Ifera's Journeys

Ifera's journeys took her all over the Gate network. Using the world of Icy Foyer and enough survival equipment to travel alone for months, she explored the most interesting places that she could reach. She went farther than any human did before her. However, on her last journey (to reach the Maeglin Command Center), she vanished.
It has been more than 200 years since Ifera published the report of her journey. Some of this information may be out of date.
First, she traveled from Nordic Frog Beach, through Icy Foyer, to the Crucible Alpha. She traveled in a radiation-proof exploratory vehicle to avoid Icy Foyer's radiation and the harsh weather of the Crucible. Her notes are below.

Crucible Alpha World
Atmospheric Condition: Dry desert. Temperatures can rise to 50 °C (122 °F) during the day, but plunge to -10 °C (14 °F) at night). The atmosphere is breathable, though a mask is recommended. More than enough water should be brought to avoid death by dehydration. Shelter dome recommended for overnight stays.
Life: Minimal. It seems that the Crucible was left on a setting that reduces the incidence of life. I have only been able to discover small terrestrial vermin species. These species have scaly skin. They are omnivorous, are capable of intensely fast reproduction but also long periods of hibernation. Aside from this ratlike creature, there are only minor flora and bacterial life. Take care not to cross-contaminate other worlds with these rats. Their specialized adaptations will likely cause them to outcompete all other vermin.
Impressions: The Crucible is the only thing of value or interest on this world. I do not understand it or how to use it, but I can tell that it is powerful and dangerous. Its inner sanctum contains a massive beam of energy harnessed by the device to influence the environment of the planet. There is no telling what it's capable of.

After she left the Crucible, she traveled back through Icy Foyer. She entered the Lightning Ring and discovered a world she termed "the Human Zoo". She abandoned her vehicle to search the zoo on foot and escaped by the skin of her teeth. She re-entered her vehicle and went back to the portal.

Human Zoo Planet
Atmospheric Condition: None. This world is irradiated and its surface is in vacuum. You must bring space equipment in order to come here. Inside the human zoo, the air is warm, humid, and breathable, within the human-habitable range. However, once a person enters the human zoo, it is difficult to leave, so taking shelter within the zoo is not recommended.
Life: No native life. Inside the human zoo there is life that resembles human life. Trees that are similar to Earth jungle trees. Wildlife that looks like tropical Earth life. Simians that resemble humans. However, it has been twisted and warped. An artificial intelligence created the zoo, and apparently did experiments on its captives. I'll call it "The Keeper". The sentients here barely recognized me as human. They tried to eat me more than once.
Impressions: This place makes me sad. It seems abandoned by its creators, but I can never really be sure. To truly rehabilitate these people (if they are indeed people at all) would require an effort of Herculean proportions. Thousands of scientists. Probably huge surface infrastructure. I wouldn't recommend coming here unless you're looking for twisted A.I. gene-research and you're prepared to deal with man-eating savages and advanced digital security.

From there, she found another world she simply referred to as a "deadly wasteland". The Deadly Wasteland has poisonous atmosphere and deadly, maneating beasts, but a path on that planet leads to the Purple Ring, where she visited the Maeglin Nursery.

Nursery World
Atmospheric Condition: Chilly, humid. As long as I was here, it never deviated much from 10 °C (50 °F). It's perfectly breathable, though. The weather was calm the whole time I was here, alternating between a light rain, gentle wind, and bright sunlight. Overall, very nice weather! This would be a great place for humans to settle, if you didn't have to travel through a deadly poisonous wasteland to reach it.
Life: It seems the life here was domesticated and cultivated. Carefully laid paths lined with edible plants wind between every destination. Animals here seem to have been bred for a variety of purposes. They are docile and peaceful. Water is abundant, and the life here is diverse.
Impressions: This is a peaceful, tranquil planet. No wonder the Maeglin used it as a nursery. It's perfectly safe, hidden from invaders behind a deadly obstacle, and full of sustenance free for the taking. I quite enjoyed my time living here. It was easy and simple. I made sketches and drank cool, sweet water. I slept in ancient dens. I would return here to die.

After exploring the Nursery world, Ifera traveled back through the Deadly Wasteland and the Icy Foyer and entered the Silver Ring. She first explored the Maeglin Archive as extensively as she could. In the Archive's lobby her vehicle was destroyed by Myrmidon, and she continued on foot. 

Archive Station
Atmospheric Condition: It seems the atmosphere here can be minutely controlled. At the time of my visiting, it was breathable for humans. However, the A.I. in control of the station is able to change it at will. The extent of this control isn't known, but during my visit the atmosphere grew frigid and unbreathable. I had to make a fast exit in order to avoid freezing to death.
Life: There is no native life, for the Archive is a massive space station. However, some areas have cultivated plants. These were used for water and air purification, food, or decoration. Some of the cultivation has gotten out of control. There was one room, which I theorize to once have been a garden, which was overgrown and wild.
The station's creators abandoned this place a long time ago. However, a relic of Earth has made it way here, and made this place into its home. Myrmidon, the A.I. which destroyed Earth, has chosen to settle here as its home. Sticking around here is not recommended. It is dangerous. Myrmidon will kill any human with no second thought.
Impressions: The Archive is nice. Its systems seem to be fully functioning, and its computer systems are home to the largest known repository of knowledge. However, killer robots really put a damper on one's ability to come here and retrieve that knowledge. Visitors to the Archive can access any knowledge they search for, but must contend with dangerous machines to do so.

From there, she traveled through the Maeglin Customs Outpost (an automated outpost designed to gate access to the Academy) and to the Orange Ring, where she explored the world that hosts the Maeglin Academy. She used a route through the Customs Outpost that she had discovered the first time - around the outside. 

Academy World
Atmospheric Condition: Unbreathable. The weather is temperate and humid, and the water is standard. Aquatic creatures can survive beneath the waves here, but the composition of gases in the atmosphere is poisonous for humans.
Life: Native non-sentient life. I have witnessed large aquatic and airborne creatures here. The seafloor appears to be fairly shallow, and the only land appears to be tall rocky spires that rise from it. Because of the premium on space, creatures reach only a middling size. However, they are commonly predatory, and have no fear of humans. Be careful here, the wildlife may attack you at any moment. The Maeglin once lived here, and left ruins of their presence, but no longer.
Impressions: This is a harsh but beautiful world. Standing atop one of its rocky spires and gazing at a sunset over the ocean is one of the highlights of my entire life. The wildlife can be avoided with some preparation. The Academy buildings are largely ruined, but occasionally you can find a really nice piece of technology in the wreckage.

Purpose

To provide journalistic insight on the various life-bearing worlds of the Maeglin Portal complex.

Document Structure

Publication Status

This document is publicly available and widely distributed. It is given (along with William's Report) to aspiring gatecrashers while they prepare for their first journey.

Medium

Digital Recording, Various

Authoring Date

Nordic Frog Year 6