A large flash of light appears in the space over the planet, a Aturor cruiser drops from FTL. The ship rotates engages sublight engines to another quadrant of the planet. The cruiser maintains geosynchronous orbit over an island clearing.
A bay opens on the side of the ship and spits out five darts at high speeds and spread out over the planet. They dive into the atmosphere making scanner sweeps for anything special.
The Darts circle above what appears to be ruins, they transmit the location back to the hive ship before returning to their honeycomb hanger bay.
Below the cruiser an Aturor transport drops off powering minimal engines for entry and proceeds to the landing site. Inside the vessel, an Aturor lieutenant and his bodyguard are accompanied by 5 drone soldiers. The transport also carries a device that was recovered from the abandoned mining station.
Venom OPS Administrator
Posts : 504 Join date : 2012-08-17 Location : America
The Infinity Fleet warps out of Slipspace, purple waves of energy rippling from their exit. The Fleet's Capital Ship, two cruisers, two destroyers, two frigates, and four corvettes glow with life, the blue accents of their technology and lights contrast the cold grey color of their hull. The ZTN Infinity and the rest of her escort lay dormant, scanning the planed while two Prowler-Class Corvettes, The ZTN Rush and The ZTN Incorruptible orbit the planet.
The Infinity's scanners detect the unknown spaceship and proceed to send a pre-recorded message in all Zaedrax dialects, and in binary. The message reads this:
Quote :
We are peaceful. We come as diplomats. We hope to foster a fruitful relationship with your great nation
The Fleet's weapons remain idle, and the two remaining corvettes, The ZTN Prism and The ZTN Justice begin to approach the unknown vessel, repeating the message as they proceed to do so.
The Aturor cruiser seems to brighten up a bit, blue hued lights emitting from various small pores. There is an emergency recall of Dart fighters to the hive cells. An exchange of signals occurs between the ship and the ground.
The lieutenant's bodyguard looks down at his wrist, a holographic display expanding and illuminating the alien ruins he has just entered with a cyan colored light. A helmet speaker emitter blurts out words spoken from the internal microphone. "We just got some company, we need to make this quick..."
The lieutenant snaps his gaze to his companion, "I know. The drones will stay outside as we enter and cover the perimeter."
A drone soldier hands the mysterious alien device to the Bodyguard. The Bodyguard holds the device in one hand, having to sling his blaster rifle. He draws his blaster pistol as the Lieutenant takes point leading further into the alien ruin.
Outside of the ruin, the five Aturor drones spread out. One stands guard at the front entrance and the others dissipate into the swamps. Above them their transport craft lifts off, and jumps to FTL from the atmosphere. The cruiser in space quickly follows, disappearing in a flash of light.
Venom OPS Administrator
Posts : 504 Join date : 2012-08-17 Location : America
The Prism and Justice recall back to their previous positions as the other two corvettes orbit the planet. The ZTN Azure launches a transport craft, lowering itself into atmosphere. The transport craft follows the coordinates by which the unknown race sent signals from, and they proceed to drop down into what appears to be a swamp. A group of combat automatons, power-armored troops, and Commander Ihlanna Nossa exit the shuttle. They proceed to scan the surroundings, stumbling upon a vast swamp. Their weapons remain ready to fire, and they proceed to scout out the area.
The swamp begins to fill with mist, there are specters that dash in and out of the fog all around the landed forces. Thermal images give inaccurate readings, the swamp is releasing small amounts of hot methane gas that bubbles out of muck.
The wet and soggy marsh terrain begins to take a toll on the heavy machinery. What would be acceptable for a humanoids on foot, heavier equipment begins to be taken by the swamps.
Venom OPS Administrator
Posts : 504 Join date : 2012-08-17 Location : America
"Scanners, what are they reading?" Ihlanna asks. "Inconclusive, getting the strangest readings", a officer remarks.
Before another question can be answered, multiple armored soldiers complain of a sinking feeling, and low and behold, they truly were sinking, the muck consuming their lower sections, clogging the mechanical joints. An officer radios for the shuttle, which was maintaining a close overhead view of them. The shuttle swoops down, crew members coming out to help drag the armored soldiers inside. The autonomous machines contain no living organims, and thus cut down on their weight, feeling no ill effects from the swamp.
"The machines, they aren't suffering the problem we are. This swamp has got me feeling very anxious, I think we should send some more automatons down here and some scanning probes. It isn't worth keeping the Infinity floating above orbit. Radio the Azure to inform the Scouting Fleet to stand by here, and have them send down autonomous patrols. In the meantime, leave a compliment of automatons and some probes down here to explore". An officer proceeds to send the message over the comms, as the troops proceed to climb inside the shuttle leaving four automatons and a scanning probe behind.
The shuttle exits the atmosphere, pairing back up with the Azure, and the Infinity Fleet Warps out of the system.
===
Automaton Unit Zeta
The machines move along the swamp, unaffected by the muck below. Floating probes accompany the group, as they head deeper into the swamp. Their optical and auditory sensors are the only ones to operate, their thermal sensors providing inconclusive results. The probes and automatons push forward, their gauss weapons ready to fire if the need arose. Pushing on, they await the arrival of the Scouting Fleet, awaiting extra autonomous forces and a forward command base.
An Aturor drone leans itself out from behind a large, mossy tree to the right flank of the armed group. It makes some clicking noises, then glances to the left. Another drone takes up a similar position before dashing across to the opposite side of the forces, no doubt making a commotion in the process. The thick fog only gives a shadowy outline as the drone runs across, using the distraction the drone behind the tree leans out again and raises his pole like energy weapon. The drone fires three quick bolts in the direction of the armed group. After firing, the drone leaps into a low pond full of thick grasses nearby attempting to disappear.
Inside the ruin that is only five hundred meters away, the Lieutenant smirks, "The drones will keep the unexpected visitors occupied. We'll have no trouble with them."
The Lieutenant and his mercenary arrive into a larger chamber that it is clearly old, overgrown with moss, and moist. There is a central podium with a slot in it for the interesting device the mercenary is carrying. He walks up, and fits it into place. The ruin seems to vibrate for a moment before coming to life. Various holographic panels turn on, all displaying some sort of alien language. Some panels fry out due to age and water damage in a circular display around the device. Energy is emitted and can now be detected from ground level.
"Quickly... Copy as much of the information as you can. We'll translate this later." hisses the Lieutenant to the mercenary who is already taking snapshots with his visor.
On the far side of the planet, the peaceful emptiness is disturbed as space begins to distort. Suddenly the distortions become a gigantic rift into subspace, through which an object emerges, black in color and needle-like in shape, at least a mile long.
But just as quickly as it appears, it disappears. The huge object bursts into thousands of pieces that rain down on the planet, lighting up the sky. The meteors crash into oceans, islands, and swamps.
Venom OPS Administrator
Posts : 504 Join date : 2012-08-17 Location : America
The machines travel along with the scanning probe, and are wary of the subtle noises heard around them. A sudden burst of sound and movement has the automatons turn to face the presence, only before it gets fired upon by an unknown source. Three bolts of energy blast at the armed group, one making contact with one of the automatons. It's bluish-hued shields glow with life before collapsing from the blast. The automaton recoils back, particle beam weapons warming up. Before the group can recover from the attack, a sudden energy spike attracts the probe's attention, it alters its route and speeds off into the swamp's canopy. The automatons quickly set out at a brisk pace, trading their former defensive posture for one that can get them to their location faster. Before much ground could be traveled, the sound of objects hurling through the atmosphere is heard, followed my loud impacts. The automatons are startled for a brief time before continuing their path.
=== The Scouting Fleet (Partial)
Spoiler:
===
Adhering to the Infinity's orders,The ZTN Wonder arrives in Sector 4, the purple rifts of slipspace extend outwards from her exit point. The ZTN Wonder seems to have a much older design from most other Zaedrax ships. Its engines glow a gentle blue, while it sends out a shuttle to meetup with the ground party.
A signal is set out to the ground party in a encoded Zaedrax dialect:
Quote :
Stand firm and await for the additions to your party to arrive. State your coordinates and proceed one your party is improved
The ground party's sends a signal back, confirming the orders. All the while, two shuttles lower themselves above the canopy, both of their bay's open to reveal a compliment of eight more automatons, and the second shuttle reveals an addition of four more scanning probes. The automatons jump into the trees, climbing their way down while the probes simply hover next to the previous one.
=== Automaton Unit Zeta ===
The new ground party remains wary of its surroundings, but now has safety within its numbers. The five scanners lead the way, continuing to pinpoint the source of the energy spike while it's enhanced scanner penetrates the deep fog, locating what appears to be derelict buildings.The automatons are in close pursuit, following the scanners to the mouth of the ancient ruins. After exchanging some clicking sounds, four scanners travel into the entrance, with four automatons following. The other eight stand guard outside, with intention to defend the entrance, while the scanner aids them in penetrating the fog and tree canopy, alerting them if any movement or hostile are detected. The automaton's have been sending out short range beacons, all reading the following in binary, and all Zaedrax dialects:
Quote :
We mean no hostilities Actions have been taken against us, and we have forgiven A diplomatic approach can be made possible for this scenario We hope the rough start will have not caused any harm
Last edited by Venom OPS on Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:11 am; edited 1 time in total
A single cell, dark in color and alien in its anatomy, floats through murky waters. It pinches itself down the center as its chromosomes shift, and divides. Then it divides again. And again. Around it, thousands of others are doing the same. The Mass attacks whatever life is to be found on the planet, and strips it of its base molecules to synthesize more of itself. It grows. The sites of the meteor strikes are writhing with black, slimy tendrils that choke off plants and coil around any unfortunate animal that wanders near. Black discoloration veins the infected, whose innards are slowly consumed. In the oceans, marine life dies off and floats to the surface in droves.
Last edited by Munroe on Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
Venom OPS Administrator
Posts : 504 Join date : 2012-08-17 Location : America
The automatons keep their weapons warmed, hearing the screams of wild life and animals combined with unnatural and violent sounds. The scanner that remains with the crew relays sounds and images of what is happening on the ground to the ZTN Wonder, their crew analyzing and watching the scenes unfold in horror.
The five Aturor drones swarm in on the automatons, they remain low behind grasses and trees. They surround their prey and pop out from cover. They take aim before opening fire with double tap bolts.
Running through the ruin hallways the Mercenary and Lieutenant pant heavily.
"We've got company ahead..." The Lieutenant barks out
"Stop!" the Mercenary yells to the Aturor as he raises his left hand to the entryway. A shoulder mounted launcher props up from his pack and beeps before a missile propels itself down the hallway out the entrance. It leaves the front entry door and impacts the ground. The explosive rocket detonates with a loud flash and floods the area with white phosphorus.
Above there is a quake as a ship enters the atmosphere at high velocity from FTL. It speeds across the planet's upper atmosphere directly towards the alien ruin site.
Venom OPS Administrator
Posts : 504 Join date : 2012-08-17 Location : America
Standing ready, the automatons react to the sudden attack, their particle beams tearing into the trees and any location they detected the fire from, probe aiding in their detection of the hostile threat. As the automatons have one beam per arm, the eight of them fire a total of sixteen concentrated beams of energy, moving them ins sweeping motions to cut down cover and any hostiles.
The scouting party that entered the ruins only hear a beep before a missile impacts directly near them, incinerating the four probes and four automatons.
The eight automatons continue to lay fire into the dense cover, while the ZTN Wonder detects the new alien ship. Determining that the location has become too dangerous, the ship activates its engines, opening a slip-space portal and exiting the sector, leaving its ground-party behind.
Two drones are foolishly cut down standing out of cover for too long. Their comrades make grunt noises as a mockery of their death. The beam weapons show directly where the enemy is in the thick fog, the remaining three drones simply lean from behind their thick cover and make pin point shots with their energy weapons.
Overhead the ship slows down, the hull sizzling from the burnt oxygen on fast entry as it passes over the drone battle below. It heads directly for the ruins.
Nearby the Bodyguard and the Lieutenant burst from the ruin entryway. The Lieutenant carries the Bodyguard's beam rifle, his fast reflexes allow him to send the powerful piercing beams down range at targets. The Bodyguard takes a few shots with his energy pistol before looking up, his visor locks onto the incoming vessel.
"It's going to get hot real fast."
The visor locks on to the ship as the Bodyguard raises his left arm again, a instead of a missile, a dart with a fibercord whip is loaded. The Lieutenant slings the rifle before grabbing his bodyguard's armor and holding on tight.
Venom OPS Administrator
Posts : 504 Join date : 2012-08-17 Location : America
Subject: Re: Sector 4, Planet -UNCHARTERED- Sat Sep 29, 2012 6:26 am
Sector 4 Automaton Unit Zeta
A handful of automatons have their arms shot off, as the blast were directed at the beams. The scanner remains above, sending its advanced visuals to the automatons, increasing their accuracy, as they also aim from where they are being fired upon.
Before much more damage can be done, beams of energy penetrate some automatons, they drop to the floor instantly. The other automatons are shot down with more bolts of energy until there are none left. The scanning probe, immediately launches itself high into the atmosphere, exiting the planet and still going. Small bolts of purple energy erupt from its front, forming the makes of a small portal, which it travels through before disappearing.
The only traces of the Zaedrax ground team would be bits of destroyed automatons, and the other more intact automatons, which detonate shortly after being struck down.
The Aturor drones quickly retreat out into the swamps, now only two alive. Their fate sealed.
A few hundred meters away, the Bodyguard fires his dart and fibercord whip. The dart successfully penetrates a section of the ship's hull and quickly rips the two humanoids from the ground and up into the air being dragged behind the vessel. As the ship rapidly gains altitude, the Bodyguard and Lieutenant are reeled into the underside bay of the unknown ship.
Moments later, the ship raises through the atmosphere at high speeds, the hull becoming incredibly hot from oxygen combustion before it flashes away to FTL.
The planet and those on the ground are left to the mercy of the Mass as the organic life and slowly consumed.
Munroe Tryhard
Posts : 602 Join date : 2012-02-06
Subject: Re: Sector 4, Planet -UNCHARTERED- Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:01 am
Undisturbed, the aggressive spread of infection quickens exponentially as more and more life is consumed. The ravenous bacteria put roots deep into the planet, extracting minerals and geothermal energy.
Deep in the swamps, the alien ruins are visited by a wandering tendril. Eyes float to the surface of it, looking inquisitively at the site. Its enormous mind ponders how to interface with the technology.
Judge Gambit "I am the Law"
Posts : 406 Join date : 2012-02-04
Subject: Re: Sector 4, Planet -UNCHARTERED- Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:24 am
The technology seems to be based around the use of engineered data crystals that project holographic information. Being so old, the power supply on the installation withers.
The planet's habitability degrades, making its only use mining or weapons testing orientated.
The Mass at the ruins reshapes itself, extending feelers toward the holographic panels. It tries gleaning whatever it can from them, relying on a photographic memory to store the information it comes across in its encrypted form.
Meanwhile, the infection spreads. The oceans begin darkening as clumps of Mass grow and expand towards the surface, choking off all life beneath it. Whole ecosystems are devoured.
The holographic panels display a page of history in ancient alien text and hieroglyphs dating before recorded space history. The title is the easiest to translate.
"The Extinction"
The alien power source decays and the holographic displays become fuzzy before their form shatters and fades.
Munroe Tryhard
Posts : 602 Join date : 2012-02-06
Subject: Re: Sector 4, Planet -UNCHARTERED- Sun Oct 07, 2012 3:59 am
With no one to stop it, the Mass slowly consumes the entire planet. The oceans darken as a thick layer of the microorganisms forms, having pretty much destroyed all ocean life. At the alien ruins, a monolith begins forming out of the living substance, reaching into the sky. Nutrients are fed to the tower through root-like tubes that snake in all directions, choking off vegetation. Animals wander freely to the burgeoning tower, compelled by a powerful psychic call, and willingly allow themselves to be engulfed.
Whatever information was gleaned from the ancient ruins is a mystery, and it is highly unlikely that anyone will ever set foot in them again.
Munroe Tryhard
Posts : 602 Join date : 2012-02-06
Subject: Re: Sector 4, Planet -UNCHARTERED- Wed Oct 10, 2012 6:41 am
The spire continues to grow until it reaches low orbit. The massive living structure begins to fall dormant as local resources are exhausted. A huge needle-like structure detaches from the tip of the spire, launching itself into orbit like a rocket. Synthesized fuels are burned to propel the newborn vessel into space, on a course for some unknown target. Afterwards, two more of these "ships" detach from the spire and drift in different directions. Psionic energy spikes as holes are torn in the fabric of space, and the small fleet vanishes inside them.
On the other side of the planet, another monolith begins reaching towards the sky. The Mass is triumphant over the planet's entire biosphere. Not a trace of life exists that isn't part of the whole.
The ocean world continues its journey around its star, devoid of all life forms but one. Its black forms cloud the seas and take the shape of four gigantic towers that jut high above the tallest mountains. Despite hurricane force winds and the gravitational pull of the planet, the ponderous structures remain steadfast and still.
With a sudden grinding sound, the tops of 3 towers suddenly expand outwards and open up like bulbs. At each site, the three "petals" detach, revealing themselves to be newborn vessels. Thunderous noise fills the air as the ships rocket themselves upwards, fading as they reach the edge of the atmosphere. The starfield warps and hyperspace opens up to swallow the nine ships.
With them gone, all is still again. The towers return to abeyance, noiselessly stripping the planet bare.
