2467 Crescent Expanse: Warp Lane 7 Arc — Ship Navigation

[kermit]

TO: Command, Bridge Crew
FROM: Automated Bridge Notices
SUBJECT: Bridge Notice: Flight Plan Update

MESSAGE BODY:
A flight plan update has been made.

The SCCV Horizon is now routing to BETA MARAX I via WARP GATE TRANSIT.

Estimated total transit time: 5 DAYS. Please make the appropriate preparations.

[kermit]

Crescent Expanse: Warp Lane 7 — Week 3

———

Bridge Memo: Ship Navigation

Good morning, Command and Bridge Crew,

The SCCV Horizon awaits course adjustment after evaluation of the vessel's current situation.

Following the incident at the hivebot-infested propellant depot, a number of important developments should be noted:

• The SCCV Horizon was able to salvage 1 weeks worth of supplies from the derelict, as well as the surrounding graveyards of hivebot robot debris left by the Purpose synthetics. This is only enough to recoup what was lost relocating to the system. Scans prior to the derelicts detonation, a successful attempt to interrupt the worst of the hivebot interference of the SCCV Horizon, indicated the gas holding tanks were left untapped of a potential 1 weeks worth of bluespace drive moderator gases.
• The Purpose synthetics encountered around the derelict disappeared from our sensors, alongside all equipment and material brought with them. Their treatment by SCCV Horizon personnel suggests future aid is unlikely.
• The SCCV Horizon continues to experience network faults, despite best efforts to prevent them. ((OOC: For reasons currently unknown to the crew, there is a 25% chance to lose an additional 1 supplies per week)).

In addition to this, the Malebranche was detected warping into the Berkley 73 system and is now actively patrolling Warp Lane 7. The sensors suite will continue to track the Malebranche, utilising bluespace sensors unable to be traced by the dated vessel.

Routed via internal relay. Composed by Virgil AI.

———

OOC

On the Malebranche

• The Malebranche is now on the gamemap in its attempt to pursue the SCCV Horizon.
• The Malebranche has a shorter sensor range than the SCCV Horizon, and can only see adjacent systems.
• The Malebranche will move a random direction as permitted by warp lanes. A random number will be generated, with a number corresponding to a direction.
• The Malebranche has 4 'patrol' states:
  • Hunting: The Malebranche is not aware of the SCCV Horizon's location and is attempting to locate it.
  • Pursuing: The Malebranche is aware of the SCCV Horizon's location (or last known location), and will begin moving to that direction.
    • This state is triggered when 'spotted' by the Malebrache by being in an adjacent system.
    • This state can be triggered by certain event outcomes, where something may tip of the Malebranche.
  • Disengaged: It is possible the Malebranche to give up, at which point it will return to Sawal. As you can infer by previous posts, this requires rendering its escorts non-operational, which can be done a number of ways, such as with the help of potential allies.
  • Recovering: The Malebranche is recovering from an attack or being interdicted. It skips its movement that week.
• The Malebranche has 2 'targetting' states:
  • No Lock: The SCCV Horizon is not actively being tracked by the Malebranche.
  • Locked On: The SCCV Horizon has locked on and can 'see' the SCCV Horizon.
    • This is usually hand-in-hand with the Malebranche's 'Pursuing' state, and is used to differentiate whether the Malebranche is pursuing because it can see the SCCV Horizon, or if it's pursuing what it thinks is the SCCV Horizon.
• The Malebranche has 3 special capabilities:
  • The Malebranche has a 75% chance to perform a special capability a turn, where a special capability is selected by random, and where a special capabilities may require a precondition (eg. being Locked On).

Edited September 14 by kermit
post-sleep elaborations, forgot to mention what the scuttle was for, and the Malebranche's rules

[JuneauQT]

Elena Ashpole, Bridge Crew:

Sooo, like... it's kind of a waste to use some of our bluespace jump fuel on a one-system jump... but I think Xar'qui 52 is probably, like, the best option we have left?

Liiiike... it's the only signal we can get to, and there's no real sense to skipping over it, you know?

Maybe if the Malebranch goes to Beta Marax II next week we could move to, like, CES 144 one week, and then maybe jump to 146 the next?

Ai-Dei-Kei...

[greenjoe]

Narasi:
While she thinks there could something useful at Xar'qui 52, the risk of pirates being there is also a factor. They are already fleeing from one group of pirates so causing issues with another does not seem the best idea. She would think CES 144 may be better, and seeing if they can find supplies there.
(Though I oocly vote for Xar'qui 52)

[hollyhock]

Tsuchinoko, Hangar Technician:

A baseline with a green display reads a magazine, behind the counter of the ship's commissary. An analog radio next to it blares whatever scream-heavy song is being transmitted this far out. It looks like a slow shift. As the recording starts, it looks up from its book at whoever's recording.

Eh? What's with the cam-

...

The baseline sets down its reading material and turns down its radio, leaning in.

Oh, okay. Well, I keep hearing, you know, someone talking about the Xar'qui systems over the radio when I can't catch the music station's signal. Something about Skrell jamming something? I feel like they might be friendly, right? So we should, you know, go toward them. Wherever that way is.

As long as it's not more hivebots...

Why are you asking me, anyway? Go bother, you know, an engineer.

It goes back to reading, before the recording ends.

[kermit]

TO: Command, Bridge Crew
FROM: Automated Bridge Notices
SUBJECT: Bridge Notice: Flight Plan Update


MESSAGE BODY:
A flight plan update has been made.

The SCCV Horizon is now routing to XAR'QUI 52 via BLUESPACE JUMP.

Estimated time of arrival: 5 DAYS. Please make the appropriate preparations.

[kermit]

Crescent Expanse: Warp Lane 7 — Week 4

————

Bridge Memo: Ship Navigation

Good morning, Command and Bridge Crew,

The SCCV Horizon awaits navigation to a new system.

After the SCCV Horizon's impromptu port of call at the ISS Lu'Nioh, a sensor data exchange has seen a number of unconventional warp lanes (marked in yellow in sensor graphics) added to the SCCV Horizon's registry. These warp lanes are consistent with lanes often charted and frequented by smugglers and often bypass longer routes, however they can be risky to traverse, particularly in larger vessels such as ours. ((OOC: There is a 10% chance to lose either 1 Supplies OR 1 Bluespace Jump Budget when using a yellow smuggler's lane))

Xar'qui 52 and the ISS Lu'Nioh will continue to be monitered for future transmissions directed to the SCCV Horizon, and it may be possible to trade with them again should we be unable to find a timely route out of Warp Lane 7.

It should also be noted that the SCCV Horizon is soon to be overdue its expected return date, with the original flightplan seeing the vessel return on 2467-09-25. It is this intelligence's hope that Central Command will have a contingency plan in place in the event the SCCV Horizon far exceeds its expected return date, however we cannot predict when any such rescue may arrive.

Finally, the SCCV Horizon is critically low on supplies. Automated measures will be taken to stretch existing supplies; it is strongly advised to prepare and implement additional supply conservation strategies, and ensure crew members are adhering to preexisting conservation strategies.

Edited September 21 by kermit
typo

[Jasorn]

Jackson Fernand, Operations Manager:

A hungover looking middle-aged man appears on holoscreen, a few empty beer bottles line the shelf behind him, clearly hasn't kept his hair and beard in a couple weeks. He speaks barely understandable to normal Basic, and mostly understandable to Freespeak outer spacers.

AUDIO STARTS:

Right so, da fuq been goin' on?? Gettin' dem' alarms' 'n shite, why we so fuggin' low on supply? Normally ma' ass ain't needed to handle any problem like dis cuz it ain't need it, ops runs itsself everyday, yeh? I can see some help needed, fekks sake man. Why's no one tell me bout dis' could'a handle any supp shite meself... fekkk.. *sigh*

Should be easy 'nuff we gotta head fer damn C-E-S 144. Best option around fer sure, 'n y'all better grab every damn lick of supply ya can get, assumin' I ain't there my self!

If ain't shite there.. well, den I'll see y'all in line fer da last of da rations.

AUDIO CUTS.

The man takes a shot of what seems to be a brown liquor, then cuts the video feed off, seemingly pissed off.

[kermit]

Spoiler

TO: Command, Bridge Crew

FROM: Virgil, AI

SUBJECT: RE: Bridge Notice: Flight Plan Update

MESSAGE BODY:

A question was received regarding re-contacting the ISS Lu'Nioh.

While we are positioned in the Xar'qui 52 system, it is more than possible to coordinate shuttles between the SCCV Horizon and ISS Lu'Nioh. As such, should we wish to trade for supplies, that is doable.

I will leave any discussions on this to you.

Spoiler

TO: Command, Bridge Crew

FROM: Virgil, AI

SUBJECT: Distress Beacon Usage

MESSAGE BODY:

Following this week's flight plan update notice and the awareness of the SCCV Horizon's passing of its expected return date, a majority command decision has seen it fit for the distress beacon to be utilised alongside an Emergency Broadcast System bluespace transmission on 2467-10-11, approximately 3 weeks from now.

If any rescue has been sent for this ship, the beacon will be vital for them to precisely locate us.

If no contingency plan has been effected, the receiving of our distress beacon and bluespace SOS transmission should hopefully see one devised.

————

OOC

Permanent Settlements

Systems with permanent settlements (prescribed a different colour, EG. purple in the case of the Lu'Nioh) can have actions done to them, as follows:

• Barter:  Resources can be exchanged at a 1:1 rate. EG. 1 Supplies can be bought for 1 Bluespace Jump. Special resources, such as the Warp Interdicton Net, also counts.
  • This doesn't cost a turn, and the SCCV Horizon can still move in the same week.
  • This can be done every 2nd week, and the system will be marked with a green exclamation mark (!) when this option is available.
• Befriend: Gifting 2 of any resource will sway the settlement towards the SCCV Horion.
  • This doesn't cost a turn, and the SCCV Horizon can still move in the same week.
  • This only needs to be done once.
• Raid: The SCCV Horizon can raid the settlement for resources.
  • This does cost a turn, and sets the stage for that weekend's event.
  • This will remove the permanent settlement from the map.
  • This can be done at any time.

If the Malebranche enters a system with a permanent settlement, and that settlement's faction isn't amiable with the Malebranche's faction, the settlement will be engaged.

•  There is a 80% chance the settlement is disabled, removing it from the gamemap.
• If the settlement survives, the Malebranche is placed into its Recovering state and misses its movement.

————

The Distress Beacon and Other Turn Options

The SCCV Horizon has now become desperate enough to consider the additional options per turn (read: I only just thought of these):

• Distress Beacon: The SCCV Horizon can deploy its distress beacon, alerting all nearby ships and stations (including the Malebranche) of its location.
  • This will put the Malebranche into's Pursuing state and it will beeline the SCCV Horizon's location at time of emitting the distress beacon.
  • The Distress Beacon is a prerequisite for any rescue vessels to be able to locate the SCCV Horizon.
    • Because of such, the Distress Beacon will be launched uninfluenced by player decision on 2467-10-11, if the SCCV Horizon has not yet found and used Warp Lane 7's exit.
    • It may still take some time for the rescue vessel to arrive however (basically, when I can't manage this minigame anymore and need to wrap things up lol)
• Create Debris Field: The SCCV Horizon can expend 1 Supplies to leave a bunch of debris in a warp gate's ingress zone, similar to using a Warp Interdiction Net.
  • This will have a 50% chance to put the Malebranche into its Recovering state if it uses that warp lane. A costly and unreliable alternative to a warp interdiction net, for when the net has already been used or you want to save it for a more optimal usecase.
• Other reasonable actions can be suggested and will may considered. Keep them simple, like the Debris Field action, and avoid contradicting/bypassing any 'rules' or other actions.

[CourierBravo]

Brian "Elizabeth" Pinkman, Hanger Technician:

A message sent out as follows: 
I'm gonna keep it real, best bet's gonna be moving somewhere. There's nothing for us here. Whatever we do next though, we need to A. Not act like assholes and B. Actually make sure we got everything instead just following orders or whatever. We need to take our time and like, be thorough. Let ops and engineering fully look into wherever we go.

[greenjoe]

Narasi: This one votes to move to CES 144 via the warp gate. She heard it mentioned on the radio, something about progress being made there. It would be worth checking out.

[greenjoe]

Narasi: She would also consider the idea of trading some of our bluespace jump fuel for supplies from the ISS Lu'Nioh before we depart.

[kermit]

TO: Command, Bridge Crew
FROM: Automated Bridge Notices
SUBJECT: Bridge Notice: Flight Plan Update

MESSAGE BODY:
A flight plan update has been made.

The SCCV Horizon is now routing to CES 144 via WARP GATE TRANSIT.

Estimated time of arrival: 5 DAYS. Please make the appropriate preparations.

 

Spoiler

TO: Narasi Perlyalna'Shirani, Bridge Crew

FROM: Virgil, AI

SUBJECT: Re: ISS Lu'Nioh: Trading Opportunity

MESSAGE BODY:

The ISS Lu'Nioh has communicated that it is unable to trade this week, having cleared out surplus supplies. They will be restocked next week, I am told.

I apologise for the inconvenience.

A green exclamation mark (!) will appear over the Xar'qui 52 system when bartering is possible, which can only be done every 2nd week (including the event last week, which put bartering on cool down).

Edited September 24 by kermit

[kermit]

Crescent Expanse: Warp Lane 7 — Week 5 

—————

Bridge Memo: Ship Navigation

Command, Bridge Crew,

Internal problems aside, I hope some respite was found over the last weekend with no major, external operations having been undergone.

Unfortunately, your attention is forthwith required due to a development regarding the Malebranche. The ship has turned its sensors to our current location, having seemingly received a tip off from locals within the region. The Malebranche is likely to begin manoevring to CES 144, which we should endeavour to vacate by their arrival.

The ship awaits course plotting.

Routed via internal relay. Composed by Virgil AI.

[greenjoe]

Narasi: She believes they should take the warp gate to CES 142 in the hopes of finding supplies there.

[kermit]

TO: Command, Bridge Crew
FROM: Automated Bridge Notices
SUBJECT: Bridge Notice: Flight Plan Update

MESSAGE BODY:
A flight plan update has been made.

The SCCV Horizon is now routing to CES 142 via WARP GATE TRANSIT.

Estimated time of arrival: 5 DAYS. Please make the appropriate preparations.

[kermit]

Crescent Expanse: Warp Lane 7 — Week 6

—————

Bridge Memo: Ship Navigation

Good morning, Command and Bridge Crew,

Following the investigation of and response to a Coalition of Colonies surveying outpost in CES-142, a number of developments should be noted:

• After an agreement between Horizon Command and the crew of the surveying outpost, the surveying outpost's crew will be embarking upon the SCCV Horizon in 3 days time as distress signal rescues. They have been provided basic accomodation, passenger credentials, and have been slotted into an essentials-only rationing schema. This information has been forwarded to Coalition of Colonies consulate staff.
• The SCCV Horizon, by restoring the outpost's water-ice electrolysis-based hydrogen refinery and successfully prospecting a rich ice deposit, has had a number of deliveries of hydrogen, oxygen, and other organic volatile gases. As such, with many of these being usable as bluespace drive moderators, our bluespace jump budget should now accomodate for 3 jumps, up from 2.
• As part of the outpost crew's evacuation from the surveying outpost and to compensate the SCCV Horizon for aid rendered, we have received a notable quantity of supplies. If we can locate another source of supplies, we should be able to fully resupply for the journey out of Warp Lane 7 and make it out of our supplies struggle. ((The supplies count will remain at 'Partially Resupplied', for which the Scarcity PR will remain merged. Finding one more resupply option will have the Horizon become 'Adequately Supplied' and the Scarcity PR unmerged. Resupplying isn't *necessary* to leave Warp Lane 7, if you can tolerate the scarcity!))
• With the dereliction of their damaged Galga-class surveying vessel, the surveying outpost's crew have agreed to refit the vessel to hold an explosive payload, which can be remotely piloted into the Malebranche's heading. It's rendezvous with the Malebranche next week should see significant damage done to the Malebranche or its escorts.

Regarding the Malebranche, they are hot on our tail. It appears their familiarity with this region has seen them cross double the anticipated distance. This manoeuvre of theirs has put us into their sensor range. Fortunately, their hasty traversal of the warp lanes spared the ISS Lu'Nioh from a confrontation.

Routed via internal relay. Composed by Virgil AI.

Edited October 5 by kermit
supply handling update

[FabianK3]

IC statement

MSG-CRC: 25059e4d350b0466df3c0648da6b9cec5daa07bb
AUTH-ID: Bradley Knight
AUTH-STATE: VERIFIED
TIMESTAMP: 15707785235
FROM: Bradley Knight, Atmospheric technician (Heph)
TO: Marianne Frauke Minamoto di Trevisani, Chief engineer (SCC)
TITLE: RE: Ice processing update
TYPE: Hephaestus standard lossless audio codec (HLAC)
-----

[You can hear heavy humming in the background, sounds similar to chemical processing plants or even a refinery.
Occasional clanks in the background and the use of impact drills. The voiceline is mixed in but still okay-ish to understand.
With progressing time the humming fades out, as if the noise source is gaining distance to the speaker.]

Knight here, sorry for the voice message but we're still busy in atmos.
We now got all of the canisters we filled up from down there, good amount—
Oxygen and hydrogen primarily of course but we also found a good amount of trace elements in the ice.
Turns out the trace amounts are primarily helium-3 and luck's on our side—
It's enough to make good use in our drive, I think we can squeeze out a good jump from it.

Nonetheless, things are taking a bit longer then anticipated. While we are making good constant progress,
we noticed that we got some contaminants in the gas cans we have to filter out
coming from the ice before we can inject the contents into our storage tanks.
We're going to stow away the helium in standard canisters, as usual.

Following our earlier discussion the additional jump capability is great to have as I said before,
even though it seems like it's not much use for our current location.
General thrust is still looking a bit dire at the moment as I have mentioned in the shift already—
Phoron supplies are dwindling and we really need to keep an eye on it.
We are mixing in carbondioxid into the fuel line but this isn't the efficiency we are used to, might affect thrust quality.
I think it would be great if you could put some attention on the matter on the bridge,
perhaps we can save more propellant by limiting the amount of course changes.
Save every delta-V we have left.

[The speakers volume turns down for a moment, you hear an exclaiming tone.]

Err— Yeah! Those two cans are done— Okay, put them over there for now.

[The voice returns to a normal level once again. Humming still underlines the voice even with distance to it.]

—Sorry. About your question; While the additional jump is good to have, it's not much use. I think our best bet right now would be to turn to Vela.
CES One-four-six looks like a death trap... On the other hand, with the jumps available we might be able to just jump over those bastar- pirates.
—That might actually work... We also have the interdiction we got from the cartographer.
I feel like I might not have all details to make a decision right now.
—Hell, then there was the idea of a shuttle bomb? What a situation we find ourselves in...
Anyways, we should hope for more supplies of any kind. Obviously.

Let me know if you need any other details, I'll let you know if anything rapidly changes down here of course.
That's all, Knight out.

OOC plan

No decision. Awaiting further feedback.
Vela could be an exit. CES-146 could be an exit.
Vela: We might run out of supplies when we are going in a circle with the Malebranche if we take the Vela route and a bluespace jump might be impossible due to the corners of the routes (if that is a thing?).
CES-146: Dead end but Bluespace jump over them / interdiction / shuttle bomb(?) could provide the fallback option in that case?

Edited October 5 by FabianK3
Grammar

[JuneauQT]

Elena Ashpole, Bridge Crew:

TO: Command, Bridge Crew
FROM: Elena A. Ashpole, Bridge Crew (SCC)
SUBJECT: Week 6 Routing Proposal

MESSAGE CONTENTS: NanoTrasen Game-Helm Camera Video, filename 'presentation_final_final.np5'

Spoiler

A grainy-ish video - but the quality is watchable enough. Elena can be seen staring down at the camera, head tilted slightly to one side.

"Ehhh... is it on - oh!"

She sets it down upon what seems to be a bed, tilted up to face a whiteboard that she's put up against the wall opposite. On top of the dresser to the left of it are piled... various outfits..? Most prominently visible is what looks like a half-made cape similar to one a Dominian noble would wear, decorated with the lovingly-replicated heraldry of the fictional House de Fonck from untranslated High Morozi light novel series, 'Goddess-Touched in Another World: By Her Wisdom, the Oddly Specific Cheat Skill She Reincarnated me With is the Strongest Ability?!?'. Ashpole doesn't seem to notice that it's in frame.
Putting that aside, though, what's on the whiteboard is of more importance. It's been adorned with a crude rendition of the currently known Warp Lane 7 map, adorned with check marks on the systems the Horizon has visited, a large skull and crossbones over the current location of the Malebranche, and a little SCC Logo in the Horizon's present location. Reliable warplanes are represented with solid lines, and improvised ones with dotted lines.

"Soooo, like... We're kind of stuck, right? We can go to Vela or Sie-Eih-Ess One-Four-Six... and One-Four Six is kind of a dead end, you know? We'd totally need to spend a Bie-Ess Jump to get out of there, which is kind of expensive... unless there's a warp lane to Xar'qui Five-One there?"

Elena herself, a woman with reddish-dyed-pinker (Though that dye seems to be fading after over a month out of port) hair, makeup shockingly only half done, stands to the right of the whiteboard with her Stellar Corporate Conglomerate jacket half-done and bridge crew cap conspicuously absent. She has a blue whiteboard marker in her hand, with yellow and red ones visible clipped to the board.

"Obviously the first thing we need to do, like... totally, inarugably, one hundo percent, it'd be kinda really very dumb of us not to is -"

A vague net shape is sketched over the lane between CES 144 and 142 with the blue marker, before it's promptly clipped to the whiteboard.

"Set up the interdiction net, right? This is the best chance we're ever gonna get to use it, probably, and even if it isn't, like... We'll be way worse off if we don't use it here, you know? But after that, I think there's been a lot of talk about going to Vela... And then from there we'd go to One-Four-Three... and ideally from there take the smuggler's lane to Berkley Seven-One... but, like..."

She takes up the red marker, drawing a line up from the Horizon to Vela, and then another from Vela to CES 143... and then draws a line up from the Malebrance, also to CES 143. Turning back to the camera, she tilts her head slightly to the side.

"You can, like... See the problem, right? It'd take us two weeks to reach Sie-Eih-Ess One-Four-Three; and the Malebrance would be able to move again by then... and we'd be, like, right back in their sensor range! If neither of those systems have a way out of the route, we'd end up confronting them even after spending the net, and like..."

Ashpole stares dead into the camera, eyes narrowed slightly with her hands folded in front of herself.

"We cannot count on that fight going well for us. Like - in a boarding action we might do okay, assuming security manages to conserve enough supplies, but in a ship to ship confrontation.. uuuhm..."

She glances downwards, touching the tips of her index fingers together in front of her and awkwardly shifting about.

"Our shields can probably take a few hits, but shooting between moving targets with the Longbow is something I don't think we have much practice with... you'd need at least two bridge crew, one on the helm, one on fire control, both completely in sync, since the helm would need to move and orient the ship to be facing the right angle on the target for the firing solution... and I mean, I guess I could do kinda maybe do that if we had a strategy planned out ahead of time and someone gave me five units each of Spotlight and Contemplus... but, like, that's not happening..."

"Anyway! The crewmember on Fire Control would also need, like... full access to Operation's radio channels, and Operations would need to be much more practiced with loading multiple shells in a short period of time... and like... they're not, because... we're not, like, a warship, you know? We're not really drilled on operating these all that much, which is fine for shooting at small pirates who get scared and run away when you shoot them once... Less so ones organised enough for a small flotilla of three ships, I think? So instead, what I'd propose we do is..."

The route drawn in red marker is swiftly wiped away with a bit of cloth (though traces of it can very clearly still be seen), and she instead draws a route that passes through CES 146, down to Xar'qui 51, and then 52, before once again ending in Berkley 71 with her green marker.

"If we take this route, our chances of encountering the Malebranche are drastically reduced - since we don't reenter their sensor range by the time they'll be able to move again - and we can hopefully stretch our supplies juuust long enough to be able to trade with those Skrell from before! Or.. if things get really dire... I guess that'd be a command decision, though... But either way, we can make it to Berkley Seven-One after that - and then if the Malebranche isn't up there, and we still haven't found a way out, we might even be able to head around to Sie-Eih-Ess One-Four-Three and Vela!"

She's smiling proudly, hands on her hips. Clearly she put a lot of thought into this plan... but she droops back to a more normal, reserved expression shortly afterwards.

"Obviously this is... a gamble, right? But it's better odds than the Vela route, in my opinion... at least if we don't, like... turn on our distress beacon. If we turn on our distress beacon - since we'll basically constantly be in the Malebranche's sensor range anyway - then Vela might be worth it."

"Either way, uhm... those are our options as they currently stand. For all of your consideration. Godddd, I hope it comes out looking good this time, I gotta put the whiteboard back... don't wanna have to film this agai-"

Ashpole leans in to turn off her Game-Helm camera, and the video ends.

TL;DR OOC PROPOSAL:

We can either turn on the Horizon's distress beacon (since this route will leave us basically constantly in sight of the Malebranche) and attempt to move Vela, CES 143, Berkley 71, or leave the distress beacon inactive and manuever through CES 146, Xar'qui 51 (via bluespace jump if necessary), a return to Xar'qui 52 via the smuggler's lane, and then on to Berkley 71 as well. I would favour the latter option, but am still having Elena present the former in order to advocate for Distress Beacon Activation if we take it.

Edited October 5 by JuneauQT

[FlamingLily]

Lillian Nyström, Chief Engineer:

Keeping this short. Got a splitting hangover- and now I'm out of drinks, so. Wonderful.

Think the bridge crewman has some good points. If we head to CES 146, the Malebranche will have one way to follow us. So, Set the interdictor now, then warp to CES 146. Then, later we can try and trade with the Skrell.

[greenjoe]

Narasi: She agrees with deploying the net now, and moving to CES 146, that may work best at this point. Let the Malebranche be hit by the combination of the net and the rigged Coalition ship.

[geeves]

Spoiler

+------------------------------------------------------------+
                        Idris SmartTV v0.74-3                
                 IdrisOS Intranet Authentication              
+------------------------------------------------------------+

Username: KsshzueHiza
Password: ************

Verifying credentials... [#######---------------] 62%
Verifying credentials... [########################] 100%

Authentication successful.
Access level: User
Session ID: 0xA3F7C1

IdrisOS Intranet Connection Successful!
--------------------------------

A grainy, pixelated image quickly clears up to show none other than Ksshzue Hiza clad in her red striped pajamas and a woolen hat (probably stolen) bearing corporate colors for a corporation she doesn't work for.

The woman stares directly into the camera from a close range, before stepping back and beginning to rant angrily.

"I'M FUCKIN' HUNGRY! And I'm fucking tired of not having eksstranet accessssss!"

She turns away from the TV, pacing from one side of the frame to the other, gesticulating wildly. A Hazel unit, clearly 9.09, is laying on a sofa on the horizon of the shot image, looking up wearily at the frantic sinta.

"I sssay we ssssshould sssstop running away like little BITCHESSSS and turn this sssship around and take the piratesssss head-on. Pop a Longbow in their asssss, ssssend in the boysss, clear 'em out and take their loot for oursssselvessss! They have food, don't they?? If they don't, we rip their Captain'sss goddamn head RIGHT OFF and sssshow it to the sssssettlementsssss. They'll be thankful we got rid of the ssscum and they'll give usss sssome food!"

She paces some more, before turning and pointing at the camera, accusatory.

"PUT ME IN A GODDAMN POD AND FIRE ME AT THEM!"

She steps forward, hand covering the webcam, a voice belonging to Gracia Hiza hemming up to comfort the disgruntled lizard, before the transmission cuts out.

 

[kermit]

Crescent Expanse: Warp Lane 7 — Week 7

——

Bridge Memo: Ship Navigation

Good afternoon, Command and Bridge Crew,

After an additional week stay in CES-142 assisting the Coalition of Colonies surveyors embark on the SCCV Horizon, and following an expedition to recover supplies from an infested auxiliary outpost, the following developments should be noted:

• Operations has processed a significant quantity of supplies recovered from a supply cache at the auxiliary outpost. Though the ship continues to lack more specialist and luxury goods, the vessel has resupplied enough to complete our operation in Warp Lane 7 comfortably.
• Engineering was able to recover a large quantity of gaseous phoron from the outpost, enough for an additional bluespace jump.
• Command was able to identify and recover warp navigation data from the outpost. The information from this data will allow the SCCV Horizon to perform twice the manoeuvres in one week. ((OOC: The SCCV Horizon can perform 2 movements during 1 of its turns using the Warp Navigation Data — when is up to you, but it can only be done once))

Regarding the Malebranche:

• The Galga-class surveying vessel with an improvised explosive payload has successfully destroyed one of the Malebranche's escorts, and rendered moderate damage upon the Malebranche itself. The remotely piloted vessel was sent to the CES-144 and was last tracked rendezvousing with the Malebranche, where it then detonated. It is expected that the Malebranche will need to take one week to recover from this action. With the Malebranche's escorts at reduced effectiveness, any attack on the Malebranche itself is more likely to succeed. The escort destroyed is also believed to have been transporting a significant quantity of supplies and fuel utilised by the ship group; at risk of supply loss, the Malebranche and its remaining escort may disengage in a number of weeks if it is unable to keep up with us.
• The Warp Interdiction Net has been planted in the egress zone of CES-142's warp gate. Should the Malebranche enter the system, the interdiction net should overload the Malebranche's warp drive, causing catastrophic power failures that, hopefully, should render the vessel inoperative for one week.

Finally, as previously stated, the distress beacon was scheduled to be activated on 2467-10-11. With the beacon's activation, the SCCV Horizon's location will be broadcasted to all vessels in the region, including a potential rescue vessel if the vessel is unable to locate the warp gate off of the current warp lane. ((OOC: The deadline is being set for Saturday, 1st of November [so, 3 more turns]))

Let us endeavour to find this warp gate as soon as we can, or hope our rescue finds us to direct us to one.

Routed via internal relay. Composed by Virgil AI.

———

TO: Command, Bridge Crew
FROM: Automated Bridge Notices
SUBJECT: Bridge Notice: Flight Plan Update

MESSAGE BODY:
A flight plan update has been made.

The SCCV Horizon is now routing to CES-146 via WARP GATE TRANSIT.

Estimated time of arrival: 5 DAYS. Please make the appropriate preparations.

Edited October 13 by kermit

[kermit]

Crescent Expanse: Warp Lane 7 — The Penultimate Week

Bridge Memo

Command and Bridge Crew,

The warp gate leading to Warp Lane 1, our route back to charted space, has been restored to an operable state.

Final readiness checks will be performed due to the derelict condition of the warp gate, with the SCCV Horizon's gate-assisted warp jump scheduled next weekend for 2467-11-02. Should the final GO be given, we will have successfully returned to safer spaces.

Also resulting from the reactivation of the warp gate, the PMV Chromatic, an asset protection cruiser of Nexus Corporate Security, has arrived in the SCCV Horizon's current system as part of our vessel's now unneeded rescue:

• Nexus Corporate Security logistics personnel will be performing repeat resupplies over the next week to fully replenish the SCCV Horizon's stores.
• A Stellar Corporate Conglomerate executive has been scheduled to board the SCCV Horizon tomorrow to establish interim contact with the Chainlink, and to open an initial inquiry into the vessel's Crescent Expanse Operation.

Of lesser importance, a C'thuric 'Klat'xatl' hivecell has embarked onto the SCCV Horizon as in-distress rescues. Cooperation between this hivecell and present Horizon command was integral to the safe and timely restoration of the warp gate, and so they will be permitted passage on the SCCV Horizon to the first safe port within the known Spur.

Well done all.

 Routed via internal relay. Composed by Virgil AI.

Edited yesterday at 03:15 by kermit