Conversation with #ussatlantis at 11/10/2010 9:49:05 PM on VAdmBlackthorne@opus.il.us.darkmyst.org (irc)
(9:49:05 PM) ChanServ [services@darkmyst.org] entered the room.
(9:49:05 PM) mode (+o ChanServ) by ChanServ
(9:49:05 PM) ChanServ has changed the topic to: We've set out deeper into unexplored space to, well, explore it. Long range sensors have indicated a planetary system with a single gas giant in the star's habitable zone, hosting hundreds of moons.
(9:49:06 PM) mode (+ntro VAdmBlackthorne) by ChanServ
(9:59:27 PM) LtJGAlexisWright [Mibbit@dm-2442.hsd1.or.comcast.net] entered the room.
(10:00:23 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Hiya
(10:00:25 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: lo
(10:03:43 PM) CdrTKirr [Mibbit@dm-7635.16.118.70.cfl.res.rr.com] entered the room.
(10:04:04 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Hiya
(10:04:27 PM) CdrTKirr: Hi hi
(10:05:31 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Should have McKnight in 5-10
(10:05:44 PM) CdrTKirr: Good, good.
(10:05:52 PM) CdrTKirr: And Percy?
(10:06:52 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Unfortunately not.
(10:08:32 PM) CdrTKirr: *sniffle*
(10:14:04 PM) ColDougMcKnight [Mibbit@dm-27274.hsd1.ma.comcast.net] entered the room.
(10:14:08 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Hiya
(10:14:14 PM) ColDougMcKnight: (Okay! The sauce is in the microwave!)
(10:16:01 PM) ColDougMcKnight: (Also, hey folks.)
(10:16:05 PM) CdrTKirr: Heya!
(10:16:10 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Let's get rolling then.
(10:16:53 PM) CdrTKirr: :: TWEET :: Attention!
(10:17:31 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: at sick and sniffly attention ::
(10:17:45 PM) CdrHarper [Mibbit@dm-10730.rcmdva.fios.verizon.net] entered the room.
(10:18:02 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: (( consider me only half here :( pretty worthless. Tired of being sick. ))
(10:19:09 PM) VAdmBlackthorne has changed the topic to: Tonight we continue the investigation of the habitable moon around the huge gas giant. We're on the dimly lit side, and have discovered an ancient fallen pillar, indicating past civilization!
(10:19:13 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Questions?
(10:19:35 PM) ColDougMcKnight: So we pick up right after last time?
(10:20:23 PM) LtKuari [Mibbit@dm-7635.16.118.70.cfl.res.rr.com] entered the room.
(10:20:59 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Yep
(10:21:51 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Kay, cool.
(10:22:13 PM) LtKuari: Can I come? =X
(10:22:23 PM) ColDougMcKnight: (Hey, I think we've finally got a mission Kuari's uniquely qualified for.)
(10:22:30 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Alrighty then
(10:22:32 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: BEGIN SIM
(10:22:33 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: BEGIN SIM
(10:22:34 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: BEGIN SIM
(10:22:47 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: +T'Kirr+ Blackthorne to T'Kirr. :: looking at the pillar ::
(10:23:26 PM) CdrTKirr: + AT + :: on the Bridge, watching the planet on the viewscreen :: Go ahead, Admiral.
(10:24:08 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: +T'Kirr+ You might want to come down here; I think you'll want to see this.
(10:24:09 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: checking her math :: Actually, I misspoke... I'd date this to have been quarried about 20,000 years ago.
(10:24:58 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Looks to Blackthorne:: With your permission, sir, I'm going to start bringing down marine teams to start combing the area. More eyes, and an eye for strategic placement of structures no less.
(10:24:59 PM) CdrTKirr: + Blackthorne + :: peers momentarily at an envious Harper :: I'm on my way.
(10:25:11 PM) CdrHarper: ::: envy ::
(10:25:33 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Granted. : turns from McKnight to Wright :: Twenty thousand???
(10:25:49 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Yeah, that's...forgot to carry a one?
(10:25:51 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: nods solemnly :: At least, Admiral.
(10:26:00 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Nope. I've checked it five times.
(10:26:07 PM) CdrTKirr: :: nods to Harper who sags with defeat and heads down the TL to the TR ::
(10:26:17 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Amazing. That predates anything we've ever found.
(10:27:12 PM) CdrTKirr: ( Dare you to touch the pillar... PIFF )
(10:27:24 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: ( I touched it last week!)
(10:27:29 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Admiral, with your approval I'd like to have a science team come down here to collect data from this pillar and any other ruins we find in the area.
(10:27:56 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Granted. :: kneels next to the pillar ::
(10:28:18 PM) LtKuari: :: squirms restlessly in a stuffy ship ::
(10:28:22 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ...huh. Is that right? What's the second oldest we stumbled across, then? The narcoleptic people?
(10:28:27 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: I'm sure Star Fleet would be thrilled with this... :: calls down her best science field team, giving them detailed instructions ::
(10:28:47 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: brushes away some dirt and leaves ::
(10:29:07 PM) CdrTKirr: :: shimmers into view with the Science team ::
(10:29:43 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Likely, colonel.
(10:30:45 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: Science team immediately jumps into action, taking pictures and measurements and environmental samples. Lexy is working with a planetary cartographer to send off short-range surveying probes ::
(10:31:00 PM) CdrTKirr: :: looks around in wonder for a moment before nodding at a Science tech and stepping over to the original AT ::
(10:31:04 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Well, not likely to be making the Bajorans jealous any time soon, but still, heck of a feather in our cap. We should toast it later.
(10:32:12 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Taps his comm badge and calls up Captain Montrose in security.:: I'd like you to beam a couple squads down to my location. No need for the assault armor, far as I can tell, but make sure they're fitted out with all the optics. We've got a scavenger hunt going on down here.
(10:32:40 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: ::: stands up when T'Kirr arrives ::
(10:32:46 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Perks up as an afterthought occurs to him.:: +Security+ Oh, and make sure Lieutenant Kuari is with them. We can save some money firing up a UAV.
(10:32:54 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: gestures to the column :: This is twenty thousand years old.
(10:33:48 PM) CdrTKirr: :: looks first to Blackthorne, then at the column. An eyebrow goes up :: Says who?
(10:34:05 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: gestures at Wright ::
(10:34:48 PM) LtKuari: :: gets the news and scrambles for her gear, assembling in the TR for the first squad transport ::
(10:35:02 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: raises a hand, hearing the conversation :: guilty. No matter how we calculate it, this particular piece of stone was quarried no less than 20,000 years ago.
(10:35:23 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: We need more environmental data to get a more exact calculation, but we're working on it.
(10:35:52 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: If we can find more ruins, that will help us nail down a time estimate significantly.
(10:37:35 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: kneels down again and brushes away some more vines and dirt ::
(10:37:39 PM) ColDougMcKnight: I'm a history major, but it was mostly the human kind. We know about any vanished races who lived in this area of space?
(10:38:14 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Not that I know of. :: still cleaning ::
(10:38:32 PM) CdrTKirr: :: looks incredulous, for a Vulcan :: Fascinating. Make sure you set up at least a ten foot perimeter around this. Report immediately if you find anything else.
(10:39:24 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I've found some writing...
(10:39:35 PM) CdrTKirr: :: looks down ::
(10:40:17 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: There is a modern race in this sector that has some interesting legends, but... :: leans in to look at writing ::
(10:40:41 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Run it through the UT.
(10:40:47 PM) LtKuari: :: adjusts her optics before becoming still for transport and beams down with the first squad ::
(10:40:52 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Excuse me, ladies and gents.
(10:41:10 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Walks off to meet the first beam in squad:: Kuari, front and center!
(10:41:31 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: fiddles with the UT, finally looking up and shaking her head :: Nothing doing, Admiral.
(10:41:33 PM) LtKuari: :: scrambles ::
(10:42:08 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: stares at it incredulously ::
(10:42:12 PM) LtKuari: :: stands at attention, trying very hard not to become distracted by the environment ::
(10:42:36 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Lieutenant, I know you've been ship bound for awhile. What shape are those wings in?
(10:42:37 PM) CdrTKirr: :: peers over Wright's shoulder ::
(10:42:50 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Get Commander Harper down here.
(10:43:38 PM) LtKuari: :: looks confused for a moment, then straightens further :: Flying fit, sir! I practice three days a week, sir.
(10:44:07 PM) LtKuari: + Atlantis + T'Kirr to Atlantis.
(10:44:09 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: These glyphs are actually fascinating. I've never seen anything like them. They're incredibly finely detailed... They're weathered, so I can't be certain yet, but it looks like... like... these glyphs were carved with a precision tool. Rather than traditional stone age hand tools.
(10:44:13 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: But I don't know for sure.
(10:44:22 PM) CdrTKirr: (Ahem) + Atlantis + T'Kirr to Atlantis.
(10:44:32 PM) CdrHarper: +T'Kirr+ Atlantis here.
(10:44:55 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Good, good. You're about to get a chance to put it to use. But while I understand the temptation, let me just say this now. Until the Admiral says different, this isn't shore leave. You're to stay not too far ahead of our ground teams, and no higher than you can get a good look at the ground from.
(10:45:02 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: This column is more reminiscent of the Greco-Roman period than the stone age anyway.
(10:45:26 PM) CdrTKirr: + Harper + Commander, your language skills are required at the beam down site. Leave... someone in charge.
(10:45:47 PM) ColDougMcKnight: (Since Rachel isn't here, let me nominate Puddington for her!)
(10:46:21 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: Right, Sir, I mean... by precision, I'm talking... possibly... er... lasers.
(10:46:23 PM) CdrHarper: +T'Kirr+ Something the UT can't break?? I'll be right down!
(10:46:56 PM) LtKuari: :: nods quickly :: Yes sir.
(10:47:07 PM) CdrHarper: :: leaves someone in charge and rushes to the TR ::
(10:47:50 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Lasers.
(10:47:52 PM) CdrTKirr: :: looks behind her, unable to help but monitor Science personnel as they set up equipment ::
(10:48:06 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Gestures back toward the pillar and those clustered around it:: Good. We're looking for more like that, but report anything that looks even vaguely artificial. Also, on an unrelated note, let me know if you spot any sort of natural caverns.
(10:48:11 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: nods quietly at Blackthorne ::
(10:48:35 PM) LtKuari: :: cocks her head :: Sir?
(10:49:49 PM) CdrHarper: :: shimmers into place ::
(10:50:44 PM) ColDougMcKnight: There's talk of this place as a future colony site. If that pans out, I plan to recommend they ensure ready access to an easily fortified shelter of some sort.
(10:51:18 PM) LtKuari: :: nods more slowly :: Understood, sir. Ready to move out.
(10:51:29 PM) CdrHarper: :: kneels at the column and studies the writing ::
(10:51:47 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: watches Harper with interest ::
(10:51:53 PM) CdrTKirr: :: attempts not to crowd Harper as she watches curiously ::
(10:52:17 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Points skyward and gestures a small circle:: Liftoff, then. Gradually expanding, and radio if you see anything.
(10:52:56 PM) CdrHarper: This is ... remarkable. I can't decipher it, at least yet...
(10:54:01 PM) CdrHarper: :: takes out a tricorder and starts recording the writing ::
(10:54:22 PM) LtKuari: :: nods eagerly and trots off a short ways, nose to the air, then flaps experimentally before bounding a few quick steps and takes off in powerful downstrokes ::
(10:55:17 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: Turns away as Harper works and looks at the dim sun, just above the horizon ::
(10:56:18 PM) CdrHarper: :: cleaning away more debris, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings ::
(10:57:08 PM) LtKuari: :: squelches the urge to call out and climbs high enough to settle into a comfortable glide in a circular search pattern. This beats the wind tunnel program any day! ::
(10:57:41 PM) CdrTKirr: :: scans the column with her own scanner, scrutinizing the readings ::
(10:59:32 PM) CdrTKirr: This structure is in remarkable condition considering its age.
(11:00:35 PM) CdrHarper: This isn't writing at all! :: looks like she just had a revelation ::
(11:01:01 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: turns all her attention to Harper ::
(11:01:11 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: turns back from the sun :: What is it then?
(11:01:54 PM) LtKuari: :: begins to pant, realizing three days a week probably isn't enough, and redoubles her efforts to concentrate on the ground below ::
(11:02:02 PM) CdrHarper: Math. Calculus, to be exact.
(11:02:38 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Remarkable.
(11:02:49 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: her mouth silently forms an O and she starts looking at it all math-like ::
(11:03:05 PM) CdrTKirr: :: looks from Harper to the inscriptions, attempting to read the information into it ::
(11:03:22 PM) CdrHarper: :: brushes away more debris to reveal all of the equations ::
(11:04:22 PM) LtKuari: :: turns her head as the planet-light catches on something and breaks away from her search pattern to get a better look ::
(11:04:52 PM) CdrHarper: :: loads them into the tricorder for analysis ::
(11:05:12 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Calculus on a twenty thousand year old pillar, precision cut.
(11:06:10 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: I think some of these are.... more... complex than calculus? :: looks askance at Harper ::
(11:07:19 PM) CdrTKirr: :: staring at the characters :: I would have to agree.
(11:07:59 PM) CdrHarper: There are differential, multivariable, it's astounding, really. I have already seen perfect descriptions of the rate of change of the moon's orbit with respect to the gas giant over a period of thousands of years.
(11:08:33 PM) CdrHarper: And they're accurate.
(11:08:58 PM) LtKuari: :: turns around and flies towards the crew, despite her curiosity, having flown far enough :: + McKnight + Kuari to McKnight. I think I've found more ruins to the west, but I haven't gotten close enough to get a good look.
(11:09:20 PM) ColDougMcKnight: +Kuari+ Acknowledged. Transmit coordinates, we'll be there shortly.
(11:09:24 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: has just reached the same conclusion re: those equations ::
(11:09:51 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Raises his voice so as to be heard by the pillar group:: Possible sighting to the west. I'm taking a team to go check it out.
(11:10:04 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: ::: nods to McKnight ::
(11:10:11 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :
(11:11:07 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :: calls into the ship's cultural anthropology expert , wondering if he has any thoughts about why this data would be inscribed on a column ::
(11:11:18 PM) LtKuari: + McKnight + :: studies the ground below, circling :: I suggest you lead the team over the higher pass. It appears more favorable.
(11:12:29 PM) CdrHarper: :: finds more symbols on the column's upright section, under some vines ::
(11:13:12 PM) CdrHarper: Now this is writing, it's nothing like the math.
(11:13:22 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: :: looks at the writing ::
(11:13:54 PM) CdrTKirr: :: watches McKnight's squad leave before catching up with Harper ::
(11:14:49 PM) CdrHarper: Some of the characters were used as variables in the equations, I believe.
(11:15:13 PM) CdrHarper: Even so, this language is amazingly complex...
(11:15:23 PM) ColDougMcKnight: :: Obviously, he can't cover "ground" as fast as Kuari, but all those years of marching serve him well, and it's only about ten minutes later that he and his team reach the crest of the pass Kuari advises. At that point, he simply looks up so Kuari can point the way.::
(11:17:37 PM) LtKuari: :: scouts ahead of the ground team, still circling high enough to take advantage of wind currents and conserve energy ::
(11:18:13 PM) CdrHarper: This will take some time. So far, it is Creek to me.
(11:19:58 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Greek, Kate. It's Greek to me is the correct saying.
(11:20:33 PM) CdrHarper: That makes no sense, Greek is easy. Have you ever studied the Creek indian language? That's hard.
(11:20:58 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I'll take your word for it. :: turns away and lets her work ;:
(11:21:09 PM) The account has disconnected and you are no longer in this chat. You will be automatically rejoined in the chat when the account reconnects.
ColDougMcKnight: ::Nods with a wave, and leads the way down toward whatever it is she saw.::
(11:21:16 PM) The topic for #USSAtlantis is: Tonight we continue the investigation of the habitable moon around the huge gas giant. We're on the dimly lit side, and have discovered an ancient fallen pillar, indicating past civilization!
(11:21:16 PM) VAdmBlackthorne left the room (quit: Killed (NickServ (KILL requested by VAdmBlackthorne1))).
(11:21:16 PM) You are now known as VAdmBlackthorne
(11:22:26 PM) ColDougMcKnight: (WB)
(11:22:34 PM) LtKuari: :: is able to get closer to the ruins as the team advances :: + McKnight + Kuari to McKnight. The ground drops away a little beyond the ruins. I can't tell how far down the cliff goes from here.
(11:24:18 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Just how advanced were these people?
(11:26:23 PM) ColDougMcKnight: +Kuari+ We've got this covered. You can gain some altitude.
(11:27:31 PM) CdrHarper: I can't decipher the words yet, but the form they're in suggests poetry.
(11:27:40 PM) LtKuari: + McKnight + Acknowledged. :: powers her wings for lift, heading for the ruins ::
(11:28:23 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Or that could just be how they wrote.
(11:29:45 PM) CdrHarper: Possibly...
(11:32:13 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: ( 3 minutes)
(11:32:19 PM) LtKuari: :: approaches what appears to be a crumbled dome shape and looks behind, her optics giving her the location and distance of the team ::
(11:34:15 PM) LtKuari: :: looks ahead and down, just past the dome and stops flapping as the top of the cliff face surprises her ::
(11:35:03 PM) LtKuari: :: tucks her wings in and dives to get a closer look, then glides out past the cliff and looks back at its face ::
(11:36:00 PM) ColDougMcKnight: ::Finds his way through the entry, somewhat widened by the inevitable decay of the structure, and pokes around, quickly having his curiosity piqued by a smaller, pyramid shaped structure within.:: Hmmm. Thing scans as hollow. Let's see if we can find an opening.
(11:36:44 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: PAUSE SIM
(11:36:45 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: PAUSE SIM
(11:36:47 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: PAUSE SIM
(11:37:11 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: ||
(11:37:31 PM) ColDougMcKnight: For next time, I totally have dibs on discovering the super secret awesome underground stuff.
(11:37:51 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Oh man
(11:39:40 PM) CdrTKirr: :: pauses ::
(11:40:04 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I like this moon. :)
(11:40:54 PM) CdrTKirr: Me, too.
(11:41:51 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: We'll explore more of it next week, and hopefully I can finish the new website this weekend.
(11:42:09 PM) CdrTKirr: That would be awesome
(11:43:02 PM) LtJGAlexisWright: :)
(11:43:38 PM) LtKuari: :: lands somewhere and curls up to sleep ::
(11:44:20 PM) LtKuari left the room (quit: Exit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client).
(11:44:23 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Yeah, I hope it's as cool as I think it willl be.
(11:46:18 PM) CdrTKirr: The narcolepts lived undreground, too. -_-
(11:47:31 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: I had forgotten about them.
(11:48:11 PM) CdrTKirr: Wait we talking about McKnight's first mish right?
(11:49:06 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Ah, yes.
(11:49:22 PM) ColDougMcKnight: Mreins, I believe they were called.
(11:49:34 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: That was Chip's last mission :(
(11:49:59 PM) CdrTKirr: Wow, that was forever ago.
(11:50:10 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: Sure was.
(11:54:55 PM) CdrTKirr: Night, see you next week for archeology fun
(11:55:18 PM) VAdmBlackthorne: G'night all!
(11:56:04 PM) CdrTKirr left the room (quit: Exit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client).