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Modern/Delta Green - The Beginning of the End (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4508736" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Silicon Dreams: Part 6—The Bucket</strong></p><p></p><p>As the agents approached the ship, a klaxon blared out. </p><p></p><p>“<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">Warning, warning!</span>” said a calm electronic voice. “<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">Magnetometer readings rising.</span>”</p><p></p><p>A single entry ramp opened from the bottom center of the craft. The craft rises slightly to allow the small steps to lower. Mist spilled out of the entrance, glowing with a yellow light.</p><p></p><p>“Let me know what’s inside there,” said Guppy. “I’m not going in.”</p><p></p><p>Hammer sighed. “Guppy, we could really use your help in there.”</p><p></p><p>Guppy crossed his arms. “You remember what happened last time. I’m not going in.” He hesitated. “For your own safety.”</p><p></p><p>Hammer frowned and stepped inside, with Jim-Bean and Archive close behind. </p><p></p><p>Inside was a low-ceiling interior made of a soft red-brown adobe-like material. It was carefully and ergonomically shaped. The ceilings were gracefully arched and the corridors serpentine and smooth. The floors were made of a shiny black material which under close scrutiny was covered in tiny green and purple writing. Every square foot of the ceiling was covered in tiny sigils.</p><p></p><p>“You seen one of these before?” asked Jim-Bean.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah,” said Hammer. “It looked exactly like this. In fact, I’m starting to think this is the same one.”</p><p></p><p>They passed through a peculiar tunnel with patterned walls. It was clear the ship was much larger on the outside than on the inside. Corridors wound more than thirty feet and opened into large rooms that were somehow all jammed with in the tiny craft. </p><p></p><p>“How could you even tell?” asked Jim-Bean. “Maybe everything they make looks the same?”</p><p></p><p>They made their way to what looked like an engine room. A row of inert boxes were about knee high. In the center of the room were strange symbols. A single platform flanked by flimsy bars acted as an elevator of sorts to the next level up.</p><p></p><p>“Guppy!” shouted Hammer. “Get in here!”</p><p></p><p>Guppy sounded very far away. A few seconds later he jogged in, his gaze intently focused on Hammer only. “They’re trying to blow the door.”</p><p></p><p>“Concentrate on the ship for a moment,” said Hammer. “What does this look like?”</p><p></p><p>Guppy hesitated, then started looking around at what passed for the ship’s engine. He ran his cistron over a few mechanisms. “This is an N-fusion drive,” he said. “It uses hydrogen as fuel, scooping it up as it goes along.”</p><p></p><p>“So it’s safe to say humans didn’t build this?” asked Jim-Bean.</p><p></p><p>“No humans I know,” said Guppy. “It normally takes one million degrees to power something like this.” He was starting to talk faster, overcoming his fear. “Plus, this craft isn’t capable of interstellar speed.”</p><p></p><p>“So where did it come from?” asked Hammer.</p><p></p><p>“A bigger ship,” said Guppy. </p><p></p><p>They took the elevator up. </p><p></p><p>There were panels on one wall lit by silhouettes of different creatures; some recognizable, others utterly alien in appearance. In one corner was a glass tube with what looks like a frozen armadillo. Another was a similarly shaped human-sized chamber, although it was not currently occupied.</p><p></p><p>Guppy’s eyes turned to slits. “I remember that chamber.”</p><p></p><p>“What’s it for—“ began Jim-Bean, but Hammer cut him off with a shake of his head. “Oh, right.”</p><p></p><p>“What do you think of these symbols?” Hammer prodded, pointing at one octagonal wall. </p><p></p><p>One table was covered in a forest of protruding crystals, while one octagonal wall had a series of odd symbols identifying a variety of buttons. </p><p></p><p>“I recognize these symbols!” exclaimed Archive, who hadn’t felt particularly useful until that very moment. “The symbol matches the Nazca lines of an ancient astronaut, which are huge lines in Peru that can only be seen from the air.”</p><p></p><p>“Can you translate them?” asked Hammer. </p><p></p><p>Archive nodded. “The symbols are similar to a language known as Aklo, which has appeared in the ancient pyramid of Tepanapa in Cholula.” He tapped a few keys on his cistron. “I think I can…here we go.”</p><p></p><p>Weird, winged cylinders with starfish like protrusions on the top and bottom floated through space towards a planet. Then they surged towards it like dolphins diving deeper into the water. </p><p></p><p>“<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">The creatures from beyond came to Earth to live under the sea, at first for food and later for other purposes,</span>” said a mechanical voice. “<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">It was there that they first created earth life—using available substances according to long-known methods. The more elaborate experiments came after the annihilation of various cosmic enemies. They had done the same thing on other planets, having manufactured not only necessary foods, but certain multi-cellular protoplasmic masses capable of molding their tissues into all sorts of temporary organs under hypnotic influence and thereby forming ideal slaves to perform the heavy work of the community, known as shoggoths.</span>”</p><p></p><p>Silhouettes appeared on the screen as the cistron and the ship’s computer interacted. Weird, pulpy forms made of eyes, mouths, and tentacles oozed onto the screen. </p><p></p><p>“<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">When they had synthesized their simple food forms and bred a good supply of shoggoths, they allowed other cell groups to develop into other forms of animal and vegetable life for sundry purposes, extirpating any whose presence became troublesome. These vertebrates, as well as an infinity of other life forms—animal and vegetable, marine, terrestrial, and aerial—were the products of unguided evolution acting on life cells made by the Old Ones, but escaping beyond their radius of attention.</span>”</p><p></p><p>Silhouettes of small rodent-like vermin skittered onto the screen. Evolution sped up as each version of the rodent was advanced by millennia, becoming more bipedal…</p><p></p><p>“<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">They had been suffered to develop unchecked because they had not come in conflict with the dominant beings. Bothersome forms, of course, were mechanically exterminated.</span>”</p><p></p><p>Some of the very last images depicted a shambling, primitive mammal, used sometimes for food and sometimes as an amusing buffoon, whose vaguely simian and human foreshadowing were unmistakable. </p><p></p><p>“Wait…is that thing saying what I think it’s saying?” asked Jim-Bean.</p><p></p><p>“That humanity is a mistake,” Guppy said tersely. “That’s all we are. An accident.”</p><p></p><p>Sensing the tension in the room, Hammer urged them onwards to what looked like a bridge. </p><p></p><p>It was strangely devoid of chairs of any sort. In the center of the room was a single console made of the same black stone-like material that the floor was composed of. It was covered in a complex array of sigils. </p><p></p><p>“Let’s see what this does!” Jim-Bean tapped a sigil.</p><p></p><p>A row of red beams fired out in a straight line from the ship, cutting through some equipment in the warehouse like butter.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t touch that!” shouted Guppy. “You have no idea what it does!”</p><p></p><p>Jim-Bean withdrew his hand from the sigils. “We could use this to escape! Now are you going to get us out of here oh mighty mission leader or what?”</p><p></p><p>After a moment of indecision, Guppy pushed Jim-Bean aside and tapped a sigil.</p><p></p><p>The ship began to power up, shuddering as it lifted a few feet above the ground. </p><p></p><p>Guppy tapped another sigil. </p><p></p><p>A symbol appeared on the screen. GNN footage played: war footage, a news broadcast, coverage of a gas shortage, and news about the upcoming election. It ended with the same symbol, which looked like a an odd boxy humanoid with a square for a head, two long triangles for arms, and two short triangles for feet. Three concentric circles were in its abdomen. </p><p></p><p>“Is that supposed to be us?” asked Jim-Bean.</p><p></p><p>Archive nodded. “Yes. That’s Aklo for human.”</p><p></p><p>The screen flickered. Computer analysis of power plants and military complexes flashed by, all narrated in a buzzing language that was offensive to the ears.</p><p></p><p>“What is that all about?” asked Jim-Bean.</p><p></p><p>“Landing zones,” said Archive breathlessly. “I think—“</p><p></p><p>The screen was interrupted. The buzzing voice rose and began repeating. A dot appeared on the screen, with concentric circles emanating from it. Another dot was moving towards the dot in the center.</p><p></p><p>“What the hell is that?” asked Hammer.</p><p></p><p>Guppy tapped more sigils. The view of the warehouse outside the saucer turned a transparent green. They were able to see beyond the doors.</p><p></p><p>“What happened to the guards?” asked Hammer.</p><p></p><p>“Maybe we scared them off?” theorized Archive.</p><p></p><p>“No, it’s something else,” said Hammer. “They know something.”</p><p></p><p>Guppy pointed at the screen. “Look!”</p><p></p><p>The x-ray view of the warehouse blurred as the ship’s surveillance systems zoomed in on the image of a jetliner. Several boxes of something within the belly of the jetliner pinged along with the buzzing voice. It was heading right towards them.</p><p></p><p>“Is that jet carrying…explosives?” asked Jim-Bean.</p><p></p><p>Then the plane hit.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 4508736, member: 3285"] [b]Silicon Dreams: Part 6—The Bucket[/b] As the agents approached the ship, a klaxon blared out. “[FONT="Courier New"]Warning, warning![/FONT]” said a calm electronic voice. “[FONT="Courier New"]Magnetometer readings rising.[/FONT]” A single entry ramp opened from the bottom center of the craft. The craft rises slightly to allow the small steps to lower. Mist spilled out of the entrance, glowing with a yellow light. “Let me know what’s inside there,” said Guppy. “I’m not going in.” Hammer sighed. “Guppy, we could really use your help in there.” Guppy crossed his arms. “You remember what happened last time. I’m not going in.” He hesitated. “For your own safety.” Hammer frowned and stepped inside, with Jim-Bean and Archive close behind. Inside was a low-ceiling interior made of a soft red-brown adobe-like material. It was carefully and ergonomically shaped. The ceilings were gracefully arched and the corridors serpentine and smooth. The floors were made of a shiny black material which under close scrutiny was covered in tiny green and purple writing. Every square foot of the ceiling was covered in tiny sigils. “You seen one of these before?” asked Jim-Bean. “Yeah,” said Hammer. “It looked exactly like this. In fact, I’m starting to think this is the same one.” They passed through a peculiar tunnel with patterned walls. It was clear the ship was much larger on the outside than on the inside. Corridors wound more than thirty feet and opened into large rooms that were somehow all jammed with in the tiny craft. “How could you even tell?” asked Jim-Bean. “Maybe everything they make looks the same?” They made their way to what looked like an engine room. A row of inert boxes were about knee high. In the center of the room were strange symbols. A single platform flanked by flimsy bars acted as an elevator of sorts to the next level up. “Guppy!” shouted Hammer. “Get in here!” Guppy sounded very far away. A few seconds later he jogged in, his gaze intently focused on Hammer only. “They’re trying to blow the door.” “Concentrate on the ship for a moment,” said Hammer. “What does this look like?” Guppy hesitated, then started looking around at what passed for the ship’s engine. He ran his cistron over a few mechanisms. “This is an N-fusion drive,” he said. “It uses hydrogen as fuel, scooping it up as it goes along.” “So it’s safe to say humans didn’t build this?” asked Jim-Bean. “No humans I know,” said Guppy. “It normally takes one million degrees to power something like this.” He was starting to talk faster, overcoming his fear. “Plus, this craft isn’t capable of interstellar speed.” “So where did it come from?” asked Hammer. “A bigger ship,” said Guppy. They took the elevator up. There were panels on one wall lit by silhouettes of different creatures; some recognizable, others utterly alien in appearance. In one corner was a glass tube with what looks like a frozen armadillo. Another was a similarly shaped human-sized chamber, although it was not currently occupied. Guppy’s eyes turned to slits. “I remember that chamber.” “What’s it for—“ began Jim-Bean, but Hammer cut him off with a shake of his head. “Oh, right.” “What do you think of these symbols?” Hammer prodded, pointing at one octagonal wall. One table was covered in a forest of protruding crystals, while one octagonal wall had a series of odd symbols identifying a variety of buttons. “I recognize these symbols!” exclaimed Archive, who hadn’t felt particularly useful until that very moment. “The symbol matches the Nazca lines of an ancient astronaut, which are huge lines in Peru that can only be seen from the air.” “Can you translate them?” asked Hammer. Archive nodded. “The symbols are similar to a language known as Aklo, which has appeared in the ancient pyramid of Tepanapa in Cholula.” He tapped a few keys on his cistron. “I think I can…here we go.” Weird, winged cylinders with starfish like protrusions on the top and bottom floated through space towards a planet. Then they surged towards it like dolphins diving deeper into the water. “[FONT="Courier New"]The creatures from beyond came to Earth to live under the sea, at first for food and later for other purposes,[/font]” said a mechanical voice. “[FONT="Courier New"]It was there that they first created earth life—using available substances according to long-known methods. The more elaborate experiments came after the annihilation of various cosmic enemies. They had done the same thing on other planets, having manufactured not only necessary foods, but certain multi-cellular protoplasmic masses capable of molding their tissues into all sorts of temporary organs under hypnotic influence and thereby forming ideal slaves to perform the heavy work of the community, known as shoggoths.[/FONT]” Silhouettes appeared on the screen as the cistron and the ship’s computer interacted. Weird, pulpy forms made of eyes, mouths, and tentacles oozed onto the screen. “[FONT="Courier New"]When they had synthesized their simple food forms and bred a good supply of shoggoths, they allowed other cell groups to develop into other forms of animal and vegetable life for sundry purposes, extirpating any whose presence became troublesome. These vertebrates, as well as an infinity of other life forms—animal and vegetable, marine, terrestrial, and aerial—were the products of unguided evolution acting on life cells made by the Old Ones, but escaping beyond their radius of attention.[/FONT]” Silhouettes of small rodent-like vermin skittered onto the screen. Evolution sped up as each version of the rodent was advanced by millennia, becoming more bipedal… “[FONT="Courier New"]They had been suffered to develop unchecked because they had not come in conflict with the dominant beings. Bothersome forms, of course, were mechanically exterminated.[/FONT]” Some of the very last images depicted a shambling, primitive mammal, used sometimes for food and sometimes as an amusing buffoon, whose vaguely simian and human foreshadowing were unmistakable. “Wait…is that thing saying what I think it’s saying?” asked Jim-Bean. “That humanity is a mistake,” Guppy said tersely. “That’s all we are. An accident.” Sensing the tension in the room, Hammer urged them onwards to what looked like a bridge. It was strangely devoid of chairs of any sort. In the center of the room was a single console made of the same black stone-like material that the floor was composed of. It was covered in a complex array of sigils. “Let’s see what this does!” Jim-Bean tapped a sigil. A row of red beams fired out in a straight line from the ship, cutting through some equipment in the warehouse like butter. “Don’t touch that!” shouted Guppy. “You have no idea what it does!” Jim-Bean withdrew his hand from the sigils. “We could use this to escape! Now are you going to get us out of here oh mighty mission leader or what?” After a moment of indecision, Guppy pushed Jim-Bean aside and tapped a sigil. The ship began to power up, shuddering as it lifted a few feet above the ground. Guppy tapped another sigil. A symbol appeared on the screen. GNN footage played: war footage, a news broadcast, coverage of a gas shortage, and news about the upcoming election. It ended with the same symbol, which looked like a an odd boxy humanoid with a square for a head, two long triangles for arms, and two short triangles for feet. Three concentric circles were in its abdomen. “Is that supposed to be us?” asked Jim-Bean. Archive nodded. “Yes. That’s Aklo for human.” The screen flickered. Computer analysis of power plants and military complexes flashed by, all narrated in a buzzing language that was offensive to the ears. “What is that all about?” asked Jim-Bean. “Landing zones,” said Archive breathlessly. “I think—“ The screen was interrupted. The buzzing voice rose and began repeating. A dot appeared on the screen, with concentric circles emanating from it. Another dot was moving towards the dot in the center. “What the hell is that?” asked Hammer. Guppy tapped more sigils. The view of the warehouse outside the saucer turned a transparent green. They were able to see beyond the doors. “What happened to the guards?” asked Hammer. “Maybe we scared them off?” theorized Archive. “No, it’s something else,” said Hammer. “They know something.” Guppy pointed at the screen. “Look!” The x-ray view of the warehouse blurred as the ship’s surveillance systems zoomed in on the image of a jetliner. Several boxes of something within the belly of the jetliner pinged along with the buzzing voice. It was heading right towards them. “Is that jet carrying…explosives?” asked Jim-Bean. Then the plane hit. [/QUOTE]
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