In the periphery of the Cologne system, an unusual installation drifts through the darkness of a nebula. Its hull plating shimmers in such a way that you can’t keep your full attention on it. Parts of the station appear worn, as if centuries have passed, while others look brand new. Variations of Gallic, Sirian, and other unknown structures seem to emerge the longer you look, yet when you glance back at earlier discoveries, they appear to have vanished--as if they were never there to begin with. There is a strange absence of crew, ships, and life here--there is something WRONG about this place.
Starflier teams, endeavoring (as they often do) to chart the Cologne system, discovered the derelict station in mid-835 A.S. Attempting to pressurize the station led to unusual readings appearing on their sensors--readings not unlike those of an anomaly. This sensor anomaly was strange enough to warrant a call to their neighbors, the SLRC, who had experience with such phenomena after living near one for almost a decade. The Darkhorse arrived with its advanced sensor array sweeping the installation. Yet even the formidable experimental Zoner cruiser failed to uncover the station’s secrets. It was decided that a joint Starflier–SLRC boarding party would investigate.
Upon landing, the teams immediately noted the absence of decay--it was as if the station had only recently been abandoned. The fusion reactors and foundries continued to hum beneath their feet, while the darkened windows of various offices stared out at them like empty eye sockets--devoid of life, yet seeming to follow their every movement. As they explored the winding corridors, the layout appeared to twist and shift like a labyrinth--at times turning back on itself, yet never retaining the same configuration when revisited...almost as if the station were reconfiguring itself on the fly.
The walls were painted with unknown symbols, logos, insignias, and images. Some were familiar, but others belonged to groups, factions, and governments unknown to them. The air was thick with musk and decay, yet at times sterile and clinical. The oppressive atmosphere clung to their skin like a malevolent presence. Every corner held a sense of dread; every shadow concealed a lurking menace. As they moved through the halls, they couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched--observed.
Occasionally, flickers of dim, sickly light illuminated their path, casting shadows that seemed to freeze in place as the glow washed over them--only to vanish again moments later. Distant voices echoed off the bulkheads before fading away, as if memories of the station briefly surfaced before sinking once more into obscurity. Phantom footsteps reverberated through the corridors, stopping when the teams stopped. An echo of their own? Perhaps--perhaps not.
The discovery of a lone, powered console in the administration office loomed like an eerie warning--almost as if the station itself were snarling like a cornered, feral animal. On the screen blinked a solitary cursor, awaiting the team’s investigation.
These are the logs discovered aboard the station--their stories stranger than fiction, yet disturbingly convincing.
Initial Idea Draft by '\S/' & SLRC; starting post given shaped by SLRC
Independent Science and Exploration Guild Report-84
This is Charles Carthage, log 84. Reports from the distant Lambda Cluster paint a grim picture. Half the systems there have been swallowed by the same kind of anomalies we first detected in Lambda-42. It’s…familiar. Like when we woke the Nomads--only this time, our curiosity hasn’t birthed new allies. It’s birthed something with a hunger.
I’ve been working with Zel’kehir on a theory they call Translight Hopping. They tried to explain it, but our understanding of their song is too limited to grasp it fully. They recommended a mental interface, one that would merge our thoughts and increase our processing power. I’m hesitant. Those who attempt the merge rarely come back unchanged--either party.
For now, I’ll study the charts. If there’s any chance of holding these entities at bay, of saving our worlds, we’ll find it there.
Independent Science and Exploration Guild Report-127
The Null, as they’re now being called, have swept through much of Sirius. We’ve confirmed they travel through external rifts--structures not unlike jump holes, but alive. We have no defense. The moment they appear within range, matter itself begins to unravel. Stations don’t explode…they simply cease. No screams. No debris. Just silence.
After the link, Zel’kehir and I share one mind. I can finally comprehend the math behind Translight Hopping, the structure of their song. But there’s a missing catalyst--something we haven’t yet identified. Zel’kehir believes we’ll find it soon. I hope they’re right.
Independent Science and Exploration Guild Report-231
We’ve unearthed a unique substance beneath one of the local moons. If it behaves as predicted, it could be the key to escaping our collapsing universe.
The anomalies are growing…and evolving. Some now display intelligence--hunting ships before they can even react. For once, the Houses are united, fighting together to stem the tide. Even the Nomad embassies lend their strength, but their losses are mounting too.
With aid from the K’Hara, we’ve constructed a prototype drive--ancient Damm’Kavosh architecture woven with Nomad and Human technology. If it works, it will tear open a path to another universe. Zel’kehir warns me that we can’t predict what lies beyond…or what this hybrid machine might awaken.
Still, if there’s even a chance, it’s better than dying here. I want my family to grow in a world not haunted by hungry stars.
We’re powering the drive in a few hours. I’ll report back after the jump.
The remaining logs in this database are heavily corrupted, but two lines stand out uncorrupted.
...and it overloaded. We were wrong. We were so wrong to attempt this. We've ruined everything.
We are so sorry. Forgive u--
The rest cannot be recovered.
You fear oblivion. Yet you forget. The universe remembers every atom of your being. Even dust hums your name in the dark. Roleplay is dead. Long live Powertraders and PvP I guess.
Unauthorised entry
► date: ERROR; boundary check failed, value lower than current minumum - Integer underflow - "log-date" display failure - read only access enabled
As previously noted our sector will collapse again and we can't halt it. The discovery of the unified jump crossroads earlier this decade enabled it. I shouldn't have lead our teams there after the gate failure in the south of freedom's domain.
Like a ripple in water it shook the clock's mechanism and made it turn again. We found it too late. The war against the lights shouldn't have happened, Edison's act ultimately lead to stopping those who awakened after being touched by the aliens. It was all a misunderstanding. Everything was.
The darkmatter now floods into the center, eating everything in it's path. The high energy zone lead Gothaha break and another rift was created chaining real space to the crossroads. The wall starts to connect itself to the eye of the dragon.
Money hungry men flooding into the corner stones of the watch, harvesting what they find all the time, making weapons of peace. The more they drag those shards into our sector the faster it will collapse again. Marcelius Escher, we will use your home to let those after us know what will wait for them.
For whoever is able to read this in the coming newly reformed sector; Don't ever attempt to enter the crossroads, don't wake the lights and if you do, let them stop the machine at crossroads. Otherwise you will reset everything.
-Walter-Ernst Ehrhardt, discoverer of the crossroads, Planet Bero, Federal Republic of Almany
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