[center][h3]-Main Camp: Narsier Mountains, Thalodreal border-[/h3][/center] [@VitaVitaAR][@Pyromania99][@Raineh Daze][@Crimson Paladin] [hr] Bianca, was entirely in her own little world, not paying attention to anything else after she had said her part. When Amalie had walked over she had barely registered the other woman, one hand tapping away at a keyboard the other tapping the screen and alternating between a few screen readouts at regular intervals. [i]*Thunk*[/i] [b]"What the fuc-AMALIE."[/b] Bianca's voice wasn't particularly loud, but that did little to stop the absolute irritated venom with which they were said. [b]" You know I do my own work, [i]thank you.[/i]"[/b] She'd nearly growl out through clenched teeth as she'd slide herself away from the elf slightly, the chairs rollers sliding loudly across the floor. "Stupid...pointy eared..." She'd inhale sharply, taking a few moments to quell her obvious irritation, accompanied by the whirr of mechanical bits and pieces from her body slowly starting to wind down. [b]"Watch where you're walking next time, please."[/b] [b]"...are you two quite done?"[/b] [b]"...sorry, Monique."[/b] [b]"Yes well, Bianca if you need a moment you are free to have one."[/b] [b]"...I'm...fine."[/b] [b]"Very well then, back at the task at hand."[/b] Monique adjusted her glasses slightly with a hand as she'd turn her gaze towards Regis. [b]"Annette has the right of it, Regis. At best we've been able to track it to sometime to the late Solarium Era and early Discordia Era, right when the height of the old divine civilization was at its peak, before the war with the Demon God Null."[/b] She'd tap a few buttons on her cybernetic hand, causing the screen screen to change once more. [b]"To touch on your observation a little, Lady Cecilia," [/b]Monique continued. [b]"Its an issue of time. The executable that its locked with is...intricate, to put simply. Extremely complex and from what Otelius has determined, it has tampering measures to make external attempts to dispel it quite difficult and as Amalie suggested, there are no external terminals to interface with any systems on this side of it. Theoretically we could likely do it, but it would take far too long that our permits and funding would allow. And I dont think I should have to say it, but [i]no[/i] destructive excavation unless there is no other option."[/b] A sigh left Monique's lips as there was a sheepish chuckle from Bianca's computer. The barely audible sound of a certain Tivven perhaps, being called out. [b]"As for your concerns about the border...we have permission from Eryndreal to be here as well, and they are aware. That said...the current political climate is...difficult at best, so lets try not to cross it if we can. The site for the most part shouldn't cross, but who knows if there's deeper places or potential entrances or exit on their side of the border. As for the Mana issue, Amalie, unfortunately the old equipment we had finally failed completely and we'll be needed new ones. Thats one of the reasons I'll be sending Otelius with you. He should be able to help regarding that, or alternatively...while it wasn't made for it specifically, Regis' diving suit should be thick enough to give some protection while we discover the source and hopefully clean it up...but ultimately I'll be leaving that up to you."[/b] Monique would turn off the display, a everyone's phones or other devices lighting up with some new information. [b]"Alright, that's enough for now. Cecilia, Regis, Anette, Amalie, do remember to stay in pairs of at least two. We have no idea whats in there and I don't want anyone by themselves. Bianca and I will stay in contact where we can, but I don't expect to have a clear signal. Good luck, and remember, if things get too dangerous you protect yourselves above everything else. I'll give you thirty minutes to prepare."[/b] With that, the meeting was over. Monique walked back over to where the artifacts were stored and Bianca went back to checking some data. They group was of course, free to stick around a bit longer but eventually they would have to move on and up towards the dig site... [hr] [center][h3]-Survey Site 1108-Alpha, Narsier Mountains [/h3][/center] The trek up to the site was cold. A trudge through ankle deep snow and rocky ground marked with lit up beacons strung together with rope. On a clear day like this, it wasn't really needed. One could see for all the way to the tree line just from the foot of the mountains, and as the paths lowly sloped upwards it became even clearer. On a snowy day, though? Or a cloudy day where the sky and wind threatened to open up and create a landscape of snow and angry wind? Well, the markers might just be the only thing keeping someone from getting completely lost. They'd pass by a few sites where the ground had been dug out, here and there and as they got closer to the primary site more and more would pop up. But eventually, though, the group would make it. The first thing they'd see was the giant hole in the mountain left behind by the avalanche Monique had mentioned. A yawning chasm. The mouth of some great beast, perhaps it seemed. Its edges jagged like teeth. Once they got closer, they could see a secondary camp had been set up inside of it. Various tents, heaters for warmth, a few heavy duty vehicles and work equipment laid about, currently disused likely having been for excavating and removing debris from around the door. [b]"Ah, good, you all made it."[/b] Otelius greeted the group as they'd approach, his long red hair a stark contrast to the whites of the institutes tent and the gray rocks of the mountains. [b]"Glad to be working with you all. I assume Monique has filled you in on the basics, everyone? Khalisa and I will be helping you to the best of our abilities."[/b] He'd turn his head to where 'Lizzie', the Tivven's mech was. It was currently sitting idly by a pile of debris near what was likely one of the secondary entrances. It was a narrow pass, propped up with a bunch of hastily welded together iron beams and pillars. The roof seemed to be straining to hold back tons of rock and metal. [b]"...we're supposed to, at least. Miss Khalisa seems like she'd rather stay inside her mech, though."[/b] [b]"Hey. Its comfy in here. I got everything I need. TV, games, snack bar, and also, most importantly, [i]I'm not freezing my ears off.[/i] Lemme know when you guys are ready to go so I can grab my ear warmers."[/b] The second entrance, a catwalk about halfway up the cavern had been similarly secured. A scaffolding had been erected to meet the metal walkway, and the walkway itself had been further secured with a number of ropes to tie it to the ceiling.