Stars Without Number: Scions of the Stars, Ex astris intellectus Options

[JxJxA]

"That's right," Ezri replies as she adjusts course to bring them to Perath at best possible speed.

"Not sure I'd trust the autopilot on this shuttle. She's fast, though, I'll give her that. Still, it means we'll be there in a few hours. Plenty of time for you to get ready. I'll let you know when we reach the planet."

[Buddha72]

Ravenna waits for the pause in the conversation before speaking.

"Can you send me the sensor data, I'd like to take a look at it. I can try to see if there's anything to sense or connect with on the planet but I'm going to take it slow."

She opens a feed channel in her Ghost Talker implant and scans over the data.

[JxJxA]

Ravenna

Upon reviewing the sensor logs, you note two things. There appear to be the telltale signs of residual psitech in the system itself. This could likely be from the drill gates that the Terran Mandate used to traverse and expand their empire. Unfortunately, there is no sign of the gate or its remains. Even if there was, it is unlikely that it would still be functional because they would often require whole groups of specialized psychics to operate them.

You also notice that the planet Perath shows various simple life signs, such as microorganisms, plants, and lowly evolved animals. They register as incompatible with Human biology, which raises a bevvy of issues. They could simply be inedible, or particulate biological material like dust or pollen could trigger a lethal allergic reaction in a landing party.

As the ship closes distance and the ship's computer runs medical simulations, it appears that the biological material is inedible and will likely trigger mild allergic reactions, such as watery eyes or nasal congestion.

Regarding Mandate history, they would often use complex AIs to manage their affairs. They were designed to help protect and provide for the current colonists. However, they could also be used to help monitor frontier worlds far away from immediate reach of the Mandate. Information on how and why they were used is not readily available in the post-Scream era.

[JxJxA]

"All right," Ezri announces over the shuttle's comm, "We're entering the atmosphere now."

The pilot's words are punctuated with a ship-wide shudder as the Slipstream enters Perath's outer range of Perath's pale green sky. The ship begins to rumble as turbulent winds try their best to shake and rattle the shuttle off course. While you are all used to the sensation from landing the Terra Firma, the Slipstream lacks the size and mass that helped the bigger ship muffle reentry. Fortunately, the ship quickly cuts through the outer atmosphere and reaches a calmer, albeit still turbulent, level.

"Getting readings of high winds on the surface, ranging from 10-30 kilometers per hour. Wouldn't be too crazy, but it looks like the planet surface is covered in sand and gravel. We should be at the drop-off site in 5 minutes now. I'm going to hover above the opening to let you 'port down, and then I'll set down at the clearing two kilometers away."

From the safety of the cockpit, you can all see the mountain range that juts from Perath's floor. Tall, black mountains stand like spears stabbing into the sky, plunging towards the wispy, grayish-green clouds that lace the sky. The Slipstream speeds towards the tallest mountain, a wide, jagged peak that is also the source of the signal.

When the ship reaches the site, Ezri hovers the Slipstream about 30 meters above the ground. Like she had said earlier, 10 to 20 meter high sharp rock protrusions make it impossible for a ship to land. However, the formations are spaced out enough for a group of people to move through them easily. When the airlock door snaps open, you can hear and see what Ezri meant about the winds. The wind's howl echoes in the airlock, joined with the "ping" like percussion of gravel striking the ship's hull.

The alien terrain is rocky and rough, full of rust-colored sand and small black rocks. The rock protrusions look like sheared granite, with iridescent flecks of mica and quartz veins running through it. The protrusions line the base of the mountain, growing more numerous as you head towards the base of the mountain range.

<<@Crew [Ezri]: I've taken the liberty of linking our comms through the Slipstream's comm server. I should be able to reach you on the planet surface, but I'm not sure if I can reach you if you go below the surface.>>

[Lain]

Alice looks down to the ground and finding a place she thinks is fairly safe, smiling, she takes Sereth by the hand and disappears.
On the ground, Alice looks around to see if its safe enough,
She smiles to Sereth, clearly pleased to use her powers
"Be right back"
Reappearing in the ship, she takes Ravenna by the hand,
"Time to go"
and they reappear together next to Sereth
"That was fun, we should do it more often.. "

[JxJxA]

Once upon the planet surface, Alice and Ravenna are almost immediately overwhelmed by the scents of the alien world that the wind whips about them. It is a pungent mix of a metallic tang and stale air, the latter much like the smell of a rarely opened closet. The wind whips pebbles and sand at the group, with Alice and Ravenna sometimes feeling the biting sting of a particularly fast fleck of stone, while Sereth hears a constant staccato from within the protection of his assault suit.

While the wind is rough and strong, it is easy enough to see through and move towards the mountain...

[Buddha72]

Ravenna is momentarily stunned by the world around her. It was so different from her home world and the strangeness of it emphasized how vast this existence was. She shudders and shakes a little as the winds bit into her skin and whip her hair around her head. She reaches out and links the minds around her to her own consciousness. She lets them feel her gentle connection, in case the communications fails while on the planet's surface'

<<@Crew [Ravenna]: Thank you very much. Avoid ingesting anything here and let me know the second you start to feel any strange reactions in your body. Itching, difficulty breathing, blurred vision or disorientation. Everything here can cause an allergic reaction in our psyiology and people can have vastly different severities in those reactions. >>

She focuses for a moment and allows her senses to extend into the now and moments beyond, hopefully it would provide some warning of immediate danger.

[Fenris]

Sereth takes a breath and glances around with a smile. He was never quite so happy as when he was exploring a new locale or planet, especially something with a strong likelihood of an actual find. He nods to Ravenna, acknowledging receipt of her warning, and turns, orienting on the mountain.

<<@Crew[Sereth]: The signal's coming from that direction. Let's head towards it and see what we can pick up closer to the mountain.>>

[JxJxA]

<<@Crew [Ezri]: Sounds like you're ready to go, which means it's time for me to find my landing spot. Good luck out there, and let me know when you're ready for pickup.>>

Seconds after Ezri's message, you hear the boom of the shuttle's main engines engage. The Slipstream takes off, rising into the air. Once it reaches about 200 meters above the ground, it streaks through the sky away from the mountain.

As you make your way towards the mountain and the source of the signal, the spires jutting from the ground grow larger and more frequent. The space between them narrows, forcing you to walk single-file as you navigate them. The closer you get to the mountain, you can see a dark haze hanging about the mountain like a shadowy penumbra. It almost looks as though the dark black shade of the mountain is sublimating into the air about it.

Some of the spires appear to have the source of the black haze coating them. Streaks of shimmering, obsidian-black residue cover some of the spires.

Soon, you can see the the mouth of a large cavern at the base of the black mountain. It looks as if it leads downward and into darkness...

[Lain]

<<@Crew [Alice]: This black haze is interesting, anyone seen anything like it? >>
Alice looks around to see if the rest of the crew is getting coated in the black haze like the spires.
<<@Crew [Alice]: Guess the cave is where we need to go>>
Taking a deep breathe and if anyone doesn't start, she'll lead the way in..

[Buddha72]

Ravenna looks with apprehension at the cavern at the base of the mountain. The strange and ominous residue feels wrong as she looks at it, her mind unable to comprehend its purpose or composition. She sees the text roll by her eyes from Alice.

<<@Crew [Ravenna]: It appears the cave may hold more answers but I admit a certain reluctance to enter. Do the energy readings come from there? >>

[Fenris]

Shaking his head, Sereth offers the two women a smile.

<<@Crew [Sereth]: Well, at the risk of being a bit cliche, I suspect you are correct. Shall we venture forth?>>

He seems to hesitate for a moment, and then additional text scrolls by.

<<Crew [Sereth]: I wouldn't want to ask you two to do anything dangerous, but...are you, I don't know, picking up anything from the psychic network that runs across this planet?>>

[Lain]

<<@Sereth>> My powers don't work that way, they are more physical. teleportation or telekinesis if there is some kind of psychic network its beyond me>>