The damaged amber cube

[rhaenaan]

While sifting through the debris that was cleared out of the old library of Thesos (now a bar), I came across a damaged amber cube. The ancient caretakers notes indicated that it was copied from an alien device. However, I have no way to determine if this was really an historical record or simply a work of fiction. In any case, I thought it was interesting reading and I'll share it with you.

Recovering the information is difficult...so bear with me. Much is missing and fragmented and I'll share it with you as I'm able to recover it.

[rhaenaan]

Survey mission log - Day 65

This is a remarkable system that was either artificially constructed or formed as a result of extremely improbable natural conditions. The nature of the "star" has already been covered extensively in the initial stellar cartography surveys, so I won't repeat any of those observations. Needless to say; the star, alone, would lead me to beleive that this is not a naturally occuring system.

The single superior gas giant (C-779-43a) is relatively unremarkable and shows no economic or developmental potential. The ring system consists mainly of materials that appear to be the debris of a satellite torn apart by tidal forces, or (more likely) material that never condensed due to the extreme tidal forces. Again, no developmental potential. Minor economic value. (Specific composition, measurements and analysis contained in the attached technical notes). There is some evidence of prior exploitation and abandoned technology of at least three unique spacefaring cultures. Recommend further surveys with an archaeolgical and xenobiology team.

The most remarkable feature of the system is a large moon of the gas giant. The moon itself has been completely overrun by organic growth. It is assumed that there is an inorganic core that served as the initial platform for growth. However, the growth is miles deep and confirmation of this theory will require additional core sampling equipment. Beneath a canopy of plant-like tendrils, there are what can only be described as land masses; Large plateaus of bark-like material where dust and sediment have collected to create a number of unique biospheres. Many of these biospheres contain similar, though somewhat divergent ecosystems. As these biospheres exist above the normal atmospheric limits of a body this size, it is assumed that the "plant" that these plateaus sit on is venting gases that create atmospheric pockets that sustain the ....<damaged>....

...large enough to have a rather unique secondary moon. The orbital dynamics are incredibly complex, but the system appears to have...<damaged>

...passes through a flowing cloud of material that was likely torn from the gas giants rings by a passing comet or asteroid. Now the flow is maintained through some sort of tidal forces that we haven't quite determined yet. Presumably, these ice fragments enter the moon's atmosphere and replenish the gas and trace chemicals that the plant needs to survive. In turn, the vented gas and moisture from the moon freezes and is drawn back towards the gas gi.....<damaged>...

[rhaenaan]

Survey Mission Day 73

We landed the explorer near the largest "city" in one of the populated ecosystems. It appears that there are a number of humanoid races inhabiting "Atys" (the local name for the moon). The locals are quite friendly and highly intelligent, though they seem to have little or no knowledge of their own history and have a very limited understanding of science. This is truly a survival-based culture.

There is no sign of children in the community. When questioned, the locals seem surprised and avoid the question. While exploring, we have noticed young adults entering the community from another land known as "Silan". Our biologist has speculated that this may be a "transition area" between a creche of some sort and the mainland. In all likelihood, the children are raised and taught survival skills before being integrated into the more dangerous mainstream community. The adult avoidance of the topic may simply be an ingrained survival instinct to protect the children from ...<damaged>

[rhaenaan]

...complete absence of metal artifacts from the community. The locals are in awe of even them simplest metal objects and devices and refer to them as "Karavan". There have been mixed contexts around the word ranging from "God/magic/awe" to "Enemy/cursed/evil". These are not a naturally superstitious people, so it's unclear why refined metals would elicit this kind of response. The soil and rock samples are devoid of metal and it's unlcear how the local biology survives without the traces metals and minerals that we'd expect to see in this class of ecosystem.

[rhaenaan]

Survey Day 117

The planet/plant seems to be reacting to the presence of our ship in orbit. Tendrils have begun to grow out towards the ship and have started to vent atmospheric gasses. The movement is remarkably slow and doesnt seem to pose any threat. This provides us with an amazing opportunity to observe the growth and reactions of the planet as well as using ship sensors to analyze the plant at close range.

[rhaenaan]

Survey Da....

...with the Karavan. They appear to be an entirely different race that are not native to the planet. Externally, they seem to be standard humanoids. All Karavan that we have seen wear breathers and some form of body armor or environmental suits. Many of the crew have observed a strong scent reminiscent of copper and sulfur even at a distance. This further reinforces the general consensus that the breathers are providing a radically different atmosphere to these creatures.

We've been unable to get close enough to do any sort of detailed observation. Our attempts to approach or communicate with them have been actively blocked by locals that the Karavan have recruited as guards/disciples. While they aren't openly hostile, they are persistant in their desire to keep us away from the Karavan people, ships and artifacts.

The technology of the Karavan appears to be quite advanced. We've seen a number of small surface-to-orbit transports "hovering" using some method of propulsion/levitation that we can't even speculate on. Closer examination and instrument measurements would be needed. Unfortunately, the Karavan followers are unlikely to allow that.

[rhaenaan]

....engineers aboard the Wayfarer have warned us that the shuttles are showing abnormally high levels of corrosion on the metal parts. It's not bad enough to have created any integrity problems, but they've asked that we restrict our explorations to the desert ecosystems until they figure out the problem.

[rhaenaan]

Two of our three shuttles are now grounded on the planet surface with irrepairable hull corrosion. In addition, the Wayfarer itself has begun to show signs of similar damage (both internally and externally). Contamination from the shuttles and from the proximity of the planetary tendrils are beleived to be the cause.

It appears that our initial analysis of the atmosphere overlooked spores of a native bacteria that our biologist has described as behaving like some kind of "super strain" of Geobacter. There are literally hundreds of variants of the spores. Each variant seems capable of oxidizing a number of different metallic compounds and emitting carbon dioxode as a waste product. In addition, the plant/planet itself appears to selectively vent gasses containing mild corrosives that aid the bacteria in their feeding by "pre-digesting" metal surfaces. Once the bacteria die, the trace minerals and metals are washed down into the ground water, thus feeding the plant and preventing any sort of macroscopic metal deposits from forming.

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With this last entry, I'm stopping my transcription from the cube. There are many other entries. But I wonder how much value they have. There are far too many words and phrases that I do not understand and too many ideas that simply are too alien for the cube to translate. That and the damage of the cube itself make me question whether this has value to my fellow Homin. I still don't know if this was a simple story from someone's imagination or truly the thoughts of an alien race.

If they truly existed, what happened to the people of the Wayfarer is unclear. Only that they ultimately came to die here. What contributions they made and what impact they had is unknown. Perhaps this crew is the source of the pictures in the temples of the sleek uniform-clad Homin with the strange compact weapons. Perhaps those pictures are of our ancestors. There are too many questions and not enough answers.