Chapter 6.2: Daring Rescue

"Altough it makes sense anyone in the complex would come here to check on the power outtage, i would assume no one would come towards gunfire."

while still thinking of what could be on the other side he hears Douklan question Hank.
"I was wondering the same, did you unlock it when we got here?

Noticing he seems to have some down time, Peter will change to fresh batteries in his suit, and make sure everything else is reloaded and ready to go. He will not leave the door yet while we dont investigate it.

"Mercer, when you finish with the bodies, stay on guard a bit more in that side, we need to investigate this other side a bit."

Hank answers that he didn't. He just unlocked the doors to the control room and maintenance area, to avoid unnecessary tampering and raising suspicions.

Trade Era 1235, Day 163. 15:38 UTC

Electrical Substation DC-45T, Zyronis
Corbin wiped the sweat from his brow, his hands grimy with the oil and debris of the dismantled gravsled. He glanced over at James, the android's metallic frame gleaming under the harsh lights of the electrical substation. James’s recommendation about the control room diagnostics lingered in his mind, but there had been no time. The gravsled was their priority.

"It's done," Corbin announced, his voice a blend of relief and exhaustion. He stepped back to admire his handiwork. The gravsled hummed softly, its reassembled parts fitting together seamlessly, now even equipped with a laser rifle. He allowed himself a moment of pride.

But Hank and Douklan were already securing their supplies to the hovercycles, their movements swift and efficient. They had lost too much time already, and with every passing minute, the risk of further encounters with hostile forces increased.

As they prepared to leave, Mercer took a final look around the substation. The bodies of Kyle, Lewis, and Kyra lay in the gravsled, a stark reminder of the violence that had transpired mere moments ago. The irony of their situation wasn't lost on him—they had come to save lives, only to end others in the process. But survival often demanded harsh choices. Ironically, Maya's dead friends were in the same gravsled, just beside them.

"Everyone ready?" Peter's voice broke through Mercer's thoughts.

They all nodded, mounting their respective vehicles. Corbin took the controls of the gravsled while Hank and Douklan piloted the hovercycles. Peter, ever the sentinel, stood guard until the last moment before boarding one of the bikes, with Mercer on the other.

The engines of the hovercycles roared to life, their powerful thrums reverberating through the substation. The gravsled followed suit, lifting smoothly off the ground under Corbin's steady hand. They moved out in formation and, as they exited the substation, the oppressive darkness outside seemed to close in around them.

Trade Era 1235, Day 163. 15:45 UTC

Underworld, Zyronis
Corbin guided the gravsled with precision, its thrusters adjusting to the narrow passages. The hovercycles were near him, their lights piercing through the gloom. They navigated through the maze of walkways and bridges, moving steadily away from the substation while the landscape gradually gave way to a less industrial setting.

Soon, they approached a dimly lit, futuristic chamber north of the dome where they had battled the droids. Here they hoped to find riches - and perhaps some answers. The structure loomed ahead, its architecture a stark contrast to the abandoned space frigate remains nearby.

The crew brought the hovercycles and gravsled to a stop near an entrance ramp. The chamber's automated systems recognized their approach somehow, and the main hatch opened.

Inside, the atmosphere was a blend of cold technology and muted light. The blue glow from the warp drive core bathed the room in an eerie luminescence, casting long shadows across the metallic surfaces. Heavy-duty clamps secured the core, and cables ran from it to a central control panel.

"We should send someone up to look around, if there are more guards we're better of using the bikes to put some distance between them and then re-evaluate."

Back in the discussion of the nanites, Hank offers, "It is probably the apes. Mercer and I were not in sealed suits when we fought the first ape, allowing us the opportunity for infection. The, Mercer and I fought another of the damn things, giving him more exposure. At least it doesn't appear that we are infectious, otherwise you and Corbin would be infected, too."

Once we're at the substation, Hank says, "Peter and Douklan, please scout out the situation. If we need to, we'll quickly fall back. But we need to know if there are other obstacles before we can try to recover the core. Mercer, you can check around, too, if you want, but don't get too exposed."

Peter shares a glance with Douklan and gives a quick nod.

"Let’s go ahead of the group and take a look on what lies ahead"

He dismounts the hovercycle he’s mounted and starts making his way in the direction of the entrance, weapon held up and looking around for any probable places where enemies could be hiding.

Douklan grins, gives a thumb's-up, and proceeds cautiously up the ramp, weapon at the ready.