The view from the observation theatre was quite a sight to behold. Dozens of scientists, mechanics, engineers and other personel rushed about. Flares of plasma torches, cutters, scientific instruments, and other equipment lit up the long, yet short tubular structure. Just below the observatory windows, a weird, alien-looking structure jutted out from the very human looking gunmetal grey steel walls of the test chamber. It was odd shaped, almost obliesk like, but curvy and coming to at end at a much more dramatic point. The very dark blue, nearly black in color object glowed a faint blue at the end and was covered in seemingly random, unorganized lines.
Marvin was awestruck. Dr. Ulrich smiled, smugly.
"Do you like it?" He stated, playing Marvin like a book.
"What... What is it? Exactly? Doctor?" Marvin said, still staring out the window at the hive of activity below.
"Well, we believe it is a peice of a Nomad weapon... or perhaps even having a D'aam K'Vosh origin." Dr. Ulrich said, and continued
"Our people have tried to pull it apart, but the material it's outer shell is made of is harder than any material known... and therefore cannot be cut even with the most powerful chemical cutters, diamond-blade saws, or by any other conventional means. We know very little about how it operates... Or how it would operate should it be 'fired'." he said.
"But... What is keeping you from firing it?" Marvin said, excitement and intriuge growing by the minute.
"Well, as I said... We have nearly no clue how it operates, or how it would even get energy to fire. Hell, it could be a firework for all we know!" Dr. Ulrich said, changing his tune.
"Come, I'll show you" Dr. Ulrich said and motioned to the nearby elevator.
Marvin eagerly followed him, as they rode down and the door swished open, Marvin saw exactly what Dr. Ulrich meant.
The room below the observation deck was filled with scientific and exploratory equipment. There were far less people back here then in the main test chamber. They sauntered about, in a much more relaxed manner. The wall seperating the back chamber from the main test chamber was pierced by the Nomad 'weapon'. The back end of the alien 'weapon' nearly mirrored the front, but was much less curvy and was more of a regular, cone shape. It made no sound, and had a far higher density of markings on it than the front of the weapon, and they seemed to be far less random, on this end, occuring in patterns.
Dr. Ulrich noticed Marvin's unrequited stare at the reverse of the weapon and began his scientific analysis again.
"We believe this side's markings are much more meaningful than the fronts'. Although we do not understand them, nor have any way to translate, we find the patterns seen to be similar to many artifacts found throughout xenoarchealogical expeditions on Planet Nauru, and to markings on several experimental Nomad weapon's produced by the Order, acquired by us through our 'eyes' in the organization. Obviously... " he stopped.
Marvin looked quizzically at him.
"Perhaps not obviously." He continued...
"We can therefore extrapolate..." he explained, almost as if he was talking to a small child.