Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick: Opulence
Mark P
(( Sphere Chamber , Alpha Brenkelvi II ))
Like the commander, Josh had gotten a bit swept up in this archaeological fact-finding expedition. While the random appearance of ghosts had been disconcerting, it had also given him a nudge to indulge his curiosity. But if there was another touchy-feely exercise with an orb, another crew member could have that privilege.
Now, he was standing in front of an archway with what seemed to be an activation switch set into the stone. As he reached out to press it, he felt pressure applied to his chest. As he looked left, he saw Maxwell’s face wearing an expression of genuine concern.
Maxwell: Hold up, sir. Might be best if you’re no stood within the arch when you press it.
Arlill: Good call, safe to assume they knew the safe way to operate these and we do not.
Etan: I would also advise prudence. We don’t want another tunnel collapse.
Herrick: ::stepping back:: Thanks, I should think before I leap… or push strange buttons.
Maxwell: Maybe I’m just paranoid, but those marks don’t look like regular wear and tear tae me.
The team took a deeper look at the marks that Maxwell had pointed out; one tile was more polished and reflected a bit more in the light of the VRDs.
Arlill: ::scanning the spot:: You’re right, there seems to be additional surface degradation on that stone, no doubt used more often. Good call Max.
Nodding, Maxwell lowered his rifle and moved himself behind Herrick; there to save the engineer at the first sign of trouble. Again, Josh appreciated the man’s inclusion on the away team; they were safer together as they explored the unknown.
Maxwell: Ready when you are, sir.
Etan: Proceed, Mr. Herrick. :: beat :: Carefully. :: he added a moment later with deliberate emphasis. ::
Herrick: oO Here goes nothing! Oo
Deciding it was better to not have skin-on-stone contact, he opened his kit and fished out a hyperspanner. Using it as a rod, he pushed the end of it against the square button. The square shape pushed in easily for a few centimeters, and then Josh met resistance at the end, paired with a single click.
Arlill: My ears are still recovering after our Esh-O encounter, I’m not hearing things right? You all heard that click.
Etan: I did. But… nothing happened?
Maxwell: No a thing
Herrick: Well, no thumping or strange hood people, I’ll take it.
Arlill: Is it possible this is a combination lock or puzzle?
Maxwell: It's a possibility right enough. How big a combination is another question.
Arlill: Well if that’s the case we need to find other stone switches and the order to press them. (beat) Commander, do you see any familiar ancient Bajoran symbols?
Etan: ::shaking his head:: I don’t.
Maxwell: Maxwell: I've nae a clue myself.
Herrick: (musing) Ridged noses, orbs, albeit circular versus hourglass shape, close approximations of ancient Bajoran…
Arlill: Wouldn’t that only mean that if this planet was seeded by the prophets that this planet evolved differently.
Josh tried to balance his thoughts based on the commander’s thoughts to not automatically go Bajor-mode.
Herrick: Or, as strange as it sounds, very similar circumstances. More powerful beings protecting and guiding a people… prophets adjacent?
Josh wondered what it must be like, knowing that the gods you worship had been proven to exist. Even before the wormhole had been discovered, the orbs were material evidence of more powerful beings — and now, it had become scientific fact that they existed — whether you called them prophets or aliens.
The away team continued to scan the collection of ancient symbols. They did uncover a number of stone switches and depressed them gently- but little happened. Josh had begun wondering if they were barking up the wrong tree, the buttons had some purpose but perhaps had become defunct to time. As he pushed another button, the engineer heard a click to the right.
Toxin had only been a short distance away, and as Josh turned to see the source of the sound, he saw several bricks falling away. The group became separated from the blue officer as the room rumbled and the chasm grew further.
Maxwell: ::throwing out an open hand:: Naebody move!
Etan: Lieutenant! :: he called out as a gyre opened between them and the room rumbled and shook ominously. :: Are you alright?!
Arlill: I’m ok, I’m still up here and not down there ::looking down::
The opening was only a few feet wide, but it was enough to pose a risk to life should Arlill miss his target and fall into the gap. Almost without warning, the ops officer made the jump across the chasm… and it looked like he was going to make it… and he almost did. As he tried to stick the landing, his body wobbled, and the commander quickly grabbed him and dragged him to safety.
Etan: Thinking of going AWOL? :: he said, his voice awash with relief.::
Arlill: I wouldn’t dream of abandoning my post sir.
Etan and Maxwell exchanged looks, the first officer seemed glad things went positively while Josh couldn’t really tell what the marine was thinking, was he impressed or concerned? Either way, he was probably a good poker player.
Etan: Are you in one piece, Toxin?
Arlill: Response
Maxwell: Good that you're unhurt, Lieutenant.
Herrick: Seems we’re all accounted for ::smiling towards Toxin, glad the man made it out unscathed::
Etan: Then we press on.
There it was, that archaeological excitement that kept putting them into danger. As they started to rack up near death experiences; Josh wondered what event would hit the commander’s limit. This was a bit different than his last away mission, which was do or die — this one was literally the definition of ‘enter at your own risk.’ And here we were ‘pressing on’.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like the commander, it was just that being alive seemed more enjoyable. As if on cue, perhaps to give Etan more encouragement, the rumbling subsided and one of the archways had opened and exposed a route before them.
Etan: Are you all thinking what I am thinking?
Maxwell: Sir?
Herrick: ::raising an inquisitive eyebrow:: oO That we should get more detailed scanning equipment? Oo
Arlill: Response.
Max had turned, carbine in hand, back to the opening and the commander elaborated on his own question.
Etan: Each time we find one of these slabs, something happens. A cave-in and a door opens, now this- :: he pointed to the gyre. :: I once saw the Great Pyramids of Earth being built- long story- but didn't the builders plant traps throughout the tombs to deter graverobbers?
Maxwell: Aye, that they did. I read about that once in a book ae my Ma's......
Herrick: ::nodding:: That does make sense commander; the difference being that with today’s technology we’re able to scan for those traps there but… ::frowning:: here were operating just as blind as they had been.
Arlill: Response.
Etan: It almost feels like we are being… led somewhere. Whoever built this complex didn’t go to all this trouble. There is something here that we are meant to find.
Maxwell: You think we're being guided tae a location within this place, sir? ::He looked around.:: Tae what end I wonder?
Herrick: Hopefully not to our final resting place…
Etan / Arlill: Response.
Max stepped ahead of the group to check out the corridor. As he swept back and forth, the VRDs light made a sweeping light for the path ahead and then proceeded forward. As Josh looked at the walls, he saw spurts of the circular and dot writing on the walls.
Herrick: More of that writing…
Maxwell: Junction. Thirty metres ahead.
Etan / Arlill: Response.
As they came up on the junction, Maxwell scanned left and right and once he seemed satisfied he gave a nod.
Maxwell: Clear.
Etan / Arlill: Response.
Max slightly turned his head towards the right-hand side of the junction.
Maxwell: Hear that? Is that water?
Etan / Arlill: Response.
The team took a right turn and after a few more steps, it turned sharply left. There had been doors at the end of the short hallway but a blasted hole about 6 feet high offered an entrance without another puzzle.
Maxwell / Etan / Arlill: Response.
As the team entered through the door, they entered an awe-striking room. The lights here were just a touch brighter; more definition was visible, and the room was massive in height and length, maybe 150 meters long. Every surface seemed to have either a gold or silver polish. On the ceiling, there were large intricate carvings of the sun and moon; and various statues were visible throughout — each wearing the hooded garment they’d seen on the ghosts.
Herrick: Whoa…
Maxwell / Etan / Arlill: Response.
Herrick: ::smiling and pulling out his tricorder:: Scientific enough… It seems there are high deposits of mineral deposits; the bulk of this is stone with some sort of metallic plating.
Maxwell / Etan / Arlill: Response.
As the team trekked inward, the setting continued to grow in ornate decorations and opulence. If a typical Ferengi had joined them, Josh was sure that they'd be salivating enough to fill the ship's pool.
After every ~50 meters, the main path seemed to branch off. Josh looked down each 'corridor' as they passed and it reminded him of a maze; each one had different lengths and offshoots. As they passed the fourth one, he caught something in his VRD light.
Herrick: Grave robbers? ::looking at the skeletons with remenants of clothing on them::
Maxwell / Etan / Arlill: Response.
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Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick
Acting Chief Engineer
USS ‘Oumuamua
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)