Several hours later...

The Surface of Steinhull, RSC-2W-0063 “Dara Tonn”

Sinn'Are'Sen sets the container down on the table in the archaeology compartment. The power indicator is still blinking red and the low power alarm chirp still echoes throughout the compartment.

“Dara Tonn, you have that power connector schematic? I'd like to get this artifact stabilized before we lose it's contents or the chirping drives me mad.”

“On the flat panel display now. We have all of the components needed either in here or in the engineering compartment.”

“So we are modifying the end of an extension cable? I'll grab one of the long ones to work with in case we want to bring the artifact over into another compartment.”

“Grab insulated gloves and the electrical tool kit while you are in there.”

“Check. Are so sure that the artifact won't draw more power then a single outlet can provide?”

“Reasonably sure. The pins are round instead of right-angled but are in the usual location and arrangement for a Republic power outlet. The trick is that it's a 'male' socket instead of a 'female' one, which is backwards of Republic standard outlets.”

“So that's why there is a spare connector in the parts list?”

“Affirmative. Alongside the punch, mallet, and the electric induction heater. Pop the replacement connector open and pull the plastic casing off.”

“Exposing the metal socket. Apply heat and then the punch to circularize them. Probably going to want to use a vice to hold it while I work.”

Sinn sets to work as directed and manages to circularize the sockets in nine minutes. He takes the connector, the extension cable, a wire stripper, a screwdriver, and electrical tape back to the archaeology lab compartment. Sinn checks the tripped-down replacement connector to ensure that the modified connectors will fit. That done he severs the extraneous end from the extension cable and strips back the insulation to expose the wires inside. The screwdriver serves to secure the wires to the replacement connector and seal the assembly tight. Sinn uses the electrical tape to replace the discard plastic casing and to prevent shocks and shorts. Finally he slips the new connector onto the power plug in the side of the artifact.

“Moment of truth Dara Tonn. Ready to modulate power on the outlet?”

“Ready.”

“Here goes hoping then.”

Sinn plugs the other end of the extension cable into a spare outlet in the archaeology lab bench and steps back. The artifact continues to chirp and whine for three long seconds before it's display swaps from blinking red to blinking green. A small lightning bolt icon also appears in one corner of the artifact's display, another long second later and the chirping noise halts.

“Looks like we did it Dara Tonn.”

“We did. Third try on the power settings too. One hundred twenty seven volts at fifty hertz.”

“That's not Republic standard in the slightest.”

“It's used in a handful of odd engineering cases. Most notably in cryogenic applications which is why it was the third setting I tested.”

“Why focus on cryogenics?”

“Transport container in a medical facility? It almost certainly had to be some sort of cryogenic storage container. And with the plug so close in design to Republic plugs, albeit 'reversed' compared to Republic ones, it was worth trying out as a starting point. Had that failed I was going to just try cycling voltage and hertz until I found a workable combination.”

“Congratulations. Now that we have this thing stabilized I guess I need to put in another exploration log entry about it. Ready?”

“Ready.”

“Begin exploration log addendum.

“I have returned to RSC-2W-0063 and secured the artifact inside of it's onboard archaeology laboratory. Immediately prior to making this report I fabricated a power connector for the artifact out of an extension cable, a spare connector, and related tools. I had RSC-2W-0063 determine the voltage and hertz needed to safely charge the artifact's internal battery. One hundred twenty seven volts at fifty hertz for the record, comparable to some Republic cryogenic applications. Given that fact and the artifacts location prior to recovery, I strongly suspect that it is a cryogenic transportation container for biological material of some kind. Why it was left behind is unknown at this time, as is the presence and condition of any contents. I intend to let the artifact fully charge before attempting to open it.

“End exploration log addendum.”

“Clean copy.”

“Phew. Can you keep an eye, er... a camera on the charge status of the artifact? I need shower, a meal, and a good nap.”

“Not an issue.”

“Thank you Dara Tonn.”

The next morning...

The Surface of Steinhull, RSC-2W-0063 “Dara Tonn”

Sinn'Are'Sen stretches, cracking several joins in his arms, legs, and spine before he rubs the sleep grit from his eyes.

“Good morning Sinn.”

“Good morning Dara Tonn. What new things are happening this day?”

“Nothing at the moment. The Artifact should finish charging in about two hours.”

“Time enough for a meal and a shower. Do you have any medical grade sensors ion the archaeology lab or am I going to need to bring the artifact over into my quarters?”

“To analyze any contents you mean? You will need to bring it to your quarters. I just have a basic sensor fit everywhere else in my hull.”

“Check. Any sign of local wildlife?”

“Still none. You really are getting tired of emergency rations aren't you?”

“Even rotating the flavors they get awful repetitive awful fast. We should probably...”

Sinn stops speaking as he notices the winged eye icon blinking in the corner of his vision.

“What is the problem Sinn?”

“The icon is back.”

“So we're delaying opening the artifact?”

“We have to. One errant blink while recording that log entry and the whole thing is ruined.”

“Confirmed. Medical observation suite is ready.”

“Blinking now.”

Weekly experience evaluation complete. Applying newly unlocked Characteristics, Psionic Abilities ,Skills, Talents, and Traits in the order that they were unlocked.

For: one week spent in danger with tool and / or weapon spent at the ready, the Quick Draw Trait has been unlocked. Adjusting instinctive threat response to more rapidly ready one's self for danger.

New Rank achieved. Congratulations Neonate.

For: encountering an Astral Veil effect and having the strength of will to emerge unscathed, Psion Tier increased to Tier 2 – Theta.

Willpower rating greater than forty. Unlocking four additional psionic abilities related to experiences to date...

Unlocking Float...

Unlocking Spectral Hands...

Unlocking Staunch Bleeding...

Unlocking Wall Walk...

For: one week spent in complex and unfriendly terrain, characteristics rankings are improved.

Intelligence ranking increased from 32 to 37 (local: 'three mark').

Perception ranking increased from 27 (local: 'two mark') to 32 (local: 'three mark').

Willpower ranking increased from 42 to 47 (local: 'four mark).

New Rank achieved. Congratulations Aspirant.

For: working with tools and technology to assemble a new device, the Technology Use advanced skill has been unlocked.

Weekly evaluation complete. Remember to rest for at least one full day for future unlocks!

Sinn retreats into his personal quiet space and evaluates the four additional psionic incantation scrolls on his bookshelves. The Staunch Bleeding invocation rests near to the Healer invocation, while the Float, Spectral hands, and Wall Walk scrolls form a neat pyramid of related incantations. Luck Bender and Psyniscience still sit on their own without related incantations.

There are other changes too. A whole shelf has been filled with a honeycomb scroll holder and scrolls. Sinn looks closer and notices that the ends of the scroll rods were marked with the bird and cog insignia. He checks the other honeycomb shelf and notes that the scrolls it contains also have an insignia on the ends of their rods: the winged eye.

Sinn emerges from his personal space back into reality.

“Well that was interesting.”

“You were immobile for four point seven hours. How do you feel?”

“Unnerved. This thing in my head is a lot more powerful then we estimated.”

“How so?”

“If the test I can read when it activates is to be believed, it can modify just about everything about me. The upside is that it seems to 'improve' me based upon what I am doing, and lists the things that caused the improvement. For example, walking about the Steinhull ruins all week with my pickax 'at the ready' caused it to grant me the 'Quick Draw Trait'. It sounds fairly self explanatory, but I need to investigate to be sure.”

“So the device is capable of altering your body as well as importing information into your mind. I can find no Republic device capable of performing the same function in the data available to me.”

“I agree, I've never heard of anything like this before myself. I'll need to investigate further, but I still need to generate a log entry to keep our watchers happy. The artifact is all charged up?”

“Affirmative. It finished charging on schedule. Where do you purpose to perform the log entry?”

“In the archaeology lab. If we are fortunate I might be able to open it on camera. If it does contain biological material, do you think you could run a genetic test on it?”

“The medical observation suite in your personal quarters has that capability, but if the hypothetical material belongs to a species not in the Republic databases available to me I can only return an unknown result.”