Whispers of the Past

 is the sixth event of Off the Map, chapter 2 of the Distant Shores campaign.

Starting this event requires the completion of Beneath the Surface, and it will automatically start once it becomes available. The completion of this event is required to start Sins of the Father, which will automatically start on completion of this event.

Info
In the days before open warfare on Auraxis, groups of Vanu disciples would travel to Oshur, excited by the prospect of exploring the region and communing with the ancient shrines found throughout.

While no longer the thriving pilgrimage destination it once was, returning to Oshur provides an opportunity to investigate the once-popular spiritual hotspots and listen for the whispers of the long-dead alien race.

Objectives
features seven objectives.
 * Locate the Vanu shrine (0/1)
 * Locate the Vanu shrine (0/1)
 * Locate the Vanu shrine (0/1)
 * Pick up the keycard (0/1)
 * Return to the underground base (0/1)
 * Use the keycard (0/1)
 * Open the gate (0/1)

Transcript
The transcript of this event varies based on the faction of the character that plays the event.
 * -|New Conglomerate=

New Conglomerate
Viridian Genetics was performing experiments on people. Human augmentation! Not even the Vanu Sovereignty could justify the things they were doing here. But there may be some usable data. There are also notes on nearby locations. Vanu constructs? They are listed as giving off an unusual energy signature. Anything of alien origin is worth investigating. I have marked their positions on your map. Huh. No one has been to one of these places in years. I once heard that Vanu fanatics could hear the voices of their gods if they listened closely enough. Perhaps there will be more to see at the next one. What is here that was so interesting to those scientists? I don't see any signs of research anywhere. And it's not like these things can be used as a power source. Guess it's time to move on. Guess this was a bust. Maybe we just finished the last to-do list of one of the researchers? Hey, wait. Is that a keycard sticking out of the sand? A Veridian Genetics keycard? But it looks much newer than the building that we were in earlier. You should return to the underground base and see what it unlocks. WHOA! Did that drop actually get longer? Nevermind. It doesn't matter. What does matter is finding where to use that keycard. It's gotta be in that base somewhere. Nice work, soldier. Now take a look at what's on the other side that large gate.
 * On event start
 * On reaching the first Vanu shrine
 * On reaching the second Vanu shrine
 * On reaching the third Vanu shrine'
 * After picking up the keycard
 * On entering the underground base
 * After using the keycard
 * -|Terran Republic=

Terran Republic
These Viridian weirdos were experimenting on people! Sounds more like the Vanu Sovereignty than a corporation. Maybe our scientists could do something with the results. There are also notes on nearby locations. Vanu constructs? They are listed as giving off an unusual energy signature. Anything of alien origin is worth investigating. I have marked their positions on your map. No one has used one of these shrines in years. Vanu cultists used to believe that if they listened long enough, they could hear their gods' voices. Maybe there'll be something more interesting at the next one. Why were these things important to the researchers? I don't see anything science-y about them. And it's not like these things can be used as giant batteries. We've tried! On to the next one. What a waste of time! Was this all just to knock out some researcher's to-do list? I say we call in an orbital-- wait. Is that a keycard sticking out of the sand? It says that it's a Veridian Genetics keycard, but that's high military technology. Only an officer with the highest level of clearance would have one. You should return to the underground base and see what it unlocks. AHHHH! Seriously! Who designed this elevator? Ahem. Find where that keycard is used, soldier. It's got to be in there somewhere. Well done, soldier. Now let's see what's on the other side of this massive gate.
 * On event start
 * On reaching the first Vanu shrine
 * On reaching the second Vanu shrine
 * On reaching the third Vanu shrine'
 * After picking up the keycard
 * On entering the underground base
 * After using the keycard
 * -|Vanu Sovereignty=

Vanu Sovereignty
This Viridian Genetics lab was conducting research on human augmentation. It almost seems like the Vanu Sovereignty ingenuity more than corporate greed. Give us time to go over the data. Some of it may still be usable. There are also notes on nearby locations. Underwater shrines? They are listed as giving off an unusual energy signature. Anything of Vanu origin is worth investigating. I have marked their positions on your map. It is hard to believe that an acolyte hasn't visited one of these shrines in centuries. It was thought that if a true believer listened carefully enough, they could hear the voice of the Vanu. Perhaps we will find out more at the next one. What piqued the researchers' interest in these? There is no evidence of scientific apparatus or excavation equipment. And it is not as if they can be drained of energy. Onward to the next shrine. There is nothing of note here either. Perhaps this was simply a waste of-- is that a keycard in the sand beside the shrine? What is a Veridian Genetics keycard doing all the way out here? Was one of the researchers a believer? You should return to the underground base immediately and see what it unlocks. I will never get used to that drop. Regardless, it's time to find where that keycard is used. Logic dictates that it will be somewhere in that facility. Adequately done, acolyte! Now to see what lies beyond that gate.
 * On event start
 * On reaching the first Vanu shrine
 * On reaching the second Vanu shrine
 * On reaching the third Vanu shrine'
 * After picking up the keycard
 * On entering the underground base
 * After using the keycard
 * -|Nanite Systems Operatives=

Nanite Systems Operatives
This was a Viridian Genetics facility that researching human augmentation on live subjects. Perhaps these researchers left the corporate world for the Vanu Sovereignty. I have been informed that this research may have practical applications. There are also notes on nearby locations. Vanu constructs? They are listed as giving off an unusual energy signature. Anything of alien origin is worth investigating. I have marked their positions on your map. No one has set foot near one of these shrines in centuries. It was once thought that the followers of Vanu could hear the voice of their gods if they listened long enough. Perhaps we will be able to uncover more at the next one. The scientific importance of these ruins is unclear. There is no excavation equipment nearby. And we have proven that energy cannot be extracted from them. It is recommended that you advance to the next target. This shrine appears identical to the others. Why would the researchers encrypt these locations if they weren't going to-- is that a keycard in the sand? It claims to be a Veridian Genetics keycard, but security of this quality would not have existed when the base was originally created. Your presence has been requested back at the underground base to see what the card unlocks. WOO-WOO! Yeah! Who's pumped to find where to use that keycard? *cough* I have been informed that it should be somewhere within the facility. Your success has been acknowledged, operative. Please advance beyond the gigantic door.
 * On event start
 * On reaching the first Vanu shrine
 * On reaching the second Vanu shrine
 * On reaching the third Vanu shrine'
 * After picking up the keycard
 * On entering the underground base
 * After using the keycard

History

 * January 26, 2022 Update (Expedition: Oshur)
 * Added to the game.
 * April 1, 2022
 * No longer playable on PC with the end of the Distant Shores campaign.