The Deeper You Dig... [Day 0]

[Kannon]

"Accurate." Thufir nodded in approval. "It is from this first-level postulation that I projected the existence of a place like this site, then found it."

He tapped the readout of the probe. "The lift platform is 20 metres down. Who wants to bring it up?"

[Efren Lanville]

“I can do that, sir.” Efren volunteered and walked over to the lift shaft to look down into the descent.

[Kannon]

"Then get a rope, Lieutenant. This moon's gravity may not seem much but with no atmospheric friction 20 metres can still cripple you."

[Efren Lanville]

Efren nodded as he had assumed that they'd be taking a way down that didn't require his immediate crippling. From his estimation he probably had the most physical training of the group and repelling down a shaft with less gravity seemed to be something best suited for him.

He pulled out the rope from the equipment and found a place to anchor it to help whoever would be assisting him from above.

[Kannon]

[Average Athletics, 1 Challenge if without light.]

[Efren Lanville]

After checking the anchor and nodding in appreciation to whoever was going to hold the rope from above, Efren activated the floating light beacon from their gear and began his descent into the heart of the moon.

Weighing less made the journey much more enjoyable than it could have been. His muscles were accustomed to bearing more weight as he travelled vertically. It was always easier to go down than up in these types of things... but this made for a particularly easy descent.

The floating bulb of light worked its way down ahead of him lighting the mixture of rock and machinery which lined the walls. The darkness followed behind him and his beacon as the entrance to the shaft drew further and further away...

His mind slipped in to thoughts of the metaphors inherent in the moment... Knowing only a few steps ahead while the past darkened around him. Best to keep moving forward... just keep the body moving. Reach the bottom... and then see where to go from there.

----

D0 Spelunking in Space, Athletics, Roots, Light: 3eP+1eA+2eB+2eD 7 successes, 1 Triumph

[Kannon]

He landed at the level with doors, at least three of them, as the space wasn't fully visible in glowglobe light, which looked like they could work as airlocks if air was available beyond them.

The lift platform seemed to have been pulled down intentionally, its controls smashed. Another body was lying on it, but he deftly side-stepped it when settling his feet on the hard metal. This one seemed much fresher than the previous one, even as the visor had also been smashed despite the fact that it was thicker, coming in a much more impressive helmet. It was stretched in an awkward position that would usually be a telltale sign of fall impact, a reminder of the fate his skill had spared him. The body held something that looked like an arc-welding device, what would also explain the special helmet.

[Triumph can be used to tie the rope so well that the platform can be pulled up and the lift's functionality restored via a pulley solution, or stored.]

[Efren Lanville]

Efren was starting to see a pattern with the people they found… and patterns suggested something more than an accident.

Efren reported his findings up to the group, “Have reached the bottom. Another body with face shield smashed. Controls for the lift are disabled, but I should be able to use the rope to lift the platform.”

He then set up the pulley system with coordination from above and raised the platform for the group. Once it was lowered again and they all looked down the tunnel past the open airlocks, Efren stepped towards the front of the group, closest to potential danger as they started their entrance into the underground facility.

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Black vaults huh. Given the properties of iridium and its presence here on the moon, the whole thing could be a giant black vault.

Sergeant Lanville's deft handling of the ropes and descent into the darkness was quite impressive. His working of the anchor rope into a pulley system saved the rest of them an arduous and dangerous climb up and down. "Great job sergeant." He offered while stepping in to help on the ropes.

[Efren Lanville]

Efren nodded in gratitude for the acknowledgement and looked back to the group as they collectively prepared to descend into the darkness together.

[Bernard Martikova]

The other sgt's deft work had already done more than he had so far, so he helped those who would need it. "Good work, Lanville." He peered into the darkness for a moment to see if was staring back at him, and, satisfied with the results, made a move towards the pulley to help with the descent to help make the descent faster and more stable from the top end.

"Down we go, then."

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Ambrose pulled out a glowglobe and took up a position in the rear. Someone on this moon had picked up a habit of bashing in face masks and he didn't relish in the idea of adding to their body count.

[Kiran Alsahar]

Kniran knelt briefly to check the body. Sadly, vacuum wasn't kind on someone who learned medicine in atmo and had no experience outside of it. Still, it was fresher. "I don't like that the bodies are getting fresher as we go in," they commented before straightening up, glancing around. They were already keeping a close eye on their environment, but it put them on edge.

Medicine to check the body at hard, using 2 Advantages for a Boost

Net Successes: 0; Net Advantages: 1

[Kannon]

They would soon discover, once the darkness was dispersed further away from the platform, that all three airlocks had been welded shut on their accessible ends. The welding could likely be overcome with their cutteray, though likely compromising any life support that may or may not be functioning on their other side. However, once the silence crept among them and all sight was devoured by black oblivion beyond the perimeter of their glowglobes, something... could perhaps be felt under their feet?

[Perception at Hard anyone.]

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Ambrose scanned the darkness warily.

The tickle in the back of his mind might have been some prescient survival instinct trying to raise the alarm, a glimmer of recognition beyond his conscious awareness. Or it was humanity's innate fear of the unknown. In either case, there was nothing for him to do at the moment.

As a trained soldier, he couldn't go jumping at shadows. His duty was to cover his zone and trust the others to cover there's. If something presented itself, that is when he would act.

-----
Pregame, TDYT, Perception: 1eP+1eA+3eD 0 successes

[Kiran Alsahar]

Kiran peered into the darkness carefully as well. Below, they carefully moved one foot. Something felt... odd.

Perception, Hard, Pregame

Net Successes: 3; Net Advantages: 0

Additional purple

Net Successes: 0; Net Advantages: -1

[Bernard Martikova]

Bern was never a great scout.

He led great scouts, and that theme would continue.

"I see" says the blind man. (Invoking Aspect "I try to be a leader my men will follow")

Net Successes: 0; Net Advantages: -2

[Kannon]

[Player Pool: 4]
[GM Pool: 4]

Kiran was able to say what was the alerting sensation. The stone beneath their feet was vibrating, at a frequency that could be compared to a slow heartbeat.

[Triumph: Use Now of Store?]

[Kiran Alsahar]

[Player Pool: 4]
[GM Pool: 4]

Kiran was able to say what was the alerting sensation. The stone beneath their feet was vibrating, at a frequency that could be compared to a slow heartbeat.

[Triumph: Use Now of Store?]

"There's a rhythmic vibration down there. A thumping, sort of."

[Use now to try and get an idea of what's waiting for us so we can be prepared for it.]

[Kannon]

The thumping, once Kiran attuned to it, felt mechanical? It was coming from deeper below, and there was something in between, a zone, a medium?