Conflicting Objectives XIV
- How many spots like that did you mark on the way?
As the group continued walking, others were interested in the route John chose for them. This moment in time, it was Martin who asked the question.
- There is total of seven such places - Marlow replied - And the last panel, just close to the finish, also has unusual readings, but these are actually quite similar to what we were getting from this liquid, morphable metal, so I hope there will be a reaction when we touch it once we get there.
Johnson was listening carefully to his friend, and was now scratching his head, obviously thinking of something.
- It means there can be some kind of interface built in this last panel you mentioned. If so, then we are talking about some kind of a system, but what is it used for?
John shrugged at first, then followed up on the topic Martin brought up:
- I would like to think this is actually part of controls used for positioning the panels since before these appeared here, this whole area was open with completely no walls around. If we got access to such an interface, it would make everything much easier for us.
- Yet, you keep saying this in a way that sounds as if everything was just an assumption - Alina pointed out - Are you sceptical for any particular reason?
- Indeed. After all, I thought we should aim for the spot where Jackie was, and if the actual control system is elsewhere, I wonder how many different interfaces are around. This is just another complication for us, and we all know it takes time to investigate such devices.
- Yeah, and that's why I started this topic - said Johnson - Maybe if we brainstorm a bit, we may came up with possible ideas about functionality of this potential interface. It can be that it's not even connected to these special panels, and these are part of some other system, or their properties are used towards something else.
Marlow scratched his head.
- Given the consistent readings for heat emission and other data I have, something like that could be used for energy transmission, and I believe that's precisely what you would be thinking, Martin.
- Well, you are not wrong here - Johnson confirmed - It would definitely make sense. On the other hand, what's the thing it's powering here? Thus, I wonder, maybe it's just some kind of transmitter? Or what if these walls are actually individual devices used for something?
John nodded.
- It's all possible. What we need is running tests on these, but I would rather do that only after we ensure the area is safe. For now, we already had one incident, which is not bad when I remembered what I've seen during this whole expedition, and yet, I don't feel confident about taking such an additional step, not unless we have no other option.
They continued talking about a number of possible applications for objects showing similar behavior until the group reached the second suspicious panel. This time, Marlow already had the cane ready in his hand to check around - after repeating the procedure, there was no reaction, same as with the first panel.
- So it's safe again? - Alina was looking at the panel with suspicion - It kinda feels we are wasting time worrying about it.
- Would you rather just head in without thinking? - Martin asked her.
The woman shook her head.
- No, just pointing out how it feels, not that I don't get the point of doing this either way.
With that, the second mysterious spot was passed without incidents, and the group continued going forward.
Strangely enough, considering all of the dangers they faced on this planet, and - for those who got underground last time - within this alien facility, this felt as a calm stroll rather than investigation of unknow installation.
However, using such circumstances, whenever there was no significant interference, John would attempt to capture readings on surroundings to map the area as thourougly as possible.
By the time they managed to reach the fifth peculiar panel, the data he gathered allowed Marlow to find out something interesting, even though it was only based on the readings he got from readings, because he could not get the visuals in a number of places due to obstructions, both artificial in the form of the panels which were errected during their first visit here and natural ones created by rock formation processes, ground movement and no maintanance this place supposedly had. Supposedly, as major noticed some traces that could suggest some automatic system was in place, though they never observed such activity with their own eyes.
Either way, the observation John made was so interesting that he could not help to tell others immediately.
- How could we not notice until now? - he said out loud after the simulation he did was completed - This indeed looks like a pyramid! You cannot see it from outside because it got buried due to natural activity, yet my simulation confirms it, there is no mistake.
- Even if it's the case, what does it mean for us? - Martin was not really excited about his friends finding.
Johnson could not be blamed for it - after all, Marlow brought up topic that had no real confirmation in scientific world, rather than that, was treated as a superstitious by many since no one could find a solid proof.
- There is this theory concerning energy transmition around pyramids on Earth, though never really confirmed - John started explaining - Of course, many tried to challenge this topic and did research, which even led to some sensors picking up intensive electromagnetic waves, but it was never proved this could be produced by a pyramid, and most theorized that the waves present in the atmosphere would just scatter because of the pyramid. Personally, I always thought the main problem was that we didn't really have a fully functional pyramid as all the ones we have on Earth are too damaged, missing some original materials, both external coating and interior. This one here, on the other hand, seems to be in much better shape, given some systems are still active. We may have an actual example of this device being still functional here.
- So, to put things in short, this is indeed a part of some energy generation system? - Johnson smiled, while saying that - Turns out my gut feeling could have been right then.
John nodded.
- I never said you were wrong. It's quite a possible scenario, which we need to verify before saying something was the case. The thing is, as I've already mentioned, Earth's pyramids are devastated so no one figured out how the outer layers were exactly constructed and what kind of interior did these have in their prime. Because of that, experiments done through years produced zero positive results, only failures. However, these energy veins I found, and the structure of this place...
- Sorry to interrupt you guys, but I believe you should see it - it was Alina who said that, stopping just by one of the panels walls were made of, and pointing at something they could not see at first.
- How did it end up here? - Marlow crouched to check the metal parts lying on the ground next to the panel - I left it just by the end of the route, hoping it would be safe there, but now we are down to the last drone with no idea what happened.
- Well, it's a severe damage - Johnson started checking the parts next to his friend - It's literally torn apart, though I cannot see any traces here.
As the two were picking up all the leftover parts, as these could be useful in future, sarge Krawczak spoke:
- Major, can you have a look here? Did you notice it here before?
John stood up and looked at the spot Andy was pointing, high above them - what he noticed was a series of glyphs similar to what he alread saw when investigating with Keira.
- That's weird, the drone didn't pick these up when passing through - he said as he turned on the app miss Evergate prepared for reading the alien language - "This area should remain closed" is what I got from the translation, though not sure if Keira's app is that precise.
- So, wait, is this just some kind of warning message? - Martin sounded disappointed - They could've at least provided more details like why it should stay closed.
- I was expecting this to be something more interesting - Alina sighed - I guess we are going to ignore it, right?
- Yes, backing off at such moment doesn't work for us - Marlow replied - Though I'm curious about this warning, so if any of you notices glyphs elsewhere, report immediately.
Others nodded in unison, and the group continued moving forward.
Surprisingly, as they were walking, everyone started regularly pointing at glyphs appearing on the walls here and there.
- Not sure if it's only me - Johnson was looking around, focusing his eyes on the glyphs - but it feels like these are intensifying with each next step we take. I wonder why it's only now that we are seeing these...
- It may be a type of an automatic system - said Marlow, who was already extra careful because of these peculiar messages - There is a chance it triggers only in close vicinity of the closed area or when panels pick up the biological signatures. Either way, if there is no translation error here, these are indeed warning about something important, possibly dangerous, so - even if we don't know the exact details - better not to underestimate the situation.
- I doubt anyone here is taking this lightly - Alina pointed out - The main problem is we have no idea why is this warning even appearing. Typical thing that worries people is usually the unknown.
- On the other hand, if we already knew what's awaiting us there, we wouldn't even need to investigate this installation in the very first place - John replied, and stopped suddenly - I don't recognize this spot - he started looking around, while scratching his head - It doesn't match the footage I have. It looks like the panels shifted and changed the route.
- What do we do now, major? - Andy asked after hearing the news - Should we retreat in this case?
Marlow spent a moment, collecting his thoughts, and ultimately shook his head.
- No, I don't think we are in the position to go back, even if we wanted to. Since the panels apparently moved in this area, it is quite likely other panels behind our backs could have moved too. Long story short, there is no guarantee going back would allow us to leave, and we also are nearly by the finish line so we have closer to the target than to the starting point. Moving forward is a safer bet.
- Given we can find that way forward - Martin commented - Are you confident this is possible at all?
- I don't think we really have another option that would make sense. I have the coordinates, which I'm planning to use to mark up alternative routes based on the current positions of the panels in the closest vicinity. Having said that, we will need this last drone to be used as a scout.
Johnson sighed, and took off the bot he was carrying on his back.
- It looks like things never go according to plan. I would love to have a calm day with no surprises once in a while.
- Weren't you the one who, at some point, said that a day without surprises is boring? - Marlow asked him, while tinkering with the drone.
- Yeah, but it was way before each day became such a surprise. It's the other way round now, getting into trouble daily feels like some kind of routine.
- Well, I'd also prefer to chill somewhere back on Earth, and yet, I'm here, looking for a way to complete the mission and go back.
Both men engaged in setting up the bot with such a chitchat, and were joined in the conversation by Alina.
- If I heard something like that a few weeks back, I would probably be of the same opinion, but after coming to this planet? I'm honestly surprised anyone would prefer to go back to such a dirty place like Earth. Okay, I get the convenience it offers if you earn well enough, but where on Earth can you have such an untouched nature like here?
- There are some - Andy pointed out - Hardly accessible though, either national parks or war zones.
Boskovitch pointed at him and nodded.
- Exactly that. You don't see nature like that on Earth anymore.
- Same as there are no gigantic predators capable of tearing you apart back on Earth - Martin made a remark on what she said - And I consider this to be a big advantage.
- On the other hand, you rarely have decent, clean air and the planet is severely overpopulated - Alina was not backing off her opinion - This New Gaia is a wild, dangerous place, but it's state means possibilities. And remember, you are hearing this from a person who lost someone precious here.
- Yes, Alina, you made your point - it was Marlow who said that - However, I would rather have everyone calm down and let me focus on establishing the link.
Others nodded in unison, knowing that processing required for connecting to various remote devices was heavy on the brain, therefore the person initiating a link needed focus.
John already had hours using similar appliances, so his organism was quite used to unusual sensation coming with such a connection, but - at the same moment - he had some time spent using the drone this very day, which could be additional strain that could negatively impact his control.
Either way, no one else withn the current group had similar experience, so it would have been unwise to delegate someone other than major to this task.
Fortunately, pairing did not fail and he gained visuals from the drone, though he could feel the machine was patched up using whatever they had at hand.
- Feels a bit clunky - he commented, doing small maneuvers withe the bot - Motors are less responsive than with the previous one.
- Well, excuse me, I did whatever I could with the parts we had - Martin replied, offended - If you are unhappy...
- I didn't say it to complain or point out you did something wrong. I know you did whatever you could, and I doubt I would have been able to do a better job here. It's mainly for all of you to be aware this is going to take longer as this one is likely to be much slower.
- I don't mind waiting longer if it means you find a way through.
Marlow was now fully focused on controlling the drone, and he could not really pay attention to anything aside from that due to the bot's shape - after a short moment from launch, and moving for a dozen or so meters, it turned out it is not only slower than fully operational one, but also the display stability was disrupted as it was missing a pair of legs and motors in remaining legs were not on one hundred percent. At times, the shaking was so abrupt he had to stop to avoid getting nauseous.
With such short stops, John identified a new corridor that appeared after the panels shifted, the only way leading towards the area he previously reached, though it required them to travel in the opposite direction temporarily, or - at least - he was moving the drone that way right now.
While having the machine walk around that way, its sensors were now picking up readings of the alien glyphs on subsequent panels, all of which composed of the same symbols.
Despite that, nothing was happening to the drone and Marlow ultimately led it pretty much to the point where he got with the previous bot. This time, however, he could not pinpoint the panel with unusual structure he believed to be an interface - instead, he noticed something that looked like an open passage that was not there before.
After finding what seemed to be a path, John started moving the machine closer to get a visual on the area. Then, meters from the spot that he considered an enter to the chamber they were looking for, a shrieking sound echoed in his head before he completely lost vision. The sensation Marlow felt in his head was so painful, he fell head-first on the ground.