stuff almost just went down again.
Link for reference:
http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=112514.2190UPDATE: We managed to complete the gate quickly. In order to regulate and power the generator, the science vessel, Oriole, was warped in.
With the vessel connected and the gate powered, we warped in the Citation. The main cannon on the Citation allowed us to stimulate the particles in the gate in order to open the worm hole. We also made sure to focus the vessel's secondary weapons on the gate itself, just as a precaution. Recording devices we attached to the port side of the ship allowed us a decent view of the gate:
With the weapons armed, Xenon fuel injectors primed, and particles stimulated, we proceeded to open the worm hole a few times to test it. We managed to send a probe into the worm hole. It was a weak transmission, but we got a visual: a vast, white space. "White nothingness" as Com put it. At some point, however, one of the "doppelgangers" managed to slip through without our detection, and boarded the Oriole where Com was operating at the time. He only got a brief view of it before it retreated back into the portal. This picture supposedly captures the creature while it was outside the ship:
Its conveniently shadow-like appearance makes it incredibly difficult to spot. We only know the creature was captured on this fame because the time on the film matched the time on the logs when the encounter occurred.
Eventually, we attempted to activate the gate again. We were tempting fate, but nothing serious had occurred as of yet, and we were determined to get a result from the experiment. Once the portal was opened, we started receiving frightening transmissions and bio signatures from inside the gate. With the controls locked, we were forced to damage it in order to shut it down:
Repairs were made, and we decided to try one more time. This time, we clearly saw the creature emerging from the portal (I won't post a picture, since it's nearly identical to the previous "sighting"). From up close, we observed as the creature climbed from the entrance to the top of the gate. While it did seem to notice Com (who was inside the Oriole just above the gate), it ignored him and proceeded to crush the Xenon injectors. We watched silently as it lept back into the portal just before it closed.
Here's a view of the area where the creature stood, just behind the green cylinders:
We agreed to refrain from any further attempts to access the Dimension for the time being. Before more attempts, we plan to install protective armor on various parts of the gate to protect it from these creatures.
From these experiments, we've learned that these Doppelgangers are both incredibly intelligent and incredibly powerful. Not only was this one able to crush the Xenon injectors, but it understood how the gate was being powered and how to stop it. From this particular action, we can infer that these creatures are being angered by and are growing tired of our attempts to access the Dimension.
Rest assured, we intend to further this experiment tomorrow.
OOC: Sorry for the huge amount of images and rambling text blocks. I have lots of free time right now. 
