1306/The Dragon's Den

The Dragon's Den
Date of Scene:	10 January 2015
Location:	Mor Dhona, Hydaelyn
Synopsis:	After The events at Mor Dhona, unleashing something from the past made new again. A Team goes down into the ruins of the Allagan Structure in order to find answers. What they do find is only more questions.
Cast of Characters:	522, 530, 583, 683
Tinyplot:	Dragon's Bane

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Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The way into the ruins below in Mor Dhona was not lost and a bit more understanding to what happened two days ago to the Magitek was made more clear. Which means a bit of alterations done to the armor suit and an extra cell just encase. Though even Gaius knew such alterations were more prototype then actual fact. There was still no guarantee that it would keep from happening what happened that day.

Though what lied below is anyone's mystery.

Getting down there was already the tricky part itself. A rope line that one had to propel down from, then a bit of careful foot work to climb down to one at last got to the bottom of the massive cavern system below. Thankfully the area already had some lights laid out by a few Troopers and others keeping an eye on the lines.

The lights being used put off a very soft blue glow against the dark aqua blue stone that the rocky structure soon became the further down one went.

At the ground though, dark metal pieces lined into the stone. Wreckage perhaps or what remained of the once structure here. The massive door was half broken off, that was at least twenty feet tall and the engravings on it were hard to make out.

It looked like the door itself was once on a track system and with the very thin later of mist coming out from behind the door that was creeping along the ground. It was truly hard to say what anyone was going to get themselves into.

This is where Gaius Van Baelsar himself could be found, holding a few pole like sticks with black metal caps at the end and a bit of black along one side of the stick. A few of these could be seen when coming down, as they were what was-- at least for now-- giving this place light.

Along side him is also a open chest, with some type of black boxes within it. Hard to say what they are, but that probably be explained in time.

Gaius though was fully in armor, from head to toe. His normal gear really The black parts of his armor seeming to absorb the light, with the gold trim almost reflective. The crimson wraps and cloth had an almost leather look to them, but they were not quiet right to be leather.

And the void lens at where his eyes should be reflected nothing. It was almost as if looking into nothingness itself, though it was all to hide his own face, one could be sure.

He would wait for all those to gather who would come. After all, he needed a head count and he did not want to repeat himself twice. It also give a chance to any who may be late or a bit slow getting down the line to catch up.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Today the Crew is on foot; they'll be making their way by whatever transportation methods are available locally. Alain generally takes point, with Navarre often trailing behind. Both of those two will have a map up on their HUD glasses if one's available, while Hereward will just shake his head at it from time to time.

    As they approach the site, the adventurers will introduce themselves to any perimeter guards and, provided they're permitted through, make their way down and to Gaius.

    Hereward lets out a low whistle on seeing the doors; Navarre's and Alain's gaze also drawn to it, but in Alain's case, not for long before he looks to the apparent commander. "Sir. You must be the client?" he confirms before delving into introductions.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora was unsurprised to find out that an effort to traverse the deeper parts of the supposed ancient structure beneath where the aetheric beings had emerge was already being made. Likewise was she not surprised to find Gaius already there as she made her way down the rope rappel and rocky footing. She had learned quickly that he was a commander of action, especially when the nation he served was at danger. As it was with that device the stranger 'L' had posessed.

Or at least that's the official report.

This 'Neal' had wronged in him in the past. It was understandable the man wanted to get to the bottom of his bizarre return. A desire she knew very well herself, having demons of her own she was still hunting and had yet to put down. But this wasn't the day for that.

The Draken's reinforced boots clunk lightly on the rock and metal surface as she reachs the final platform. "Legatus." She keeps the greeting simple and official for the time being.

Once she's on sure footing Skuzzler hops down off her shoulders. He had climbed down the rope fine himself, but his short legs had made trying to cross the rocky path to get to this point comically ineffective. Something that while typically amusing to her Mantigora had little time to waste with today. "Still don't see why we can't just dig into stupid place with drilldozer."

"Because we don't know what the frag is down there." Mantigora retorts with a tone as sharp as the glare she gives the armored fuzzball. "Last thing we need is burrowing into those corrupt crystals setting off another aetheric explosion." She points a clawed finger at him as Skuzzler opens his mouth. "The BAD kind of explosion." That, for the moment, at least gets Skuzzler to keep quiet.

Garen (530) has posed:
    Emerging from what very easily could be shadows, Garen makes himself known. "That would be bad, yes. I'd imagine that if we are careful, we will find what we're looking for easily...or at least make a blow against our enemies.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius stands there calmly, before he looks at the three before him. "Greetings to you as well. I am Gaius Van Baelsar and yes-- your client. You will all be paid once the mission is complete." He takes note of the tech on them and tilts his head faintly. "Do those alter for night vision?"

He gives a firm nod to Mantigora as she shows up, tossing her one of the sticks. Though he knew her tech was able to give her such things as light, he wanted to make sure someone with good agility had one on hand just encase.

Another nod is given to Garen as he also shows up, before Gaius looks down at Mantigora's 'sidekick', "She is correct. The corrupted aetheric crystals that still remain above are unstable energy. One wrong move and they could easily cause a chain reaction." Honestly he is never sure what is worse. Corrupted aether or ceruluem in terms of explosive power-- though he put his money down on ceruluem.

Gaius then taps the metal of his boot against the black box. "You six," Yes even the fuzzball, "Will need to take one of the containers with you. We are unsure how heavy the aetheric mist is inside and it is not something anyone will want to inhale without proper protection."

The Legatus then looks at the Ghost crew once more. "Inside the boxes is a device that will easily fit over the mouth and nose. Converting the aetheric air into something breathable. Along side it is two self-shot needless. Hopefully you will not have to use them.. but they will cancel the aetheric poison for a short time."

"So even if you have a means to filter the air or not. Take the box with you, as those shots may be the difference between life and death. Understood?"

It would seem the Black Wolf wants to make sure safety is first before he gets into the very details. Which may be still more of a time killer to be sure that this is, in fact, everyone.

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen nods and opens one of the boxes, slipping the conversion device onto his nose and mouth. He gives a nod towars the others, introducing himself in a sense. "I trust you, Legatus. I know you won't lead us into a bad situation, especially with the situation." Then he looks to the others. "My name is Garen, otherwise known by the alias Cipher Nine."

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Mantigora's comment gets attention from all three... well, she and her companion will have gotten some curious glances anyway. But it's Hereward that speaks with a good humored grin: "Touchy crystals, huh?" Garen also gets a look from Navarre and Hereward and a nod from the latter, but Alain is focused on his dealings with Gaius.

    "Howdy. Got it," Alain nods. "I'm Alain. These two are Navarre and Hereward." Hereward adds a "Nice t'meet ya" to Gaius, while Navarre shyly avoids eyecontact, only resting a hand on her scarf and nodding once briefly. "We're from the Syndicate, of course," Alain finishes.

    "No night vision, but we've got light."

    All three listen to the instructions, Hereward in particular frowning. But Alain says, "You heard the man. I want a respirator and epipen on both of you." Hereward starts to murmur something about failing to mention poison air before Alain tells him to stow it.

    Rather than grab the box themselvesd, all three simply attach one the masks to their kit (within easy reach) and slide one of the needles in whatever bag or container they happen to have.

    "Howdy," Alain repeats to Garen, and Hereward follows with an "A pleasure." Navarre, however, remains standoffish.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora catchs the light rod in one hand with ease. While her nanotech allows her to easily adjust her vision to seeing in the dark, it doesn't allow others to see what she can, so having a source of light to illuminate things is still good. The same goes for the breathing devices. She has her own as a part of her gear, but after what happened last time in the other complex, she is not taking any chances, taking one for herself and tossing another to Skuzzler. The shots are safely stored away for later.

After they've gotten everything sorted out with that Skuzzler activates his Scanbot, which materializes to hover over him in a flicker of almost pixilated looking green flashes. Though it's been notibly modified this time, sporting anti-grav panels on the sides that reach out more like small aerilons and a satellite dish topping it in place the tiny coily-bob antenna.

Mantigora regards the trio as they introduce themselves, but other than a vage nod of acknowledgement doesn't say much other than, "Mantigora. Bounty huntress." Gives the chua at her side a light thump with the side of her foot. "The furball is Skuzzler." She's not very open with people she's not familiar with, muchly due to the nature of her profession.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius gives a nod to the three, "Good." He then tosses some of the sticks away, though he places a few behind him on one of his belts. He then motions to the door. "Behind that door is the remains of Allagan Technology-- a civilization that dates back thousands of years. We will not know what we may find in there. There could be a great deal of danger beyond this door... and with the aetheric mist in the air-- possibly crazed beasts if any have become lost down here."

The Legatus then makes his way over to the door and then looks back at the group. "If you desire to opt out now, is the time to do so. Once we go beyond this door, we will not be turning back until we come what we are looking for."

He tilts his head ever so faintly, "..and what that is-- I will know once I see it."

"Any further questions?"

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen shakes his head at them mention of questions. He does, however, take that moment to check over his equipment of a pistol, rifle, and various knives and grenades.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    A few more brief pleasantries are exchanged with Mantigora, but it's the scanbot that gets their attention, at least for a few moments. Alain pushes his glasses up slightly as he observes the bot and Hereward folds his arms and murmurs, "Well, ain't that a thing." Navarre, as usual, just looks on, interest reflected in her eyes.

    They listen to the briefing, then Alain nods, "Was just about to ask what else to expect..." To the other two, "Let's check our weapons one last time." Hereward grins, "Right on," and both Navarre and Hereward go through the lock-and-load motions.

    Alain, however, is still focused on Gaius. He hooks a hand on his toolbelt as the armored man changes his sentence. "Just one, sort of. You got any more info, I'd appreciate it if you were up front with it."

Mantigora (583) has posed:
"Can't be any worse than la--auff!" Skuzzler is cut off by a slap to the back of his head from Mantigora's tail. Glares up at her in return as he rubs his head with one paw. "What that for?!"

"How many times do I have to tell you not to say things like that?", Mantigora snaps back.

"Fff. A 'jinx' is just a fallibility in someone else's logic! But fine." Skuzzler pulls out his launcher cannon, which is easily as large as the three foot chua is tall. "Enough talking, on with the science!" One ear flares to the side as he gives Alain an odd look. "If had more information, why would we be looking for it?"

Mantigora just rolls her eyes the other direction, though the moment is punctuated more by the click-sssshk of her battle armblades extending. "Furball has a point. That we don't know for sure what's been going on down there is why we're going to investigate. Just be ready for anything. This could get..."

There's a pause, and it's hard to tell if she's grimacing or smiling at the anticipation with the way the corner of her mouth exposes some of her sharper teeth. "Interesting."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
"What information I have given you, is what I know." Gaius says calmly and firmly. "I do not know what we will find down here, if anything at all. My hopes is to locate a terminal or any clues as to what another was doing down here."

"But it could be an entire.. bust.. of an operation." The Lagetus doesn't sound overly thrilled by this. He reaches behind and pulls out his gunblade. Though he keeps the tip to the ground. "On never knows what they will find in the ruins of the Allag. That is the truth I can give you."

The dark armored figure then turns on his heel with ease. For those who have never seen one walk in an armored magitek suit, it is quiet he sight to behold in a sense. One would think with armor that could weigh around five hundred pounds or more that it would be hard to move. Instead Gaius Van Baelsar moves as if he was wearing normal clothing. The motions were fluid and weight seemed to be of little concern.

There was the also obvious gunblade at his backside, being held on not by straps, but perhaps magnetism of some kind.

As they move past the door, the walls themselves are that of black steel, but with the strange blue rock breaking through it-- or perhaps it was the metal that lined itself within. The ceilings were at least fifteen feet high, though some areas were lower by the fact of stalagmites breaking through.

The mist was thankfully staying at ground level, even if the area seem to be slowly dropping down. The further in they went some cables could be seen hanging down, a few still connected, others cut. Though no power could be seen. A few areas where 'glass' was had been shattered showing a strange fixture behind it-- possible wall lights at one time.

The area soon went in a Y formation. With the tunnels going down further and due to the level of darkness in the area-- it was hard to say how far either went. Beyond what light they could provide for themselves-- this area was pitch black.

And when any light shinned over the aqua blue crystals-- they had a momentary glow, but it was very faint and very fleeting.

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen follows, rifle hefted up and his red eyes scanning. It was moments like this where he was glad his species had better then average vision in low light situations. "Strange place....especially with these crystals. What exactly was the Allag known for?" He asks, never once dropping his alert or caution.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Skuzzler simply gets a dismissive glance from Alain. Hereward /laughs/ for some reasons, but he doesn't share what it is that he thinks is so funny. Alain looks momentarily irritated at his brother while Navarre's eyes sparkle with amusement, but neither of them comment either.

    Alain just nods to Gaius, accepting the explanation. Still grinning, Hereward says, "Let's get goin' then." And, weapons in hand, they do.

    Hereward's attention lingers on the magitek suit as is moves. "That's damn fine engineering. Y'think we could build something like that?" Alain just rubs his eyes and murmurs something about judges and having a full plate.

    The trio moves, keeping their eyes about and careful to cover their blind spots. When it comes to the cables, Alain takes out a small camcorder-like device, opens the screen, and points it at them. He's not recording, however, but instead just checking if there's any energy signature to be found.

    Alain peers down the Y split. "Let's get some light down there..." And unless anyone objects, with Alain on one side and Navarre on the other... they both pull a small gun-like device from their belts, though piping suggests some sort of air driving mechanism. 'Ph-thlunk ph-thlunk'. They shoot what looks like glowsticks (though brighter than the chemical kind) down the passages, while Hereward shoulders his big old gun just in case this gets some monster's attention.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
"Pfff. No power. Again. These Allagians are terrible housekeepers," Skuzzler mutters as he pulls his scientist goggles down over his eyes to go with the breather apparatus. The Scanbot flits around a bit, living up to its name at briefly sweeping its probe over various things. Like the broken lights. Or the rocks protruding through the ceiling. "Geologic formations have penetrated the exostructure of the facility, but there is no visible deterioration in stability." A pause from the Chua. "Yet."

"There's always a yet with you and your science," Mantigora snorts in return. Her reptillian eyes don't visibly change, but as things get darker and mist gets thicker there's a visible luminence to them from vision enhancements. She remains closer to Gaius... partially because she saw what happened last time the magitek was caused to fail. If something like that happened down here, someone had to be in position to assist him until he could readjust.

With the light-rod guns coming out it's Skuzzler's turn to give the Crew's hardware an appraising look. "Huh. Something that shoot light in way other than making laser? Novel." Like the thought of a light gun other than a laser was something that had not occured to him. Which is entirely possible, considering the bent towards explosions and weaponized industry Chua science tends to take.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The Legatus looks over to Hereward as he takes notice of the Magitek armor suit. "The magitek of the Garlean Empire is more based on that of technology, then that of magic."

Gaius then looks about the structure, "Backward engineering in itself can be a marvel." Perhaps the only hint the three may get from where the Garlean Empire even /got/ their magitek from.

The Legatus then looks over to Garen, "The Allagan Empire were known from their marvels in science and technology. While we, the Garlean Empire, have great advancements for our world, the Allagans make our own technology seem like child's play. There is a great deal we have yet to discover on how they did some of the things they have done..."

As they come fully to the Y, Gaius then explains to Skuzzler a thing or two about the formations. "Those are dead aetheric crystals." He says flatly. "This place was fully drained of all atheric energy-- all but the source of where the mist comes from... which is the part that has us greatly baffled."

As the the two of the Ghost train team fire down their light rods. They light up further down the tunnels that reflects more broken wires, rocks breaking through, and while the left side seems to make a bend further left, the right shows there is a door down that way.

Including the aetheric fog is also far thicker toward the door.

Something Gaius takes note of.

"I need two of you to come with me.. the rest of you are to remain here and keep an eye down that other hall."

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen steps up and nods towards Gaius. "Of course, Legatus. Lead the way." He says, falling into stride. He gives a cautious look towards the other path, but trusts in whomever stays behind to keep their back covered.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Hereward gives one of his big old grins to Skuzzler, turning his face slightly but not actually taking his eyes off the tunnels. "Hah, yeah, I mean. Y'know, we've got flashlights an' all that." He taps to said flashlight attached to his gun. "But with these sticks we're not making ourselves a beacon, y'see? And you can just throw 'em too. Good fer... 'bout 4 hours, 'nough for most dungeons."

    The trio listens and takes in the new information, aftering seeing what the fancy glowsticks light up. Navarre falls back to her usual rear, guard position, swapping the glowstick gun for her usual pistols.

    Alain nods to Gaius. "I prefer not to split our team. We'll remain here to cover you, if you're amenable." He taps his radio headset. "Got a frequency we can raise you on if there's trouble?"

Mantigora (583) has posed:
"Source of dumb mist somewhere deeper in complex then," Skuzzler replies, scientific observation slipping into a bit of stating the obvious there. There's a faint audible thrum from his cannon as it's powered up a bit. "Probably needs blowing up."

"Not until we're sure." Mantigora steps on Skuzzler's tail before he can go scurrying off, nodding a bit at the trio. Then gives him a shove in their direction. "You stay here with them." Then turns and follows after Gaius.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius looks at the trio team and nods. "Understandable." He then reaches into his pouch and tosses them a earpiece device. "That is already hooked to the frequency. Once done here, it will burn the tech within.. and no.. it wont harm you."

Gaius then gives a nod to Garen, and then looks over to Mantigora. "Are you sure they will be safe with him?" There is a hint of an amused sound in his voice. Though he doesn't stand around long to hear the full answer.

The path they take remains dark, but as they get closer to the door and loud thump is heard, before a low hum. Some sparks fly around the wires near them and then the lights flicker on near the door, though they glow in a red color.

The Legatus only takes a momentary step back as everything turns on. Not expecting /something/ to actually still be working and more correctly unsure if some type of weapon would not activate on them. Though he motions for Garen to take one side and for Mantigora to take the other.

As for himself, he readies his Gunblade, as he then goes to take very careful steps toward the door. Unsure if it will open on its own or if its jammed...

As for the group back at the main point, they get a nice light show from what happens down there, but things seem pretty quiet for them. Beyond a few sparks go off near a few of them and some sparks from the broken lights above.

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen nods and takes the side closest to him. He fell quiet, and gripped his rifle tighter. He was ready to react at a moments notice. Of course, he also kept his nice thermal detonators very close as well....just in case.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    "Gotta keep it secure, huh?" Alain catches it, then tosses it to Hereward--the only one who doesn't already have a piece in his ear. Hereward, in turn, slides it on.

    With a sort of hand gesture/pseudo hand signal, Hereward covers the path Gaius, Garen, and Mantigora didn't take, Navarre covers the way back, and Alain covers the path they did take, but more loosely. All three of them look up briefly at the sparks and light show.

    "Someone found the power," Hereward smirks. Alain looks to Skuzzler appraisingly for a few moments. "If something comes knockin', you good in a fight?" A pause. "I'll lay it out for you real quick anyway. Something /does/ come knockin, we'll have Hereward here in the front--" Hereward gives another one of his big grins, "And Navarre slinging spells from the back." A nod's given to the gun-wielding mage, but she avoids eye contact as usual... simply shifting uncomfortably as attention's called to her.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
"He's mostly harmless as long as he doesn't have something to blow up," Mantigora replies with a bit of tongue-in-cheek response as they walk down the corridor. She's already got her main weapons out. She actually considered wearing the gun-blades she had received for the holiday, but with the risk of Garlean technology being screwed with decided it was not a good option. She steps right into position on one side of Gaius without missing a stride, this being far from the first time she's done escort duty to investigating ruined complexes.

Skuzzler jerks as things start sparking at the juncture, whipping his rediculously large in comparison weapon back and forth. But nothing comes of it, and after a moment of scanning the sparking lights the Scanbot floats back down to reaffirm that nothing actually activated. "Huh. Must of found secondary source of power. Maybe emergency protocol backup..."

With no immeadiate danger he turns back to Alain and Co. "Oh, no need to worry." He hefts up the already large launcher, only for the apeture to open -even farther- via some kind of advanced technology to reveal the glowing depths of power within the weapon. "Chua science very good for destroying things. It thing we do." An entire race of mad scientist space hamsters. Be glad tehre's only one here.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
As both take their positions, Gaius then steps toward the door. With a flew clicks, the door then starts to slide open. Even as a few sparks can be seen from perhaps old mechanical protests. Yet as it opens, more aetheric fog rolls out, and moves around Gaius' knees as it keeps rolling out.

"This room is heavy with aetheric energy from readings.. and perhaps the source of the fog-- stay on guard. Voidsent may be in the area.." This line is repeated down the comm signal. Giving that even though none may not be here right now-- doesn't mean they wont be later.

Once the door fully opens, Gaius goes to move in with careful steps, his gunblade sweeping ahead, before he just comes to a dead stop. "..By his Radiance.." The Legatus says softly as he lowers his weapon.

In the room is a massive floor space. Large tanks can be found from the ground heading up to the cieling with murky liquid inside. Giant cables are hooked up the tanks, all leading to several terminals. The lights here give off a white blue glow and the formations glow with aetheric light that have found their way out.

What is more pressing is that beyond the main floor they stand on, is an area that goes further out and drops down with a large metal terminal of some kind with all types of switches, nobs, and keyboards on it. Including a few sphere placements.

The room further out is far larger and even more of these chambers can be found, though many of them broken or empty it would seem, the aetheric power seemed to be going to one location, but whatever was there was now gone.

Perhaps what was taken two days ago by 'L'.

Down back in the tunnel, nothing continues to happen. Though a clicking sound for a moment could be heard. Yet after a few clicks, it seems to go away. Silence once more finding the area.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora growls through her teeth at the mention of Voidsent. That is an experience that she is not going to forget any time soon. She follows along as Gaius walks through the chamber, but she's constantly turning to check other directions, her tail lashing with obvious anxiety. Maybe she was being a bit paranoid, but after last time, it's well justified.

After a moment of nothing appearing to try and murder them she pauses, narrowing her eyes at some of the tanks. "They look... almost like some kind of regeneration chamber." Then turns her head back towards Gaius. "The dragons with L, they were -made- of aetheric energy, were they not? Not to mention the state of him and your 'old friend'." Though the way she says that last phrase is clearly in sarcasm.

At the word to follow after the others Skuzzler narrows his eyes behind his headgear. "Sound like they found something. Be careful." With cannon held ready in front of him the armored fuzzball starts marching down the corridor. Fortunately his stride is short and easy to keep up with. Tension must be settling in, he's actually being less erratic than usual.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Skuzzler gets a respectful nod from Alain. Hereward, on the other hand... one might not think it possible but his grin grows even larger. "Sick. You gotta show me that thing in action sometime." He also passes on what he got from the earpiece to Alain and Navarre.

    Hereward grins over to Skuzzler, hefting his own weapon which, alas, isn't nearly as impressive. "Always expecting trouble, yeah?" This doesn't sound like a criticism at all.

    Alain, however, is paying a bit more attention and catches the clicks. He and Navarre exchange a look. "Sweep," he says tersely. Hereward turns away from the conversation and all three start doing just that for their areas. Looking over everything carefully, looking for anything that might have changed. This includes careful inspect of the floor and ceiling, which might seem a bit silly when watching them but they don't seem to mind that for thoroughness.

    Alain in particular pulls out that camcorder-like device again, expanding his search beyond the visible spectrum. Then Hereward updates the others on the radio chatter again. All three begin to move down the passage Gaius & co took before, but they aren't assuming it's safe just because it's already been traveled.

    But if they get that far without incident, Hereward will call out over the radio that they're coming through the door just before they do.

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen stares at what was inside, speechless for the moment. "This is...do you think it's possible Nael or this 'L' can be a clone made in this location, or trying to make something?" He asks. He also makes a move towards his belt, prepared to give the Legatus the means to level the place.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius walks carefully toward the main terminal looking out toward the larger room. His hand reaches out as he slides it across one of the tanks. His fingers easily sliding away any residue and dust that has come to rest on the surface for years.

"I am not sure if they are regeneration chambers or something else.. we have seen tanks like these from the reports of the Allagan Ruins you have been aiding us in within Ala Mhigo," The Legatus says to Mantigora as he pauses at one of them. Carefully then tapping it. "..and Aye. They were made of aetheric energy.. but beings of aetheric come and go.. they do not require a physical form to hold, and they materialize their own."

Gaius then steps up the terminal, he places his hands on a part of it where nothing can be touched. "Curious.." One may notice if they look over to where he stands, that the terminal itself was /clean/. No dust, no grime. Everything about it was almost as if someone had restored it. "Seems this may have been where L found that device from.. but why so much work to clean off the terminal to just take a device?"

The Black Wolf then turns to look at Garen. "A clone? Doubtful. Nael Darnus has become an Eikon-- though how I am unsure. The other man was tempered to an Eikon.. but not to Nael." He then looks back out toward the main chamber. "The tanks are also far to large for a man.. to wide as well.."

He then looks down at the terminal his hands are resting on. "Yet with the heavy drain to the aetheric crystals.. and this place still having aetheric energy.. possible that L could have used this location to perhaps give Nael Darnus the power he required to manifest..." Though the Legatus voice still held a manner of uncertainty to it.

While the team swept the area, they would find nothing coming their way. Though another click could be heard. Though with the one click, it was gone again.

The scanner would show the heavy energy in the air, making it perhaps difficult to pick up anything. Apparently even with the aetheric crystals drained the energy coming from that one room is creating a large enough aetheric blanket in the air itself.

Though for a moment back down the left hall, one may pick up the aether is moving slightly. Like something is vacuuming it up, but only bit by bit. Though what is impossible to tell and it seems to be out of sight, further down the passage way.

Garen (530) has posed:
    "Do you think it's possible that this is the site, that they found a way to make Eikons? It would make sense as to why they would take a single device. Perhaps it alone holds the key." He suggests. Though he looks towards the enterance, watching for a moment.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Once they come in, the Crew pauses a moment to take in the room. "Huh. Like something out o' one of those scifi shows," Hereward comments. Navarre just follows, eyes alighting on the various bits of machinery in muted interesting. Alain, meanwhile, is busy fiddling with the camcorder thingy. And muttering a few curses at it.

    He'll try to set the sensitive to ignore the ambient levels which, if successful, means plenty could still hide under that noise floor. But maybe he'll be able to see a few stronger signals, at least.

    Hereward just folds his arms as he listens, looking at the terminal unimpressed. Or, perhaps, just offended that it's functionality isn't obvious. "So what's all this about Eikons?"

Mantigora (583) has posed:
"Yet again finding an answer only brings more questions," Mantigora lets a mutter out under her breath. Her attention narrows at the terminal. "Regardless if it was the device or something else, that terminal is way too clean to not have been used recently." At the click she looks up, but again it disappears. Unfortunately to her that is -not- reassuring.

The Draken remains on edge. Her demenor is much like that of animal with their back to the wall, constantly watching the shadows for phanthoms to strike. "This place is not somewhere we should linger longer than need be."

As he waddles in with the Crew Skuzzler notices how Mantigora is acting, which makes his metal-rimmed ears slick back. "Nothing good come when she pacing like that..."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius almost makes out the click as well and turns to look toward the door, then upward, then out toward the main room. He stares in direction for a moment before he rumbles softly. "We are safe for the moment.."

He then goes back to what he was focusing on, which is the terminal. "I may be able to find out what was last logged in the activities here. If the data was not erased." He admits as he goes to tap a few keys on the board,. which then glow gently under each tap he makes. "..if the screen will activate that is.."

What screen?

He seem to repeat the pattern again, before rumbling in mild frustration. The Legatus then moves around the other side of the device and goes to open a panel, crouching down with ease in that heavy armor of his, seeming to be studying the internal workings.

"Here is the problem to the theory that L made Nael an Eikon however.. Nael Darnus died. There was no body to be found, but his death was recorded. Yet prior to Dalamud, there was reports from a few of my spies that Nael was seen in the invasions into some of the cities." Gaius pauses about then with a low rumble. "..Nael was already possibly an Eikon before the Calamity-- but either way.. be that information true or if somehow L was able to reproduce Nael's essence into an aetherical being.. it will chance the very knowledge we have in the achieves on Eikons."

Gaius then reaches in and starts to mess with something inside. "As for what are Eikons.." There was then a flicker of light from one of the orbs, though it fades away. He then moves his hand again and the light flickers once more before the three orbs seem to have a blue glowing ring around them.

The Legatus then removes his hand out before going to close the panel as he talks. "At least by what we know-- they are known as Primals and the Twelve by those within the region of Eozea. They are beings of aetheric energy that exist on the aetheric plane. They exist because their are people who worship them into existence."

Gaius then goes to look at the Ghost team. "They consume a great deal of aetheric energy in order to manifest themselves into the material plane.. this either given to them by their followers.. or they steal it from the land itself.. or even from living beings if they must."

"Eikons are a danger to everyone.. and to the world at large.. it is why the Garlean Empire has been working to wipe them off the face of existence.. though so far the best way we been able to do this is by executing any worshipers and banning any practice of religion in our areas of control."

Gaius then turns back to the terminal. "But even that is not truly the answer to end their lives."

"It just keeps them from being able to form on a material level.."

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen listens quietly to the explaination. "Sadly, Legatus...That is the curse of their religion. Banning it's practice and executing the followers only makes martyrs. The Empire's tried it before...the best way to get rid of them is to make them out to be the enemy. Make the followers afraid. Still..." He then falls quiet, thinking for a bit. "Could we do the same with Nael, with that strange power to sway the minds...Hrm..."

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Navarre and Hereward both look to Skuzzler when he says that. They've already got their weapons in hand... but there's not much more they can do than continue to look around carefully.

    Alain finally gives up on his device and stows it away. He shoots an inquiring look at the other two, both of whom shake their heads.

    "Huh," Hereward grunts, with a glance to Alain. "So kinna like parasite summons. Evil parasite summons." Navarre also glances towards Alain, who pretends to ignore all save Gaius's explanations.

    Alain simple says to the other two, "Let's keep up the perimeter in case he's right." 'He' is clarified to mean Skuzzler with a quick nod to the creature.

    Then to Garen and Mantigora, "Picked up anything so far?"

    And Alain himself, he'll just have to rely on his own two eyes, something Hereward sneaks in a snide remark about.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
"No... but at times like this, that is less reassuring than more so," Mantigora replies. "Do not be alarmed. I am not going anywhere. Technically." Though after she says that there's a brief crackle of digitalized energy around her and the Draken fades out of view. There's a vage ripple to the cloaking effect as she creeps closer towards the door to watch it, but with the mists and the lack of clear light it'd be hard for anyone to notice.

Skuzzler in contrast backs up, edging closer to Gaius and the terminal with his cannon gripped tightly in both paws. An ear quirks at the Legatus' explaination, then he glances off towards on the tanks. "Then.. maybe that is what they did here? Collect aether to allow themselves to take form." Pause. Though the thought makes his ears flick back again. "Or to make their master able to take form..."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
"Perhaps it does not work for yours Garen-- but I assure you-- the way his Radiance has us handle the concept of people whom dare to speak an Eikon's name.." Gaius only looks over his shoulder slightly. "The people by the end of the day rather turn one over, then take a chance at what could happen."

"Also given propaganda-- people learn through generations what is the truth about what it is their ancestors once worshiped." Gaius decides to add as he goes back to typing in the commands one more time.

"I also admit," To Hereward, "I do not know what your parasite summons are.. but an Eikon is never be messed with once it has formed into the material plane. They have the ability to temper anyone.. and tempering is a form of.. mind control. We do not fully understand how it works and have been experimenting on many we have captured that have fallen under the effect."

About then Gaius hits the final button to send the command and the three orbs spin up before suddenly a holographic screen forms up with a gentle blue glow. Three different lines of code scroll by, before the two side 'windows' have a type of pattern, while the center is waiting for input. "..this is one of the older models.." Gaius murmurs to himself. "..should have guessed by the keyboard.."

Gaius starts to type in several strings of lines in rather quick succession. Though as he does so, there is a roar out in the distance, as something goes leaping out from a crevice and slams into another something. The roar itself almost sounded unearthly.

They looked slightly larger then a man, but to far out to make any good details. Yet what they do impact is one of the tanks out there, which shatters open spilling out the liquid-- which causes the two creatures to run-- and then dumping a carcass of some kind onto the ground.

That-- looked draconic.

Gaius only glances up slightly at this, but keeps on working. "..do not.. open fire.." He says with a /very/ calm and collected voice. "..they will ignore us for now.."

Though as he continues to work one of the tanks near by them bubbles for a moment, as something bumps into the dust and grim covered 'glass'.

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen heard the roar and brought his rifle up, only to lower it at the legatus' word. "If you say so.....any clues on what went on here? Those looked less then human."

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Alain and Hereward nod to Mantigora; invisibility doesn't seem to phase them much.

    "Nah nah, I mean like, we've got summons, all that extraplanar BS, eikons sound kinna like that but all paraoshit." Hereward swings his gun up towards the creature with Navarre following suite... it's a good thing Gaius says not to shoot or they probably just would have. They both lower their weapons reluctantly, but they're keeping an eye on it.

    Alain just watches. "Don't get tunnel vision." And, though they're keeping an eye on the creatures and their ritual, they do keep a lookout around while Gaius handles all the console bits.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora jumps and spins around at the shattering of a tank, not that anyone can see her do it. Her gaze shifts, trying to track whatever it was that smashed the equipment as long as she can, but even the range of her tech was limited by the thickness of the energized mists.

Skuzzler just outright jumps. Then fumbles with his cannon, but manages to keep his hands on it before he drops it. But rather than the fleeing creature he points it at what feel out of the tank. This is lab. Nothing ever good falls out of tanks in labs. Minions that do not realize this are dead minions. It's not moving... but that doesn't mean it's dead. "Is that one of dragon things?"

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius reads some lines, types a bit more and then reaches over with his hand to top one of the side windows, seeming to pull up something. "..good.. that works.." He then seems to be looking for something as he keeps 'turn the pages' as were.

The Legatus then speaks to Garen as he asks. "Those two creatures that were fighting-- and perhaps the clicks? Voidsent. What fell out of the tank.. a dragon.. yes," That confirms Skuzzler's question. "Though from what details my HUD could catch in detail-- not one of the breeds from Dravan.. though alike.. seem them in records.. Mysidia. Long dead civilization of dragons. Were at war with the Allagans and lost. Probably brought here for experimentation of some kind."

"I'd have to ask one of my more historical comrades regarding that whole ordeal if its any interest." Gaius admits as he continues to work, pausing at one point, and then goes back to typing. "I found the log.. sadly I don't have the equipment to download it..."

"Could remove the drive-- but that could also damage it.."

Though as he continues to work, the screen suddenly shorts out. "What the bloody--" and then the power drops completely. Gaius pauses what he was doing and quickly looks ahead and then around. "Bloody perfect.."

Then there was another thump on the tank, before something suddenly starts to claw at it from inside, this catches Gaius' attention quickly, as he looks directly at the tank.

The aetheric scanner that the Ghost team has shows the movement in the tanks as something seems to be coming 'back' to life. A dragon at that, with some type of collar around its neck. It claws, snaps its teeth. However it is easy to even watch it struggle, before it at last seems to stop moving. Drowning perhaps.. and the their scanner can even see the aetheric energy fading from it.

Shortly after that is when the power comes back online and the screen comes right back up. There is a hooded figure on the screen. With possibly elf ears and his upper face hidden, but his lower part of his face easy to make out. "Greetings. My colleague foretold that you would be far to curious to not pass up this chance.. Seems he was correct."

Though as the figure speaks and the power comes back. It is easy to see the device out in the center starts to charge up by itself. Aetheric energy crackling and popping in the center against one another as the currents spark, colliding into one another with large bursts of energy.

Garen (530) has posed:
    "Legatus...I think we should bid a quick escape..."Garen started. Then the report from the radio makes him narrow his red eyes. "Why am I always walking into traps..." He mutters. He figure that the only reason to be alarmed was that the door shut itself.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Sadly Alain's put the device away, although if that would have made it any less creepy... who knows. But when the place is plunged into darkness, Alain and Navarre both start tossing out those light sticks around. And then the power back... well, at least it won't be too completely dark if it's lost again.

    The Crew looks on edge, however, and Hereward's sudden "Oh we did /not/ just get trapped in here..." doesn't help. Alain chews his lip hard, looking around and seemingly trying to evaluate. Urgently, "Nav, shut it down. Try." He points to the device in the center.

    Navarre, tense and anxious from the developments, gives a taciturn, quick nod. She takes on a focused look and aether gathers around her in the way it tends to when casters start casting a spell: She tries to apply Stop to the device, freezing it in time.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
You can tell when someone is experience with this sort of thing when their reaction to the doors locking and the big bad appearing on a screen to tell you that you've walked into a trap is to slap one palm to their face.

Fortunately Mantigora retracts her arm-blades before doing so. "Your 'old friend' knows you too well, Legatus," she replies flatly.

She takes out the light stick she was given, and tosses it to Skuzzler as turning it on would give away her position in the darkness. The Chua flicks it on, then sticks it to his Scanbot to keep his hands for operating his weapon. "Officially second worse dungeon delve ever!"

Don't ask what the first worse was.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The aetheric flow of Nav's spell seems to be just consumed by the device out in the far center of the room. Several creatures like the two that were fighting earlier can be seen roaring up at it and actually /running/ from it.

Gaius can only step back and then points his left arm outward. There was a blue glow from his gauntlet, before he fires off several blue plasma shots toward it-- only to find those too being absorbed in. Which causes the Legatus to rumble. "Everyone," he then takes aim with his gunblade at the cords at the device, before he trails it down at one of the creatures taking a moment to not run and looking up at them.

That was until Gaius took a shot at it causing it to actually run like the others. "If the main door is sealing, I suggest everyone quickly /run/ before it fully seals. I'm going to attempt to override what has been done here. If the aetheric power hits critical level, it will channel outward and cause a massive explosion."

"Including maybe buying you all some time--" Though Gaius' thought was cut off as the hooded man speaks once more.

"It is pointless to buy time. The aetheric harvester will explode and the first victory for my master's breed will begin.. and running to the door is rather useless as the realization of it should have been made when the power first went out."

"There is no where to escape.. no where to run. For the new world will have no place for /your/ kind."

Gaius sneers behind the helm, before he looks ahead, only to catch a glimpse of what seems like a person. He tilts his head as he watches them suddenly head in the direction of the Voidsent went. ".. We may not get out the way we came in-- but the Voidsent have survived down here for some time.."

The Garlean Legatus then goes to step over the ledge and motions to everyone. "Lets move! Slide down the surface and run in the same direction that the Voidsent did. Go!"

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen looks over and nods. "You can forget the noble sacrifice, Legatus. We got here as a team, we leave as a team." He says, before taking off running.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Navarre's head lowers slightly when the spell is simply absorbed. Listening to the jerk voice, Hereward says, "So we just gotta smash it?" But then they're told to run -- "/Move/" Alain adds -- and don't stop running. So they do. Fortunately the kids seem in shape.

    Hereward maybe looks a little disappointed at not getting the try to smash the device. Just before they leap to slide down, each of them pulls out a grappling device-- just in case they need to better control their descent, or outright stop it at some point.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
If she had been closer to him Mantigora probably would of smacked Legatus and told him he wasn't making any self-sacrifices for their sake. But fortunately both the stupid recording and Garen beat her to it. "He is a fool. No trap is inescapable."

"NOW can I blow it up?"
"It's bad enough as it is, you moron!"

Hardly the first time she has to grab Skuzzler by the collar of his armor and haul him after her, leaving him looking just as disgruntled as Hereward at not getting to break the contraption.

At the ledge she jumps over it without hesitation. Hitting the slope the high traction design of her boots take grip, helping her control her descent sliding down it. "He may know you and your men, Legatus." She's been through action like this before, she has little trouble keeping up some mid-drama conversation at the same time. "But he still underestimates your allies he is unfamiliar with."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
"Who ever said I was thinking about a noble sacrifice.." Gaius rumbles softly, there may even be a roll of the eyes behind his helm. Youth and their noble sacrifice concept. There is a reason he has lived to be fifty four.. soon to be fifty five.. and it was not ever about being noble. Honorable, yes-- noble?

Hardly.

Once everyone drops down, the voice can be heard over a loud speaker which echoes in the massive chamber. "Yet my colleague did not want me to /kill/ for the sins that must be paid. Not yet-- so think of it this way.. you get a chance to fight for your freedom.. where they.. never had a chance too."

Gaius slides down and his hand carving into the metal wall as they go down. A stream of red glow can be seen against the black metal as the Magitek keeps power to his own gauntlet in order to keep the hold. "That is perhaps the saving grace of it, Mantigora. Neither this 'L' or Nael knows how the Multiverse works.. and that alone could bring their fall. It is what I am /counting/ on."

Once everyone hits the ground, the path way is easy to see. Dead dragon bones line the ground, with crates below them-- including moving murky water of some kind. Yet standing at the tunnel where the Voidsent had run was someone with a hooded cloak on and leather armor of white and red. Female at that, with no weapons on her that could be seen.

She looked at the group and then quickly ran into the tunnel, which though it was dark, emergency lights seem to keep it slightly lit.

Gaius however was not going to question a gift horse in the mouth, so if anyone asked to 'follow her?', they can figure the answer was going to be yes.

Though the hum from the gathering of aetheric energy was only getting louder.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    No one seems to enjoy the slide down... well, no, Hereward's grinning like Christmas has come early. Navarre, on the other hand, seems to be barely keeping a lid on her terror. But they manage, using the devices to dig into the wall and slow them once they near the bottom.

    They land on their feet, perhaps stumbling for a second, but then it's a chase scene and they're all running after. Hereward in front, as usual, and Navarre closing up behind. "Hey Nav!" Alain calls, "Try again!"

    And she does, but this time it's a gravity spell, an attempt to weigh the fleeing figure down.

    "Hah! Lemme try!" Hereward bellows, and raising the drum-fed weapon. The auto-shotgun barks out a single shot, but it's not a damaging one. Just the Gunner ability, Blindshot.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
"We'll make sure of it." As she hits the bottom of the slope Mantigora literally throws Skuzzler in front of her. The chua bounces off a couple of the floating boxes before tumbling to a stop at the entrance of the tunnel as the woman runs off down it. Mantigora isn't far behind though, powerful predator legs and balance making traversing the crates in the muck less of a hastle than it could be.

Skuzzler manages to point down the tunnel and mutter "She go that way" before his partner grabs him off the ground without breaking pace.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The woman yelps as the gravity spells suddenly slows her down and she impacts into the ground with a hard roll. The shot comes damn close as she tries to roll out of the way. As she goes to get back up her face becomes obvious. Blonde hair that hangs along her youthful face.

Before she grits under her teeth, "..that did not go according to plan.."

She then tries to scramble back up to her feet, fighting off the effects of the gravity-- or trying to, before nearly stumbling again. It seems while the Voidsent went down the tunnel and perhaps went straight off into the darkness, she was trying to scramble up the tunnel.

The woman quickly places up her hands as she can hear the people getting closer. "Do not shoot again! Please! I am trying to help!"

The trio probably would have come up to her first, followed by Garen. Gaius was keeping pace with Mantigora, if not right behind her tail. Perhaps just out of habit to make sure his men always stayed ahead of him. Once Gaius arrived there, he looked down at the woman, before he just-- stared at her.

She gave a very meek smile. "..Hello Black Wolf.. It is best to not ask /why/ I am aiding you, just accept that I am-- and consider my assistance that you will let me leave once we arrive back at the surface-- I know we don't have much time to discuss that, but.. though I have seen little-- I know enough."

"Now please-- undo the spell.. we are running out of time." She says with a bit of panic in her voice, a she looks up at them. "And if you had followed the Voidsent-- you never would have escaped.. he rigged it that way."

Mantigora (583) has posed:
The tunnel slope just gets a flat look out of Skuzzler. "What with all the climbing? No fair, chua got shorter arms and legs than everyone else!"

"Why are you complaining, you make me do it for us both," Mantigora snaps back. But that doesn't stop her from slinging him onto her back much like the way they had arrived. He was just too dang slow due to said short legs.

She gives the woman a brief look. "We'd do better to take her with us, than leave her here. War has a way of making strange bedfellows."
"This is no time for nap!"
"That is not what... uuh, nevermind!" Mantigora just growls at her sidekick. "Why do I put up with you..."
Skuzzler manages a somewhat cheezy grin that shows his buck teeth. "Because I fly ship and blow things up real good?"
".. That about sums it up, yes."

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    "Uh huh, sure ya ar--Oh, you really are pals? Or whatever the hell the war makes you..." Only then does Hereward lower the gun. Navarre, one hand on her scarf, looks away while Hereward continues, "We ain't got a white ma--"

    But Alain tosses Minfilia a Remedy. "Mystery woman here better be worth it," the smaller of the brothers murmurs, "Those are expensive."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The woman catches the bottle and then takes only a bit from it-- not the whole container. She then uses what bit she placed in her palm and closes her eyes. Which seems to free up the magical effect itself.

She then hands what is left in the bottle back over as she stands up. "Who I am doesn't matter, now does it, Black Wolf?" She then turns around and goes to step up, before looking back at the group, throwing the hood back over her head. "..I also take the long silence is an agreement to it."

Gaius doesn't say /anything/, his silence continues even as she starts to climb up. Before he exhales gently. "..Next time." he at lasts says. He looks over to the group, "Let us just say.. she is a /keen/ interest of mine and the Garlean Empire."

As the group starts to climb, the woman continues to lead the way, including the path of least resistance. "It showed me that you would all come here-- and get trapped... while it seems possible that the White Raven..if you can still call him that.. desires to see what type of opposition he'll have.. the other that I have yet to figure out who.. has no love for /anyone/, other then the children of Bahamut."

She comes to a stop at ledge which requires a bit of a jump, but she reaches over and pulls down a rusty pipe, making it a worthy walking platform. Though it will take some balance. "But that is all I have been shown.. the abilities of.. well.. a power.. can no longer truly gaze ahead.. and it would seem I am the last." Her blue eyes cut over to Gaius about then. "Though don't take it as an invitation, Legatus."

"Hm." Is all Gaius has to say in reply to this. Continuing to keep his silence.

When the woman then goes to walk across, she does so with a bit of grace. But her foot work was a bit overly cautious. "Once we get past this.. there s a grate ahead.. it will need to be removed in order.." That is when the area suddenly shakes. The woman gasps out a yelp as her balance is thrown off and he starts to go over...

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen had been following, honest! So when he spots the poor girl starting to go over, he springs into action. He leaps over anyone in the way, slips an arm around her and moves to bring her in, all while doing it in the suavest way possible. "Perhaps I should take you to dinner after this." He quips afterwards.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora has little trouble keeping her footing with the shaking thanks to her advanced and augmented balance. But Garen beats her to the punch when the mystery woman looses her footing, because such casual disregard of ones own safety for another isn't really high in the Draken list of priorities, unless it's someone you're -really- well associated with. But when Garen jumps to grab onto her, Mantigora reachs out to grab onto the sniper just to make sure he doesn't go over the edge with her. Not to ruin his moment of being all dashing, its entirely to ensure it saves both of them. "I know this is obvious, but watch your step."

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Alain just hmphs, taking the phial back and tucking it away once more. Hereward gives Minfilia a subzero grin. Navarre just ignores her, but she mostly ignores everyone. But they follow, listening with varying degrees of interest as she goes on. Mostly just focused on navigating the terrain.

    Hereward lets our a rumbling laugh, "Ain't no /grate/ gonna stop us!" When the area shakes, all three stumble but quickly lower to a crouch for stability until it passes. Or if it doesn't pass, they'll just move cautiously. When Minfilia starts to fall, Navarre's eyes widen and she starts to cast a spell-- perhaps something to slow it or even manipulating gravity to pull her back up?-- But Garen smoothly averts disaster, and she lets the partially formed spell dissipate.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The woman gasps as she is suddenly saved and stares right at the blue man who has done so. Those blue eyes of hers look directly at his red ones before she goes to step away. "Nice try, but I have a friend much like you-- I know where this goes, besides.." She points at Gaius with her brows furrowed. "Your with him.."

Though that is when the rumble happens again. "We are running out of time." She quickly quips out, before booking up the rest of the way.

Gaius only observes the activities and lets everyone else cross, before he dares to do so. His silence continuing to remain. What is with this woman and somehow causing the Legatus to fall quiet as he has. Though he has never been one to speak much unless someone asks him a question to do so.

The woman then comes up to the grate and looks back toward the trio of mercenaries. She then steps away from it. It is easy to see Mor Dhona from here and even the Castrum that resides within Mor Dhona. Though it doesn't look like a great fall, but if done carefully once this grate is removed-- a ledge can be seen. "Well-- this is the grate you will need to remove."

She then looks over to them all. "Mayhaps I will meet some of you again-- though hopefully not with the Imperials in your presence." She then takes a step back, resting her backside against the wall. "Though tell me, Black Wolf-- have you seen Cid?"

Gaius then looks at her, his head lowers slightly. Silence still lingering over him.

"I see.. so even you do not know where he has gone after the Calamity." She frowns at this. "I'd had but hoped you would have known..." She the closes her eyes for a moment, before her hands start to glow gently. "Well then.. may you all walk in the Crystal's light. for the future is dark indeed for our world.. and perhaps.. others as well."

"..Because I've seen only glimpses.. but.." She looks at them all, even to Gaius. "..he is far more powerful then he ever was in life.. Bahamut has seen to this." Then as she places her hands together. "..and perhaps in trying to catch a glimpse.. in trying to see for a moment.. I think he may have become aware of me as well. Please be careful-- but I have faith that all of you will prevail." Her entire form glows before she seems to simply vanish with a wink of flicker.

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen shrugs his shoulders. "Worth a shot, my dear. But your right, we should hurry." He says. He then looks over the grate. "A small, controlled explosive should work." He then points to the Chua. "You've been aching to blow something up...I vote we let him have some fun." He says, sly grin on his lips.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Hereward's laugh rumbles out again as Garen gets the cold shoulder. "Better luck next time bud." Alain, however, pays less attention to that, and more to the dynamic between Minfilia and Gaius. But he stays quiet. When they get to the grate, he starts to reach for something, but Hereward stops him with a hand. "Nah, let's see what Skuzz's got, I wanna see this."

    They all stand a safe ways back, probably ready to duck behind a corner. Navarre most of all, though she does look on, amber eyes showing at least mild interest.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora snorts at 'controlled explosive'. Someone doesn't know Chua very well. Those two words don't even go together in their vocabulary.

"Just explosives? Pff." Skuzzler hefts up his launcher cannon and points it at the grate, bracing it with the other hand. "Besides, we still in enclosed areas. Too much boom might bury us before we get out whole." Which is followed by a smug grin that curls his 'evil scientist mustache' up at the ends as he pulls one of the Volitality canisters off his belt and shoves it into what approximates a loading breech on the weapon. "But boom not only way to blow things up. Hehehe... Ahahaha... WHAHAHAHAHAH!" It goes full out maniacal laughter as he pulls the trigger and several targetting marks blip to life on the grate.

Once again the end of the cannon opens up wider, this time energy visible building up at an expotential rate, until the Particle Ejector finally fires a massive beam at the grate in what's close to a handheld particle accelerator as one is going to get. Not so much of an explosive boom, but definately big enough of a high energy discharge to blow that grate and possibly some of the wall around it away.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius can only watch as the woman vanishes and then takes a step back as the Fuzzball does his mad science thing. Watching as the grate is blasted right off by the sheer force of the weapon. "Impressive." The Legatus says as he takes note of the outside. Though with the rumble and the flicker of light in the distance perhaps came just in time.

"Out! Now!" He then barks. It be easy to see why when a fireball can be seen coming in the distance!

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen looks behind him to see the fireball. QUITE uncerimoniously, he grabs the Chua. "Sorry for this." He says to him and slips right out of the grate.

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    If Hereward wore sunglasses, he'd be lifting them up right now. He lets out a long, low whistle. "Damn. /DAMN./" The Shivan's about grinning ear to ear, and he strokes his stubble with a hand. "Where can I get me one o' th--letsgonow"

    Alain looks impressed, his eyebrows going up, but it's comparatively subdued. Navarre, well... she just looks away, hard to say what she thinks. But then when the fireball's coming, getting out seems to be an unspoken agreement.

    They don't seem to have any problem just jumping-- Navarre casts Float on her two brothers and herself as they run.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
If it wasn't for the tense moment Mantigora would probably laugh as someone else grabs onto Skuzzler and bolts out the opening, the latter only managing a yelp of surprise. Which again is mostly at it being someone else, he's use to being handled around roughly considering his compatriate does it a lot just to keep him in line.

Mantigora has to duck down a bit to get through, and once she's jumped outside and past the 'no indoor use' limitation her hoverboard materializes under her feet. It can't fly but it will at least take some of the shock out of whatever surface or slope they have to decent to get away from what's going to become a fiery blasthole -very- soon.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The Legatus leaps out, even with his own head duck, which shortly behind him is the fireball. The armored Garlean seems to flip easily enough in the air and where one would wonder why no magic is activated by him to soften his landing-- it becomes obvious.

He lands down on the hard ground in a three prong stance. The Magitek suit of armor seeming to compensate for the sheer amount of force, even as the ground cracks under the impact itself. Slow Gaius stands up and looks up toward the fireball, before he taps his comm to get on the line for a pickup.

He then looks over to the others. "Is everyone alright?"

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen his the ledge hard, but doesn't give any ground. Quickly, he sets Skuzzler down and nods towards Gaius. "That was enlightening..."

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Alain echos Gaius question to his own little team, but with a look rather than words. Hereward oofs a little bit, hitting the ground despite the Float spell, but calls out, "I'm good!" Navarre manages a little more gracefully, checking herself and then nodding before settling on the ground.

    Hereward looks over to Gaius. "Nice landing, bro." Well, it's not like he can tell Gaius's age under that suit of armor, and the Gunner seems to mean it... even if 'bro' gets a look of distaste from Alain. "You all right, little fur-man?" Hereward then asks Skuzzler.

    "Seems we're all OK," Alain confirms to Gaius.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Just as she reachs the ground Mantigora deactivates the hoverboard, coming to a skidding stop on her feet. "Fine, Legatus, fine... I would say I have evacuated through worst, but this was pretty far up there." Frighteningly, in the end she sounds more -amused- by it than anything else. Then again, bounty hunter. This was the sort of excitement she lived for really.

Once he's set on the ground Skuzzler shakes himself off. Licks his fingers, if only to use them smooth out his moustache and goatee. "Appreciate assistance.. but not hugging you. Chua don't hug." He does, however, give Garen's leg a pat before he trods away. "You make someone very good minion."

Mantigora gives Garen a somewhat apologetic look. "Don't take it the wrong way. For Chua being a 'minion' is just a social step in their culture."

"Yes yes. Minions only have to listen who they work for, not everyone that yell at them ever! Reliable minions have best odds at living long enough to be actual Operative."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius gives a nod of his head as everyone checks out fine. "A pick up will be here shortly. You all did a fine job in there." The Legatus then looks at the three of them, before reaching into a pouch and each of them a credit slip. Multiverse money conversation--good stuff. "Payment as agreed."

"Your team operates well and is highly effective. I will keep your group in mind for any future operations that may require some assistance."

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora accepts the pouch, as much as she knows her efforts helping the Garleans in their activities are appreciated. This is still a job, after all. For bounty hunters jobs are only good when you get paid for them, personal interests in the matter aside. "While it was not the specific answers we were looking for, we certainly learned a few things today."

Ghost Crew One (683) has posed:
    Alain accepts the slip with a respectful inclination of his head. "Thank you. I appreciate that you were willing to look out of us." He taps the respirator, though it's remained unused, attached to his toolbelt. "We'll leave the equipment on your transport. And Hereward!" He turns and calls, tapping his ear.

    "Ah yeah, that." He takes the earpiece out and tosses it back to Gaius. Then Alain turns back, "If you need a reference to recruit other Syndicate Ops, let us know and we'll provide it."

    Navarre, meanwhile, takes the time to actually get a good look at their surroundings. Seems she's more interested in the sights than talking but, mission a success (even if they did almost get cooked)... the little bit of extra energy in the Time Mage's steps and movements hint at her high spirits.

Garen (530) has posed:
    Garen nods. "I've been called worse." He says. He rises up and then looks towards Gaius. "I imagine it's back to basecamp now...A pleasure." He says, nodding to his fellow mercenaries.