28/06/835: Log 1

Long-range scanners detected a new shift at the Omega-55 entry. The probe we sent confirmed that the rift had returned to a collapsed state. Freeport 5 also confirmed that the rift in Omega-41 showed no significant changes, which led us to believe that the new opening was now in Omega-47.

That means the Deep Omega expedition is back on. We’ll be following the trail left by Expedition 13.

The Science Department equipped us with an upgraded variant of the gravimetric arrays first used by the Eidolon Star. With luck, they’ll help us read the shifting corridors without getting us killed.

The techs swore the new arrays were “stable enough for field use,” which in science-division dialect means they probably won’t explode until the second week.

We expect to reach Madeira Base for resupply before pushing deeper, likely within a day. Maybe more. Trade and Contracts also asked us to gather samples along the way and start preliminary analysis, because apparently even the edge of nowhere still needs paperwork.

So here we are, launching from the Nephilim while the others begin work on our new station in the area: Sparta Complex.

The tricky part will be reaching the Omega-47 jump hole between the twin suns. Initial scans indicate that a narrow band between the two coronas is navigable. “Navigable” in this case meaning “probably won’t boil us alive if the pilot doesn’t twitch.”

Crew mood is still decent. Excited, mostly. A few of the newer hands are trying too hard not to look impressed every time someone says “Deep Omega” out loud. I’ll give them two days before awe turns into fatigue and bad coffee.

Ship status: Gignosko fully operational. Fresh maintenance cycle completed aboard Rhamnousia before departure. Port-side thermal sinks were replaced, gravimetric array mount reinforced, and one of the scanner housings kicked back into alignment after Bob swore at it for ten minutes. Apparently that still counts as engineering.

29/06/835: Log 2

We reached the Akioud Cloud. The scanners picked up numerous signals, enough to confirm that this sector sees more traffic than expected.

Unfortunately, we can also confirm Corsair activity this far into the Omega cluster. That matches what we overheard earlier from a Red Hessian: Casablanca Base is still active somewhere around the gas giant Rabat. So far, they’ve ignored us, likely too busy protecting what looks like a resupply corridor for that base.

We collected rock samples from the molten asteroids. Preliminary tests revealed only trace amounts of titanium, not enough to justify mining. However, increasing concentrations of cobalt were detected farther south.

I’ve already sent a communication recommending a mining vessel be dispatched to survey the southern edge more thoroughly. It’s not that we or Sirius are starving for cobalt with Omega-7 still around, but an independent and reliable source would do wonders if we’re serious about justifying a permanent station in Omega-55.

The cloud itself is a bastard to navigate. Not the worst I’ve seen, but dense enough that the snubs had to fly wide and cautious. Martial called it “beautiful.” Bob called it “one bad engine flare away from becoming modern art.” I’m with Bob on this one.

One interesting note: the farther south we pushed, the more the scanner hum changed pitch. Barely noticeable at first, then enough to make the onboard boffin ask for a second recording pass. Might be nothing. Might be the field composition changing. Might be one more weird thing waiting to bite us later.

Anyway, our time in that dense cloud is over. Samples are secured for more extensive tests later. Time to head for Madeira.

30/06/835: Log 3

We reached Madeira without major incident. A few Coalition and IMG patrols gave us the usual curious stare, but nothing worth noting.

Madeira has that familiar frontier smell: hot machinery, stale air, tired people pretending prices aren’t criminal. One of the dockworkers took one look at our manifests and laughed in my face before charging us anyway. Good to know civilization survives out here. We resupplied the ships. Expensive, of course, but this is the far edge of the Omegas nothing out here comes cheap.

We spent a few hours lurking around and studying the installation. It appears primarily geared toward exploiting the El Aaiún Field. Aside from a few decent nodes, though, it doesn’t look especially lucrative. They either don’t know about the probable cobalt deposits or don’t care.

What did get their attention was the shifting signal we picked up back in Omega-55. That alone means this expedition wasn’t a waste.

Crew took the chance to stretch their legs and complain about station food, which tells me morale remains healthy. Hasegawa managed to secure extra filters without asking what they cost first, which means I’ll probably discover the damage in the Expense report later.

Time to leave Omega-47 and sail into the unknown.