"As you wish Shanti, our safety is in your hands", Alun scrapes away a bit more of the slime before flicking it off of his blade with a look of disgust, "Perhaps we'll find a functioning datapanel Nicholas can extract something useful from deeper within"

Alun looks to see if the way forward is unlocked, if there seems to be any sort of readily apparent defensive mechanism to "force" visitors to remain here, and if not, strides forward one of the soldiers in tow.

There are three doors leading away from the room.  One is encrusted in thick, ropey strands of dried slime-resin.  The other is closed, and the one to the front is ajar.  All three are heavy bulkheads meant to keep the atmosphere in and space out.  Alun forces his way past the partially open door, which moves reluctantly with a groan.

"I wouldn't go... KKRZT!... at way, if I were you, citizen" the voice in the speakers says conversationally.  "The sleeper has woken.  That way lies madness and death.  Your party is not authorized to KKKRRZT!... this area.  Thank you."

Somewhere within the bowels of the great ship, there is a distant "clang", followed by a brief, staccato "puh puh puh puh puh", and then silence again.

"The belly of the beast", the voice from the ship says unevenly.  "The claws dig deep and... KKKRZT... belly vomits forth death.  Why are you here, citizens?  Why do you bugs bring more of the sickness to this ship?  You are not authorized to proceed.  Please... KKRZT... decontamination sequence.  Thank you."

"Artifact? What artifact? Our deal is to strip this hunk of junk of everything its worth.", Alin responds testily, not having shared or acknowledged any dreams of the white glowing sphere, "I say we go to the bridge, maybe you can disable the ", he points upwards vaguely towards where the voice is coming from, " annoying voice.  Shah! Calling us bugs"

Alin starts trying to lead  the group towards where the bridge normally is in these sorts of ships.

The voice offers no more protest as Alun moves down the hallway.  On some level, everyone can feel a sense of activity deeper within the vessel, though there is no discernable evidence.  Motes of dust float in the atmosphere of the ship, dancing in the blue lights of the hall, and occasionally the structure of the ship will ping or groan softly, but that is all.

Some time later, the party moves carefully through another corridor, marines in front and back, weapons at the ready.  Over the lead marine's head, there's a rattling, scuttling sound from within the wall.  Then another.  And another.  Soon, it's like rain falling on a roof.  Everyone back up to a safe distance and watches, but the sound seems to die down.

Suddenly, "something" bursts forth from vents in the ceiling and floors.  Scuttling, dog-sized horrors with over-sized insect-eyes and gnashing mandibles scrabble across the floor and walls on four spiky legs, hissing and spitting!  But worst of all, beneath their hideous features are hints of the humans that they once were.  This ship is worse than haunted, it's infested by body-snatching, shape-shifting, baby-eating Symbiots!

Some time later, the party moves carefully through another corridor, marines in front and back, weapons at the ready.  Over the lead marine's head, there's a rattling, scuttling sound from within the wall.  Then another.  And another.  Soon, it's like rain falling on a roof.  Everyone backs up to a safe distance and watches, but the sound seems to die down.

Suddenly, "something" bursts forth from vents in the ceiling and floors.  Scuttling, dog-sized horrors with over-sized insect-eyes and gnashing mandibles scrabble across the floor and walls on four spiky legs, hissing and spitting!  But worst of all, beneath their hideous features are hints of the humans that they once were.  This ship is worse than haunted, it's infested by body-snatching, shape-shifting, baby-eating Symbiots!

"Slay them all!" Alun roars as he readies his weapon for the first one to get near him.