Sea Legs (Updated 09*21*19)
After a little encouragement from other players I've finally decided to "move" my story from another thread to this one. Moves in quotes simply because I'm not moving anything, just copying the posts...
Forum Discussion
The next morning Niella arrived at the science facility before dawn. She expected her team first thing but loved the lab when it was dark and quiet. She felt she did her best scientific work when she was alone, before the responsibility of running the facility and managing her team kicked in for the day. She turned on some classical music and set about establishing baseline numbers of water samples that had been gathered by Masao while she was in Egypt. That man was methodical if anything and in this case it had paid off.
https://i.imgur.com/9H6PaRQ.jpg?1
 head of the Earth Sciences lab and skilled marine biologist Masao Hamada, and Lopita Alto who specialized in petrology and ecology, arrived to her small office (predictably) early and Niella wasted no time getting the meeting underway. She was heartbroken for her best friend)
https://i.imgur.com/wF6FGkb.jpg?1
It wasn't long before everyone was up on their feet, brainstorming paths of action. Niella had already ordered the field crew to gather every piece that they could locate and bring it back to the facility but that would take at least a day, maybe more. Until then there was plenty to be done. Lopita could manage the field crew virtually while collecting a sample of insects, turtles and water lizards in the area. Lopita, crazy fan girl of all things rock, understood but felt a twinge of jealousy at the field crew gathering the meteorite samples. The meteorites, after all, would be heavy and require multiple people, lifting equipment. It only takes one to dig up a few beetles and catch some painted turtles. Besides, she would have had to give her best techniques up and she prided herself at being the best judge of healthy dirt dwellers. Masao would need to gather some marine life samples while Niella and Javi began processing the water samples Niella gathered on her way to the lab. Their primary objective over the next few days was to determine whether or not the impact would negatively affect the different eco systems in the area.
https://i.imgur.com/89Beqq2.jpg?1'> https://i.imgur.com/vi7Z4bl.jpg?1
The team went about their tasks dutifully and even with a sense of excitement. Even though their samples weren't from outer space, it was still a provocative enough opportunity to study what effects, if any, the event had caused to the local eco systems. But everyone's excitement to get a look at the rocks themselves was a constant undercurrent.
https://i.imgur.com/YJp0jxb.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/Vjvb62c.jpg?1'> 
https://i.imgur.com/ZB5p0aV.jpg?1
As soon as Niella heard that the largest meteor had been delivered to the Earth Sciences lab, she rushed over. Niella whistled and said "Holy gigantic space rock batman, well aren't you impressive?" "Uh, yeah" Lopita said, slightly distracted. "But there appears to be something inside..." she said staring at her scanner trying to make sense of the readings.
https://i.imgur.com/yXiH8rr.jpg?1
"Can I see?" Niella asked. "Have at it," Lopita said "I've run it twice" she gave a yawn. Everyone had been working 'round the clock and were a little touchy. Niella blew it off. This was Lopita's wheelhouse after all. "Measure thrice, cut once?" Niella jested and ran the scan, though she wasn't surprised when it showed exactly the same readings. "Well then, I guess we'd better try to see what that is, don't you think?" Niella said coyly. "I thought you'd never ask!" Lopita playfully replied, already grabbing her blow torch.
https://i.imgur.com/3stSzK6.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/MJR6zTX.jpg?1'> ![](https://i.imgur.com/0tk2TIu.jpg?1<BR /><BR />Niella ran to the other side of the table to get closer. When Lopita looked down at her readings she set the scanner on the table and walked away. "Where are you going??" Niella called after her. "To get Alex..." "What??" Niella cried back. "To get Alexander! Whatever that is, it)
https://i.imgur.com/p7vX5C6.jpg?1'> https://i.imgur.com/irCGgz2.jpg?1
Jamie Alexander, Alex by reputation, was the Lab's "Head of Technology" though her underling, Akone Kahale actually ran the day to day of the department and Alex was left to her own brilliantly "quirky" devices. If the famous Doc Brown from the movie about the sports car that went back in time had an actual real life grand daughter, it'd be Alex. She was brilliant, slightly ahead of her time, and quite a character. "Oooooh" Jamie Alexander exclaimed, appearing right behind Niella from out of nowhere. Before Niella could react, Alex slid in front of Niella "Well aren't you impressive, my beautiful little friend" She cooed to the glowing fragment. "That's what I said!" Niella chuckled.
https://i.imgur.com/xAt82gy.jpg?1
Alex reached in to pick up the little rock when another static discharge crackled, giving Alex's hand a slight zap. Alex jerked her hand back and shook it. "Youch! I knew better, I just didn't care.., Hand me my tongs, dear.." she said to no one in particular. And her attention was immediately back on the little rock. Everyone leaned in a little when a small metallic disc fell from the fragment.
https://i.imgur.com/3jScw9N.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/SOtwlma.jpg?1
As though the last 30 seconds hadn't happened, Alex reached down and picked up the disc. The second it was in the palm of her hand it beeped twice and clicked. Instantly the holographic image of some sort of... green... video game character appeared above the disc. It began talking to Alex, at Alex, and looking from person to person in the room as though it was talking to them.. Though no one could understand what it was saying, it became clear that it had some sort of advanced AI and it was eagerly trying to tell them all something important. It repeated some of the same phonic phrases. slowing it's speed each time, as though it was talking to a child. It squeaked what clearly meant "goodbye" and the image disappeared with the same click. Twirling around to face the others, Alex shook her finger excitedly "Here me out..." she said, formulating what she was going to say. "We... We don't yet know what this is, right?? It could be anything right? A new video game coming out this Christmas, or some prankster's idea of how to cure boredom... "Yeah, a prank embedded a half a meter into solid rock" Lopito chortled, though she knew what was coming and knew it was the right thing to do. Let me... Let us figure out what it is before we make any judgment calls about what to do. Let me take this back to my lab and let me see if I can figure out how to at least operate it." Niella agreed, but added "Javi's department is going to have to get it ASAP, Alex, so they can see if they can decode the message and we can see what we're dealing with. And I don't have to remind everyone this is 100% covered by the NDA you all signed! Not a word to anyone without prior authorization from me or Javi" "yeah yeah yeah" Alex waved off from behind her, already scooting out the door and toward her lab. Niella stepped into her office and closed the door, dialing her phone as the door closed behind her. "Uh, hi Dad... Are you sitting??"
https://i.imgur.com/d2PyIIu.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/qkxXQIf.jpg?1
She caught Ammon up as quickly as she could speak. He was an incredibly skilled techno-engineer, who had been working for an archaeology company to use his inventions to help excavate and explore tombs in Egypt ever since moving back. "Do not, under any circumstances, report this to NASA until I've gotten there. I've got sabbatical coming up but if they won't let me take it then they can just fire me for taking it anyway!" Ammon exclaimed. Niella giggled at her dad's sudden feistyness. "I mean it little one" Ammon pleaded more sincerely. "This is really big, and we just need to find out what we've got. I'll be there as soon as I can." They said their goodbyes and Niella hung up the phone. Really big?? No, this wasn't just really big, this was the beginning of something amazing. Niella could feel it in her bones.
https://i.imgur.com/hjDuaGx.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/v7kbdBU.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/9H6PaRQ.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/wF6FGkb.jpg?1It wasn't long before everyone was up on their feet, brainstorming paths of action. Niella had already ordered the field crew to gather every piece that they could locate and bring it back to the facility but that would take at least a day, maybe more. Until then there was plenty to be done. Lopita could manage the field crew virtually while collecting a sample of insects, turtles and water lizards in the area. Lopita, crazy fan girl of all things rock, understood but felt a twinge of jealousy at the field crew gathering the meteorite samples. The meteorites, after all, would be heavy and require multiple people, lifting equipment. It only takes one to dig up a few beetles and catch some painted turtles. Besides, she would have had to give her best techniques up and she prided herself at being the best judge of healthy dirt dwellers. Masao would need to gather some marine life samples while Niella and Javi began processing the water samples Niella gathered on her way to the lab. Their primary objective over the next few days was to determine whether or not the impact would negatively affect the different eco systems in the area.
https://i.imgur.com/89Beqq2.jpg?1'> https://i.imgur.com/vi7Z4bl.jpg?1
The team went about their tasks dutifully and even with a sense of excitement. Even though their samples weren't from outer space, it was still a provocative enough opportunity to study what effects, if any, the event had caused to the local eco systems. But everyone's excitement to get a look at the rocks themselves was a constant undercurrent.
https://i.imgur.com/YJp0jxb.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/Vjvb62c.jpg?1'> https://i.imgur.com/ZB5p0aV.jpg?1As soon as Niella heard that the largest meteor had been delivered to the Earth Sciences lab, she rushed over. Niella whistled and said "Holy gigantic space rock batman, well aren't you impressive?" "Uh, yeah" Lopita said, slightly distracted. "But there appears to be something inside..." she said staring at her scanner trying to make sense of the readings.
https://i.imgur.com/yXiH8rr.jpg?1
"Can I see?" Niella asked. "Have at it," Lopita said "I've run it twice" she gave a yawn. Everyone had been working 'round the clock and were a little touchy. Niella blew it off. This was Lopita's wheelhouse after all. "Measure thrice, cut once?" Niella jested and ran the scan, though she wasn't surprised when it showed exactly the same readings. "Well then, I guess we'd better try to see what that is, don't you think?" Niella said coyly. "I thought you'd never ask!" Lopita playfully replied, already grabbing her blow torch.
https://i.imgur.com/3stSzK6.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/MJR6zTX.jpg?1'> https://i.imgur.com/p7vX5C6.jpg?1'> https://i.imgur.com/irCGgz2.jpg?1Jamie Alexander, Alex by reputation, was the Lab's "Head of Technology" though her underling, Akone Kahale actually ran the day to day of the department and Alex was left to her own brilliantly "quirky" devices. If the famous Doc Brown from the movie about the sports car that went back in time had an actual real life grand daughter, it'd be Alex. She was brilliant, slightly ahead of her time, and quite a character. "Oooooh" Jamie Alexander exclaimed, appearing right behind Niella from out of nowhere. Before Niella could react, Alex slid in front of Niella "Well aren't you impressive, my beautiful little friend" She cooed to the glowing fragment. "That's what I said!" Niella chuckled.
https://i.imgur.com/xAt82gy.jpg?1
Alex reached in to pick up the little rock when another static discharge crackled, giving Alex's hand a slight zap. Alex jerked her hand back and shook it. "Youch! I knew better, I just didn't care.., Hand me my tongs, dear.." she said to no one in particular. And her attention was immediately back on the little rock. Everyone leaned in a little when a small metallic disc fell from the fragment.
https://i.imgur.com/3jScw9N.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/SOtwlma.jpg?1
As though the last 30 seconds hadn't happened, Alex reached down and picked up the disc. The second it was in the palm of her hand it beeped twice and clicked. Instantly the holographic image of some sort of... green... video game character appeared above the disc. It began talking to Alex, at Alex, and looking from person to person in the room as though it was talking to them.. Though no one could understand what it was saying, it became clear that it had some sort of advanced AI and it was eagerly trying to tell them all something important. It repeated some of the same phonic phrases. slowing it's speed each time, as though it was talking to a child. It squeaked what clearly meant "goodbye" and the image disappeared with the same click. Twirling around to face the others, Alex shook her finger excitedly "Here me out..." she said, formulating what she was going to say. "We... We don't yet know what this is, right?? It could be anything right? A new video game coming out this Christmas, or some prankster's idea of how to cure boredom... "Yeah, a prank embedded a half a meter into solid rock" Lopito chortled, though she knew what was coming and knew it was the right thing to do. Let me... Let us figure out what it is before we make any judgment calls about what to do. Let me take this back to my lab and let me see if I can figure out how to at least operate it." Niella agreed, but added "Javi's department is going to have to get it ASAP, Alex, so they can see if they can decode the message and we can see what we're dealing with. And I don't have to remind everyone this is 100% covered by the NDA you all signed! Not a word to anyone without prior authorization from me or Javi" "yeah yeah yeah" Alex waved off from behind her, already scooting out the door and toward her lab. Niella stepped into her office and closed the door, dialing her phone as the door closed behind her. "Uh, hi Dad... Are you sitting??"
https://i.imgur.com/d2PyIIu.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/qkxXQIf.jpg?1
She caught Ammon up as quickly as she could speak. He was an incredibly skilled techno-engineer, who had been working for an archaeology company to use his inventions to help excavate and explore tombs in Egypt ever since moving back. "Do not, under any circumstances, report this to NASA until I've gotten there. I've got sabbatical coming up but if they won't let me take it then they can just fire me for taking it anyway!" Ammon exclaimed. Niella giggled at her dad's sudden feistyness. "I mean it little one" Ammon pleaded more sincerely. "This is really big, and we just need to find out what we've got. I'll be there as soon as I can." They said their goodbyes and Niella hung up the phone. Really big?? No, this wasn't just really big, this was the beginning of something amazing. Niella could feel it in her bones.
https://i.imgur.com/hjDuaGx.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/v7kbdBU.jpg?1
