The Dredgers

"Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying."

- Arthur C. Clarke

The Dredgers is a Normal Mystery storyline in .

Recommended sponsors and mission commanders
It is recommended to have many RC Explorers in the scanning phase, and many RC Commanders in the mass invasion phase.

The Dredgers: Convergence
"Several hours ago, the LINEAR and CSS programs detected an incoming cluster of meteorites from the asteroid belt. Their trajectories are likely to converge with the Martian orbit. Meteor impacts are likely to intensify during the course of the next few weeks.


 * Effect: Expect several Meteor Storms to hit Mars in the next  (10?) Sols."

The Dredgers: The Heavenly Storm
"The initial evaluation of the situation with the meteor clusters had been miscalculated. The scientists from the near-Earth object detection programs predict that a significant amount of the meteorite stream would fill the space between Mars and Earth. While the thick atmosphere of our home world would protect it from eventual impacts, the threat level for any spacecraft will be past tolerable. To address the new situation, Earth Control has canceled all space flights until further notice.


 * Effect: Rockets will not arrive until the situation with the meteor impacts is resolved. Inbound rockets will still land on Mars."

The Dredgers: Brace for Impact
"Mission Control, our sensors are detecting a large object incoming at high velocity. Judging by the data from our telemetry, its mass and speed are great enough to cause major damage on the surface. It would be wise to evacuate the area around the projected point of impact.

We could be wrong, but our initial visual readings on the object show that it has an unconventional form for a meteorite. Strange protrusions can be observed from the back of the object. Could this be something different than a meteor?


 * Effect: A major impact is expected to happen somewhere on Mars."

The Dredgers: Grounding Day
"The object hit the surface without decelerating. We expected it to burst into pieces from the force of impact, but it seems it possesses immense structural integrity. The most astonishing thing is that it has moving parts. From what we have observed so far, it seems that it is trying to burrow below the crust of the planet.

It is now or never to take a closer look - should the risk be worth it.


 * Effect: An Anomaly at the landing site is available for analysis."

The Dredgers: Contact
"From the spectroscopic data gathered from afar, we know that the object is covered in a robust crust of silicates and metal despite its organic appearance. The tentacle-like protrusions are inanimate and it seems they serve as support columns for the main structure. The operators reports no activity from the object except its continuous excavation - it is either inanimate or it pays no heed to our presence in the area.

The RC Explorer operator requests permission for close inspection on the object."

You can give permission or deny it. If you give permission and the random result is positive:

"The rover ventured within mere meters of the Object and conducted a series of field tests and observations on it. We scanned it with radiological and spectroscopic equipment and extended a remote probe to its carapace, gathering tiny samples of its crust. Via its telescopic arm a camera and sonar were inserted within the Object, revealing a perplexing maze of cavities and corridors inside. A close inspection below the Object shows that it digs a hole beneath itself through a rotation of its frontal hull and extracts metal-rich ores, but its position above the ground level remains the same. The RC Explorer operators report no response from the Object during any of these operations.

The data we've gathered is already sent to our sponsor via encrypted transmission. We are sure the commission will value our efforts greatly."


 * Effect: You gain $250M Funding and 500 research.

Otherwise:

"The RC Explorer ventured within mere meters of the Object and conducted series of field tests and observations on it. The operators scanned the Object with radiological and spectroscopic equipment and extended a remote probe to its carapace, gathering tiny samples of its crust. When the RC Explorer approached the Object to perform closer interaction with it via the telescopic arms, the digging process of the Object caused a minor crust collapse and it nearly smashed the front of the rover's hull. This didn't appear to be a deliberate attack but the damage is evident - it seems the Object possesses immense strength as well.

Despite our setbacks we gathered important data and have already sent it to our sponsor via encrypted transmission. We are sure the commission will value our efforts greatly.

The Object extracted resources from below the surface."


 * Effect: You gain ??? ($125M?) Funding. The RC Explorer suffered a malfunction.

The Dredgers: Foresight and Reflection
Continued from the previous one, if permission was not granted:

"The RC Explorer will be returning to base soon. Meanwhile, we will continue to gather visual and telemetry data on the object. The data we've gathered is already sent to our sponsor via encrypted transmission. We are sure the commission will value our efforts greatly.

The Object extracted metals from below the surface. ."


 * Effect: You gain ??? Funding.

The Dredgers: Egress
"As abruptly as it came, the object took off and accelerated extremely quickly. Our initial predictions that it would dig itself deeper in the crust have proven wrong. Instead, from our observation on the landing site, we can conclude that a large amount of Martian soil had been removed and taken away. What the goal and the purpose of this operation was is unknown.


 * Effect: The object has taken off."

The Dredgers: Behind the Scenes
(?) If the anomaly was not scanned within ??? days:

"The large hole left behind by the Object was the focus of the expedition, and the RC Explorer operators did their best to scavenge every bit of information left behind. With the help of the its telescopic arms and on-board spectroscopic equipment, the RC Explorer helped us find out that the hole was dug up on top of a subsurface resource deposit. The amount of discarded waste rock as well as the volume of the hole suggested that the Object sifted through the soil and took away only the usable bits. What the purpose of this was is unknown.

The Object extracted resources from below the surface and took off with them"

The Dredgers: They Will Be Back
"The similarities with the first Object are obvious, but we cannot confirm the identity on the new one. Our scientists speculate that it would land in another mineral rich region. Our sponsor suggests that we maintain visual contact with the Object but keep our distance as its intentions or its defensive capabilities are unknown.

Our sponsor's contacts on Earth rifled through any data for a mission launched by another competitor on Earth, but from what we have seen so far it wouldn't be far-fetched to suggest that these Objects are of extraterrestrial origin.

By the way, the sponsor HQ dubbed the Object Dredger and they require us to maintain coherency in our documentation by using the same call-sign.


 * Effect: A new Dredger is about to land on Mars."

The Dredgers: Happy Reunion
"This happened after our sponsor's council reviewed our report on the Dredgers. With the current development, we know that more and more Dredgers land on Mars to extract large amounts of subsurface metals which, combined with the ban on space flights, would endanger the future of the Colony. Our observations on the Dredgers' flight trajectories indicate that they are heading exclusively to Mars and that the threat for interplanetary vessels has lessened, which was confirmed by the CSS and LINEAR.


 * Effect: Rockets can travel between Mars and Earth once more."

The Dredgers: Hands Full
"The problem is the lack of information - so far, we know very little about the nature of the Dredgers. To us they appear as inscrutable as natural events were to our forefathers. The science team requests more data on the objects and, if possible, a closer inspection of several different targets.


 * Effect: New Research available: Dredger Morphology

You can boost your Technology Research rate by analyzing landed Dredgers."

The Dredgers: Fire at Will
"The council of our sponsor has authorized us to use force when dealing with the Dredgers. They put the future of the Colony as the utmost priority."

The Dredgers: A Curious Observation
Upon scanning of first Dredger: "The RC Explorer used molecular spectroscopy to scan the Rubidium-Strontium proportions on the outer shell of the Dredger and the results are astonishing! It seems that the outer shell of the Dredger is extremely new, as if it has been created years ago!

Some of our scientists proposed that the Dredgers must originate from our Solar System, unless they can traverse immense distances in a flash."

Upon scanning of second Dredger: "The expedition leader took the initiative to make physical contact with the landed Dredger. Risking it, he ordered the RC Explorer to approach the imposing alien object with a sampling tool and scrape off a portion of its outer hull, nervously anticipating a hostile reaction. The Dredger did nothing, so the RC Explorer ventured closer to it, taking more samples of its hull and probing its insides with various scanning equipment.

It is now evident that the outer shell of the Dredger consists of silicates and heavy inert metals with no traces of organic materials. The inner walls of the jet vents contain traces of burned alkaline metals. Some of our scientists propose that they are the fuel used to propel the Dredger during flight and take-off.

The object demonstrated no interest in the activities of the rover. The scientists speculate that it lacks any sort of sensors or processing power whatsoever."

Upon scanning of third and subsequent Dredgers: "After our operators made their brave approach and even touched the previous Dredger, no one feels intimidated by the large alien landers. The RC Explorer operators have even begun nicknaming the Dredgers with cute names such as Big Betty. While this raises the morale of the Colony, the scientists are excited to work with the large inflow of samples and data."


 * Each completed analysis grants the following Effect: Dredger Morphology technology receives a 50% Boost.

The Dredgers: Knowing the Unknown
Upon completion of the Dredger Morphology technology:

"The scientists concluded that the organic appearance of the Dredgers is misleading. Even though their robust hulls are made to endure extreme impact forces, they are deprived of any sensors and react in no way to changes in their environment. Simply put, they are nothing more than extraction vehicles with simple programming.

Here comes the best part - the Dredgers are quite vulnerable! The alkaloid fuels they utilize for propulsion makes them highly volatile in oxygen-rich atmospheres. This is probably the reason why no Dredger landed on Earth so far. It is a tough decision whether we should use force against the Dredgers.


 * Effect: You can now use Drones to destroy Dredgers"

There is a response choice between:
 * "Hostilities should be our last resort."


 * "They came uninvited and I believe it is our right to defend what is ours."

The Dredgers: The Koronis Predicament
"This occasional discovery was made later rather than sooner, as the emissions are cleverly masked to resemble cosmic rays in their wavelength. It is apparent that the source of the landers is closer than we thought.

The science team immediately requested permission to " dissect" one of the Dredgers to get their hands on the mysterious device used to send these transmissions."


 * Effect: A new research is available - Dredger Wavelength Decoding. Destroy Dredgers using Drones to gain a Tech Boost towards the Technology's progress.

The Dredgers: Dark Omens
"Still, what started out as a single contact quickly grew into series of regular visits. Even when our " guests" are not blaster-toting gray men, they cause damage to our Colony in subtle and cruel ways. As more and more Dredgers continue to land on the surface, the future of the Colony could be threatened by the lack of sufficient metallic resources. It is a sad conclusion, but our first contact with alien life could turn into a race for survival.

Our scientists suggest that with the current rate of landings the amount of metals in our sector will be depleted within three years - and some of the most pessimistic of our colleagues believe that the trend is for the landings to become more frequent. This would be a terrible prospect."

The Dredgers: The Chinese Puzzle
After drone destruction of first Dredger: "The spectacular explosion revealed that the Dredger lacks mechanical components, its warped internal components resembling organs more than devices. The mysteries behind such a technology have already inspired some of our greatest minds. The Head Scientist called this the project of the century and one can clearly hear the excitement in his voice."


 * Effect: The Dredger Wavelength Decoding receives a 50% Boost

After drone destruction of subsequent Dredgers: "More samples would allow our scientists to apply more aggressive experimentation and analytical methods, speeding up their work immensely.


 * Effect: The Dredger Wavelength Decoding receives a 50% Boost"

The Dredgers: The Language
Upon completion of the Wavelength Decoding technology: "We've done it. Our science team has deciphered the so-called language of the Dredgers.

Each transmission consists of several desynchronized threads - each of them sounds like cosmic static, but when combined in the right way they form a pattern which can be translated to binary.

The information transmitted by the Dredgers is surprisingly simple. They share data regarding plotted courses, the status of their excavations and the location of mineral-rich sites. We cannot identify the source in Koronis as the Dredgers do not use any call signs, but nevertheless we are able to intercept their transmissions and predict the sites of future landings.


 * Effect: Dredger landing sites will be marked on the map."

The Dredgers: Into the Light
"A famous leaks site has just released leaked logs and reports from our Colony. They concentrate exclusively on the Dredgers and elaborate on the evidence that we have contacted an alien civilization.

Our sponsors were probably foolish enough to believe that a secret can remain hidden from the public in the Age of Information. The uproar is tremendous and the UN calls for an emergency press conference. The monitoring council of our sponsor was insistent on our participation in the event. It will be held via the interplanetary network. We'll be the center of attention. The time-lag will give us fifteen minutes between questions to think of the best way to answer.

There is no reason to hide the truth now."

The Dredgers: Press Conference
"Mr. President; Mr. Secretary General; fellow delegates; ladies and gentlemen:

For many centuries, humans have speculated that, in the great expanse of the universe, there should be life. Humanity never dismissed their hope for contact and so, even before we could reach for the stars, we built machines to probe the space for signs of the existence of others. Until recently, our attempts were met with silence and we had to rely only on our unshakable belief. But today we have proof. We are not alone.

Allow me to introduce you to the Commander of Mars Alpha, our first Colony on the Red Planet, who will personally address your questions."

There is a choice between (Continues immediately to The Race is On) (Continues immediately to Contact Denied)
 * "We can't speak to contact or conflict, but rather about unforseen competition..."
 * "To talk about making contact with a sentient race is rather premature..."

The Dredgers: Press Conference: The Race is On
"The vessels dismissed all of our attempts to communicate and proceeded with their only mission - to consume and transport resources from the surface of Mars. In another time we would address their activity with affectionate curiosity and excitement, but in the light of our current situation, this has caused great distress and concern in all personnel of Mars Alpha. Without bothering you with the tiresome technical details, the extraction and utilization of Martian resources is crucial to the success of Mars Alpha and our ability to settle in the Solar System.

Our Colony's safety and viability is our utmost priority. This is why I've personally supervised operations to deny the alien vessels the opportunity to extract and steal away the metal deposits crucial to our survival. I would ask those who might raise questions on the measure of our reaction - what do you call a neighbor who deliberately tries to stall your attempts to lead a better life?"

The Dredgers: Press Conference: Contact Denied
"Humanity's imagination has always portrayed contact with an alien species as either a precursor to military conflict or a chance for peaceful exchange of culture and ideas.

At their core of our expectations has always been a flawed assumption - that an alien race would be psychologically human.

The first contact, if one has the audacity to call it that way, was with a system of automated mining equipment. As disappointing as it may sound, the alien machines displayed an almost offensive disregard for our presence. So far they had followed their simple purpose - to extract resources from the surface of Mars. The nature and intentions of their creators remains a mystery and our best minds are working towards unveiling it."

The Dredgers: Press Conference - Hard Questions
"They handle most of the questions with ease and require little input from you. And then you are confronted with a direct question from one of the delegates.

" An anonymous yet reliable source disclosed to us that you ordered and succeeded in the deliberate destruction of at least one of the alien vessels. My country condemns any premature aggressive actions which could taint the reputation of humankind, especially when addressing such a delicate matter. What gave you the authority to act in such a risky manner without an official resolution from the Council of the United Nations?""

There is a choice between (Continues immediately to United We Stand) (Continues immediately to A Bridge to Build)
 * "The prosperity of our Colony is our first and only concern..."
 * "This is not an act of aggression but instead a step towards mutual understanding..."

The Dredgers: Press Conference - United We Stand
"For countless generations the human species had proven to possess the ability to adapt, survive and thrive. Let us not forget who we are.

The actions I ordered were not an act of war and aggression, but instead were means to secure the future of our initiative and fulfill a promise to all people on Earth. Dismantling several alien vessels is a fair price to pay for what's at stake today. And if the creators of these vessels see our actions as something more than doing the right thing, we will prove them wrong. For we do not desire to take what's not ours - we want to fulfill our destiny as a space-faring species."

"You not only managed to persuade the public to support our efforts, but also inspired millions of people around the world who watched the live-stream.

Your influence will aid the Colony greatly.


 * Effect: The United Nations transferred resources to the Mars Alpha project. You've gained  Funding."

Press Conference 2: A Bridge to Build
"I would only take issue with half of the statement given by our honorable delegate. While we did indeed dismantle the vessel, I would hardly paint our intent as an expression of the darker side of human nature.

Our goal was to make sense of what's happening, of the nature of the alien vessels, which is one of the underlying principles of science.

Our efforts were not in vain. The greatest minds of Mars Alpha and Earth managed to make amazing progress. Dismantling the probe allowed us to make sense of the communications of the alien machines, maybe even the basis of the language of their creators, and not only that. The scientific knowledge we gained from this event will speed our way to the stars, where even more puzzling mysteries await those of us who have the bravery and integrity to face the unknown."

The Dredgers: Press Conference - A Battle Well Fought
"You not only managed to persuade the public to support our efforts, but also inspired millions of people around the world who watched the live-stream.

Your influence will aid the Colony greatly.


 * Effect: Public opinion for Mars Alpha increased. Additional  Applicants are available."

The Dredgers: Darkened Skies
"The scanners have gone crazy with the signatures of dozens of Dredgers heading our way. The Dredger transmissions repeat a signal we can interpret only as " urgency eat/dig" . On the screen they look like a swarm of locusts and we presume their goal is similar. The mission sponsor has authorized a forceful response.


 * Effect: Multiple Dredgers detected! They will arrive within  Sols."

The Dredgers: Darkened Skies - Debrief
"As sudden as they fell upon us, the alien vessels are taking off all at once. Our scientists estimate they extracted a significant amount of materials from below the surface. This is a serious threat to the viability of our Colony and the monitoring council of our sponsor took that in mind. They offered us a small sum as a disaster relief, but from the subtle remarks in their message we can tell they are not happy with the situation.


 * Effect: You've gained  Funding as disaster relief."

The Dredgers: The Leviathan Rises
"Our readings confirm that this is a Dredger, but its size... There is no mistake, unfortunately.

If we leave this massive Dredger unchecked, it could have a disastrous impact on our metal supply. On the other hand, our Tactical Advisor supposes that the arrival of this new Dredger may be caused by the threat our actions proved for the aliens' mining operations. At the end, the decision as to how we address the new situation was obvious.

Just when we thought we survived the worst...


 * Effect: A huge Dredger will land on Mars in  Sols.

You can dismantle the incoming Dredger using Drones."

The Dredgers - Conclusion: Fires of Tomorrow's Dawn
"The comm-feed from the dying Dredger report a singular message broadcast towards the Koronis cluster - " retreat", " retreat" . Others may wonder, but you know deep inside that you beheaded the beast - the other Dredgers won't be coming back.

Somehow you don't feel like the victor. You stand silent as you ask yourself one question - have you defeated a dangerous enemy or rebuffed a potential ally?


 * Effect: Xeno-Extraction Technology is available for research with a 50% Boost
 * Effect: Gained a new technology, "

The Dredgers - Conclusion: Crossroads
"The cheerful chorus of the Dredger communications is too confusing to understand, but this is pointless as their behavior clearly marks their intentions. The visual feed on the Koronis cluster shows how thousands of bright dots light the sky as the swarm of Dredgers breaks its silence. The satellites track their movement as the swarm gathers around the massive Dredger and the alien vessels head towards the end of the Solar System.

You failed to destroy the massive Dredger and the Colony will pay the price in the months to come, but maybe this is for the better. Maybe today humanity avoided retribution from the unknown creators of the Dredgers, or started on the path of cooperation, and maybe even friendship, when the next generations reach the stars.


 * Effect: Xeno-Extraction Technology is available for research
 * Effect: Gained a new technology, "