Subnautica - Cave of Secrets

Cave of Secrets - Part 5

When they were back on 4546B, Maida and Riley were furious. They both started yelling at her at once.

"Of all the stupid, harebrained..." Maida began.

"...Irresponsible and dangerous...' continued Riley.

"...Could have been killed..."

"...Did you stop and think about the rest of us..."

"...Selfish is what it was! I can't believe you would..."

"STOP!"

Maida and Riley turned, noticing Robin for the first time.

"Oh. Hi," Said Maida.

"We don't have time for bickering," Robin began, "we need to prepare for what's to come." Robin looked first at Maida, then at Riley. "We don't have much time.

"Of course," said Riley.

Maida shot Sam a murderous look. "This conversation ain't over," she growled.

"Fair enough," Said Sam, "But Robin's right. We have a lot of preparing to do, and not a lot of time to do it. If we're going to be successful in taking on the largest trans gov of all time, we're going to have to make sure we do everything right the first time."

"There won't be any second chances," Robin said soberly.

"OK," Riley broke in, "let's get to work."

As the group started planning, they realized they needed to make sure they had accommodations for the people they were recruiting.

"Maida," Sam said, "send out a signal to all planets telling them about this war and telling them where the portals will be. Out best intel suggests it's in the center of the Alterran home world."

"Give them the galaxy coordinates as well, "Robin added.

"Robin," continued Sam, "you and Riley go to the Cave of Secrets and add an extender. We'll make it into our headquarters. I will wait here at the portal to give instructions to all incoming people, and I'll hopefully be able to warn you of any incoming TSF."

Sam looked around. "OK, guys, we know what do. Good luck."

As everyone started their preparations, Sam walked over to where Robin was packing her gear.

"Robin..." she started.

Robin looked up at her sister, stood and dusted off her pants. She smiled at Sam and pulled her in for a hug. "I know, Sis, I love you too, and I'll be careful."

Sam grinned. "You know me so well."

Robin kissed the top of Sam's head. "Almost as well as you know me."

Sam busied herself setting up camp near the portal. After about a day, people started coming. There were people from all over federated space. People from Alterra, yes, but people from the farthest corners of the galaxy and everywhere in between. After a week Sam decided there were enough recruits to take a trip to the Cave of Secrets.

As they approached the cave, Sam whistled. "Boy has this place changed since the last time I was here." As she walked through the door she was in a hallway with rooms on either side. At the far end it split into two new hallways, one with a sign that said CABINS, the other one, which was protected with a bulkhead, said EXECUTIVE CABINS. What Sam initially took to be a room was actually another hallway branching off in several directions. One of the first rooms she saw was a weapons lab, with another dedicated to "advanced training." There were hallways leading to classrooms for writing code, electrical maintenance, and having and security.

As Sam was exploring the new base she came across a corridor decorated with familiar items, even posters hanging on the wall, and the first connected room she saw was where Preston the snow stalker and Potato the cat were staying. The Precursors the group had recruited had already settled in their cabins, and Robin was busy showing the new group to their cabins. It seemed like no matter which hallway Sam went down there were still more cabins. "How big is this place," she wondered aloud. Eventually she gave up trying to see everything at once and went back to find the executive cabins. Once she found her way back, she found a cabin with her name on it at the end of the hallway. There were seven executive cabins; however only four had names: Riley Robinson: Survival Expert; Robin Ayou: Head Precursor Specialist; Marguerite "Maida" Maidea; and Sam Ayou: Lieutenant General. "Oh, man, look at the time!" Sam realized she needed to get back to the primary research platform to greet any new arrivals.

Three days later, after Sam had instructed Maida to put out a public notice that no more Antiterrans were required, and should not come, there was a knock on the door of the headquarters.

"Who's there," barked the on-duty sentry.

"We're here to speak with Sam Ayou," replied a man's voice.

"Sir! I must insist you identify your..." the sentry began.

"It's OK, Abtil," said Sam, placing her hand on the man's shoulder, "I've got it from here." Abtil nodded at Sam, and after a quick glance at the door, moved back to his post.

"Sam? Sam Ayou? Is that you?" The voice from outside was vaguely familiar, but muffled through the bulkhead door, and Sam couldn't place it.

"Who wants to know," Sam replied.

"My name is Craig McGill."

Sam was stunned. "Craig McGill? THE Craig Mcgill? The famous explorer, Craig McGill?"

"The very same, Ms. Ayou, and my companion here...well, I don't think you're going to believe me, so perhaps you should just open the door."

Sam gestured to Abtil to be ready for anything, and then moved towards the door. She made a mental note to have one of the electronics guys figure out a way to see outside without opening the door. Sam cautiously cracked the door and found herself face-to-face with the very famous Craig McGill and...

"But you're dead!" Sam could not believe her eyes.

"I would very strongly beg to differ," said the man, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Sam stood speechless in the doorway.

"Ahem," Craig McGill cleared his throat politely. "Ms. Ayou, may we come in?"

Sam stepped back from the door. "Of...of course,"she stuttered.

Sam struggled to regain her composure as she looked first at Craig McGill and then at Avery Quinn, the pilot of the Sunbeam that has ... well got shot down by the QEP and disintegrated into pieces of metal the size of dust

"How..." Sam began.

"Another time, Ms. Ayou," Craig interrupted gently. "We're here to offer our services, if you'll have us, and I wouldn't think we have much time for chat."

"Yes, you're right of course," replied Sam. "Craig, you can be miscellaneous and..." She was still at a loss for words, "Avery, you can be lead scientist."

"Sweet," Avery grinned.