Fantastic Voyage
We've uncovered the following journal entries from Captain Netter, written as he was performing the initial explorations on a planet containing the remains of a dead civilization. The entries also reference a series of maps from the ship's cartographer Gray, which presumably illustrated some of the features Netter thought were most important, but we've been unable to recover them.
We touched down at a canal that first mate Guyon identified from the initial survey. We've chosen that location as our first base camp.
Base Camp 1 Exploration Reports
- Team A: Group takes off at 0522h. Led team in a short exploration, taking the river rushing south, which curved back around on itself and plunged deep into the jungle, at which point it met up with another stream. Hacking our way through the jungle, we finally found a ROCKY FORMATION. On our way back, we took a shortcut and were able to cross a vine bridge back to the camp. (map 226; 9.4)
- Team B: Followed the river north against the current, and around 0633h reached a branch where another river split off. Decided to follow the OTHER RIVER BRANCH back downstream. Kept following it south in the general direction of camp. Small streams kept branching off, but we stayed on the main river as it got narrower and narrower until we found a long peninsula. (map 422; 6.6)
- Team C: Found the same vine bridge that Team A used to take the shortcut back to camp. Passing by that vine bridge was a brackish bayou with darker, bluer water, which we discovered around 2039h. Following the bayou north going with the flow of water, it became more and more like a dark blue river, eventually nearly touching the cloud layer as it broke into a HOLLOW. (map 574; 7.5; consult global information banks)
- Team D: We followed the nearby road upstream along the river. For a good distance, it was running right along the river, but when the river and the path diverged we stayed on the path, eventually coming to an area with lots of other old highways passing through at around 1628h. There we discovered the SOUTHERN OUTCROPPING of a really funny-looking rock. (map 329; 6.10.2.3.7)
- Team E: Left at 0313h; took the party up the same road as Team D, but going downstream along the river rather than upstream. That road split several times, getting smaller and smaller, and went down each of four different peninsulas, but none of them the one that Team B discovered—none of these were as thick as the one they found. We followed one of the paths (and according to the map, it really didn't matter which one) until we could go no further. While returning, one of the crew reported finding a strange VINE that led all the way back the length of the peninsula. (map 416; 6.9.8.6)
- Team F: Followed Team B north. We also followed the river north, until we came to the same river junction that Team B reported. Near that point, we came across a vine bridge traveling overhead, and decided to exit the boats to follow the vines into a thick jungle. Going through the jungle north, we noted that it eventually split into two jungle sections, one of which seemed to end up at the northern end of a funny looking rock. We went through to the other area, finally exiting the jungle at another ROCK at around 2236h. (map 326; 8.7)
We decided to set up the second camp at the rock that Team F discovered when they exited the jungle.
Base Camp 2 Exploration Reports
- Team A: At 0555h we decided to take a look at the small river that ran past the base camp rock, which, soon after we started following it upstream, joined a LARGE RIVER with many tributaries. There was also a fairly large rock bridge overhead. (map 520; 10.6)
- Team B: We followed Team A upstream, and kept going. More tributaries kept joining the river, and we kept heading upstream against the current until we were joined by an equally large river. After the two rivers merged, there was only a very short span before we found ourselves on an EXTREMELY LARGE RIVER. Frankly, we'd be amazed if there were any river larger on this planet. Sadly, we weren't able to get back to camp until around 0056h the next morning. (map 505; 5)
- Team C: We followed Team B to the huge river. Although the current was moving swiftly, we instead decided to continue upstream—what can I say, our team has a lot of spirit. It paid off, though: the ancients have built a complex series of sluices, locks, and dams here at the core. The engineering is fascinating, so we continued upstream to chronicle it better. We soon found ourselves in a large cavern at around 1918h. Rather than continue upstream through a strange lock, we instead hacked our way through a thick, dense wall; this found us in another cavern, of about the same size. Looking north, there was another complex LOCK in the irrigation system where the water flowed into the cavern. (map 498; 9.5)
- Team D: We decided to go on a short outing from camp. Near the campsite, there's a large PLATEAU heading south, that is also bounded by the rock bridge that Team A discovered earlier today. We decided to have a picnic at 1212h, and just watch the rivers passing beneath the plateau. (map 410; 10.5.6)
- Team E: We followed Team D's plateau further south, where it stopped near a narrow, rocky ridge, one of many that seem to run more or less parallel along here. At 1002h, we began to follow the rocky ridge toward the center of the countryside, and eventually reached a high rocky ridge line. We then followed this south until it petered out at a rocky CLIFF. (map 115; 7.7)
- Team F: We followed Team B up toward their very large river, but noticed that where the two large rivers joined, there was kind of a gravelly shore. We followed it south, and we quickly found ourselves in a busy area, with streams, abandoned highways, and the like. Surely this amazing CONFLUENCE of everything must have once had a name. We finally managed to return to camp around 2204h and report in. (map 971; 5, see accompanying notes)
- Team G: Near the gravelly shore, there was a SMOOTH VALLEY heading south, criss-crossed by small dirt paths. We took that, heading south through a curtain of vines and heavy vegetation, and after that (around 1342h by our watches), the strip of grass opened out into a broad plain. (map 1032; 9)
We chose to set up base camp 3 based on Team G's report, right at the curtain of vines.
Base Camp 3 Exploration Reports
- Team A: We didn't actually get into camp until 0218h, so we got a late start this morning. There are two distinct paths that go into the valley and spread out across it. These two paths appear to be from a COMMON SOURCE: a larger highway that Team G actually saw all around them as they headed down the valley. (map 793; 5.5)
- Team B: After lunch, we decided to take a short walk for our digestion at 1505h. We began to look at the large plain just south of the curtain of vines where we made camp. Explored most of the nearest part of it, which is to the left: a PASTURE filled with strange mists and gases. (map 1046; 6)
- Team C: Turned right out of base camp, following along the edge of the plain. As the plain begins to narrow and form a valley, we noticed that there was a vine bridge heading to the north. Rather than continue down the valley, we chose to follow the vine bridge. The vine bridge led us toward a huge, abandoned city—perhaps the largest city we've been able to find on this entire planet. We recorded our finds at 1747h. Right where that bridge connected there seemed to be an earlier, compact SETTLEMENT with a different style of architecture than the sprawling metropolis beyond. (map 1086; 4.7)
- Team D: We'd stuck with Team C most of the day. Rather than explore the great city they found, we headed back across the vine bridge at 2332h, and decided to explore what's on the other side of the plain to the south. The entire southern end of the plain was a SWAMP unlike anything we've seen before, with winding streams, pools, and muck deep enough to get your boots stuck. (map 1035; 7.7)
- Team E: We followed Team C until the plain began to narrow into a valley, and then (at 1129h) followed the valley around to another, thinner valley. We noticed that this new valley seems to curve around the remains of a MODERATE-SIZED CITY. There's a small tunnel that seems to lead into the city, but we didn't notice it until it was getting rather late. (map 1056; 8)
- Team F: We stuck with Team E, and then continued the exploration south as the valley continued to curve around the city. We then reached a point where the valley took a sharp turn away from the city and abruptly began heading south. At this point, we noticed another interesting feature—a SUSPENDED VINE BRIDGE. The bridge is thin, precarious, and leads back north. There's a faded sign that may as well be in Czech, but at least it indicates that it was used by the ancients. As we continued along it (since there was no way to turn around), we found that it led us nearly all the way back to base camp, which we reached at 0848h. (map 1056; 8.2.6; consult global information banks)
- Team G: Those who didn't take the bridge headed south down the valley. This took forever, as the valley started winding around all over the place. It is a maze of twisty little passages, all alike. We noted in our journal at 1826h that it made us all feel like we were wandering in circles—clearly it would have been a lot shorter to go as the crow flies. We finally emerged into a much wider, rolling landscape. Pleased to finally be out of the maze, we could either turn to the right and follow the wider valley, or go to the left and head to a smoother, thin little grassy valley. We chose to follow the latter, and this originally attractive-looking PATH got narrower, darker, and more disused. (map 1073; 8; examine accompanying notes)
While Team G was looking for a base camp location, they found a way to burst through the valley walls on the banks of a large, rushing river. They set up the base camp at this location.
Base Camp 4 Exploration Reports
- Team A: We headed upstream from the base camp to a point where our rushing river joined another equally-sized branch, then on to a point where an even larger RIVER rushed toward us. We checked in with camp at 1416h and received further orders; had we been allowed to continue upstream, we could have explored an even larger river that is the source for this one.... (map 539; 5.6)
- Team B: We followed the same route that Team A did. We decided to go down the other branch of the river. Soon, this river split into many tributaries. We chose one tributary, and it led us straight to a VILLAGE, not very big. Essentially it was a suburb of another mid-sized city. Through the center of the village ran a narrow stream, and the walls of the houses ran right up to the banks; indeed, if the village had grown any larger, the flow of the stream would be impeded. We don't get back to camp until 0022h. (map 539; 8)
- Team C: Having joined Team B for the early part of the exploration, we continued from the back end of the village starting at around 1048h. There were two slow-moving streams that traveled along the edge of the larger mid-sized city. We chose one, and followed its path upstream as it wound around the city. We left the outskirts of the city, continuing to head up the stream, and noted that it was joined by a path heading for a similar destination. As we continued, the stream became more tortuous, winding, and finally it broke into so many tributaries that we were practically in a MARSH. On the other bank of the marsh, we could see the ruins of an aquatic city much like Venice. (maps 1148 and 1149; 10)
- Team D: We split off from Team C at around 0931h once they'd found the stream, and chose to go in the opposite direction. We followed it downstream through the village and down a peninsula. At some point, we decided to forge off the stream and go through some dense jungle, and we stopped when we found an impenetrably THICK, WOVEN HEDGE. (map 588; 4'1.6; consult global information banks)
- Team E: Back at base camp, we noticed a very large rock formation next to the stream. We departed at 0436h, and once we started following the rock formation up toward the stream conjunction, we found a large road crossing the rock near where the two streams meet. We followed the large road south, as it was joined by other roads to become a major southbound highway. We followed the LARGEST ROAD south. We noticed that as we followed the highways, leaving the rivers behind us, all the roads passed through a notch in the rock faces and continued south. (map 832; 7.5)
- Team F: We followed Team E, and kept heading down the big highway. Suddenly, we were joined by two rivers, flowing in opposite directions. We got off the highway here at 1948h, crossed the rivers and began traveling along a bony ridge and continued traveling south until we saw three separate vine clusters all heading for a common source. Curious, we followed the vine clusters to the COMMON SOURCE POINT. (maps 430 and 434; 3.9; consult global information banks)
- Team G: Left with Team F at 0725h. We couldn't help but notice that big common source point was the northernmost end of a very long, ROCKY PASSAGE surrounded by jungle. We could follow this south for quite a while, but eventually we got bored and returned. (map 346; 5)
Orders from HQ were to head back up to Base Camp 2, and explore from that area. We took a shuttle back to that area, then set up a new camp by following the river upstream and camping at a juncture about halfway between Team A's and Team B's second explorations.
Base Camp 5 Exploration Reports
- Team A: We went for a short trip to simply examine the large TRIBUTARY at the base camp that we hadn't explored. Returned to camp at 2126h. (map 520; 7.6)
- Team B: We left base camp at 0804h and departed north from the riverside. We found ourselves surrounded by a confusing set of paths and wilderness, with everything going in different directions. With our trusty machete, we discovered that most of the vegetation is pretty easy to get through, until we came across a SOMEWHAT TOUGHER SECTION OF WILDERNESS. We followed it south to a rocky ridge that appears to be one that Team A encountered on an earlier exploration, but the longer part of this stretch of wilderness heads north. (map 385; 22.6)
- Team C: After following Team B to their tougher wilderness, we decided to head north rather than south, following the longer section. We found that it connected to a large rock ledge on the north. We decided to do some digging, and around 0357h made it through a thick bluish rock. Our tunnel opened into a bizarre cave containing three highly unique rock formations unlike any others we've seen here; they vaguely look like tools. THE ONE CLOSEST TO US seems to be leaning against a strange vine curtain. (map 912; 7)
- Team D: We followed Team C for the most part; after they found the three creepy rocks, we decided to try to exit the cave. Unfortunately, we just found ourselves in another strange cavern. Every way we turned to get out of this cave, we either hit a dead end or wound up chasing our tails, We got bored with this around 1549h, so we went back to the strange rocks in desperation. We noticed a very thin, barely noticeable PATH worn into the wall of the cave. We were able to follow this path through a tunnel, where it quickly joined a main road. (map 912; 6.7.5)
- Team E: We'd followed Team D through their explorations, but after all the time looping around through dead ends...well, one of our team members went a bit nuts. Rather than go south on the main road they'd found, he started beating his way through a tough woven mat of vines -- frankly, we were rather impressed with his tenacity. After he finally broke through that layer, he took a break at 1251h, only to find MORE DAMN JUNGLE. We decided to drag him back to base camp for treatment. (map 378; 8.6)
- Team F: We left base camp and began to follow the tributary north. It branched, and one of the forks seemed to have a lot of tributaries going off of it. Choosing simplicity, we instead chose the one with no obvious tributaries. We passed through a tunnel that took us into a bizarre rocky moonscape. We left the river, waded through a small swamp, and dug through the rock wall into an OPEN CAVE. Finally returned to camp at 0142h. (map 856; 10.5)
- Team G: Followed Team F to their open cave, and then crossed back through the swamp, avoiding the river. On the other side of the swamp, we found an area where two roads briefly met and then parted. We followed one of those roads until 1705h, when it came to an end, petering out at a large, almost perfectly circular VILLAGE. (And it looks like if we'd followed the other road, we'd have gotten to another one just like it.) (map 773; 7)