[Ten metres beneath the surface rests the twelve-satellite orbital defense platform ARSHEPHELIOS. The cluster came to rest within an ancient coral reef after tearing a deep rift into it. Kedan can be found diving in and around it, staring curiously at the markings that identify it for they have never seen that name before, nor does it occur in their common folklore.
ARSHEPHELIOS itself shows the wear and tear of atmospheric re-entry, with scorch marks tracking down insulated panels and melted sensor antennae jutting lopsidedly from the exterior panels. The make of the cluster is reminiscent of communications satellites conglomerated into a rough star shape, but there are oval pods incorporated into the infrastructure that can be opened to reveal sparse, zero-gravity living quarters. No bodies are contained within and only a few bits of emptied food packets remain of whatever once inhabited them.
While there are dozens of arrays situated across the cluster that once held sensitive equipment to measure unknown parametres, much of these have been melted down to scrap and are being treated as such by any kedan salvaging or paying juulan for the finds. Charred circuitry fetches five juulan per board and warped metal ten juulan per twenty pounds.
The real worth's found inside the living units and once fried panels have been pushed aside. A few dozen more time capsules like those found in Keeliai remain in the pods and another five thousand black cylinders can be found. These bear jagged line etchings that have been shaded blue; they lack apparent seams and stand at half a metre tall each with a third of that being measured for width. Each etching is different and a vague pattern can be discerned by comparing ten or fifteen of them together. The kedan have no information about these either and offer ten juulan on the promise of salvageable material within.
Then there's the technology, which far surpasses what Keeliai knows today. The vast majority of it has malfunctioned, but there are circuitry panels associated with weapons technology, wiring kits familiar to the eyes of a communications installer, and a half dozen other assorted husks and shells of things that once were -- and have yet to exist in the eyes of the kedan. While near nothing can function on its own, those with wise eyes or quick minds may see potential to integrate these things into technology they currently possess...]
ARSHEPHELIOS-SIDE
ARSHEPHELIOS itself shows the wear and tear of atmospheric re-entry, with scorch marks tracking down insulated panels and melted sensor antennae jutting lopsidedly from the exterior panels. The make of the cluster is reminiscent of communications satellites conglomerated into a rough star shape, but there are oval pods incorporated into the infrastructure that can be opened to reveal sparse, zero-gravity living quarters. No bodies are contained within and only a few bits of emptied food packets remain of whatever once inhabited them.
While there are dozens of arrays situated across the cluster that once held sensitive equipment to measure unknown parametres, much of these have been melted down to scrap and are being treated as such by any kedan salvaging or paying juulan for the finds. Charred circuitry fetches five juulan per board and warped metal ten juulan per twenty pounds.
The real worth's found inside the living units and once fried panels have been pushed aside. A few dozen more time capsules like those found in Keeliai remain in the pods and another five thousand black cylinders can be found. These bear jagged line etchings that have been shaded blue; they lack apparent seams and stand at half a metre tall each with a third of that being measured for width. Each etching is different and a vague pattern can be discerned by comparing ten or fifteen of them together. The kedan have no information about these either and offer ten juulan on the promise of salvageable material within.
Then there's the technology, which far surpasses what Keeliai knows today. The vast majority of it has malfunctioned, but there are circuitry panels associated with weapons technology, wiring kits familiar to the eyes of a communications installer, and a half dozen other assorted husks and shells of things that once were -- and have yet to exist in the eyes of the kedan. While near nothing can function on its own, those with wise eyes or quick minds may see potential to integrate these things into technology they currently possess...]