Intercepted ‘Northstar’ message

Information Sector News (Read only)
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Flight log of Captain Robert Artego** ,**

Dreadnought ‘Northstar’

November 13

17:34 STE

Entry ST24578

 

We’re in shadow of a large planetoid and it looks like we’re here for a couple of hours. Doctor Pavlov is constantly adjusting the route. He says that everything’s dead around here. I’m not entirely sure what he means. But so far he’s been right about everything – during our journey through Alien space (a whole week!) we haven’t encountered a single enemy. I suppose he has star charts with their routes and code signals. If he ever decides to share this secret, the corporation can earn billions. But now we have to work with whatever we’re offered. The secret of Alien technology is somewhere under the surface of a quiet-looking planet a week away from our position, according to the good doctor. Unfortunately, I haven’t got the precise coordinates. The doctor never thought it necessary to enlighten me.

Here’s hoping everything will keep going smoothly.

I’m attaching two messages doctor Pavlov gave me when I asked what we can expect at the destination.

End of transmission.

 

 

 

Discussion

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‘Northstar’ First day in orbit

 

Logbook of Captain Robert Artego

Dreadnought ‘Northstar’

November 20

17:34 STE

Entry ST24677

 

Today marks the second week of our little adventure and the first day in orbit of planet № 046253. During the flight I’d decided to give it my own name, but changed my mind as soon as I saw it. It was truly terrible. From the deck I could clearly see ancient ruins on the surface. Maybe it used to be a city once, with a web of highways around it. Feels like the lights of this alien city might come on at any moment. But who knows what it really is. We are now deep in Alien space. I should remember that everything here is dead. And whatever isn’t immediately tries to kill us.

Dr. Pavlov is preparing the expedition. Most likely, the ruins extend many kilometers deep, although I could be wrong.

The sensors do not show any danger. We keep the ship in the shadow of the planet, and we have not been detected yet. I believe that Dr. Pavlov and his team can be given permission to descend to the surface. Let’s hope he finds what he’s looking for, and we can leave this gloomy place as soon as possible.

End of message.

 

Files received with the message:

 

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[Discussion](< base_url >/index.php?/topic/28736-intercepted-%E2%80%98northstar%E2%80%99-message-discussion/)

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‘Northstar’ Chronicles. Bion descent

 

Logbook of Captain Robert Artego

Dreadnought ‘Northstar’

November 27

03:12 STE 

 

Entry ST27011

 

We spent some time in radio silence mode. Quite a large cluster of Crystallids passed very close to us — they stretched in an emerald ribbon somewhere on the border of visibility, and then disappeared. If the navigator did not confirm my observations, I would have thought it was just a dream. Every day I feel growing anxiety in the team… and myself. It’s the planet. Something is wrong with it.

Pavlov contacted us. I couldn’t make out half of his words. The data packets are yet to be decrypted by the corporation’s scientists, but from what I understand, the ruins extend very deep underground. Pavlov’s team continues the descent. So far without incidents.

The planet has a hollow structure inside. Evidence suggests that it used to have incredible deposits of Iridium, but it’s all been mined clean.

The doctor himself keeps talking about some dying organism called Bion and the structure of the planet. He can’t be saying that this organism — is the planet itself? But it looks like that’s exactly what he means. Pavlov says that Alien designs… I mean design, is something like an implant.

At the moment I’m unable to draw definitive conclusions about the data.

 

End of message.

 

Files received with the message:

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‘Northstar’ Chronicles. Leviathan

 

Logbook of Captain Robert Artego

Dreadnought ‘Northstar’

December 4

15:42 STE

Entry ST27023

 

Beacons installed. Pavlov has reached Leviathan. That’s what he calls the Alien structure inside the planet. I no longer show his reports to anyone. If the good doctor hasn’t gone mad and is telling the truth… it changes everything. Pavlov said that the whole planet Bion was once alive… sentient. Iridium, hidden inside it — was something like blood for it. He argues that Crystallids violently attacked Bion many thousands of years ago and forcefully installed an implant — Leviathan. And then they started to mine for Iridium.

Bion is dead now, and Leviathan is sleeping. Pavlov is requesting an orbital strike. He wants to break down the casing and descend deeper. I’m not sure that’s a good idea: should we really attract the Aliens’ attention? Is it too dangerous? Besides, Northstar’s main caliber is not designed for this, however, it should have enough power.

One side of the scale holds the safety of my crew, and the other… who knows what treasures the Leviathan is hiding? If it has at least a hundredth, no, a thousandth part of what Pavlov promises…

 

End of message.

 

Files received with the message

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‘Northstar’ Chronicles. Final Message

 

Logbook of Captain Robert Artego

Dreadnought ‘Northstar’

December 11

23:12 STE

Record ST27147

 

Dreadnought ‘Northstar’, Captain Robert Artego. We are in distress in Ydra sector, if our nav systems are to be believed.

Orbital strike had split the planet. What we saw inside… is hard to describe. Through the rocks we could see what looked like a huge station, vaguely reminiscent of Alien ships. In all my years in Spacefleet I have never seen anything like it, even from Jericho. We were looking at this Leviathan… and it was looking at us. All crew members felt it, including myself. Whatever it really was — it’s alive, it’s intelligent. And it’s the worst intelligence that exists in the universe.

 

The attack started in mere minutes. Crystallids appeared out of nowhere. Automatics worked first. Our gunners joined in seconds later.

With great difficulty we managed to fight off three waves when Pavlov contacted us. He told us to come closer to the surface. At first I thought that the doctor was going to evacuate and headed for the Leviathan. Soon it became obvious that Pavlov was not saving his own life, but ours. I do not know to whom he sold his soul for this, but a portal appeared on the surface of the Leviathan. Through its bleak plane, I saw the familiar constellations.

‘Full steam ahead’ — I ordered.

Passing through the portal, we lost the second armory deck and comms room, but we still … survived. No Alien ships followed us.

If this really is Ydra, I’m steering Northstar to Naberidn dockyards. They should have materials for repairs and means of communication.

And one more thing. Perhaps I should document that. Before we jumped into the portal, Pavlov’s last words were: ‘I’ll be back.’

 

End of message.

 

Files received with the message:

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