Comm. Room
A battle-ready brain...
After fully committing himself and his crew to joining the defense of Earth, Bak Thraplek of the Thunthen dissidents got to work importing equipment from his contacts in the fleet to corresponding rooms in the newly-excavated Roost complex. With a new type of threat that could not always be fought with blades or spectacular ultimate moves, the introduction and utilization of advanced technology would prove crucial to coordinating responses, identifying threats, and handling long-range communications both off-world and locally. Defense of Earth falls to the Ronin Warriors and their allies, and Miz and Ita let them know what to expect and where to respond.
Purpose / Function
The comm. room and the installed console allow operators to tap into multiple data and observation centers scattered across the planet, even piggy-backing on top-secret military resources. Audio from the wrist-coms is routed through here and operators can keep an eye on the position of any combatants in the field and apprise them of changes in situations. Weather radars, infrared, international and interstellar communications, health profiles, data archives, and even cheesy giant robot shows can be accessed via the console.
“Hey Miz, it ready yet?” Ryo asked as he entered the comm. room. The Common stood at attention. “Should be coming online momentarily, assuming your ally across the ocean has competent technicians under her command,” Miz Paufan answered and leaned over the console typing. “She’s a business woman, she has employees…though…now that I think about it, you might’ve had it right the first time,” Ryo grimaced and scratched his ear. The main screen displayed a series of colored bars marked with flickering Highscript symbols. Miz typed a final command then rose from the chair to stand next to Ryo. The screen shifted to a view of a middle-aged woman with dark blonde hair wearing a neat outfit seated behind a desk. “Ms. O’Connor! It’s good to see you! How have things be-” Ryo began with a smile. “Why is this thing not operational yet? What do I pay you people for? Honestly, you couldn’t fix a toaster if your lives depended on it!” the woman shouted off to the side. “Uh…Ms. O’Connor, we’re receiving you just fine on this end. I-” Ryo raised a finger. “And where is the damn staff report I asked for earlier? It’s been five minutes! Did the elevator break down or something?” Shannon’s esteemed aunt and Charles' oldest sibling Jacqueline O’Connor continued berating her employees without abandon. Ryo’s face wrinkled in embarrassment and Miz looked as if his horns wanted to wilt.
Design
Roughly 500sq ft floor. Ceiling roughly 10-12 ft. The surrounding stone is mostly black and gray with smatterings of red.
Entries
One open arched entryway 6 ft wide and 9 ft tall. Koi has to squeeze himself through due to his size.
Sensory & Appearance
There are no light fixtures in the chamber itself aisde from the ambient light emitted from the monitors and console pad. The interior walls of the room are mostly dark since very little light from the monitors reaches that far.
Denizens
Miz Paufan, Ita Tarmvun, and Naz Dassyr spend the most amount of time in the comm. room even outside of combat.
Contents & Furnishings
The console itself consists of a single large monitor with three smaller screens on either side. The desk and keypad is spread into three sections with a single long wide desk and a smaller keypad on either side. There are two open-backed chairs designed for Thunthen shells and tails, so a human has to lean forward to avoid tipping backward.
Valuables
Information is the greatest treasure, and as seen with Caroline Wendell, that treasure can easily be exploited by an intruder without proper precautions. Even though there are seven heavy solid dererium security doors sealing the Roost off from the outside, the console is vulnerable to tampering from within.
Hazards & Traps
With the exception of Miz and Ita, all of Bak's crew are very heavy and have lots of shell spikes. It would be a bad idea to mess with any of them, and Koi is quick to deal with intruders he catches snooping about.
Special Properties
Thunthen are able to use wireless systems to transmit data so there are no cables running outside except for connections between the console and monitors themselves.
Alterations
The console itself remains the same but new additions have been made in regards to its capabilities. The Oracle artifact in essence uploaded a very complex search algorithm to the network capable of finding anything when asked. Miz and Ita used their research into the Armors themselves to upgrade the original com network to the Armor Signature program in order to track the Ronin anywhere regardless of obstructions or connection integrity.
Architecture
The room itself is fairly drab being nestled in a natural stone chamber as part of the Roost. The walls sport no distinguishing features and are made entirely of aged volcanic rock. Bau Daophyn smoothed down the floor using rock cutters, but the ruggedness of the original stone remains intact.
Defenses
A number of alarms exist as part of the console system including perimeter alerts for the Roost itself, proximity warnings for the planet, and even magical wards to detect foreign auguries. The console is capable of hacking into remote systems but is virtually impregnable to outside intrusion thanks to Miz and Ita's crafty Highscript programming skills.
“Ahh…so these are the Ronin’s Dragonmen allies…” Bautan grinned in satisfaction as he spied upon a small creature with a smooth shell sitting at a chair next to a desk covered in glowing lights. A taller creature with a spiked shell and a blue beard stood behind him. “As you can see here, the style is consistent with designs we’ve observed in previous examples of fabrics used. Unlike the Ronin’s primary layers, which employ thin interlocking plates, or the more advanced version that uses a composite chain-mesh, these ‘Neo Armors’ make use of a highly durable breathable fabric with tiny reflective scales sewn into the outer layer,” the small creature pointed at images on a large screen. “This affords the wearer with increased comfort and mobility at the cost of defense, but the scales compensate by reflecting energy-based attacks and deflecting slashing or stabbing melee-” The little creature blinked and went rigid in his chair. “Captain! I’ve just detected an intrusion attempt in our network!” “From where?” The blue-bearded Dragonman demanded. Bautan continued to observe. “Unknown, but whoever it is, they’re being pretty brazen about it. It’s as if they’re just peeking in unobstructed,” the little creature frowned and tapped various lights. “Then obstruct them!” Bautan blinked, confused by the Dragonmen’s babble. “Already on it, Captain. I’ve managed to isolate the signal. Terminating connection…Now!” The little creature poked at a light firmly. Without warning the image displayed by the flames changed to a white field with writing that read “The page you requested cannot be displayed. We apologize for the inconvenience. A team of specially-trained monkeys has been dispatched to try and fix the problem…” “WHAAAAT?!?!”
History
Events of Foes From Another World
The room gets immediately put to use assisting the Ronin in responding to an uptick in Dynasty incursions as well as studying new versions of the staple Nether Soldiers they've fought in the past. Sensors detect incoming troopships sent by Mal Daggur and the Ramahatesguad arriving offshore of the mainland. The first major flaw in the wrist-coms is exposed when Ryo is unable to summon Armor or call for outside help in an underground cave system. Despite assistance from Miz and Ita, Plaedarr Bloodhun is able to handily capture all of the Ronin save Ryo, but they are able to locate the others and point Ryo in their direction for rescue operations.Events of Neo Ronin
Miz shows Ryo the studies they've done on the energy output of the Armors, allowing them to identify prospective Neo Ronin and intervene before the Dynasty can attack. The console is able to identify similarities between the original Armors and the Neo Armors, as well as analyze their peciliar molecular makeup.Events of Fight Alone
The already impressive Thunthen network is upgraded with the ORACLE program etched on the artifact Sehkmet recovers from the Yucatan, vastly improving its data retrieval capabilities. While attempting to recover the Dekahedron crystals, a wide-scale disruption takes place over each location, blocking all communication. Bak orders Miz and Ita to bring the Armor Signature network online, reopening communications between the team despite the attempted interference. Console sensors detect an attempted firing of the Vyerrdeklagn, allowing Ryo to intercept before the incendiary probes penetrate the stratosphere. It later detects a minor dimensional rift through which a partially-revived Kaosu slipped through from the Void. Comm relays are set up on Thanged allowing Cye to alert the others about the attack on Kundain, but Bak is not comfortable visiting the planet just yet.Events of Cataclysm War
With the assistance of Miz and Ita, Sage uses the console to identify a human collaborator of the Dynasty entering the city limits with a nuclear device. Miz joins the Mystics aboard the Argonauth, leaving Ita behind to coordinate evacuations for the time being. When Ita is called out, she enlists Mia to operate the system. While the Ronin succeed in evacuating the city, a handful of unforeseen fatalities occur, and Sage is presumed KIA. When Caroline Wendell escapes the containment cell, she swings by the comm. room hoping to make use of it. The ORACLE sytem is able to track down Arthur Halley's residence despite him living off-grid. Later Miz receives a communication from Highlord Takshi Anazhar in the Redali System, giving the Ronin clues about where Dais was taken. The console allows the Ronin to keep an eye on Beastlord's movements throughout the city ruins and the Pit.Events of Spacequake
Koi is left on watch during a relatively slow day. Even with half a brain he is able to recognize danger when he sees it as the sensor network alerts them to Phitdaitiarona's spacequake entering Sol's asteroid belt. They are able to precisely calculate the ETA of the leading edge and plan the evacuation to the Nether Realm. Once it is safe to return, they discover the residual energies of the spacequake are hampering attempts to track the locations of the Ronin. Eventually they are recovered and restored, but not soon after the sensors pick up the incoming Four Queens.Tourism
Miz and Ita are the primary operators for the console, but nearly every member of Bak's crew is capable of using it to a degree, even Koi Udsarrin. Among the Ronin Ryo, Rowen, Sage, and Anubis have been properly trained. Mia, Shannon, and Crystal Hacker are proficient in its use as well. Visitors to the Roost will often go to the comm. room first if they need help locating someone.
“Whoa!” Ryo exclaimed as they entered the ‘communications center’ and saw the huge complex of viewing screens and consoles set up by the far wall. “You guys were able to make all this in less than a day?” The main screen easily shamed the most advanced TVs of the day. “We are not so disparate that it’s just the twelve of us opposed to Mal Daggur,” a red-bearded Noble Cye recognized as the same who had chewed out Miz earlier spoke from the side of the room. “We have contacts within Mal Daggur’s fleet itself that ferry information and materials.”
Cye seemed more interested in the console than Miz’s stammered explanation. He peered down at the various glowing spots on the command pad. “B-b-but I assure you, I most certainly would not use precious resources for personal entertainme-” Cye reached out with a hand over one of the spots and tapped it with a fingertip. The main screen displayed a video of two figures grappling in what looked like a miniaturized flimsily-built ‘cityscape’. A tall humanoid clad in red and silver with bulbous silver eyes and a narrow fin atop the head unleashed a volley of energy blasts with his fists. His bulky monstrous opponent staggered from the barrage and toppled onto its back, flailing its arms. The humanoid swept his arms about, clenching his fists triumphantly. Miz tucked his head close to his shell and tensed. He squeezed his eyes shut but opened them when he heard footsteps. “Goodnight,” Cye said with a smile and waved before exiting the room. Miz lowered himself back into the chair very slowly.
Type
Room, Military, Command & Control / CiC)
Environmental Effects
Ventilation systems keep the room cool and dry because of the large amount of electronics.
“So, what are we looking for here?” he asked and studied the displayed weather radar. “Large atmospheric disturbance just appear off coast. Inconsistent with normal patterns for season. Warm air where there should be no warm air. Remaining stationary,” Ita said. “It’s not behaving like a storm front, basically,” Miz provided. “It just…appeared, like that. Here, watch,” Miz tapped a key and the screen displayed an animated radar image. One moment the sea appeared clear and calm, then seconds later a large blob of red formed. “Any luck on your end, Ita? The Human’s programming language may be archaic, but it’s still tricky.” “Pffeh! I been doing this since before you were egg,” Ita snorted and twitched her mustache. Miz sighed and continued typing away.
Caroline walked out into the main cavern towards what looked like an exit tunnel but paused and glanced over her shoulder when she noticed light coming from screens. She entered the comm. room and gazed around at the array of monitors and the console. She set Dais down in the chair gently and pored over the keys. “Hmm...my Highscript is a bit rusty...English would really help about now...” The text on the screen suddenly flickered, changing from Thunthen Highscript to English Alphabet. Caroline smiled broadly. “Now this is more like it!”
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