Lt. Ryden Sylvax - Testing Your Perimeter
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Ryden Kel
May 25, 2026, 4:49:43 PM (6 days ago) May 25
to sb11...@googlegroups.com
Leda’s agreement eased some of the tension Ryden had been carrying
since the report arrived, though not enough to quiet the lingering
sense that they were still only seeing part of the situation.
The elder folded the tablet behind her back as she spoke, her tone
steadier now that the negotiation had shifted into action.
Leda: Of course. I’ll provide all the information I can about these
creatures. We can also offer you transportation down to the planet as
well, or give you beaming parameters. Drakos Prime has roving
antimatter storms that can make transporting a challenge without
proper calibration.
Ryden filed that away immediately. Antimatter storms complicated more
than transport. Scans, communications, emergency extraction—all of it
became less reliable planetside.
Ivalyan: We’ll take whatever you recommend. You know the surface
better than we do.
Willow: Your assistance is greatly appreciated. We will gladly take
you on that offer
Ryden gave a small nod of agreement.
Sylvax: If the storms are as unstable as you’re suggesting, I’d rather
rely on local experience than confidence.
A faint hint of dry humor touched his tone.
Sylvax: The universe tends to punish people who mistake those two
things for the same thing.
Leda: We have a forward camp on the planet and we’ve been conducting
regular excursions into the cave system - as much as we can, anyway.
As a show of good faith for your generous offer, I’ll accompany you
down to the surface to help get you oriented. I assume you have
preparations you’d like to make first? What else can I tell you before
we leave?
Ryden felt another subtle emotional shift from the elder at the
mention of the caves. Controlled this time. Deliberately controlled.
Willow: It is true that we will have preparations we would want to
make before starting out. I have a store of weapons I would like to
access. However, until then I do have several questions to which you
could answer.
Ivalyan: :: eyes on Leda:: Tell us about the fear. Not the creatures
specifically. The part that keeps the excursions going even when they
stop going well.
Ryden glanced briefly toward Ivalyan after the question landed. It was
perceptive. More perceptive than most people fresh from the Academy
tended to be.
He watched Leda carefully, curious which part of the question the
elder would choose to answer.
Sylvax: People usually stop returning to dangerous places once the
cost outweighs the reward.
His gaze remained steady on Leda.
Sylvax: So whatever’s down there... matters to you enough that you
keep trying anyway.
Leda: ?
Willow: In order to conduct our extraction of the pests from the cave
system, it would be ideal for any and all information you have
regarding them.
Ivalyan: ::nodding once:: Numbers, behavior, territory if you have it.
We’d rather know too much than walk in blind.
Ryden folded his arms loosely as the practical discussion resumed. The
mission itself was beginning to solidify now—less negotiation, more
preparation.
Sylvax: And anything unusual.
A small pause followed.
Sylvax: Changes in behavior. Environmental effects. Patterns you
couldn’t explain.
He kept his tone casual enough, though inwardly he remained focused on
the inconsistencies surrounding the situation.
Sylvax: Sometimes the details people dismiss are the ones that get
someone killed later.
Leda: ?
Willow: Any information that we can reference while we prepare would
be ideal - greatly appreciated.
Ivalyan: ::quietly, still watching Leda:: Whatever you give us, we’ll
use it carefully. You’re coming down with us. We’d like to make sure
you come back up.
The statement lingered in the room for a moment longer than expected.
Ryden noticed the subtle reaction that passed through several nearby
Temurians—surprise first, then something quieter. Respect, perhaps.
The idea that outsiders would concern themselves with Leda’s safety
seemed to land differently here.
Somewhere deeper in the settlement, machinery cycled loudly through a
reset sequence. The familiar high-pitched chirp echoed briefly through
the chamber before fading back into the constant industrial hum.
Ryden let the silence settle before speaking again.
Sylvax: We’ll gather our equipment and meet you at the forward camp.
His eyes remained on Leda.
Sylvax: And once we’re there... I’d appreciate seeing the cave system
for myself before anyone starts making assumptions about what’s living
in it.
((OOC: I am going to jump us ahead))
((Drakos Prime - Outside Cave System))
The transport down to Drakos Prime was rougher than Ryden expected.
Even inside the aging Temurian shuttle, he could feel the antimatter
storms interfering with stabilizers as the craft shuddered repeatedly
during descent. Outside the narrow viewport, streaks of violet and
pale blue lightning twisted through dense cloud formations,
illuminating jagged mountain ridges below in brief, violent flashes.
By the time they finally touched down near the forward camp, the
entire shuttle groaned in protest.
The surface of Drakos Prime felt harsher than the asteroid settlement
above. Bitter wind tore across the rocky terrain, carrying fine ice
crystals through the air while towering cliffs rose around the landing
zone like dark teeth. In the distance, half-hidden beneath layers of
frost and shadow, Ryden could make out the mouth of the cave system.
Large. Far larger than he had expected.
He stepped down from the shuttle slowly, eyes tracking across the
surrounding terrain while the cold immediately bit through the outer
layers of his civilian jacket.
And beneath the wind... Something else.
A faint unease pressed at the edge of his awareness... not sharp
enough to alarm him, but present enough that he instinctively slowed
his breathing. The caves ahead felt wrong in a way he could not yet
fully explain.
Sylvax: Those storms weren’t exaggerating.
Leda/Ivalyan/Willow: ?
Ryden crouched briefly near a series of deep grooves carved into the
ground several meters from the camp perimeter. His brow furrowed
slightly as gloved fingers brushed along the edge of one mark.
Too large to be equipment damage.
Sylvax: These aren’t territorial markings. ::He straightened slowly.::
Something’s hunting out here.
Leda/Ivalyan/Willow: ?
The forward camp itself sat partially built into the rocky hillside
nearby... portable shelters, damaged floodlights, defensive barricades
assembled quickly rather than carefully. Ryden immediately noticed
scorch marks across one of the outer generator units and what looked
suspiciously like claw damage along a collapsed storage crate.
Not the aftermath of a simple pest problem. His eyes drifted back
toward the cave entrance again as distant wind echoed hollowly from
somewhere deep inside.
Sylvax: Whatever lives in there... ::A small pause followed.:: t’s
been testing your perimeter already.
Leda/Ivalyan/Willow: ?
Ryden adjusted the strap of the equipment bag over one shoulder, gaze
fixed on the darkness ahead.
Sylvax: Let’s hope it’s as interested in staying hidden as we are.
Leda/Ivalyan/Willow: ?
-----
Lieutenant Ryden Sylvax
Chief Medical Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240109RK1
since the report arrived, though not enough to quiet the lingering
sense that they were still only seeing part of the situation.
The elder folded the tablet behind her back as she spoke, her tone
steadier now that the negotiation had shifted into action.
Leda: Of course. I’ll provide all the information I can about these
creatures. We can also offer you transportation down to the planet as
well, or give you beaming parameters. Drakos Prime has roving
antimatter storms that can make transporting a challenge without
proper calibration.
Ryden filed that away immediately. Antimatter storms complicated more
than transport. Scans, communications, emergency extraction—all of it
became less reliable planetside.
Ivalyan: We’ll take whatever you recommend. You know the surface
better than we do.
Willow: Your assistance is greatly appreciated. We will gladly take
you on that offer
Ryden gave a small nod of agreement.
Sylvax: If the storms are as unstable as you’re suggesting, I’d rather
rely on local experience than confidence.
A faint hint of dry humor touched his tone.
Sylvax: The universe tends to punish people who mistake those two
things for the same thing.
Leda: We have a forward camp on the planet and we’ve been conducting
regular excursions into the cave system - as much as we can, anyway.
As a show of good faith for your generous offer, I’ll accompany you
down to the surface to help get you oriented. I assume you have
preparations you’d like to make first? What else can I tell you before
we leave?
Ryden felt another subtle emotional shift from the elder at the
mention of the caves. Controlled this time. Deliberately controlled.
Willow: It is true that we will have preparations we would want to
make before starting out. I have a store of weapons I would like to
access. However, until then I do have several questions to which you
could answer.
Ivalyan: :: eyes on Leda:: Tell us about the fear. Not the creatures
specifically. The part that keeps the excursions going even when they
stop going well.
Ryden glanced briefly toward Ivalyan after the question landed. It was
perceptive. More perceptive than most people fresh from the Academy
tended to be.
He watched Leda carefully, curious which part of the question the
elder would choose to answer.
Sylvax: People usually stop returning to dangerous places once the
cost outweighs the reward.
His gaze remained steady on Leda.
Sylvax: So whatever’s down there... matters to you enough that you
keep trying anyway.
Leda: ?
Willow: In order to conduct our extraction of the pests from the cave
system, it would be ideal for any and all information you have
regarding them.
Ivalyan: ::nodding once:: Numbers, behavior, territory if you have it.
We’d rather know too much than walk in blind.
Ryden folded his arms loosely as the practical discussion resumed. The
mission itself was beginning to solidify now—less negotiation, more
preparation.
Sylvax: And anything unusual.
A small pause followed.
Sylvax: Changes in behavior. Environmental effects. Patterns you
couldn’t explain.
He kept his tone casual enough, though inwardly he remained focused on
the inconsistencies surrounding the situation.
Sylvax: Sometimes the details people dismiss are the ones that get
someone killed later.
Leda: ?
Willow: Any information that we can reference while we prepare would
be ideal - greatly appreciated.
Ivalyan: ::quietly, still watching Leda:: Whatever you give us, we’ll
use it carefully. You’re coming down with us. We’d like to make sure
you come back up.
The statement lingered in the room for a moment longer than expected.
Ryden noticed the subtle reaction that passed through several nearby
Temurians—surprise first, then something quieter. Respect, perhaps.
The idea that outsiders would concern themselves with Leda’s safety
seemed to land differently here.
Somewhere deeper in the settlement, machinery cycled loudly through a
reset sequence. The familiar high-pitched chirp echoed briefly through
the chamber before fading back into the constant industrial hum.
Ryden let the silence settle before speaking again.
Sylvax: We’ll gather our equipment and meet you at the forward camp.
His eyes remained on Leda.
Sylvax: And once we’re there... I’d appreciate seeing the cave system
for myself before anyone starts making assumptions about what’s living
in it.
((OOC: I am going to jump us ahead))
((Drakos Prime - Outside Cave System))
The transport down to Drakos Prime was rougher than Ryden expected.
Even inside the aging Temurian shuttle, he could feel the antimatter
storms interfering with stabilizers as the craft shuddered repeatedly
during descent. Outside the narrow viewport, streaks of violet and
pale blue lightning twisted through dense cloud formations,
illuminating jagged mountain ridges below in brief, violent flashes.
By the time they finally touched down near the forward camp, the
entire shuttle groaned in protest.
The surface of Drakos Prime felt harsher than the asteroid settlement
above. Bitter wind tore across the rocky terrain, carrying fine ice
crystals through the air while towering cliffs rose around the landing
zone like dark teeth. In the distance, half-hidden beneath layers of
frost and shadow, Ryden could make out the mouth of the cave system.
Large. Far larger than he had expected.
He stepped down from the shuttle slowly, eyes tracking across the
surrounding terrain while the cold immediately bit through the outer
layers of his civilian jacket.
And beneath the wind... Something else.
A faint unease pressed at the edge of his awareness... not sharp
enough to alarm him, but present enough that he instinctively slowed
his breathing. The caves ahead felt wrong in a way he could not yet
fully explain.
Sylvax: Those storms weren’t exaggerating.
Leda/Ivalyan/Willow: ?
Ryden crouched briefly near a series of deep grooves carved into the
ground several meters from the camp perimeter. His brow furrowed
slightly as gloved fingers brushed along the edge of one mark.
Too large to be equipment damage.
Sylvax: These aren’t territorial markings. ::He straightened slowly.::
Something’s hunting out here.
Leda/Ivalyan/Willow: ?
The forward camp itself sat partially built into the rocky hillside
nearby... portable shelters, damaged floodlights, defensive barricades
assembled quickly rather than carefully. Ryden immediately noticed
scorch marks across one of the outer generator units and what looked
suspiciously like claw damage along a collapsed storage crate.
Not the aftermath of a simple pest problem. His eyes drifted back
toward the cave entrance again as distant wind echoed hollowly from
somewhere deep inside.
Sylvax: Whatever lives in there... ::A small pause followed.:: t’s
been testing your perimeter already.
Leda/Ivalyan/Willow: ?
Ryden adjusted the strap of the equipment bag over one shoulder, gaze
fixed on the darkness ahead.
Sylvax: Let’s hope it’s as interested in staying hidden as we are.
Leda/Ivalyan/Willow: ?
-----
Lieutenant Ryden Sylvax
Chief Medical Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240109RK1
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