Written by Marvelon
Back to Ragol Fiction
Back to Home Page
Exploration mission Delta.
Our purpose is clear, we search the stars to see what has gone before. Our mission can be regarded as boring by some, but I see our task as an essential one. Archaeology is one of the foundations of our sciences and it must be pursued. The first discovery of an alien society which had left it's mark on a planet was a profound one and led to our missions. We seek to find new signs of civilisations from the past. For those who might find our ideas dull, it is recommended that you read on, as this is a chilling tale of an ancient race, about whom we made a startling discovery. The following log was found deep under the surface of a planet which was once habitable but has since turned to an arid wasteland, few buildings remain, and in one of these a shaft leading down to a hollow chamber led us to find the remains of a data recorder which we believe was once part of an artificial life form. The log contained in this recorder is written as though by an autonomous being, though artificial in nature. What we understood is that this being was part of a larger group of races which attempted to colonise the planet when it was still hospitable. It seems the optimistic colonisers came in two groups, referred to as Pioneer 1 and 2, 1 possibly being a scout or reconnaissance mission, and 2 being the main wave of colonists. The log seems to detail a mission undertaken some time after the main wave of colonists arrived. It was military/mercenary in nature and goes as follows:
Purgalon’s personal log, 5th of Ral, 20418, Pioneer 2.
I have taken the hunters license test, set in the new virtual reality simulator. Serving a dual purpose, the test is designed to asses ones skill as a hunter and to find a compatible operator. Though why an operator is necessary is beyond me. When this mission was still set on the main continent of Ragol we hunters made our way through the forests and mines of this world without help from Pioneer. We were on our own and that sufficed. The Lab, as it’s called, has created these tests to assemble groups of hunters to scout a new point on Ragols surface, which seems to have buildings of which there was no mention in any of the official logs. Since this planet was uninhabited before they must have been built by the pioneer 1 colonists, though even that is uncertain. I’m looking forward to this mission as I’ll get to work with people I’ve never worked with before (including my dubious operator) and in a new area of the planet. Who knows what we might encounter there? I have been given a new device, a personal data recorder, which will allow me to keep this, my log, updated while I’m down in the field. I’m looking forward to our mission briefing tomorrow, I’ll be meeting my team, and we will be briefed on the situation.
Purgalon’s personal log, 6th of Ral, 20418, Pioneer 2, Personal quarters.
I have returned from the mission briefing, where I have met the other three hunters who will join me in the exploration of what I now know is the island Gal Da Val. They seem an eclectic bunch. Two hunters, Desolate, a male human who seems reclusive and didn’t say much and Spree a female android hunter, of a type I've not worked with before. Our last team member is Escaflown, a human male force who seems very powerful but not condescending for it, he quips at everything said and doesn’t seem to take this at all seriously. Lastly there's our operator, Azura-Kai, who will guide us through the new areas and will offer support through Pioneers sophisticated artificial intelligence system, Cal. We were told to set out tomorrow. We will investigate the buildings found on Gal Da Val and report back our findings. Our mission goal is to find out what happened to a Lieutenant Flowen, whose logs contains the only known references to this island and the structures.
Purgalon’s personal log, 6th of Ral, 20418, Ragols Forest area
I am testing the data recorder, if it works as I am told it will record my log on the go. I am in the forest now and recording directly to my log.
Purgalon’s personal log, 7th of Ral, 20418, Pioneer 2, Lab.
The team has assembled as planned (Escaflown was late) and we are now ready to set out. We will transport to what is believed is the entrance of the main structure. I checked my log late last night and the personal data recorder seems to be working fine, I will use it to record my log from now on.
Purgalon’s personal log, 7th of Ral, 20418, Central Control Area, Gal Da Val.
We have arrived at the Central Control Area, but the main entrance seems to be sealed off by three main security lockouts, found across the island. Azura-Kai (in between singing along with some obscure metal band) has explained one of the transporters will take us to the areas of the island where the lockouts are to be found. Though I suggested by going to the mountain area first the team has decided to trek through the jungle towards the beach first. What humans like about salt water and fine sand is beyond me, but Spree especially seems eager to go there. Desolate is quiet and seems brooding on the mission. Escaflown and Spree seem cheery and are ready to commence our journey.
Purgalon’s personal log, 7th of Ral, 20418, Jungle area.
We have used the transporter to get to the jungle area, where we will search for the first lockout. It is damp here and warm, the trees and vines are close together. We have encountered no resistance sofar.
Purgalon’s personal log, 7th of Ral, 20418, Jungle area.
Making our way into the jungle we are beset by what seems to be a local variety of hybrid plant life, when we approach it it jumps out of ground, abandoning its roots and attacking us. Desolate seems to suffer the most as he is continually poisoned by them, but Escaflown techniques cure him quick enough. He seems to bear it well though, he seems a hardened personality, and thrives on the hunt, he has spoken more in battle than during any time before. Spree too seems to take delight in the kill as she constantly shouts things like “take That” and “Woopass” ... Curious.
Purgalon’s personal log, 8th of Ral, 20418, Jungle area.
We made camp last night and are setting out for another day of jungle exploration. We have come across a data terminal which shook the team, with help from Azura-Kai we searched it’s database and found an entry from Lt. Flowen, it details how these creatures seem to have been a military experiment accidentally set loose on Gal Da Val. We we’re surprised because we didn’t know there was a military component attached to Pioneer 1, and secondly because this was kept hidden from the general population. It has added to our worry about the Guilds motivations back on Pioneer 2, though up to now this has been left unsaid.
Purgalon’s personal log, 8th of Ral, 20418, Jungle area.
We have encountered a huge form of the hybrid plant life, a mother/queen type, which had us battling hard. Escaflown quick thinking and excellent use of power enhancing techniques got us out of some tricky moments. Our team is coming together nicely, and I find myself not worrying to much when creatures come closer as I can rely on Spree or Desolate to take them out before they get to me. Azura-Kai’s insistence on shouting things at us like “ride them down” and “slay with prejudice” is annoying and uplifting at the same time. The sentiments seem out of place at times, but battle shouts have never hurt anyone. His tastes in music and choice of voiced encouragement have become both snickered at and appreciated by the team.
Purgalon’s personal log, 9th of Ral, 20418, Jungle Area, security lockout.
After our encounter with the Queen last afternoon we made camp and when e set out this morning it didn’t take long for us to find the security lockout this morning. Azura-Kai working with Cal has released the lockout and we are now ready to set out for the beach. Sprees spirit was strongly lifted by this and Escaflown seems to find it necessary to remind us of the fact at every turn, every twig and every tree. It is tiring at times, but the team seems the better for it. Desolate has loosened up a bit, and has told us about his childhood on Coral southern continent, a harsh place where he honed his skills as a hunter long before coming to Ragol.
Purgalon’s personal log, 9th of Ral, 20418, Beach area.
It is late in the evening but we have managed t reach he beach area without much interference. We will make camp and set out on exploring the beach tomorrow.
Purgalon’s personal log, 10th of Ral, 20418, Beach area.
After some discussion this morning we have decided to push ahead as hard as possible. We are making our way across the beach as fast as we can, relying on Escaflowns power enhancing techniques and quick skills of healing. We are beset by a large variety of mosquito, which is making things hard for Spree as she has no way of reaching them when they fly up. Escaflown continually uses high energy Zonde techniques to disrupt the flying patterns of the mosquito’s but my skills are relied on most here. Desolate has surprised us by occasionally using light Zonde techniques and even smiling when he does so. It seems Zonde was a technique taught to him by his uncle whom he fondly remembers.
Purgalon’s personal log, 10th of Ral, 20418, Beach area, security lockout.
It is nearly completely dark now, but we have reached the security lockout already. We will make camp here and set out for the mountain tomorrow.
Purgalon’s personal log, 11th of Ral, 20418, enroute to the mountain.
IT will be a long journey getting to the mountain but our team seems ready. We are keeping our spirits up by relating stories of our adventures on Ragol. It seems Spree has more going on then we previously thought, she has had some hardy adventures, and has managed to work her way out of places some of us would dare not go alone. Our team is shaping up nicely and Azura-Kai takes great pleasure in unexpectedly blasting loud metal down our communication channel. He’ll laugh and say something like “Music for the music God!”
Purgalon’s personal log, 13th of Ral, 20418, the foot of the mountain.
It has been two days since my last log. We have encountered no resistance of note on our way here, but this mountain seems to be inhabited by a vicious clan of apes, we will have our work cut out for us. We have found another database terminal, where we found another log from Lt. Flowen. It seems the military arm of the Pioneer 1 expedition was kept secret intentionally as it's R&D group was going to use this structure for experimentation of a dubious nature. Desolate said he always wondered about the guild and the lab and whether they were telling us everything and the team agreed, though reluctantly.
Purgalon's personal log, 14th of Ral, 20418, Mountain Area.
We are making our way up. The apes are relentless, they attack as soon as they spot us and swing their long arms with surprising precision. Spree and Desolate are taking the brunt while Escaflown and I provide support as best we can. I hope we reach the security lockout soon, this mountain is pressing down on us, and the message from Lt. Flowen had reminded us of our mission, and of the implications of the military presence on Pioneer 1. We have all lost our share of friends to Ragol and it's creatures, a fact of which we are now all too aware.
Purgalon’s personal log, 15th of Ral, 20418, Mountain Area, security lockout.
Azura-Kai and Cal have released the final lockout. We will wait for a transport to take us back to the Central Control Area. Though we have been working away for the last week, it seems our mission has only just started. Though we are eager to get on with our mission we are weary about what might come next.
Purgalon’s personal log, 16th of Ral, 20418, Central Control Area.
With al the lockouts released we should be able to enter the main structure, Azura-Kai has assured us. As we transported in the gigantic door slid down with a thunderous rumble. I noticed Desolate switched to a sword of a type I’ve not seen before, Spree’s hand grasped her blade with renewed strength and Escaflown used a trifluid to restore his technique power to optimal levels. Though fear isn’t an emotion I feel often (if at all) I couldn’t help but feel some trepidation at what might lie behind this door.
Purgalon’s personal log, 16th of Ral, 20418, Central Control Area.
As we are making our way in we are beset by a military grade Sinow equipped with a cloaking device, a highly dangerous combination. Confusion arises at times, but Escaflown seems level-headed enough to keep us on track when we need guidance. Azura-Kai has let of the music for a moment and has instructed us on the laser guided security fences we are encountering. The slew of creatures we are encountering is... Wait ...
Aaaargh.
Purgalon’s personal log, 17th of Ral, 20418, Central Control Area, Bridge.
I woke up with the team looking down at me. I failed to notice a sinow materialising behind me, it took me out with a destructive blow. Escaflowns healing techniques once again save the day as he was able to revive me. We have reached a bridge area which stretches towards a circular building in the distance, the views from this bridge are stunning, the jungle stretches away before us all the way to the beach while behind us the Mountain looms. The team has found another message from Lt. Flowen, of a disturbing nature this time. He has fallen victim to a virus accidentally created by the military experiments. It has apparently been taking over his body. He was urged by the R&D scientists to donate his body to them (not uncommon in the military, so I’ve heard) for research. He agreed and was declared dead near immediately. The virus appears to be the cause of the local creatures’ transformation into vicious beasts. Now that we know, we are more eager to finish the mission and let the population at large know what has happened on this cursed planet. It must be known that the state in which we found this planet was caused by our own military. We will carry on the mission though mostly for our own reasons. Azura-Kai luckily is not a Guild puppet and has supported our initiative. The team has cleared the rest of the bridge while I was out cold, so we can carry on. Azura-Kai has done a deep probe and has discovered a laboratory buried within the seabed. We will make our way there but it seems that one of the more monstrous failed experiments will have to be overcome first. The gryphon inhabits the cliffs of Gal Da Val which we will have to cross to get to the transporter.
Purgalon’s personal log, 18th of Ral, 20418, Cliffs of Gal Da Val.
We have managed to destroy the gryphon but at a loss. Desolate was caught by the beast mid fight and trampled. We doubled our efforts and slew the creature but when we got to Desolate all he could say was “I am Desolate Flowen, find my uncle” It seems Desolate had a personal stake in this mission we were unaware of. In his honour we will complete this mission, if it's the last thing we do. We had a look at his shimmering sword, and it’s marked HF, possibly it belonged to his uncle, Lt. Flowen.
Purgalon’s personal log, 19th of Ral, 20418, Upper seabed facility.
We have found the transporter into the seabed R&D facility, this is where the militaries secret experimentation must have taken place. Spree and Escaflowns spirits have sunk quite low as we are making our way through the facility. It is definitely military/scientific in nature, it’s gleaming walls and easy-to-defend layout betray it's nature. At times it is beautiful as the windows look out into the sea. It creates a strange counterpoint to our chaotic fighting inside. So far we’ve found several types of squid which seems to have adapted to life out of water (or were altered so) and more of the military grade Sinow. Reco’s are everywhere too and occasionally we come across a dog reminiscent of the creature known as a chaos bringer.
It’s hard going but we are managing. The further logs we have found by Lt. Flowen offer little encouragement, it speaks mostly of how his body is being taken over by the virus and how the military are to blame. He even recommended Pioneer 2 be stopped altogether from coming to Ragol but his advice was ignored.
Purgalon’s personal log, 19th of Ral, 20418, Lower seabed facility.
We have found a transporter taking us into the lower levels of the facility in the seabed. Azura-Kai has informed us there are areas where the hull is broken or missing and water is pouring in. We are determined now to find what has happened.
Personal log
We have received word from Azura-Kai that he received a real time message from Lt. Flowen, he is still alive and somewhere below us in the facility. In certain areas we have to fight in waste deep water, it seems the next room contains a transporter leading to Lt. Flowens location. As the virus that has taken him over is the same one crating the evil on other places on Ragol we have no idea what we might encounter, I will keep a running commentary in my log.
We are entering the transporter. We have materialised on an elevator platform, it is moving ... Wait something is above us, it is huge! It is falling down at the same speed we are moving, it seems suspended, my weapon cant hurt it, Escaflown and Spree seem to have more success but it seems unscathed sofar. Spree has been taken, one second she as right here in front of me the next a flash and she was gone. Escaflown looks like he's going to strangle the creature if he has too, I've switched to my trusty handgun which seems to land some blows but cant be hurting this thing much.We managed to dislodge the creature (which we think is Flowen) it has fallen against the inside of the shaft and has disappeared from sight.
The elevator is now at it’s terminal. The remains of the creature are lying in the middle of a large cavernous room. We are making our way towards it... It’s ... It's not dead! Holy! It’s massive we cant survive this, Escaflown! Escaflown noooooo.
No. No, no. I am hiding behind a rock I will probably die down here. To whomever finds this tell the people of Pioneer what happened here, tell them of Flowen and the military involvement, they must know what had been done to them. I hope someone find this message in...
And that, dear reader is where the log ends. Purgalon did not survive the encounter with Lt. Flowen. As far as we can tell his android remains have been in the cavern for at least 500 years. No other life seems to exist anymore, possibly wiped out by the mentioned virus. As you see archaelogy sometimes discovers what was not even known at the time. It teaches us about secrecy and the value of truth in this case. A message which rings true even in our missions of exploration.
Eldacore Desterion,
Lead archaeologist
Delta mission
Back to Ragol Fiction
Back to Home Page
