│ HomeBase ← CenCom ← Lancer II ↔ Lancer Crew │ [SIGNAL CONNECTED]

[CTNI] Radio check, radio check. One, two, three, toast. Toast. Can you hear me, Alan?

[LMNR] Reading you loud and clear. We've got one-way to CenCom and HomeBase in.

[LMNR] Don't forget me, aye. Got me on mic?

[YATZ] Unfortunately.

< All three crewmates laugh. >

[LMNR] If audio cuts out, let me know. Pop a flare round if you have to.

[CTNI] If it does cut out, I'm wholly blaming you. You're the engineer in these desolate wastes.

[YATZ] The only engineer.

[LMNR] Yes, yes, if one of you take a hard spill, blame the guy in the capsule trying to maintain orbit for it.

[YATZ] Pints on me that Paul doesn't fall. If he does, he's paying.

[CTNI] As much as I'd love to banter, we've got a rough time schedule. Proceeding with time synchronization in three… two… one…. now. Timers set.

[LMNR] You two arrive before the time ends so I don't miss the module. God forbid I do, I'd have to apply the retrorockets and that's never pleasant.

[YATZ] We got it, pops. Be back home by curfew, not at curfew.

< The sounds of thrusters and movment is heard for two minutes. >

[CTNI] Ed, can you collect some soil samples? They might be tough initially but the penetrometer's giving light readings past the crust.

Photo of penetrometer testing on Meta.

[YATZ] That's unusual, considering Probe readings showed Meta was solid rock. Should I get some substrata samples, too?

[CTNI] Better safe than sorry. It's in the deviation for testing anyway, so it shouldn't really matter.

[YATZ] Gotcha. Wish it were easier though, the lack of gravity's making this a real damn chore.

[CTNI] The 5420-B structure should be u-

[YATZ] 5420? Why so formal? Meta structure's a hell of a lot easier to say. We've been calling it that since the mission's started, anyhow.

[CTNI] Okay then, Commander Yates, where to next?

[YATZ] Meta structure - dead ahead!

< Milner laughs. The sounds of thrusters can be heard. >

[YATZ] Bloody hell.

[CTNI] My god!

[LMNR] Uhh, is there something wrong, guys?

[CTNI] Nothing at all - it's magnificent!

[YATZ] It's like, err, well, it's like Hatchepsut's temple. That, but if it were made out of space rock and polished to a shine. Awe-inspiring.

[CTNI] I'll try to see if I can get the video feed working.

[LMNR] You won't; I've tried, believe me. Just take lots of photos like you were visiting Berlin again, you hear? I've got to see this.

[YATZ] It's truely magnificent. It's a damn shame you're not here.

[LMNR] Well, you do have to leave the best pilot be-

[CTNI] Bullshit.

[LMNR] …he craft - I heard that, Paul - and let all the redshirts go explore. Anyways, you two go. There's going to be a gradual loss of contact as I go around Meta and the last thing I want to hear is a tirade about how Europeans make the best pilots.

[YATZ] You're only upset because you know it's true.

[LMNR] Oh, shut up. Godspeed and good luck.

[CTNI] You too. We'll be routing radio through the Meta Probe. OWR, six minutes approximately.

[YATZ] Stay safe, ya daft idiot.

[LMNR] Will do. Milner out.

[SIGNAL SWITCHED] │ HomeBase ← CenCom ← Meta Probe Four ← Lancer Crew │ [SIGNAL CONNECTED]

< The sounds of thrusters and movement can be heard. >

[CTNI] We're approaching the structure now. It is a double-tiered structural bas-relief carving made from Meta rock. However, it is somewhat smaller than what the deep-space images suggested. How big do you estimate?

[YATZ] Externally? About, err, fifty by thirty meters on its longest side. About the size of a large horse pen. Stairs going up to a higher level, ramp going down into an abyss. So, what shall it be?

[CTNI] HomeBase told us to explore bottom to top, so there it is. We're headed into the abyss.

< Catani & Yates can be heard turning on their flashlights. >

[CTNI] What the-?

[YATZ] Woah!

[CTNI] Gravity? It has gravity!

[YATZ] But that's impossible!

[CTNI] I know… I know. It gives us some freedom of movement… but I'm slightly uneasy. Let's get on with it.

[CTNI] It appears as if we are in a large chamber, like a foyer in a mansion. The walls are made with a slick black rock - I don't think this is natural-forming. Penetrometer's just dulling. The ramp didn't seem quite too long, but the ceiling here his vaulted approxmately ten meters or so.

[YATZ] Paul, there's some scribbles in the wall. I can't make anything out of them. You want to take a look?

[CTNI] Why not.

[YATZ] This place is spotless, just a bit dusty though.

[CTNI] What did you say?

[YATZ] I said it's… nothing, nothing. It's nothing.

[CTNI] These look like scribbles to me, too. They've been forcibly carved into the wall. Haphazardly, as well. With what, though? There's nothing here.

[YATZ] I have no clue. That a good or bad thing, then?

[CTNI] I'd rather not make an erroneous judgement, but I'd unsnap your holster if I were you. We've dallied long enough here. Let's keep going, Ed.

< Walking can be heard. >

[YATZ] This is one very long hallway.

[CTNI] Indeed.

[YATZ] Is it me, or are our lights very intermittent?

[CTNI] Radio's been spotty too. Check all frequencies?

< The walking stops. >

[YATZ] It's just static and noise.

[CTNI] Noise?

[YATZ] Yeah, hear it for yourself.

< A faint, undiscernable noise can be heard. >

Radio noise frequency response of the Meta signal. Clocks out at approx. 600Hz (black line).

[CTNI] That's it! We must be getting interference from the Meta signal. That must mean it's further down this way.

[YATZ] Not to be rude or anything, Paul, but we can't be sure of it.

[CTNI] Trust me, I can feel it. We're almost there.

[YATZ] Well, we'd better skedaddle. A good part of our alotted time's already up.

< A large cracking noise. >

[YATZ] Paul, you okay? Helmet intact?

[CTNI] I'm okay, Ed. This is the stuff that cracked. It's very mirror-like. What is it? Some sort of crystal?

[YATZ] Seems like it. It's a bit fragile, though. If you push…

< A shattering sound accompanied by minute debris is heard. >

[CTNI] A mirror? On an asteroid past Mars? Unbelievable.

[YATZ] Considering who we work for? Blimey, you're nuts. What's on the other side?

[CTNI] My god, Ed, simply impossible.

[YATZ] One after another, this place is full of surprises, isn't it? It's like a damn hall o' mirrors.

[CTNI] The signal's stronger in here. You have yarn?

[YATZ] Rope and several pitons in the pack, if that counts.

[CTNI] It'll do. Lay it down the best you can. Let's kill the Minotaur.

< The sounds of walking. >

[YATZ] God, this is quite extreme for one signal. You could get lost in here forever. Don't you agree? There's me, there's me, that's me, and who are you? Also me.

< A loud shattering noise. >

[YATZ] Paul? You clumsy fool, is that another pint I hear? Paul?

< Another shattering noise. >

[YATZ] Paul, if you're lost, try to see if you can find the rope. The signal's drowning us out, muddying the feed. It's clearer to hear though, cause of th-

< Adagio in G Minor can be heard, softly but clearly. >

[YATZ] Bloody hell, is that Albinoni? Alan, you back on the comms?

< Silence. >

[YATZ] Of course radio's down. If either of you can hear me: I'm stationary. Paul, just try to see if you can follow the rope. Allan, if you're back on co-

[CTNI] There you are.

< Yates screams. >

[YATZ] Bloody hell, you daft fool. You scared me to hell and back. Where have you been?

[CTNI] Sorry, Edward. I got a little mixed up. Rope trail got lost in the mirrors.

[YATZ] Is Alan back on comms for you?

[CTNI] No, why?

[YATZ] I could've sworn on the Queen I heard Albinoni's Adagio.

[CTNI] No. I can only hear the signal and your voice.

[YATZ] Anyways… are we going to continue on? I think this is sufficient data to supplement their curiosity. You've already gotten lost once, too, so….

[CTNI] I agree, let us leave. - sten to it!

[YATZ] What?

[CTNI] Didn't say anything. Are you compromised, Edward?

[YATZ] Geesh, a bit rude.

< Walking can be heard. >

[YATZ] What in the hell?

[CTNI] That's not me, Edward.

< The snapping of a holster is heard. >

[CTNI] Ed, no! Don't sh-



[SIGNAL LOST] │ HomeBase ← CenCom ← Lancer II ↔ Lancer Crew │ [SIGNAL CONNECTED]

Time's up, you buffoons. Who's buying the beer?

[LMNR] Hello, guys? Uhh, let's see-



[SIGNAL SWITCHED] │ HomeBase ← CenCom ← Lancer II │

│ Lancer Crew ↔ Meta Probe Four ↔ Lancer II │ [SIGNAL CONNECTED]

[LMNR] There, switched to general broadcast on Probe Four. How was the trip?

[LMNR] Paul? Ed? This is Alan, I'm not receiving you guys. I've got the docking seal ready to-

< A loud thump, followed by mechanical locking is heard. >

[LMNR] Jesus Christ! Give me some warning at least! Didn't think you guys would be so eager to get back, anyways. Seal's engaged. How'd it go?

[CTNI] Everything perfect.

[YATZ] Everything perfect.



[SIGNAL CUT]

Radio log files were sent to CenCom and HomeBase following the successful re-docking of the Meta module.