The Lava Tube Xenotechnological Investigation and Incident
Context:
-During a soiree at the Traquiel Estates, Arch Magos Sojourner Wake entered the premises uninvited and demanded to see the Planetary Governor (Anvephone Traquiel), who was not present and had been absent for some time due to her own investigations. Arch Magos Wake was only swayed to leave due to a separate incident involving a heretical device that cast a blood-like image of an Aquilla upon the wall—he and Sister Yvestina Avarast attempted to pursue the owner of the device deeper into the manor, after which the Arch Magos apparently was persuaded to return to Mechanicus Headquarters.
-Dehvon revealed that he too was concerned over his sister's absence; Ambassador Lethe was prompted to open an investigation into her whereabouts.
Inciting Lead:
-Some weeks after this initial event, a man wearing the uniform of the Traquiel Guard emerged from the Lava Tubes near the Doc in the Underhive. Notably, despite his ability to walk, the man was brain dead. His serial number indicated that he was a member of the Planetary Governor's personal guard.
-Dehvon provided us with a deployment of the Guard to further investigate the Lava Tubes.
Within the Lava Tubes:
-Spiral cut patterns were noted on the walls of the cavern; each displayed a grouping of three score marks, equidistant and precise. These markings are considered irregular and not within expected parameters of natural formations nor known drilling methods.
-Eventually we arrived at the Governor's encampment (well secured with provisions and armaments), stationed next to a "wall" of energy. Viewing the wall was uncomfortable due to unidentifiable properties of its energetic spectrum; this likely correlates with the massive amount of energy present, as indicate by other sensors. The wall also appeared to be psychically active, reacting to the presence of Quinten; this may also be connected to the discomfort experienced in viewing.
-The Governor explained that the was studying the wall and attempting to bypass it. During their studies, through accident of volunteer, members of the exploration that had touched the wall went mad—one was shot, and another fled (being the individual we had discovered near the doc).
-Her next plan of action was to attempt an overload of the field by shooting it with a las cannon, providing a large spike of energy.
-Upon determining that the wall did interact with inorganic materials, a pict recorder was affixed with improvised extensions and pushed through to take images on the other side. These images revealed a xenotech device on a pedestal (See Nemesis Device), a 33 pointed star of crystalline material. Anvephone seemed to have research indicating that the device had healing properties.
-Images also showed what could be a xeno figure in an alcove.
Extraction:
-The wall's responsiveness to Quinten's presence prompted an additional test of its psychic nature prior to firing the las cannon at the barrier. According to the psyker, the wall "scanned" him when he reached out, testing for some variable of purity. He responded by reciting litanies learned in his training. This seemed to be acceptable, and an aperture of Quinten's exact silhouette dimensions—scaled up by 1/33—opened at the base of the wall. Traquiel ordered him to retrieve the device on the other side, but not to touch it.