will fly FS-345 with Bratrizik as a passenger. 


@ 21:41

Whereas Nict has a fairly easy time making it back to base, Yiris finds that the brigand ship's flight controls are not very responsive and will require extensive mechanical repairs to make it safer to fly. The shuttle's instrument panels are also mainly broken. The android manages to park the shuttle in one of the empty hangars in the administrative section of the mine, and she files a report of the incident with Cidera that the shuttle was deemed not travel worthy, will instead serve as a repository of spare parts.

Back at Mine-2, CASPER reports there has been no change in the signal being sent out of the mysterious structure, despite the prime numbers being broadcasted to it. 

Nict spends some time exploring the shuttle's computer, and he discovers that a message was sent to the shuttle requesting a core sample of H-7758. The message comes from a small mining outfit on Absalom Station called Exploria. Nict shares this information with his partners.


@ 23:04

Audra Davis, head of the Research lab contacts the crew of Mine-2 and tells them she is on her way in a freighter to collect a copy of the brigand shuttle's hard drive so it can be analyzed back at her facility.

Nict makes himself an extra copy as well. The party decide to hide their research and the information they compiled on the mysterious ship encased in the methane. They bury the information inside a security module which is then disconnected from the network. CASPER is then asked to purge all information related to their research on local servers, and both Nict and Yiris check to ensure it is all gone.


After the Gap - January 28, 317 @ 13:30

Audra Davis and Hendrick Jones land their freighter inside the hangar bay. After a nice lunch prepared by Bratrizik, Audra makes a copy of the CUP from the shuttle, and after exchanging pleasantries they depart back to the lab.


After the Gap - January 28, 317 @ 15:41

Yiris compiles the delivery and maintenance report for Cidera, and the crew begins preparation for the next transport coming in two days.

A ship under the methane

After the Gap - January 18, 317 @ 7:32


CASPER estimates that with the methane level dropping at current rates, it should be possible to restore production within 10 days, and a 60% load should be deliverable when the next transport arrives in eleven days. Yiris questions the computer as to why this structure was never identified. CASPER replies that based on its data analysis the structure appears to either cloak itself or absorb the microwaves and return a report of what surrounds it instead of itself.


Bratrizik tasks CASPER to develop an algorithm that would create a model of the void of what cannot be detected. CASPER estimates that this will require at least 26 hours of effort, as it is not designed with enough processors for performing the necessary calculations. Bratrizik then considers seismic detection using pressure waves and possibly come up with a full survey of what's below the ground. CASPER indicates that there is no such equipment available in inventory. Nict, however, knows that she can build a few units to perform that role. Nict takes three hours to build six seismic detection units, while Bratrizik builds pile drivers to hammer the ground and send out pressure waves. 


@ 12:02


Nict and Bratrizik head out onboard CAT-1 to deploy the three sensors and the six drivers. They position them strategically around the mine, based on the map from the 400th level so they obtain a baseline for what's there.

Mine-2, Level 400

 While the two of them are driving around the mine, Yiris creates a program that will detect any unintended activity in the seismic record, in case the space responds in unexpected ways. The seismic system comes online, and CASPER begins to analyze the incoming data. 

Returning to base, Bratrizik and Nict leave CAT-1 and join Yiris aboard CAT-2. They head out in the direction they explored with the freighter yesterday. 

@ 15:58

Based on the information reported by the sensors and the drivers placed by the crew, CASPER reports on the probable shape and measurement of the object DR-328-S inadvertently broke through 48 hours ago. The object resembles two opposed tetrahedrons with a triangular prism in between. CASPER estimates the length of the entire object to be about 27 kilometers long by about 6.75 kilometers wide.

Opposed tetrahedrons with a triangular prism in between.

From CAT-2, the party spots an overhang that should in theory be on top of the structure. Nict climbs the icy methane walls, and digs deep enough to find a similar titanium wall to that found in level 400. The ice above the structure is deep, however, and the party needs a plan to remove enough of it to create a passage to the wall. Yiris comes up with the idea of using electricity to oxide the methane to melt it off the structure. Nict and Bratrizik implements this idea by dragging equipment up the icy climb.

@ 16:56

A tunnel twelve meters deep of icy methane has melted to reveal part of the titanium structure. Nict lowers a drone down the tunnel. From the drone's video sensors, Nict and Bratrizik observe clear scorch marks. Using his combat experience, the Vesk estimates that the marks were caused by the firing of energy weapons. Yiris proposes to perform more oxidizing to find an entrance. She heads back up there to install more equipment.  

CASPER reports that the methane has finally drained and the temperature is back to normal. Some of the mine's functions have been restored. Bratrizik tells CASPER to open only the blast doors leading to the impact site and send a drone. CASPER reports that three drones will be dispatched, one surveillance drone and two repair drones to fix the blast doors and revive sensors along the way. The drones are immediately sent.

Since the sensors available to the crew appear unable to pick up the titanium structure, Yiris proposes to use paint with metal shavings to cover the exposed wall so that CASPER can keep visual and radar contact with it. She climbs up the ice wall and successfully paints part of the structure. Nict then climbs up and sets up a remote sensor to broadcast the visual signal back to CASPER. The crew returns to Mine-2 aboard CAT-2.

Remove sensor installed on the side of the hill.

@ 21:03


CASPER reports the repair drones have fixed the blast doors and restored remote control, and the surveillance drone is on its way to the impact site. 

@ 21:46

The crew arrives at Mine-2 and disembarks in the crew quarters. CASPER reports that the drill DR-238-S has disappeared. The surveillance drone has found no trace of it. Bratrizik speculates that the flooding must have moved it somewhere else. Yiris questions CASPER on how much time has elapsed since the methane first flooded. CASPER responds that 27 hours have passed. Yiris wants to go to level 400 to install bio-sensors, to detect any activity. Bratrizik asks CASPER to run calculations on whether there is a way to alter the weaving and create an opening by sending a signal. CASPER will run tests but is unable to predict the outcome. The Vesk wonders if the titanium wall would react if some of the fragments were returned to it. He takes a couple of them and place them in his pack.


Yiris sets up an isolated lab down in an old quarter and runs an analysis on all of the data they have collected so far. Nict checks the titanium samples that was recovered from the missing drill. The molecular weave structure has not changed, nor its size. CASPER still detects the samples as regular titanium and cannot remotely identify it as purer. 

@ 23:43

Bratrizik and Yiris head down to level 400. Bratrizik notices scarring marks on the wall at the intersection of the main tunnel and the subsidiary tunnel that heads to the titanium structure. Bratrizik thinks they indicate something dragged back, while Yiris believes something propulsed forward.

Scarring marks on the walls, floors and ceilings of the tunnels that were flooded.

Bratrizik places one of the titanium samples next to the structure, while Yiris installs her biosensors. The surveillance drone remains in visual contact with the structure. Yiris then orders CASPER to send drones and repair all of the sensors.  



After the Gap - January 19, 317 @ 11:02

CASPER reports the drones found that 6 drills are disabled and will require complete overhaul. CASPER estimates it will take up to three weeks. Nict drives across the landing field in CAT-1 and gets to work hauling the machines back to the workshop on Level 5. Over the next four days, the crew pursue their analysis and continue to monitor the structure. There appears to be no changes in the titanium skin both on Level 400 and outside at the top of the structure.


After the Gap - January 23, 317 @ 11:02
  
Yiris's most promising field of inquiry with the titanium sample is how it reacts to telephatic current. Bratrizik inquires if an airlock could be placed to allow to easy transport through the titanium wall. CASPER speculates that in theory, such a device could be installed. 

Working on the drills, Nict notices that one of them is missing its three servo-motors. They have been removed, and the cuts are clean. These motors are located in a hard of access place even to a mechanic. The Shirren spots the same scarring markings on the severed servo-motors cables. Nict has now fixed four drills.



After the Gap - January 25, 317 @ 14:47

Yiris asks CASPER if there are any new tunnels emerging near the structure. CASPER reports that it has lost contact with the orbiting ground penetrating satellite. Yiris inquires when contact was interrupted. CASPER replies that contact was stopped 7 hours ago. Yiris asks why CASPER did not notify of this breach of contact. CASPER replies that it is unknown. Yiris tells CASPER to run a diagnostic on the satellite and on itself. CASPER initiates a level 1 diagnostic. CASPER also reports that the mine is expected to produce 62% of the average amount of titanium for this upcoming delivery.



After the Gap - January 26, 317 @ 11:02

Bratrizik asks Nict and Yiris how much information they want to share with CIDERA as the transport is due tomorrow, and a full report will be expected. They agree to share the minimum information necessary to ensure that operations will continue and needed parts will be delivered. Nict files a report indicating that one drill was completely disabled during the flood, and several others need critical pieces of equipment. 

The crew perform clearing operations, and the Serenity enters the atmosphere. As the CATs load their reduced cargo, the ship lands. Quehbeg, the Ysoki captain, accepts the report, and notifies the crew that it will take 37 days before the Serenity returns with the spare parts requested. Quehbeg also informs the crew that she has been having difficulty contacting all three mines with their landing status. She reports several communication shortages since their entry in orbit 12 hours ago.

Bratrizik asks CASPER to run a diagnostic check on the communication system. CASPER reports no issues. Bratrizik orders a level 3 diagnostic. CASPER replies that it will take approximately three hours to complete.


@ 14:22

CASPER reports that its level 3 diagnostic is complete. It has detected a consumption of additional bandwith. The bandwith appears to be using the communication satellites that orbit H-7758. Bratrizik isolates the bandwith and analyzes the data. It resembles no structure he is familiar with. Eventually CASPER is able to determine that it is a base-22 counting system. Further analysis indicates that there was a spike of about 31 hours in the bandwith consumption. Yiris shuts down the unencrypted signal on the communication satellites. CASPER report that the bandwith has returned to normal.

The other mining operations contact Mine-2 and request to know why the communications are suddenly encrypted. Yiris replies that they are running tests and need to secure the communication channel for the time being.


After the Gap - January 27, 317 @ 09:02

CASPER reports that all communication systems have restored their integrity. However, mining and monitoring satellites now show an increase in communications, with data still on a base-22. Whomever is using the system seems to be attempting to contact off-planet, but none of the satellites possess the capability to do so.

The crew decide it is time to enter the buried structure. Nict loads a big drill on CAT-2. Bratrizik brings a makeshift hatch he has engineered, while Yiris has created a signal booster to use a telepathy subroutine on a larger scale and determine if a door in the structure can be opened.


@ 13:57

After four hours of driving in a blinding methane storm, Nict, Yiris and Bratrizik pull next to the structure on board CAT-2. The sensor Nict installed sports titanium tendrils emerging from the frozen methane. Yiris speculates that this is how the ship has been attempting to communicate.

Flooding on level 400!

Following his grave accident in the mine, Bratrizik spends a week recovering in the medical bay but is soon well enough to be back on duty. Vesks are tough and are not easily incapacitated.


After the Gap - January 15, 317 @ 10:54



CASPER receives a communication from the cargo ship Serenity indicating that Serenity is approximately 2.5 hours away from landing. The loading of the cargo ship occurs every 12 days, and requires all three workers at Mine-2 to pitch in. Nict tells CASPER to activate the reception protocol. The landing strip lights are turned on, flooding the area with blueish lights amid the swirls of the methane snow. The cranes inside the mine's loading zones begin to move bundles of titanium rods from the staging to the loading area.

@ 11:07

Leaving Control, Nict boards CAT-1 and heads out to plow, followed by Yiris on board CAT-3. They push the methane snow into the giant grates at the end of the landing strip, where it is liquified and pumped into the mine for processing fuel. Bratrizik, meanwhile, boards CAT-2 and takes his vehicle to the mine to begin the loading process of titanium bars. With his vehicle now full, he then heads out to plow, while Nict reports to the mine for loading.

@ 13:38

When Serenity lands, the strip has been cleared, and all three CATs are filled with their cargo. A CAT positions itself underneath the Serenity, and a giant crane inside the ship lifts and stores the titanium bars. This process takes under forty-five minutes, with the last CAT receiving the mine's delivery of food, supplies, and entertainment.



After the Gap - January 16, 317 @ 03:47


CASPER interrupts Yiris's android meditation and reports that a mechanical drilling unit, DR-238-S on level 400 has hit a pocket of liquid methane. DR-238-S was following a titanium vein when it evidently pierced through the titanium and released the liquid methane. Finding a pool of liquid methane underneath the surface is rare but not unheard of. The most recent occurrence was approximately 13.2 years ago on level 298, which resulted in a loss of productivity for three days as an entire section of the mine needed to be drained. Previous occurrences happened 39.3 and 61.7 years ago in completely different areas of the mine.

Yiris wakes Nict and Bratrizik and appraises them of the situation. The android then files a notice with the other bases and then compiles a short report to CIDERA indicating that the production will be affected. CASPER is unable to calculate the impact as the extent of the pool and the amount of liquid remains unknown. Level 400 is flooding fast, however, and DR-238-S is no longer communicating with CASPER.  

@ 05:58

CASPER reports that all sensors from level 397 down are out, probably due to a short-circuit. Nict authorizes the closing of all blast doors to isolate as much of the flooded area as possible.

Bratrizik questions CASPER on the best place to stage an intervention. CASPER indicates that Security Post 380 is the closest to the pool rupture. An overlay of the mine's thousands of kilometers of tunnels show that the lowest level sitting above the section of level 400 is level 386, which came within a vertical kilometer above DR-328-S. Checking inventory, Nict finds that Mine-2 retains three aquatic drones. One is currently stored on level 298, the last level where liquid methane was discovered. The second sits in equipment storage on level 5. The third one is partially disassembled in the workshop on level 5.

@ 06:37

Gearing up, Nict and Bratrizik take CAT-2 and drive to the mine. The first five levels are large enough to accommodate a CAT driving through it. They drive down to level 5, and stop at the equipment storage area. Maintenance robots M2-M34 and M2-M58 assist Nict in moving the aquatic drone out of storage to maintenance. Nict then spends about an hour transforming the aquatic drone into a sled drone that Bratrizik can maneuver in the liquid methane. 

@ 07:40

With this step complete, Nict contacts Yiris and advises the android of the situation. Yiris informs them that various automated units on levels 397, 398, and 399 have stopped responding. CASPER speculates that some of the blast doors were not able to stop the rise of the methane on sections of these levels.

Nict places the converted drone onto a tracked cart that can then be driven down to the lower levels. The process of traveling down 39 kilometers to Security 380 takes over an hour and requires several elevators rides and about 40 kilometers of lateral travel. Yiris informs her colleagues that they most likely will lose radio contact once Bratrizik reaches level 400.

@ 08:56

Once at level 396, Bratrizik and Nict drop the drone in the liquid methane, and Bratrizik enters the liquid. He can already see evidence that the methane touching the edges of the mining tunnel is crystallizing. Heading down the shaft with the drone, Bratrizik reaches level 400, and locates DR-328-S with little difficulty. The drill is immobilized in the flooded tunnel, and the Vesk will not be able to pull it through the machinery to reach the front access point. Unable to contact his friends, Bratrizik enters the rear access of the drill, and travels through the flooded compartments to the front.

The machine has clearly been pushed back several hundred meters from the liquid methane's pressure. Bratrizik climbs out of the drill's front access point and swims down the mine shaft. About three hundred meters ahead he finds titanium metal plating encased in a sheared vein of titanium, with liquid methane behind it. The plating is inclined downward at a 72 degrees angle, and is about 12 cm thick. As far as the Vesk can see, the plating continues in both directions, and he cannot see a top or a bottom. He ventures about 50 meters in the space before he runs out of slack line, so he decides to return and informs Nict and Yiris of his discovery.

@ 11:22

Upon hearing this information, CASPER crunches numbers and speculates that level 386 comes closest to the structure, if projected height continues. Bratrizik heads that way with Nict and the Vesk uses ground penetrating radar. The radar does not indicate the presence of a pool of liquid anywhere below or sideways.

Returning to Control, the three of them discuss ways to close the methane leak and plans to pump out the methane and rehabilitate the all levels below 396. According to CASPER's calculations, it will take over two months with all available piping and pumps to return that section of the mine to active. They decide it's probably what they will need to do anyway, so plans are made to begin the pumping in the morning.

Yiris alters the record and removes the visual evidence from the server after creating a physical copy and hides the disk in her room. Anyone consulting the mining records will see the methane leak and its aftermath, but they will not see any reference to the strange structure underneath the mine.



After the Gap - January 17, 317 @ 6:33

Yiris queries CASPER with a status report. The computer reports that over 162 billion gallons have been detected in the flooded mine, but the rising has stopped at level 397. 

10:21

Nict builds a small submarine drone with 500 meters of cable. She delivers it to level 396, and begins maneuvering it remotely. The drone enters the methane pocked, and quickly uses its sonar to detect that the top wall is over 23 kilometers away, while the far wall stretches over 14 kilometers.

Bratrizik takes a sample of the titanium ore that was breached, and begins analyzing it. CASPER indicates it will take several hours before the analysis is complete.

14:57

Returning to the surface, Nict and Bratrizik board the mine's freighter and take off from the mine in the general direction where the top of the structure would be it if emerged from the ground. The strong winds and methane snows buffer the freighter, but Nict expertly keeps it stationary as Bratrizik launches a drone to explore the area. The winds are too strong, and the drone crashes. Bratrizik launches another drone, and this one crashes too. The winds are simply too strong.

CASPER reports that there now is a 0.02% differential in temperature from the liquid methane. The source of this heating is unknown. Yiris decides to file a different version of the status report than what really happened. She only mentions the leak and the flooding. 

17:48
 
CASPER informs Bratrizik that the titanium ore analysis is done. The titanium in the retrieved plate appears to have been weaved together at the molecular level through an unknown process.


23:01

CASPER reports that the methane level has dropped back to level 398. Nict asks whether this is due to the pumping. CASPER responds by the negative, that this process is faster than pumping. What is going on under the surface of Mine-2?