THULWAR/ICOSA
Ulisses' attitudes take a turn as he listens to the report on the incidents, as well as the questions so directly posed by Thulwar.
"We call things by their
names, emissary." - he says emphatically almost as if excusing himself in a humorous tone. "I am sure you can understand the need for simplicity around certain aspects of advanced science, since your own descriptors are tremendous simplifications of your technical work." - he smiles faintly, a hint of concern crossing his gaze.
"The Cthon has been conceived to resist to all manner of opposition, Emissary." - he answers Thulwar in a respectul manner. "Causing harm to it can contain its' movement for a while, but it can't be completely destroyed. Even if reduced to microscopic dimensions the mass might still regenerate itself. Some methods of eradication might prove effective, but the fallout would prohibit such a measure. As an alternative, We have tried to scorch it and decontaminate several parts of the upper layers, but the mass must have intruded areas to which we never had access, since it found ways to regenerate even after disintegration. My guess would be that it intruded layers of the terraformed levels. We couldn't perform complete decontamination programs outside headquarter's limits." - he continues. "And since it can taint advanced systems, it ended up overtaking the entire area, eventually. It wasn't supposed to use Amberilan, though. She had an advanced diagnosis application. She should be able to remove any sort of discrepancy within her programming..."
"Still, maybe we can make the best of it. Maybe I can offer some help to resolve your questions, Icosa. If that fails, we might also take you to the data bank below." - he pauses for a moment, measuring the warforged with a respectful gaze. "Some units were conceived to simulate awareness. It was a necessary measure, in case we found survivors outside. I'd bet this was the case with you - a unit sent out to rescue survivors and bring them inside while evaluating the extension of the damage, as well as the potential for recovery through terraforming means." - he seems pensive for a second, intrigued. "Still.... You don't resemble
any of our units. You resemble no unit I've ever encountered, in fact. Tell me, what
did you expect to find here?" - he leans closer, a cautious posture falling upon him. "The circumstances of your reactivation are intriguing, to say the least... But we have more urgent matters at our hands, it seems. You've met orcs, you say? Pure-bloods or mutations? If they've reached these areas, it means they managed to breach the security locks we've placed beyond the Cultivation Pavilion - our inner garden, so to speak. That means they might be able to find their way towards the now active Cthon..." - he seems to consider the options.
HARFIK/AANZU/LYLLIE
"What do your people say about above? Have none traveled outside of the mountain?"
"Well... We've sent a few droid units to evaluate damage and seek out survivors. We planned to help anyone we could... Maybe terraform the land, fight the fallout. But the droids never returned. We sent two Teraphim expeditions afterwards. Never heard of them again. Without a steady flow of energy, hope dwindled. We managed to keep our basic technological needs up and running... But a huge part of home-base had to be shut down." - he glances at Harfik, Aanzu and Lyllie, an expression of pain and sadness running trough his face.
And only I remain, with these scars a sadistic, persistent reminder of the atrocities I promised myself I would mete upon your kind! Yet here we are, and the fates have seen fit to tie my hands still."
The captain lowers his head in shame as Lyllie bursts in frustration. His words become even more scattered.
"I can't..." - he falls mute, as if gasping for air. "It was a stupid decision, bred by fear and blindness. Bred by hate. Some of us tried to stop the others. Some of us voted against it. Some of us even refused to fulfill such orders..." - he seems to reminisce, his void eyes watering as he speaks. "The worst hour came when the button had to be pushed. A mutiny bred. Armed Teraphim tried to stop the perpetrators by force. Many died. Again. And the mutiny failed. The warheads flew...And they fell. And nothing could be the same anymore." - he falls silent for a moment, trying to hold a grasp of himself once more.
"Afterwards, some of the mutineers were banned. Others were imprisoned for live. Others received the worst kind of work... Such as the unending watch over the Cthon at this very division." - he points towards the others. "These men you see here sacrificed their lives to defend your world. They failed, and they blame themselves. All of us that still have souls do so." - he considers his own words for a moment, smiles a sad smile, and continues. "But you lived. As I believed, you lived, you
survived. It's only fair that, in due time, you judge our actions, and pass the sentence upon our lives. I, for one, would be relieved to pay the price."
He shakes his head, snapping out of his own sadness.
"But first we must get you out of here. That is, if you'll accept our help."
EVERYONE
It is Hermes to declare the bad news.
"Sorry captain, no can do... It's impossible to establish the comm link now. Maybe if we get the floor running once more... But we don't seem to have enough juice. Also, it needs repairing..." - the Teraphim looks around with his arms sprung out.
"Good news is that we seem to have some niiice Viranium sources right outside. Given time we can improvise a source - one that won't explode on us, of course" - Sisyphus adds. "We might even manage to take some back with us, if we're lucky!"
The captain reflects for a brief moment.
"We'd still need to find a way down... Well, seems we'll be here for a while. Ajax, get everyone to set up camp. We rest for a while. As soon as we're ready, we set up a party to go outside and grab some Viranium. Get our guests comfortable." - he issues the orders with a sure, hard voice, right before turning back to the heroes.
"You should take your time. I have a few rations I can spare,but they won't last. This was supposed to be a routine mission." - he motions towards a hidden pocket in his armor, taking out five small, cubic packs. "Tastes awful, but it'll keep you running.
[Ok, dialogue can continue. A camp's being set up. You can use the downtime to rest, eat or work on your first XP batch! I'll post the points on the OOC thread!]
[MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=23298]industrygothica[/MENTION] [MENTION=6776182]JustinCase[/MENTION] [MENTION=6855102]Greenmtn[/MENTION]