Cath

The Cradle

As soon as they stepped from the safety of the Barbarossa and into the space station, a cocoon of military personnel with guns encased them on all sides. The station was busy, with crew from two dozen ships milling around the supply vendors and administrative hubs near the station’s centre. Around a third of them weren’t in uniform, who to Freyr looked anxious and scrambled to have their documentation validated.

“Welcome to Cloud 9, this way please!” One of the stewards shouted over the din, motioning for them to follow. A half-dozen droids, similar to the ones Freyr had seen in Boycott Park, marched in front of their column, brusquely clearing a path through the scrum. “Stand clear! Caution!” They blared in grating voices. “Sorry we couldn't clear the deck for you and your team, ma'am. We're nearly there now - you’re all set for boarding.”

“Thank you, that’s quite alright. Is it always like this?” Freyr asked, being jostled on both sides as their group squeezed through the throng. She felt 595’s firm hand on her back, holding onto her coat so they never lost contact. “No ma’am. Lots of non-military traffic gumming up the system this week... Everybody move BACK! This is you; have a safe journey.”

Their military escort deposited them on a walkway heading to the airlock of a long, sleek cutter, seen through long windows on either side. A dozen CraSec operators in their distinctive armour waited for them at the end. After a quick document check, the airlock opened and they filed through in groups. The craft was very cool and breezy compared to the sweaty heat of the station. Three officials in formal suits and ties greeted them.

“Welcome aboard SG-413, Dr Lang. It’s an honour to meet you.” The leader, a tall man with jet-black hair, shook her hand, before glancing quickly at 595, Vreta’Sori and Masgard Xandrus who flanked her. “I’m sorry we couldn’t roll out the welcome wagon for you properly - things are a bit hectic around here of late. Be seated, we’ll get you where you need to go right away.”

The cutter detached from the space station almost immediately after everyone was on-board and seated. After about ten minutes it began its descent towards Babylon through dark rain clouds.

The Cradle

Freyr smiled brittly. “I have to be there. I’m not taking any chances.” She breathed in deeply through her nose, looking around to see if she’d left any of her effects lying about. “Ok, lets get going.” She said, louder, to set the team in motion.

In a flurry of final activity, the Human scientists, their support staff, and Vreta’Sori trooped out of the lab which they’d called home for almost a month. A line of buggies was waiting for them in the passage outside. Freyr spotted Captain Andersen sharing a final word with Agent 595 and Masgard Xandrus as they clambered into the front buggie.

She responded to Vreta as they approached the jumble of farewells. “It’s a promising area of study, but don’t bet your life on it just yet. I’ve seen the figures, they still have a big margin for error.” The Captain looked over as they drew nearer. “Have a safe onward journey, Dr Lang, Vreta’Sori. We are all counting on you.”

“Thank you for having us, Captain. You’ve been very welcoming; may our paths cross again.” Freyr bowed slightly. Andersen smiled. “Who knows? With more of those things out there, it may be sooner than either of us imagine. This is your buggy, up front.”

Song Reference time

One more now and I'm out the door
Three more down and I become the floor
I've been keen on burning out
I'm leaning harder on you now
Going on and on about the world
I'm begging, begging for more

Think fast, don't look back
Coming at you like a heart attack
Move slow, head low
Gonna feel the pain from head to toe
Three more down and I become the floor
Thoughts of a second chance have got me begging
Begging for more

Begging for more

The Cradle

Freyr chuckled humorlessly with Vreta, looking surreptitiously around her. There was no sign of Agent 595; Freyr supposed she was packing her things. Dr Lang then fixed Vreta with a steely stare.

“Lets just say i have a bad feeling about this. I need to return to my division headquarters in New Antioch, where we have the best possible view of any changes to the Cradle macrocosm. There is a risk of disentanglement if this new object decides to try and escape with it, but we’re completely powerless on the outside. I can use more people I trust on the inside. People with...nerve.”

Freyr didn’t quite know how to word the Rothian’s surprisingly competent handling of stressful situations. It was certainly something she could use more of - her hand still shook from their descent down the side of that mountain. She supposed 595 was right that he must be some kind of secret agent; at least that might mean the two of them would cancel each other out.

The Barbarossa pulled up slowly alongside a geo-sync docking station and they latched together. Only the slightest vibration registered in the lab. “Ladies and gentlemen, we need to go! Freyr, Dr Khatri packed your bag and sent it on. You were never going to do it anyway.” Dr Wetherall called from across the lab, slipping his coat on.

The Cradle

Freyr almost didn’t respond to Vreta. His words ran down her neck like warm rain, completely unnoticeable until they hit a dry patch. After a couple of seconds, she looked up and turned slightly to look at the Rothian. The feedback loop in her mind replayed his question to her. “Oh, thank you. That’s very kind, but I think I can manage.”

She smiled at him distractedly, then sighed. “It seems we’re in the middle of a labyrinth, Vreta’Sori. Every step we take just seems to muddle the way through even further. And now, we’re introducing the biggest change to the Cradle’s conditions in potentially millions of years, and I’m still not clear on what exactly will happen. I was close to piecing some things together in the simulation, but now we're out of time...How do you feel about re-entering the Cradle, after what happened last time?”

Runt's 1x1 Interest Check - CLOSED!

Sure, lets parle .

My Discord is Catharyn#7204. I'm working right now but should be free in a couple hours. Whisper RP things in my ear pls.

Runt's 1x1 Interest Check - CLOSED!

Oh hey. I like the first idea and love the interactive map! But I'm afraid I'll go missing - i don't know how i'm going to feel when i'm not allowed to work from home full time

The Cradle

Freyr fainted at least twice in between their last expedition inside the Object, and the proposed date of its return to Outremer. The Barb’s physicians scanned her out of an abundance of caution, but found nothing wrong with her. The Rothian brain scans also came back inconclusive. Dr Lang was stressed, tired and grieving still, but those were all normal, Human responses.

Freyr pushed her team as hard as she pushed herself. They had an enormous reservoir of information to make sense of from their expedition, and very little time to make an impact. She tried not to resent Nirann for forcing her to leave the Rübezahl’s final uplink inside the Object. She had programmed it in secret to aggressively mine data bearing similarities to the galactic signposts left inside the Rothian DNA.

Nevertheless, Freyr held out hope that something else would come up. The analysis of Human DNA hadn’t yielded any clues as to the location of other Objects. The team used a second range of samples from scientists and crew members after hers had been misplaced.

Dr Lang was still working as the Barbarossa's lab was stripped of anything the team might need while operating from Outremer again. Technicians and academics flitted about her as she stared intently at the map they’d started to draw of the Object’s innards. Freyr was so engrossed that she jumped when Dr Wetherall placed a hand on her shoulder. “Time to pack your things, Freyr. We’re going through the gateway now, won’t be long until we’re home.”

“Mmmm. Fine.” Freyr admitted absently, waving him away.

The Cradle

595’s skin crawled again as Vreta described parts of what was supposed to be her memory. She restrained herself from validating what the Rothian said on that front - it was still just a vision. There was nothing that could prove it was real.

The Agent bit her lip as Vreta carried on. Digging down in this mystery with the squids would almost certainly compromise her mission even further. But she was starting to question even those parameters now; was it not her duty to read between the lines of Outremer’s divine plan?

That being said, 595 still greatly distrusted the offer of an excursion on the planet below. The entire apparatus had clearly aligned on the goal of extracting information from her. ”I don’t know...i kind of like it up here.” she answered. ”Why don't you cancel everything and come see us?”

The Cradle

The Agent pulled absently at the tight blonde plait down the back of her neck. “No, i think it’ll want to work very closely with you.” She sent back, with a smirk on her face. ”Something tells me this thing keeps its young close, unlike yourselves.”

A cargo droid shooed 595 off of the crate she’d sat down on. She started moving again, weaving through the throngs of people. “How are you feeling, Vreta’Sori? You’ve been through a lot. Do you feel anything out of the ordinary?”