Fwurg

[Mercury]

A joint-research facility in Sector 16 -4, created as part of a bi-lateral treaty between the Confederacy of Excaria and the Holy Heimgolian Theocracy, was destroyed in a large explosion when an experiment failed catastrophically. Excarian investigators determined that a single vessel detached from the research station moments before the explosion.

The ships hyperdrive signature was tracked to the ocean world of U2B-J'bey'q in Sector 18 -4. Your mission is to go to U2B-J'bey'q and bring whomever left that station in for questioning. If they stole any research, this is to be recovered as well.

Below is an archived image from the planet, demonstrating its wide volcanic activity, which makes most of the surface uninhabitable. For this reason, we suspect there may be a need to enter the worlds ocean. It is recommended that breathing equipment is brought on this mission.

((OOC: This mission is recommended for higher level Jedi.

The reward is 3 xp if successful or 2 xp if the mission is not completed successfully.

Posting frequency is 2x per week and I will post (generally) on Mondays and Thursdays. If you have not posted by then, I may continue without you to keep pace.

The mission has room for up to 3 Jedi.))

[Fecta Trigiel]

"This sounds like an important mission, I'm in."

[Shebi Ajava]

Shebi Ajava indicates her interest in this mission.

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana understands that such an act can not go unpunished. " I am willing to join this mission to aprehend the responsible."

[Mercury]

((OOC: Sign-ups close this Friday at midnight. I will pick from those who signed up in the fairest way I can.))

[Mercury]

((OOC: This mission will include Trigiel, Ajava and Ariana.))

[Mercury]

Travelling through hyperspace was mostly uninteresting, with the final jump under way, the ship would soon be arriving above U2B-J'bey'q. From there, the Jedi would most likely have to scan for anything out of the ordinary in order to know where to go, as the hyperdrive trail could not be traced to any specific location on the planet.

((OOC: With your opening post, please provide a list of the equipment you are bringing.))

[Fecta Trigiel]

Trigiel made sure his cyborg body was up to speed to resist the hostile environment of the planet. He also double checked his life support system to make sure he was able to stay for a long time under water.

He was thinking to build in a water jet engine, but refrained himself to do so as this would be impractical for several reasons. Instead, he made attachment points on his legs for water jet engines he collected from Quartermaster Nishra. Then he used his skills to make his lightsaber water proof.

((OOC: Build in

• sensitive optics (infra red, ultra violet, night sight zoom function)
• comm link (So no direct speech is needed)

Carrying

• Two tonfa handled lightsabers (in arm pockets)
• A grappling hook 40 ft/ 14 m (Left leg compartment)
• A gun for under water/harpoon
• Water jet engines which can be mounted on the legs

))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana went to the quartermaster for additional equipment such as a breather and a pair of flippers. When she was there she also arranged making her lightsabers waterproof or replacing them with a pair of waterproof ones.

((OOC: Equipment for Ariana.

• Dagger blade and regular blade lightsabers with short handles (waterproof)
• Communication pad (A very advanced touchscreen computer device for communication and interfacing with larger systems)
• Aerodynamic Backpack (containing First Aid Kit, Engineers Kit and the communication pad), worn
• A wireless communicator headset, worn
• Custom-made Praetorian space-suit with boosters.
• Aquata breather
• Pair of flippers

))

[Shebi Ajava]

As has became her regular habit, Shebi Ajava visisted quartermaster Nishra before the mission. Also, as usual, she made sure to have memorized the necessary equipment, instead of having it written down. She made sure to ask for a long-duration rebreather and a driver propulsion vehicle, after having read the mission description.

She also went to the workshop to create custom components and compounds to waterproof her lightsabers. ((Check: 12 = 8 Force Level + 3 Reason + 1 Lightsaber Construction -- waterproofing lightsabers))

((OOC: Equipment:

• Her lightsabers, Talavāra and Katāra (newly waterproofed)
• Her composite recurve bow, with 35 durasteel-tipped arrows
• A wireless communicator headset, worn
• Form-fitting wetsuit (with belt and equipment attachment points) + pair of flippers
• A small Driver Propulsion Vehicle,
• Military-grade rebreather variant of the A99 Aquata Breather which allows for extended periods of underwater breathing

))

[Mercury]

Trigiel, Ariana and Ajava each strapped on their equipment, ready for action as the ship took orbit over U2B-J'bey'q. Scanning the entire planet, the ships computers soon reported that the surface contained very little except hot lava, warm lava and cooled lava, plus ashes and volcano's.

Scans of the planets ocean revealed it to be a water-ocean with large sulphide deposits. Three locations drew interest: a continuous geyser springing forth from the ocean waters reaching more than two hundred meters in height near the equator, a structure near the northern pole that looked to be artificial, though it was partially covered by solidified magma. Finally there was an exotic matter reading in a deep part of the ocean on the northern hemisphere.

The air on the planet read as a Type II atmosphere, due to toxic gasses. The computer warned that locally the toxic gasses were much worse, reaching up to lethal levels in clouds pumped out of active volcano's.

[Shebi Ajava]

"I propose that we start at the north pole. They geyser seems to be a natural phenomenon. If they landed near the structure, we might not detect them at the moment due to interference. The exotic matter reading is deep underwater, which will make it difficult for them to try and flee again. So, if they are at the structure we can possibly detect them fleeing, but if we are deep underwater we have no such chance."

She quickly asked "Can one of you rig the shuttle to continuously scan for other vessels and bleep us on our communicator when it detects something?"

"Regardless of where we start, Ariana and I should connect telepathically. It will allow us to communicate even if our communicators fail." ((Check: 15 = 8 Force Level + 5 Energy + 2 Telepathy -- Telepathic connection ritual))

After the ritual, Ajava made sure that her rebreather was ready for use in non-water substances as well. She remembers the A99 Aquata to be usable in toxic gasses or even space, though it wouldn't hold out as long and needed recharging.

((OOC: I checked the toxic gas protection when selecting the A99 Aquata ^_^))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana joins Shebi Ajava in the telepathy ritual.

After the ritual she starts looking at the scanner console.

"I agree with starting near the north pole. I will program the ships computer to continuously scan for other vessels and life forms in the structure. It will ping us when it has results.

Could you prepare my Breather as well?"

((Check: 14 = 6 Force Level + 6 Reason + 2 Programming -- Programming the ships computer to continuously scan for enemy vessels and start scanning the structure once we are in range.))

[Fecta Trigiel]

"Communications failure, when does that happen?" Trigiel didn't sound to serious about it.

"I agree to start with the artificial structure before it is swallowed in it's entirety by magma.

R4-G6, keep scanning the area for vessels, and warn us in case of any event." Trigiel said to their Astromech droid.

((OOC: I assume we have an astromech droid, as this is something Star Wars ships often have.))

[Mercury]

((OOC: I will allow the astromech droid this time, but next time you want one, best put it on your equipment list. Astromech droids are not as intelligent or as skilled as R2D2, who is a complete oddball.))

Ariana and Shebi, united in their distrust of technology, connected telepathically to exchange their thoughts. Once the ritual had concluded, Ariana got to work on programming the computer, easily setting it to scan for vessels and life-forms. The ship was not made for this type of work though - if a vessel dropped out of hyperspace on the other side of the planet or if the life-forms were deep inside the structure or in shielded area's, they would not be warned of that.

Flying to the north pole, the shuttle gave an overview of the area. There were ice plates and basalt rock with magma flowing in various places and lodged between this fire-and-ice was a stone and metal structure, complete with a landing pad that had been partially covered with solidified magma. It looked like it had been here a while and suffered from some decay, but considering the forces of nature in this area of the planet, it was already quite remarkable that the building was still standing, let alone mostly intact.

Sensors showed the atmosphere in the area reading lethal levels of sulphur dioxide and various other toxic volcano chemicals: one breath and you'd be incapacitated. A second, and you'd be dead.

((OOC: Take note of this warning.))

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava checks Ariana's breather as well, at the Praetorian's request.

"To be honest, with these readings, I don't look forward to actually walking around over there. My rebreather doesn't cover my face, and these levels of toxins aren't going to be stopped by my skin. We might be able to use emergency space suits, if this vessel carries any... It's a shame I didn't bring an enviro-suit."

Ajava quickly checks if the vessel has any emergency space suits, or at least emergency breathing gear. If it works in space, it will probably work to keep out toxic gasses as well, and her normal armour would at least offer some protection for her skin.

"I think we'd better start by flying over there and scanning from close by. If we can't see any signs of a ship or landing gear on the pad, we might as well start underwater."

She then looked up.

"Trigiel, I haven't seen you pack anything even resembling breathing gear. If you don't need air, it might be good if we land there and you do a quick survey of the landing pad and the entrance for signs of use? I'll hover the ship while you look around, that way we won't land on any previous markings..."

If the others agree, Ajava would take the helm.

((Check: 13 = 8 Force Level + 5 Intuition -- If needed: Flying the ship over to the structure, and hovering next to the landing pad with the air-lock towards the pad))

[Ariana Danacia]

"I did bring my space-suit. With such a dangerous planet I knew it could be useful. I agree with thoroughly scanning the place first. I will stay on the scanners for now."

((Check: 14 = 6 Force Level + 6 Reason + 2 Programming -- Scanning the structure from up close, looking for life signs.))

[Fecta Trigiel]

((OOC: I wanted the Astromech droid for the typical 'keep en eye out' stuff what droids do in star wars. So no fancy stuff. I thought it to be more Star Wars like to give a droid the order to scan than to program a ship.))

"My life support system can sustain me for some time. I made it up to speed to resist the hostile environment, so I should be able to hold on for a while.

Drop me off, I can survey the site."

Trigiel entered the air lock and calmly let the atmosphere change. He carefully keeps track on his systems to immediately reverse the flushing sequence if for some reason his durasteel body wasn't resistant.

If everything went okay, he looked for a good place to land and jumped out of the ship to land there. He walked towards the site and carefully looked around for any signs while taking care not to walk in lava pits or geysers or other hazardous conditions.

((Check: 11 = 6 Force Level + 5 Vision -- Looking around for clues and not walking to his death.))

[Mercury]

The ship did not carry a full complement of emergency space suits, but it did have one, which would fit either Ajava or Trigiel - badly - but which would not accomodate Ariana's body shape. Ariana's breather worked fine regardless.

Ajava could easily manoeuver the spacecraft to their destination as Ariana scanned for life signs, though she did not pick up anything - the heat from the volcanic activity in the area made it impossible to pick up heat signatures and messed with sensors. An up close inspection would be necessary, but Ariana did find a perfect space to safely land, as well as a safe route to an entrance that would allow them entry into the compound once they had landed. ((OOC: You cannot use programming to scan things, but your result is high enough even without it))

Being a cyborg, Trigiels body could withstand the toxic conditions outside more easily than the other two Jedi, but he too would need to be careful. The gasses were toxic and his biological parts were most sensitive to this and the toxic gasses could interact with the more complicated parts of his body to cause damage which could then result in further failures. Several warnings from his systems suggested he'd best not stay out in them too long - but he could last a few minutes, especially with Ariana's scans providing a safe route.

Jumping from the ship and moving towards the entrance Ariana had found, Trigiel discovered a door which opened upon detecting him. Inside was an airlock as well, so to head further, he'd have to close the outer door first. Through the small window in the door, he could see a hallway, badly lit by flickering lights. The place still had power.

[Fecta Trigiel]

"I see a door with an airlock and there is flickering light inside. I can't stay long outside so I'm going in. Keep the airlock available for if I run into trouble.

Wait, I'm going to knock first."

Trigiel waited an appropriate amount of time for his companions to answer, before knocking on the hull. *Knock* *knock* "Anybody home?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"Roger. I'll set down the ship on the landing site Ariana found."

((Check: 13 = 8 Force Level + 5 Intuition -- Landing; not sure about Intuition as check...))

[Ariana Danacia]

"I will start suiting up just to be sure."

Ariana puts on her space-suit and moves into the airlock of their ship to be ready to support Trigiel when he requires it. She waits there for confirmation.

[Mercury]

((OOC: The landing is easy. approved))

Trigiels knock was unanswered as Shebi successfully set the ship down. If there was anyone, they weren't responding to the knocking and calling. The landing ramp by the airlock went down, allowing Shebi and Ariana to easily exit the vessel.

With his knocking unsuccessful, Trigiel analysed the door, finding it was not very difficult to open. Whomever set this place up had anticipated the potential of lethal poisonous gasses and had added an option switch that allowed direct access to go inside. It would however trigger an alarm if it was used.

Alternatively, Trigiel could cut the door open with a lightsaber in a few quick swipes or use explosives. The door was not very thick and if used in the appropriate location, this would not trigger the alarm, however anyone who later visited the door would know someone had come in. Finally, he could use his slicing skill to hook up a datapad to the pannel and hack his way in. That would not leave any traces, nor set off any alarms, but it would take some time and be more difficult than the other solutions.

((OOC: You mentioned wanting to go inside, but as there may be consequences or checks for the various options, so I decided to offer options first before autoing you into a situation you might not want to be in.))

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava checked the emergency suit and concluded that, although she didn't like it, she was not going to wear that as a single layer. So, she quickly donned the wetsuit she brought, and pulled the emergency space suit over it. After attaching her belt and ligthsabers on the outside of the suit, she was ready to go outside.

She joins Ariana in the airlock, so they could quickly move out if Trigiel calls for assistance. If he opens up the building, she would join him in entering it.

[Fecta Trigiel]

"There is no response. I could just enter the airlock, but this will trigger an alarm. I don't know if this alarm would send a signal to the outside as well, and thus alerting our presence here. I believe the door can be hacked to open without setting of all kinds of jingles and bells, but I don't have any skills for that.

Ariana, maybe you can hack the door open with a datapad?" Trigiel said over the comm link.