The Heart of the Forest
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OPENING MESSAGE...
So Agitator said you were curious about the Pit, and called in a favor from yours truly. Remember how I mentioned an expedition went into the basement levels of the Pit and didn't come back up? When they didn't show up at the designated meet-up, we went back to find out what had happened. What we found was a chewed-up corpse at the entrance to the basement-levels, and since we were already one squad-member down and feeling the pain from our end of the expedition, we picked up the body and went back to the Rampart. The first discovery we made back home was that the corpse was definitely a member of the crew we sent down there. A Shadowrunner, called herself Weevil-Incarnate. Turned out she's one of those 'Electronic Witness' types, the sort that records everything they do to put on niche matrix sites. We thought this'd give us everything we needed to know about the Pit's lower levels and if we could mount a rescure operation, but it wasn't as simple as that. Weevil's body was in pretty terrible condition, and any electronics she brought with her were either missing or thrashed to hell, meaning the actual recordings are as good as gone. However, we found something that stayed in readable condition: One of her cyberears had some kind of auto-transcription software running at the time, and the buffer is mostly intact. I've had Null Kit look at it, clean it up and make it into something you can work with. One last thing: I've listened to the recording myself along with the Rampart's brass, and they decided that setting up a rescue mission's off the table. You'll probably understand when you listen to it.
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11/07/2079 Eternal Watcher Transcript
Alright, here's my final version of the transcript. I've cleaned it best as I can but there's only so much you can do with data recovered from an implant that's been dug out from a barbequed cadaver, so there's still a lot of holes. Frangelico's interested in a post-mortem on the recovered remains, but I'll leave that to your discretion. As for me, I'm going to smoke a laes and forget the drek you've had me listen to for a whole weekend.Key for attribution is as follows:
- Weevil - W: Shadowrunner, Decker, origin of recording and designated technical expert. Full Alias: Weevil Incarnate
- Pyrefly - P: Shadowrunner Hermetic mage, known ally of Weevil Incarnate and designated magical support
- Meriam - M: Rampart Falconer, squad leader
- Trombley - T: Rampart Falconer, designated combat-specialist
- Alexson - A: Rampart Falconer, designated medic
Begin Transcription: 22:12:56
<Unknown Noise, presumably recording>
Weevil - : Comm-check. Wires are showing... minimum noise. Check Weevil.
Meriam - : Check, Meriam.
Pyrefly - : Check Pyŗ̰ͫ̽ͭͯ̔ͦ̽͜ẽ̢͂̾̅ͧ͊̈́҉̞̬̦̻̬̮̫̹ͅf͇̠̺̼̹͖̤̖ͤ̓̈́͆l̽͒ͮ͏͍̟̤̗̼̹͔͚̖ỹ̸̼̭̪̽͑́̈́ͩ̆̀͘.̨͇̬̘͕̙̲͑̄
Error: data corruption. Transcript cut until data meets legibility standards.
Resume Transcription: 22:13:10
Trombley - : Check, Trombly, but I'm getting some interference, white noise.
<Static>
<Rustling>
Weevil - : Still legible though?
Trombley - : Yeah, it's all fine, just some static. Just hope I don't get fuckin' tinitus from it...
Weevil - : Alright, comms are set up. We've got a cable running back to some hardware up top, that'll also be our breadcrumb-trail back outside.
Note: No such device or cable was found in subsequent outings to the Pit.Meriam - : Alright, we're good on that end and everyone's brass-checked. Anything else? <Silence> Meriam - : Let's go then. Trombley, you're on point. Trombley - : Roger-dodger... <Footsteps> <distant sounds of fire?> Trombley - : Entry clear, stairs infront of us. At least, no enemies. Can't see shit in this mask. Alexson - : As long as you're breathing. Hey, don't you have cybereyes? Trombley - : Yeah, but this visor's in the way. Thermals can't do shit about the smoke. Meriam - : Head down the stairs. Carefully. Tell me what you see. <Footsteps> Trombley - : Uh... Corridor, <lights?>, goes forward a few meters before turning right. There's... There's definitely a door on the right wall, some kind of window too. A checkpoint? Meriam - : Got it. Everyone, stick to the left wall and move to the end of the corridor. Alexson, you and Weevil hold position at the checkpoint door, when we make it to the corner, move inside and clear. Alexson - : Understood. Weevil - : Yeah, understood. <Footsteps, metallic floor?> <Rustling of equipment followed by a switching noise.> Trombley - : Turning the corner... More stairs, all clear though. Meriam - : Alright, hold position. Alex, Weevil, clear the room. Pyre, you and me are gonna cover the entrance. Pyrefly - : Gotcha. Alexson - : Understood, moving in. Meriam - : Hey, Pyrefly. Anything pinging on your... <Footsteps> <Squeaking Metal> Pyrefly - : On my...? Meriam - : Y'know, your magic. Pyrefly - : Oh, that? Nothing. I mean, nothing different from up top. This place has history, but I'm not feeling anything I'm not expecting. Alexson - : Meriam, we found another room. Small, but the door's chunky, made of... metal. Can't see anything inside. Meriam - : Huh, armory, I guess... Take a quick look inside, then get back down here. Alexson - : Unde--... Meriam - : Alex? <Footsteps> Alexson - : ... Yeah, no there's a tripwire here. Definitely looks homemade. <Footsteps> <Rustling> Alexson - : ... Got it. Am I still clearing? Meriam - : Make it quick but cautious, then meet back.
Transcript cut for brevity.
Resume Transcription: 22:16:10
Trombley - : Alright, bottom of the stairs. I've got a corridor, two huge and I mean HUGE metal doors either side of the entrance, a few sets of doors on either side around halfway through and... I can't see the end, but I think I can see double-doors.
Meriam - : Copy that. Move through, we'll cover you. If you see any open doors, hold position.
<Footsteps>
<humming?>
Meriam - : Hey Weevil, where are we?
<Footsteps>
Meriam - : Weevil?
Weevil - : Sorry, thought I heard... Nevermind. We're still under the Arcology. The bottom of the reactor core should be... On our left. maybe one more floor down.
Meriam - : Got it. Let's stick to the right if we can, I still don't think that thing's not radioactive...
Trombley - : I got an open door, on our right!
Meriam - : Alright, everyone hold... Trombley, can you see though?
Trombley - : It's only open by... by, like a fuckin' crack. I can only see a wall.
Meriam - : ... Alright. Alexon, move up and cover the rear. Weevil, you and me are gonna move infront of Trombley and cover the end of the corridor. Pyrefly, get ready to clear the room with Trombley.
Alexson - : Understood.
<Footsteps>
Pyrefly - : Roger!
Weevil - : Understood!
<Footsteps>
Meriam - : Trombley, you ready to clear?
Trombley - : Locked and loaded!
Weevil - : I think I can see...
Meriam - : Alri--... Weevil?
Weevil - : ... yeah no, I can see the end of the hallway. The doors are open.
Meriam - : In that case... Alexson, you cover the front too. Trombley, Pyrefly, open and clear.
Trombley - : Moving in!
<Footsteps>
<Door Kicked In?>
<Unknown>
<Unknown, falling boxes?>
Trombley - : Contact!
Pyrefly - : Contact!
Meriam - : What? Trombley, what'd you see?
<Footsteps>
Trombley - : Fuck, I... there was something in here, behind a desk! I think it... Yeah, there's a vent on the...
Meriam - : Is it still there?
Trombley - : No, it got out through a vent in the back. I didn't see it well, looked like...
Pyrefly - : Looked like a dog...
Trombley - : Yeah.
Meriam - : Ah, shit. Alright, well... is there anything else in there?
Trombley - : Just a ripped-up sofa and some trash...
Meriam - : We'll leave it then. We'll move towards the end of the corridor. Trombley, take point. Pyre, close the door. If you see an animal, shoot it. No dog's living in this smoke, that's for sure...
<Door closing>
<Footsteps>
Transcript cut for brevity.
Resume Transcription: 22:31:01
<Door closing>
Alexson - : Nothin' but utilities. And sewers. Bottom floor better have gold bullion...
Meriam - : No bitchin' in my kitchen! Ah, I always wanted to say that... Another stairwell?
Transcript cut for brevity.
Resume Transcription: 22:32:50
Trombley - : Another one of those big doors. This one's close though...
Meriam - : Not a problem, we've got lockpicks. Weevil?
Weevil - : Yeah?
Meriam - : Think you can find a room above the other side of these doors?
<Footsteps>
Weevil - : Sure, but I thought we were gonna pick the lock.
<Unknown>
<Metal sliding?>
Meriam - : I got your lockpicks right here!
Trombley - : Right on, right on!
Meriam - : Double back, let's head back up and find a good place to slap these mofos down!
Transcript cut for brevity.
Resume Transcription: 22:41:42
Meriam - : And... set. Weevs, got it set?
Weevil - : Ready when you are. Sure this'll punch through?
<Footsteps>
<Unknown>
Meriam - : We don't need to melt right through, just gotta weaken it enough that the weight of the floor does the rest. Trombley?
Trombley - : Uh huh.
Meriam - : I want a gun trained on that hole, just in case we spook something.
Trombley - : Already on it.
Meriam - : Right. Weevil, hit it!
<Hissing?>
<Detonation of explosives>
<Unknown, deep groaning>
Pyrefly - : Drek, did we just?
Alexson - : Nah, I've heard collapses before. We're... we're safe. Yeah.
Trombley - : WHOO! Fuck yeah!
<Siren, short>
Meriam - : Sound off, everyone good?
Trombley - : I'm alright.
Alexson - : Shaken like hell, but I'm good. Weevil, Pyre?
Pyrefly - : We're fine! Fuck me, that was...
<Unknown>
Weevil - : Whoah!
<Large impact>
<Footsteps>
Trombley - : Back up!
Meriam - : Trombley, what's going on?
Trombley - : The floor's... yeah, it's collapsed. Just a little.
Meriam - : A little?
Trombley - : Yeah, it's... we've got a bigger hole, but the sides are fine.
Alexson - : Think they heard that up top?
<Impact, distant?>
Weevil - : I think my folks in Seattle heard that.
<Unknown>
Meriam - : Alexson, you're lightest. Drop down and take a look.
Trombley - : Not me? You callin' me fat, <Mary>?
<Footsteps>
Meriam - : Yeah I'm calling you fat!
<Rustling>
<Laughter>
Pyrefly - : You guys heard that, right? An alarm?
Meriam - : Probably automated or something, some of these standalone systems are built to last. Alexson, see anything?
Alexson - : Weevil's... yeah, she was on the mark. We're right on the other side of the doors.
Meriam - : Can you open it from that side?
<Footsteps>
Meriam - : Alex?
<Unknown>
Alexson - : There's a... yeah, there's like a big lever thing, but I can't move it for shit.
Meriam - : Alright. Trombley, rope down and help Alex with it.
Trombley - : Sure thing. Incoming fatty!
<Unknown>
<Mechanical movement?>
Alexson - : I got <the door>
<Sirens>
Weevil - : Shit!
<Humming?>
Pyrefly - : The hell was that about?
Meriam - : Null sweat, any door like that's bound to have something go off. See anything Trombley?
Trombley - : We're good, but it's still smokey as shit, and the stunt with your 'lockpicks' didn't help with that!
Meriam - : I'm apologising for nothing. Let's drop down, one at a time. Weevil, you're first.
Transcript cut for brevity.
Resume Transcription: 22:45:09
Meriam - : Got it, hold position. Pyre, you hold the rear. Weevil, with me.
<Footsteps>
<Creaking?>
<Unknown>
Meriam - : Is this...?
<Footsteps>
Meriam - : Weevil, you've been in the arcology up top before, right?
Weevil - : Yeah, and...
Meriam - : This is the lobby, right? But, underground?
Weevil - : No, this one's... it's different. Two floors, not three, but it's... Hey, y'know what I just realised?
Meriam - : What?
<Unknown>
<Humming?>
<Footsteps>
Weevil - : We're still drowning in smoke. I thought it'd get thinner now that we're on the same floor as the reactor's base?
Meriam - : Who the fuck knows--
<Unknown>
<Gunshot>
Alexson - : FUCK!
<Rustling>
Meriam - : What? What the fuck?! Alexson!
Alexson - : I saw- I, I mean contact! I saw someone!
Meriam - : Everyone, cover!
<Rustling>
<Footsteps>
<Humming?>
Meriam - : Another dog?
<Unknown>
<Humming?>
Trombley - : You hear that?
Alexson - : I think...? I swear, it looked like it was run̡͇̬̔̓ͦͬͭͮ̈̀́̚͝n̵͍̫̞͓͙̻̦̮̣̾̕i̎ͫ̅ͦ͐̿͗̚͏̭̬̙̺̩̫̠n̦͔̊ͨ͛̿͐̉̑ͬͨg͎̣̱̘̮̪ͥ̅ͣͥͣͫͨ͡͡ͅ ̢̭ͭ̽͒̎̍ͥ͊ő̭̖ͪͫ͌̂̌́̈́̃n̠͎̜̳̹̪ͩͮ̃͌͋͌͠-̛̪̼̩̳̯͊̿̓͌͐͋ͩ͢.̵͙̠͇͈̩̯̪̯̊̓ͨ̈̿ͣ̿ͭ͢.̭̮̜̩̌͊ͭͨͯ̋̐͆͢.ͯ̓ͮ͑͏̲̪͖̠̫̳ͅ
Error: data corruption. Transcript cut until data meets legibility standards.
Resume Transcription: 22:49:46
<Rustling>
Trombley - : Contact!
<Gunshots>
<Unknown>
Trombley - : Fucker, was that--
Meriam - : It went into that room! Pyre, can you light that door up?
Pyrefly - : Which one?
Meriam - : Bottom floor, the open one in the right!
<Rustling>
<Loud humming?>
Trombley - : Motherfucker, Meriam! Was that thing running?
<Unknown>
<Strong wind, spellcasting?>
Weevil - : Fuck! Fucking fuck!
Trombley - : WHOO! Get some you fuck!
<Rustling>
Meriam - : Shut up for a sec, listen!
<Silence>
Trombley - : Are we good?
Meriam - : Keep holding position... Trombley?
Trombley - : Yeah?
Meriam - : What you said earlier, what'd you mean by that? I mean, the running thing?
<Rustling>
Trombley - : I swear to god <Mer-Mer>, that... It looked like it was running like a... like, like a person.
Pyrefly - : What, on two legs?
Trombley - : No, like five legs, dipshit!
<Heavy breathing>
Meriam - : Fuck me running...
Weevil - : There's someone down here?!
Alexson - : We should... Fuck, we should, we should go, fuck this.
Trombley - : Shut the fuck up Alex, we fucking killed it, alright? Firefly did the--
Meriam - : No, she's right. We didn't exactly gear up expecting combat, and anything down here's gotta be some kind of... Pyre, did you get a read?
<Heavy breathing>
<Unknown>
Pyrefly - : I... No, I didn't get a chance. I could cast and---
Meriam - : Forget it. We'll come up with a plan topside. Weevil?
<Heavy breathing>
<Rustling>
Meriam - : Weevil! You alright?
<Unknown, rustling near Weevil's cyberears? Hands?>
<Footsteps>
Pyrefly - : Hey, Julie?
Note: Julie Rothstein is Weevil-Incarnate's legal name.Meriam - : She's--.... <Rustling> Pyrefly - : Hey, it's fine. We're bugging out, okay Jules? Right? Meriam - : Yeah, we're bugging out. Trombley, can you-- Weevil - : <Wait>... Pyrefly - : Jules? Weevil - : Check <your> commlink... <Footsteps> <Gunshots> Alexson - : Contact! Stairs! <Gunshots> <Unknown> Alexson - : Are those-- Meriam - : FUCK! THEYR'E FUCKING <Burnt? Turned> <Loud humming> <Unknown, spilling liquid?> <Unknown>
Error: data corruption. Transcript cut until data meets legibility standards.
Resume Transcription: 22:53:59
<Loud humming, storm?>
Note: Review of weather-patterns during aproximate time showed no abnormalities.Meriam - : Fuck it! <Unknown, spellcasting?> <Gunshots> <Foodsteps, running> Alexson - : Trombley, we've-- Trombley - : No we fucking don't! Get Weevil topside! Alexson - : Fuck you! Trombley - : Fuck <you> <Unknown> <Screaming, multiple?> <Gunshots> Trombley - : Chain of fucking command! <Footsteps> <Heavy breathing> Alexson - : Fuck you Trombley... Pyre, is Weevil--- Pyrefly - : She's good, I don't think they hit her... <Sharp rattle, spellcasting?> <Gunshots, quieter> Alexson - : Okay, I recognise that door. We just got one more set of stairs, okay? Okay?! <Humming> Pyrefly - : Yeah! Fuckin' yeah! Weevil, <you hear> that? <Footsteps> <Humming> Weevil - : I don't wanna die! Pyrefly - : Oh, fuck me. They-- Alexson - : Get it open! Weevil - : I don't wanna die! <Rustling> <Gunfire, distant automatic> Alexson - : Get it fucking open! <Unknown, Siren, distant?> Pyrefly - : Fucking how?! <Screaming, close> Pyrefly - : JULIE! <Unknown> <Screaming, close, multiple> <Gunshots, close> <Unknown> Unknown Voice - : <Got that> <Unknown>
Error: data corruption. Transcript cut until data meets legibility standards.
Resume Transcription: 23:14:01
<Unknown, liquid?>
<Heavy Breathing?>
Error: data corruption. Transcript cut until data meets legibility standards.
End of transcript
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