As the power of the crystals diminished then exploded outward with a spectacular array of light. The Death Cultist had already taken cover behind the hexagonal shaped rooms two great half circle reactors positioned at the base of the large platform centered in the middle of the room. The lights dimmed then went dead, a few spots of red light gleamed down from the roof casting eerie red light. Most of the room was rather pitch-black; however, this was no hindrance to Shenestra, who even without her Skull-Visor would have been little hindered by the dark. Already the sound of activity outside was increasing as the Mystans soon realized that the shield ward was gone, and something was quite wrong indeed. Shenestra for her part ignored the sounds outside the building and focused on any hint of running footsteps coming toward the reactors direction. Meanwhile she remained crouched and hidden where she was. The muscles of her leg and arms tensed and ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. No doubt the Mystans would seek to repair ward at some point, Shenestra knew he objective now was to simply stall until the signal came for their departure.
Shenestra decided quickly enough the best location to observe the north and south entry points for any new comer. It seemed most were occupied with the defenses, for none we forthcoming at the moment. Suddenly the distinct yet faint sound of something heavy moving down a corridor could be heard. Quieting the beat of her heart, a task made easy thanks to her intensive training and implants, she picked up the sound of a kind of mechanical whine. She soon deduced that the Mystans had employed one of their drones to investigate and repair the reactor. Still she had not expected to see the same automaton she had encountered outside the settlements borders. Now that she was closer, she could see he sported a strange alien style of dress, complete with jacket, shirt and trousers. Something that quickly pointed out that this was no mere machine. If the manner in which he had acted earlier was any hint, the cloths were a sure give away that it possessed some intellect beyond a mere drone or machine.
The large lens fitted into it's head cast a slight gleam from the weak red glow of the emergency lights above. It moved with purpose, not in the least bit sluggish, nor clumsy despite the bulkiness of it's frame. At it's waist Shenestra spotted a satchel of some kind, its contents yet unclear, on the opposite side it sported a pistol that was certainly not of Mystan make. Further quick inspection, using the zoom and Infrared imaging technology, revealed that the satchel contained four grenade shaped objects. There seemed to even be some kind of almost spider shaped device or tool hidden under the folds of it's cloak on it's back. While it was difficult to estimate the strength of it's so far visible armaments, it seemed readily well armed indeed. To say nothing of the over thickness of it's plates. Shenestra machine spirit did however detect several weak spots located primarily around the constructs joints and head.
Yet, even with IR, she could locate no primary location in which it's power source was located. She could only assume it was either in the head or chest compartment, perhaps even a backup set of optical sights on the chest should the head be lost. Such designs were not uncommon on battle drones and their like. She quickly switched through her other forms of visions allowed to her by the skull-visors, wishing to glean as much information from the construct before deciding a course of action. In all it's manner hinted further at the automatons alienness to this world, but there were some similarities between it and Mystan technology. Still she was off put in she could not yet discern what manner of metal covered it's form, nor it's overall strength and reliance. She could only be sure it was not iron.
Having gleaned enough, Shenestra decided against any direct confrontation, planning to wait to see what it would do first. It would seem likely it would attempt to repair the damage to the reactor which meant ascending the short stairs there and approaching the pedestal with its now three dead crystals, leaving it’s back to her. If so Shenestra could use the opportunity to strike while it was preoccupied. Shenestra knew for her part she was well concealed, not only by the dark, but also her optical-camouflage had already copied the background around her perfectly. Not to mention the dormant engine she sheltered behind. Shenestra could only guess that it possessed some means of seeing in the dark, the obvious conclusion to draw from it's lack of light source in which to see with, such as a torch or flashlight. Even so Shenestra had already all but silenced her own heartbeat and breathing, entering a minor state of Reverie, while her camouflage matched both the heat and appearance of the background around her as she remained unmoving with death-like stillness. Her body still tense and ready to spring at a moment’s notice all the same.
The recent death of the guards also gave Shenestra a distinct advantage along with the element of surprise. She did not draw on it yet, even though the automaton would most likely be blind to sense such manipulation. Shenestra decided to air on the side of caution, waiting for the most opportune moment to move.
