In the Shadow of the Crystal
Chapter 1: Reminisce
"It's been a long time Alex." It was those words which echoed clearly in my mind. The words Neo-Queen Serenity said to me, as I walked up to her, upon my arrival in the city. She still looked as beautiful as I remembered her so many years ago. So much has happened, and in so little time! The war with the Negaverse was over at last, and we could finally all live peacefully. As I sat on the windowpane, using the side of the window as back support, I stared out towards the city of Neo-crystal Tokyo and the stars above. Starting to relax, I began reminiscing about all the things that had transpired. The window was wide open, and the night breeze cool and intoxicating for the time of year that had befallen the city. The sky was as clear and brilliant as ever, like the first time I met them, it was exactly how I remembered it. It's so funny how life can spin you around fifty million ways, but still you wind right back up where you started. Heh… Let me tell you how I got here, and then perhaps you might understand…
"Hey! I found something! Luke! Alex! Get over here!" Treks had yelled at us from an underground passageway. He was checking out a passageway separated from the main tunnel we were currently in. Treks looks a lot like myself. I stand at about 5' 11", with Ever-change Eyes that are a hazel-blue most of the time, athletic without looking like a bodybuilder, and short brown hair. I was also wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, and a pair of loose blue jeans. We all were to keep the dust and dirt off of us from being underground. Treks only real differences are that his eyes were a light starburst blue color, and he stood roughly two inches shorter than me making him 5' 9" in his own right. Most could tell that me and him were brothers simply by looking at us. Like the other knights, we appeared to be at an age of 15 years, although our true age was closer to 200 years.
Turlus was also with him at the time. Now Turlus was something else. He stood about 6' 2" and was built like a tank, lithe but unmovable. He has almost black hair that comes down to mid neck in the back. Turlus' eyes are a misty sort of bluish color and his face was as flawless as one of Michelangelo's marble statues. I always thought of Turlus as being the perfect bodyguard with how big and strong he looked, but even with as serious as he was, he has been one of my closest friends. Like other regiments of knights, us 7 Posiverse knights were inseparable. We were brothers in arms and in blood, we swore to live, fight, and die together. We fought for each other and for the cause of righteousness and honor. We fought for the safety of the royal line of the Silver Millennium, the royal line of the princesses of our solar system, and for the safety of all those in the universe.
"Hey Treks, what'cha find?" I asked him as I approached him and Turlus. Luke appeared around the bend with me from the cavern we were in. Luke was similar to me in build. He stood about as tall as me, 5' 10" to be exact. He had spiky looking short dirty blonde hair, and a pair of light brown eyes.
"Well? Check it out!" Treks said as he gestured. What stood before me and the others bewildered us. It was a door, a very high tech looking door with a rusted up but functional security panel. After some general analysis, we determined the door had not been used in a very long time.
"Hmmm… it seems I may be able to easily break the security lock that has gotten this door so tightly shut…" Turlus said while examining the Panel. Me and treks were busy checking out the exterior of the door and the stone around it, while Luke was busy covering our backsides in case some unwanted attention decided to show up. We were probably a good 90 or so Ft. below the Earth's surface, and I remembered thinking about all the possibilities as to why there'd be a metal door, with a security lock even, down this far below the surface. Furthermore, I remembered wondering why it had looked like this door hadn't been used in ages. Was it an abandoned hidden smuggling route? Perhaps it was the entrance to a storage silo? Or was it made to look abandoned and was, in fact, actually a trap? Or maybe even an ancient alien ship that had been buried here long ago? Either way, we had the full intention of going in, checking it out, and seeing if there would be any way we could use what was behind this door for our own purposes.
"It's open! I got it!" Turlus said. He always was exceptionally good at breaking into high security zones and dismantling locks. Ensuring defensive positions was one of his main trade skills. It was one skill that came in handy a while back, when he had rescued me single handedly from the clutches of our current arch nemesis, Tralus…
The door clanged and shuddered, and to my amazement, it actually opened. I figured it wouldn't, and that we'd have to pry it open. It's sealed doors parting ways, giving us access to a room that had buttons much similar to an elevator shaft. The buttons were lit and there was auxiliary lighting in the cramped room. "Knights… we don't know what will be awaiting us at the bottom of this elevator. Don your armors, once ready we shall begin our descent." I said. They nodded, and with that we all raised our right hand to our left shoulder. Making a fist with the hand and swiftly bringing the fist sideways towards the center of our chest. We shouted the words that would summon our armors.
"Truth… armor… IGNITE!" I shouted, and in a flash of Sapphire blue light my armor began to materialize over me. Out of the light that had engulfed my body, full body armor phased around me. The armor, called the Blue Sapphire armor of Truth, was the color of a brilliant, deep sapphire blue with gold trim. It had an ornate helm, long shoulder guards, a plated piece covering the chest and back area, leggings with shin guards, arm guards, plated boots and plated gloves. What wasn't covered was in a silvery grayish, mail-like material. The others shouted similar phrases, Treks shouted for his Gold Topaz armor of Peace. Luke shouted for the Orange Sardonyx armor of Courage, and finally Turlus, shouting for the Red Sunstone armor of Honor.
Once we were all in the shaft, I pressed the button for the elevator to go down. The doors closed, and we began our descent at a considerable rate. After some time in the elevator, all of us were feeling like we would descend forever, when we suddenly hit bottom and the doors slid open. When we stepped off of the elevator we were greeted by a very dark corridor. Luke and Turlus grabbed flashlights while I looked around at what we were standing in. The only sounds in the whole place were the doors behind us, and the elevator, which began its ascent back to the top.
Just then my communicator device went off, startling me at the vibration. I pulled the device off of my belt and looked at it. The indicator screen read 'Chris', telling me who was on the other line. "Alex here." I said holding the comm. device close to my mouth.
"Hey Alex, How's the search going? We didn't find anything yet unfortunately, and the twins are fighting again… how'd you guys fare?" Chris' voice came over the comm. device better than I anticipated it would down here. The twins he referred to were called Mark and Matt, the three of them were the last of our merry group of knights.
"Quite well actually, we've found what appears to be an abandoned facility. We just cracked the security lock, and are proceeding to scout the facility." I replied.
"Really…? Wow! AWESOME! I hope we can use it! It'd be nice to finally have a pad to call our own!" 'Yeah…' I thought. Chris always was optimistic like that.
"We'll have to see what our results bring us, I need you three to head to sector beta 5, epsilon 2. I want your team to take the underground passage near there. Once at the cave entrance, follow our markers to the elevator system and take it down to meet us, got it?" I replied with enthusiasm and determination in my voice.
I Hoped that what I was doing was enough, and that I was leading my friends the way a good commander would lead his men. With us at war with the forces of the Negaverse, there could be no mistakes lest it cost us our lives. They will hunt us down to the last, and we likewise to them. It is our sworn duty and responsibility to ensure that this darkness is eradicated from the universe, and is something I shall ensure is done to the best of mine, and my friends, abilities. "Got it, we'll move right out. Chris out." He said. The comm. flashed the words 'link disconnected'. As it did, I reattached the device back to my belt.
Our first priority here was to either find the primary control room, or some form of housing room for the main computer and try to get it online. Which was exactly what we began doing. Without needing a word of where to go first we all headed in the same direction, forward. All of us had our swords out of our respective subspaces at this point. Each knight's sword, except for mine, was sheathed to their left side; the others all had one hand on the hilt of their swords, ready to draw at a moment's notice. I noticed as we were walking, that there were strips along the side of the walls. They appeared similar to what you would see for holograph projectors and I wondered why they were built into these walls here. Occasionally, we also passed panels on the walls which looked similar to computer access terminals.
A few moments later, we walked through a set of doors that had opened much quieter then the entrance doors did. Behind those doors was a large open room that appeared to be similar to a starship bridge with a bunch of seats and panels. Nothing in the room, like the rest of the base, had any power to it. Also what appeared to be blast shielded windows lined the far wall which took up about 2/3rds of the room's walls. I recognized the architecture from being aboard many large starships in my past. Starship windows always had a special thick armor plating come over them in times of battle. These walls appeared no different to me.
"This whole facility looks abandoned." Treks chirped in. I then watched as he walked over to one of the control consoles. "Wow, Have a look at this! These panels, they can't be more then 50 years old! A little work and we could have this place working properly for us in, oh say… a week? But this technology… it's simply amazing!" he was our lead software and programming analyst of the group, and the secondary hardware engineer for all technical devices, military or otherwise. I was the primary. I loved to tinker and my talents with different technologies got me the position in our group.
"I agree… But we must take careful measures to ensure our safety; we'll still need a full sweep of this facility to ensure that it isn't being used… and probably some major housekeeping… Take a look at all the dust!" Luke sprung out while blowing the dust off a panel.
I merely nodded at the remarks of treks, my second in command, and my lead, and only, medical officer. "Let's get started then shall we? Treks have you found any way to get that console operative yet?" I said to him as I looked in his direction. He was busy messing with some wires underneath the console he had approached.
"I… think… so… OUCH!" Treks said. He gave a yelp of pain as some circuitry sparked that he was messing with. As soon as he did, words lit up on the huge central screen near the main shielded window. 'Nanoelectronic Artificial Omnipresent Machina Intelligence system now initiating boot process… good afternoon visitor…' Needless to say, we were impressed.
"N.A.O.M.I. system huh?" Treks said in awe.
Suddenly, a female voice resounded through the room we occupied. "Boot process complete, now commencing full systems check. 5 percent complete." The voice said.
"Who are you? And where are you at!" I yelled holding my sword up in a defensive stance. I could feel my body instantly snap into full alert mode and was prepared to give an immediate retreat order if this place proved to be a trap.
"Greetings operators, I am NAOMI, the central A.I. of this facility known as Base Prime." The female voice said.
My sword dropped a little. "Naomi…? So… what do you do exactly, Naomi?" Treks said. We all looked around to see if we could find the speakers that the voice came from.
"I am the primary control system that runs this facility. Full facility systems check now 90 percent complete." NAOMI said, her voice coming from all directions of the room.
"Alex, it's likely that this place will be in need of some serious repair." Turlus said, eying a panel that was dangling from some wires.
"This is true. At this time, based on my preliminary scans of the system, Base Prime is in need of heavy maintenance and repair." Naomi Replied with her even tone.
"So… what happens once you are repaired?" Treks asked NAOMI.
"I become fully capable of fulfilling any operational task set before me by my administrators. Now activating auxiliary lighting. Visitors, you are required to be logged as per regulations and protocols bound within this System. I must now ask for you to state your name and faction, with the commander of your team starting first so they may be given unrestricted permissions within the System." NAOMI said as dim lighting began filling the rooms and corridors of the base. Luke and Turlus shut off their flashlights and placed them in subspace.
"What'll we do Alex? Should we trust this not to be a trap and place our information in its databanks?" Luke asked me. I contemplated our next move for a moment, and then addressed the monitor in front of me.
"Naomi, before we do that I need a few questions answered. Tell me… who originally built this… Base Prime, and where are the creators now?" I asked her, looking at the monitor's flashing bars.
"I apologize; unfortunately I do not have any recorded data on my creators or their whereabouts. Based on event logs within my Datacore, my Datastore systems containing such information no longer exists. Also, my last event logs indicate there has been an explosion, as well as a circuit rupture, in the primary hard drive system within my Datacore which normally comprises the backbone of my infrastructure. All non-essential data, based on my logs, was removed before full shutdown. I can only assume it to have been manually wiped by the previous inhabitants of this facility. All that is left is my operating system programming interface, which is currently running from a secondary system Datacore." Naomi had given me vital information to make proper judgment on the matter.
"I wonder if the original owners will come back for this base?" Treks asked.
"I doubt it. She's been offline; it seems, for a very long time. It's just not likely at this point I think." I replied.
"The System log indicates my last active timestamp is approximately 46 years, 4 months, 23 days, 6 hours, and 47 minutes old." Naomi chimed in.
"So, just under 50 years? No wonder this place is so dusty!" Luke said just before blowing the dust off of another console.
"Under normal circumstances, robotic drones handle all tertiary maintenance concerns for Base Prime; however I am unable to establish a connection with the primary drone control relay system at this time, which allows operational control of them through my system. It appears as though the control relay is not functioning. If I were to be given access to the relay system I would be able automate drone functions on cleaning the base of all pollutants and allergens immediately and have this facility looking at optimal condition in less than three days' time." NAOMI replied.
I looked at my comrades briefly before speaking. "Three days' time huh? Hmm… not bad… well, this place seems a good a place as any out there to hide from our enemies." I said with a smirk. The others also gave nods and smiles of approval. I then turned back to the console. "Naomi, my name is Alex Storm. My faction is Posiverse. I am a Posiverse knight of the Silver Millennium, outcast and exiled from the Posiverse for holding loyalty to our homeland which was destroyed long ago. Our intent is to search for a new home. One in which we can hide in secret from the Negaverse while we conduct means to rid the universe of the threat our enemies pose to it." I said, with a serious tone in my voice.
She was a well-designed A.I. The programming was definitely top notch and not of Earth, that much was for certain. "Alex Storm… Logged and identified. Now granting full administrator privileges on your profile. Also the full facility system scan is ready for viewing. Would you like me to display the statistics of the diagnostic report onscreen?" Naomi said evenly. I remembered thinking about how well the audio processors had been working in spite of the repairs this system needed.
"My name is Treks Solemn, the second in command of the knights of the Posiverse under Alex Storm. Naomi if you would be so kind we'd be happy to see the diagnostic report you have to show us." Treks said smoothly enough.
"Treks Solemn… Logged and identified. So am I correct in assuming that Alex Storm is your commanding officer? Alex, shall I grant secondary administrative privileges to Treks Solemn?" NAOMI replied.
"Yes, that is correct Naomi. Go ahead and grant him the privys." I replied to her as the console viewer in front of us flashed, a detailed report appearing of all systems and sectors with their own individual reports within Base Prime.
"Now granting all secondary administrator privileges to Treks Solemn's profile." NAOMI said. As she did, Treks sat down and began reading the reports that flashed onscreen.
"Hey Naomi do you have a command station here?" Treks asked while looking over the results.
"Affirmative, the room you are currently located in is the primary command station of the base." NAOMI replied. At those words I gazed again around the room we were in. I wondered how I didn't catch on to this earlier. I had been in many starship command bays, and facility tactical control stations, plenty of times.
Just then, my train of thought was broken by Luke. "Hello Naomi, my name is Luke Tanryoku. Does this facility have a medical station in it?" he said, looking over Treks' shoulder at the readout.
"Luke Tanryoku… Logged and identified. Affirmative, there is a medical station on the grounds of this facility. My diagnostic scans of the facility indicate that the medical station is at 89 percent operational capacity, with most of the equipment functioning at 75 percent or better on average." NAOMI replied.
"Naomi, I need you to give all the system accesses to Luke that you would normally give the lead medical officer." I told her. I looked over at Luke who smiled and nodded in my direction. I In turn, nodded back.
"Now granting medical administrative privileges to Luke Tanryoku's profile." She replied in an even tone. I began assessing in my head all the things we would need to do in order to get this base functional on a level that we could use it at. There were other thoughts that had concerned me as well… one in particular was 'why was this base abandoned like this.'
Turlus went next; his voice portraying his inner calm. "Naomi… My name is Turlus Meiyo. What is security like inside Base Prime? Can you give us a layout of the security measures taken and said protocols?" Turlus said while eying that security panel he had seen earlier. It was still dangling from some exposed wiring.
"Turlus Meiyo… Logged and identified. Unfortunately current scans of the facility indicate damages to the security infrastructure all over, which places the overall base security down to 45 percent. However, when security is running at optimal, anyone trying to get in would not be able to do so easily without potentially fatal consequences. If you would like to view a detailed report, you will need authorization from an assigned security administrator in order to see such reports concerning the security framework of Base Prime. Once permission is granted, I shall bring up the layout of the cameras and automated defense systems placed within and around this facility." NAOMI had stated once again in her very realistic tone.
"Go ahead and give him the permissions of a security administrator, Naomi" I said to the computer. I looked over at Turlus who gave me a simple nod of approval.
"Affirmative, now granting lead security administrative privileges to Turlus Meiyo's profile… profile changes applied, now compiling detailed reports of Base Prime's security infrastructure. Please stand by." NAOMI had done as requested, and soon enough Turlus was overlooking the reports that were generated onscreen.
"Allright, we'll need to scout the base for threats and any signs of life before nightfall. We'll also need to ensure that this computer system has no hidden coding somewhere that might make it a threat to us." I said, looking around at my comrades. They all nodded in agreement. "Treks, do you think you can get into this thing's programming?" I looked over at him as I asked him. I knew his skills at hacking were top notch, which made him perfect for the task.
"I will be happy to open my programming willingly to show that I mean no harm. I just ask one thing in return, and that is to please not deactivate me again…" NAOMI replied through her voice systems, she had almost sounded sad at that moment.
"Of course Naomi, not a problem. Well! That solves our main issue. Next we will need to establish power systems." I said while looking over the diagnostics report of the base.
"If you would like Alex, I can show you the location of the primary reactor core within Base Prime." NAOMI chimed in.
"that'd be great, Naomi." I replied with a smile. As I said those words the visuals on the screen split in half, the left side had the diagnostic report and the right showed a map of the base with two dots, one labeled our location and the other labeled 'reactor core', and a line that was drawn in between the two to show the easiest route to it. I looked over the route on the map carefully before making my call.
"Treks, Can you and Luke get there?" I asked, looking at my second.
"Absolutely, Thought you'd never ask!" he replied enthusiastically.
"Based on my internal reports I should be able to get backup pre auxiliary power generators online. Reports indicate there is power remaining within them, however further analysis indicates I will only be able to sustain power for the next 45 minutes. Then the power cells will drain fully and I will be forced to return to auxiliary power. Would you like me to activate the remaining power cells at this time?" NAOMI said clearly.
"Wait until we get to the reactor, we're going to need all the light we can get to fix it." Treks replied, looking up and around at the ceiling.
"All right Alex, we'll keep in touch." Luke said to me as he waived the comm. Device in his hand. I watched as he started towards the door with treks in tow.
A few minutes later, NAOMI activated the backup power generators. It was at that moment I had gotten my first real look at the command station we were standing in. The command station was big, the size of your standard living room I'd say, and again I was reminded at how it looked more like the bridge of a massive starship. There was what appeared to be a captain's seat in an elevated central area and huge monitor screens that encompassed over half of the circular looking wall. When the lights kicked on, some holograph panels in front of the smaller monitors also appeared. Small and light orange in color, I could tell they were the terminal controls. Taking a second to look, I counted at least 10 seats.
I was amazed at how high tech this room was, and wondered how we were ever going to figure it out. One thing we didn't have was time to figure out how to use foreign technology. But, as I walked up to one of the main consoles, I began to notice how similar the technology was to some places within the Posiverse. "This is… amazing! It's just like at the Posiverse!" I said in awe as I ran my fingers over the key panel. At that moment, I knew we weren't going to have any trouble at all with this technology.
As I was looking over the projection system embedded in the workstations which powered the holo-keypads, my comm. device flashed again. I picked it up off my belt and turned it on. "Alex here." I said into its mouthpiece.
"Hey Alex! How are things going down there? We reached our destination, would you like us to proceed downward to your location?" Chris replied.
"Things are going well. This facility was a base of sorts; we've successfully activated its main computer system and found the command center of the facility." I said, thinking about everything that has recently happened to us.
"Oh wow a base, seriously? That's amazing! Leave it to you, leader, to find something extraordinary!" Chris said in his usual energetic way.
I smirked before replying. "Yeah, wait till you see this place, this technology isn't far off from the Posiverse. Right now though, I need your team to armor up, proceed down the elevator shaft and meet the rest of us at our location. I'm opening my comm.'s beacon now so you can find us." I said then flipped a small switch on the side of the comm. device.
"Roger that leader, we're heading to your location now, our ETA is about 10 minutes. See you soon! Chris out." The comm. device flashed offline after that and me and Turlus were left to our work.
"So Turlus, what do you think? With the security as bad as it is, can we use this place?" I said to him while checking out a diagnostic report on one of the bigger monitors.
"Well… given how things are. The fact that there's at least a medical facility, security systems already integrated into the base, and a fully operational computer AI system that is also already fully integrated into the base. Also, there is the fact that this base is located underground, AND that it is fully functional even in its worst. I'd say that aside from everything in need of some maintenance in some form or another, we could modulate this place accordingly to fit in with our plans and start using it immediately. What do you say Alex?" Turlus said without seemingly taking a breath.
"I agree. When the others get to our location we'll get started assessing and prepping this place so that by nightfall we'll at least have some lighting and preemptive security." I smiled as i replied to Turlus. Just then, the main doors to the command room opened and in came Chris, Mark, and Matt. Chris has a slender-muscular build and stood at about 5' 10" and bore the Blue Aquamarine armor of Life. His hair was a fiery red color that was cut very short and made to be spiky, at least that's how it looks with the helm off. His eyes always varied between dark green and light green. He also had a face set that made him appear boyish and a bit younger, which I always thought seemed to match well with his vigor and exuberance. It was easier to cope with the man if I could pretend he was younger than me sometimes. At the same time though, his comedic ways always kept our spirits up and our burdens always seemed to feel less then what they were with him around.
Mark had a build similar to Chris's only not quite as muscular. He stood about 5' 7", had blonde hair that was trimmed up in the back with long bangs in the front that were spiked up and pulled backwards some. Mark also had a pair of light blue eyes which were surrounded by a face set that would probably make Fabio jealous. He wore the White-Green Jasper armor of Trust.
Matt looked exactly like Mark due to the fact that they were twins, but with a few noticeable differences. For one, Matt has short military-style light brown hair, and bright green eyes. Mark's demeanor is also a bit calmer then Matt's, which can be a bit brash at times. Of course their clashes of personality always get them into arguing with one another. Matt wore the Green Emerald armor of Wisdom as proud as any other knight on my team with theirs.
"Fashionably early, we're here! Guess it only took 4 minutes. Ahh well, better early then never there! So what's the take on this place? We crashin' here from now on?" Chris said while looking around.
"Hello Visitors. You are required to be logged as per regulations and protocols in this system. Please state your name, faction, and intent." NAOMI said. With the security measures all offline in some way, there was no way yet to block outsiders. For the moment, that suited our situation fine, but it was something I made a mental note of to address a.s.a.p.
"Whoa! What was that?" Matt said, shocked and looking around the room.
"That would be Naomi, this facility's computer AI system. Go ahead and give her the information she needs, she's safe, at least as far as we can tell." I replied calmly while looking at an updated readout on the monitor of the base's security systems.
"All right then! I'll go first! Hey baby! My name's Chris Ukiyo and I'm with Alex, our leader! Are you like one of those computers that have a hott, full figured, holographic female body like in the movies?" Chris said out loud. I just shook my head and smirked as I continued looking over the diagnostic.
"Chris Ukiyo … Logged and Identified. Hello Chris. No I'm afraid I do not have any artificially holographic representations of myself. It is logical for me to assume that my creators did not have the capability to implement this feature at the time of my manufacturing. I'm sorry Chris. Could you please define 'full figured female'? This does not happen to be in my definitions database at this time." NAOMI replied in her usual tone.
"Yeah, sure! No problem babe! See, a full figured female is one who stands about 2 or more inches shorter than a man, has really big brea … OUCH!" Chris's description of the 'full figured woman' was interrupted by Mark who quickly slapped him in the back of the head.
"Tell the computer later Chris… I'm going next." Mark replied with a slight smirk on him. It seemed that he wanted to do that to Chris for some time now. "Hello Naomi, my name is Mark Irai. Like Chris and the others I am also with Alex, our leader." Mark said.
"And I'm Matt Saiki. Everything is the same as the others, I'm also with Alex. Me and my brother were wondering if you had a lab here for the design and production of weapons and technology." Matt said.
"Hey! I was going to ask that, Matt!" Mark snapped at him "hey bro, what can I say? Guess you just weren't fast enough! hahaha!" Matt replied victoriously.
"Enough you two! We've got to stay on track. We still don't have a secured location yet and we're still way too vulnerable to a Negaverse assault! So please, cool it?" I exclaimed.
"Yes sir..." They both said simultaneously, all their aggression instantly deflated.
"Mark Irai… Matt Saiki… Logged and Identified. Affirmative, there is a laboratory within Base Prime for the design and testing of weapons, technology, and biological resources. The only thing that is currently not in the laboratory is stock of basic materials."
"Allright!" both Matt and mark said simultaneously with a huge grin at each other. You could see enthusiasm beaming in their faces from the news that was given to them. I knew exactly what they were thinking and I nodded my approval of the news as well. They are the best at making weapons and testing out new ways to blow things up. Any tech they have ever made has helped us out in some way or another. I was pleased to hear that they would finally have a fully functional lab that could be tailored to their specific tasks.
"Good, now listen up guys. I need this place thoroughly scouted out. I want two groups, one to scout the northern and the other to the southern end of the base. Find out everything you can about this place and see what we need. Note any potential physical security risks or breaches. I'll remain here and continue tinkering with these consoles to see if there's a way I can route any more power to the lighting in this base. When we have things under control here, I will get all of your respective profile permissions within the computer set up for use." I said with a serious tone in my voice.
"Turlus I want you to take Mark with you, Chris, you take Matt. Turlus, your group will hit the northern area in the direction of the reactor core. When you get to the reactor I want you, Mark, to assist Treks with whatever he needs to get the Reactor fully activated. Turlus, from there on you will be on your own to scout the reset of that wing of the facility. If any of you find anything that seems unusual, hail me." I smirked.
My enthusiasm could be heard through every word that I said. The hope of finally having a home after searching for 2 years was starting to come true. 'God had definitely provided for us.' I thought. Of course God had always provided for us, and we were in turn always very grateful.
"Yes sir! We'll get right on it!" Chris said, giving a salute as he always did with big orders. The others all gave nods of acceptance of their new missions and promptly turned to execute their objectives. Once they had left, the comm. link flashed on. Its screen read 'Treks'. I picked up the device and turned it on.
"What's up treks? How are the repairs coming?" I asked.
"Repairs are slow, it's a lot worse off here then I thought it would be. I'm going to need more than 45 minutes." He replied sounding a bit worried.
"Let me see what I can do from here, I may be able to reroute some of the power from the areas of the base that don't need it in. hang on a sec." I said over the comm. link while pulling up a powergrid diagnostic report.
After a moment, Treks voice came through the comm. link again. "So you think you'll be able to do it then?" he asked me.
"With some luck yeah. I have a few ideas as to how I can reroute power for us. Hopefully, at least one of them will work. Think you can get that reactor core operational?" I replied
"Hey Alex, you know me! By the way… when are you planning to call April down?" Treks asked.
"When I've got the all clear from the guys that are doing the scouting, I'll give her the signal; we can't afford to have the last remaining Cetra endangered… in the meantime, give me updates every thirty minutes on your progress okay?" I replied.
"Will do, Alex!" Was the last thing treks said before the comm. link flashed link disconnected. As I sat there waiting for the latest powergrid map update to finish. My thoughts trailed off thinking of April and how good it would be to see her again…