::>> CODEC UMBRAL DETECTED ::>> ENCRYPT:EXTREME ::>> IDENT: UMBRAL ::>> SUBJECT: LOG NUMBER ONE
// LOG BGN
This is Chris Hatcher, code name UMBRAL reporting.
The Umbral, my ship, not my code name--ugh this is going to get fucking confusing--was completed last week at Barrier Gate after almost eight months of near nonstop effort which I'm almost certain won't be appreciated. It took me forever to fish the collapsed hull out of the ether, tow it to Barrier Gate, and use my profits from trading, extorting, pirating, begging, conning, and stealing to complete the ship. Even now, it's not 100% and still needs it's primary weapons systems upgraded, sensors, and a bunch of other shit that I'm not even going to get into. Regardless of the completion, SEC has given me my orders--survey, explore, discover, and document. Honestly I wish I knew who the fuck these people actually were. I mean, yeah, sure, they gave me millions after I completed work on the Umbral for various tasks but...they haven't told me shit as to who they actually are. I'm getting the feeling I signed a deal with the devil.
Whatever, they want me to file these logs so I'll file them I guess. What does it matter to me anyway? It's just words.
Let's see. So I started my journey from Barrier Gate but decided to really begin my work in the Omegas. Since they're nominally the most dangerous. Easier to get the harder shit out of the way first I suppose. Surprisingly, I didn't run into anyone really in the Omegas other than a few Coalition and Zoner ships. Kinda surprised I didn't run into any Hessian or Corsairs beating the shit out of one another with clubs. I suppose maybe they were taking a break or they killed each other off finally. Unlikely.
I found a BMM station in Dublin and reported it to the Molly's there. I got a soft spot for revolutionaries. They asked if I'd seen any military targets hanging around there. I requested guidance from SEC and they told me to offer surveillance which I offered--didn't get a response. I figure they've got their own people to do that shit. I bet that station is floating scrap by now anyway knowing the Molly's hate for BMM.
Anyway, I moved on to Bretonia and surveyed every system as ordered. Docked everywhere I was able and logged various data onboard these stations. Even ran into a few more Coalition ships in New London at one point. I offered them services if they were interested--they said they'd be in contact. Reported this to SEC who were pleased with that. I know I mentioned it before, but I really need to figure out who the fuck these people are. Other than bumping into a Molly after discovering a bunch of Military Salvage, I haven't really seen anyone since. I just finished covering all of the Taus plus Gallia. Other than standard traffic, I haven't run into anyone substantial since that Molly in Leeds.
Starting to get the willies about this entire project. The data I'm collecting has been fed back to these bean counters at SEC since I began my data collection. Where this data is going is anyone's guess. It's not like they're taking any of it from me either. I still have control of it, fully, for myself and I've been told that I can sell it as I see fit without any limitations from my bosses. Still, it makes me a little wary. Whatever, I'm a millionaire now because of them, I suppose I shouldn't bitch and moan.
I've decided to bed down in Baffin for the evening. It's a dead end system now with Coronado being cut off but...better to get some sleep with religious zealots rather than some crazy ass Outcasts that'll slit my throat wide open for a chance at stealing the Umbral, I'll get back to this log at some point...don't expect daily logs but--fuck it, I suppose I'll try.
::>> CODEC UMBRAL DETECTED ::>> ENCRYPT:EXTREME ::>> IDENT: UMBRAL ::>> SUBJECT: LOG NUMBER TWO
// LOG BGN
I'm coming to a concerning realization about the Umbral--she's just too damn big for some places. More than once on my recent travels I've come across places that I either can't dock at, can't fit, or barely fit. A secondary craft might be necessary before long. Just today I had to force the ship into a small opening in Omicron Kappa after disabling the shields--I scrapped up the hull a bit in the process.
Now, I've surveyed quite a few wrecks of late and only one comes to mind that might suffice is a deeply damaged craft in Leeds, one called Volans. Energy readings from the ship match SEC records of the Technocracy, but the ship appears to have additional signatures that match the Core as well. Now, I'm woefully inept concerning my personal knowledge of the Technocracy and the Core, the former having only briefly crossed paths with them on Coronado and the latter I've never interfaced with them so who knows the history here. Regardless of the past and origins of each group, the ship appears to have the right configuration for my uses.
I've passed this on to SEC and they've given me the go ahead to reach out to various parties--and here is where I have a choice.
I reach out to the Technocracy. I've come across a few AI Personality Fragments in the past few days exploring the Omicrons. They appear to be left over from battles with the Core in the Edge worlds and maybe they can make use of them or get them back to the right people. In exchange, maybe they can help me design a ship in the same vein as the wrecked ship in Leeds. I can then use it as an alternative to the Umbral when exploring...hard to reach places.
...or I reach out to the Core. With the ship showing similarities to their line of vessels--and the records of their thirst for AI technology--they might be able to sell me one of their craft in exchange for services rendered. No doubt this would make me an enemy of various parties in the Edge worlds if I went this route and I'm not too keen on pissing anybody off at this juncture with me just starting my career of Exploration.
SEC has given me leeway to "choose my own fate". Quite dark words considering the stakes. I'll have to put a pin in this for now until I talk to one of the groups in person. I think the logical path is to talk to the Technocracy first--once I'm out of the Edge worlds. If they give me the cold shoulder or disregard my messages, the Core might be the secondary option. I'll have to figure it out in time.
I've charted the rest of the Taus along with Alpha, Beta, Theta, and Kappa--that last one was damned odd. I've docked on Livadia Shipyards for the night. Some of the local engineers are drooling over the Umbral, I might give them a short tour tomorrow as long as they keep their hands to themselves. Time will tell if that's the case.
::>> CODEC UMBRAL DETECTED ::>> ENCRYPT:EXTREME ::>> IDENT: UMBRAL ::>> SUBJECT: LOG NUMBER THREE
// LOG BGN
Whelp, that's the Omicrons and Kusari completely mapped--as far as I am aware. Right now I've taken an early night at Newport in Sigma-13.
Didn't run into anyone of any substance tonight, even when flying through restricted space. I did find a station in Galileo selling some upgraded gunboat primaries though, sadly they only had one in stock when I need four. I asked for the name of the weapon and was given the name STALACTITE--supposedly has it's roots in Liberty at best guess from the armorer of the station. I'll file that little bit of data away in the back of my mind for now--maybe I'll be able to find someone in the coming months to find it's source for me and sell me some.
Flew through a system logged to the SEC database as Copernicus this evening...I can't really explain the sense of unease I had while flying through it but I did my due diligence and charted it as directed. I sent the requisite chart to their database and logged off for the evening. I was pinged a few moments later with a bonus of ten million credits for successfully charting the system. I gotta say, whoever these people are, they have deep pockets. I threw the credits into one of my favorite stocks on the Liberty exchange. Hopefully the market does better this year than the last.
Nothing else to really report here. This is a pretty easy job to do but...I'd really like to meet some more people and get my name out there as a Data Broker a bit easier. Seems it's quite difficult to meet anyone interesting these days.
![[Image: RNLIqem.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/RNLIqem.gif)