Mysterium

[SothaSil]

| Location: Kansas | Comm ID: Sotha Sil | Research Vessel Scientia; Atlas class | Date: 10th November, 818 A.S. |

Rust and broken hull panels; dark corridors and antiquated industrial machines. That ship ia a wreck, we found it floating around in an outskirt of the desolate Humboldt system.

But that was maybe the first really good finding since this expedition started.

After mapping the entire Kansas system, we soon realized that accomplishing our goals would be far more work that we thought. Four planets, several asteroid fields and two interesting clouds in that system...even to explore this system and check for useful resources would take a vast quantity of time.
But I think it could be worth it, this remote, solitary system is a perfect spot for a hideaway. A place for those who are looking for a place to be, far from the common violence and hate of the more populated worlds.

But first, there is a lot of work to do. We towed the wreck to the old junction station; no one knows who build this station and no one knows why it was destroyed as well.
There've been rumors around saying that the NTF was trying to repair this station before they were forced out of this system by the LSF. At least one section is still intact and can be repressurized, but since the docking system is completly destroyed, we couldn't board that station yet. Maybe we'll find another way in, someday, but for now we cannot do anything here.
For now, there are so or so other tasks to do. I'll move with a small amount of people over to that wreck, and see if it's repairable. Well, it still in one piece, almost, and the life support is partly working. The possibilities that this ship would gave us are great; it looks like it has been made for exploration and work. At least after it's repaired and a lot of things replaced.

I told Mister Vox, the leading scientist of the Scientia, that he shall move the ship to Planet Wichita. It seems that there is a huge amount of usable water. Rumors also say that there is Palladium under Wichita's surface. Anyway, a water supply would be a first step of creating an independant colony. Maybe it's possible to settle on one of those planets. Future will show.

I hope we get this flying garbage can to work. It fascinates me, that industrial, unusual, decayed look. Somehow I felt the urge to restore this ship. I so or so planned to travel around the stars again and this ship feels like the right horse to do this ride. There are still a lot of spots I haven't seen before...and it has been always a pleasure for me to discover unknown shores.

| Location: Newark Station, New York | Unnamed vessel | Date: 2nd December, 818 A.S. |

It's alive...again. Life support finally working without problems, some light bulbs are still working and most of the broken stuff has been jettisoned. The engines are difficult problem. While we managed to replace the thruster and repair the impuls engine, cruise speed is still not available.
Most of the hull breaches are temporary fixed, but we need to make an appointment with a shipyard to repair it properly. I don't want this ship to fall apart once the cruise drive is working again.

Anyway, we moved it to Newark and rent a mooring point, arranged some deliveries to get necessary parts and supplies. We just started to replace the sensor system with scientific scanners for every case, short and long range, geological, everything what's needed for exploration.

The repairs are going well, faster than expected, although there is still a lot to do. But, isn't that that what makes the fun? Having something to do.

| Location: Duluth Shipyard, Minnesota | Unnamed vessel | Date: 3rd December, 818 A.S. |

While me and the rest of the crew were waiting for further parts, I had some interesting chatter with the folks around and observed some interesting things in Liberty. So it happened that a Orbital Spa & Cruise convoy was attacked by Siege Cruiser, transmitting a gallic signal.
Sensors indicated that more than 1600 people were onboard that liner when it exploded. We managed to tractor the pods of 1395 people and brought them to Planet Pittsburgh. The big cargo hold of this ship is quite useful. However I don't want that something similar happens again.
A few hours later another navy vessel destroyed a starflier, claiming he's an outcast. Without a warning missiles were launched and the "threat" eliminated.
Such things makes me asking myself, who is the greater threat for the people.
One of the folks at Newark was a Navy officer, Rex, who made a good statement. He said, "we should rename liberty to Wild West..."

But there are also good news. I was about to send repair requests to the Norfolk and Batlimore shipyard, when Mister Hoban from the USI came by onboard his train.
I told him what I'm looking for and he told me about Duluth shipyard and that he's heading there.
He offered me to follow and assured me that the engineers there could do the necessary repairs.
Best thing that could happen. No paper work.

After a while and a short stop where I payed a donation to a rogue to let my ship pass, we arrived in Minnesota.
Finally after a "long" flight, everything is long when your cruise engine doesn't work, we arrived at our destination. I transfered the standard fee for repairs to Universal and Hoban got us a permission to dock with Duluth.
I guess today won't happen a lot anymore. At least not for me. I will look for a hidden spot in this ship, away from all the noise the repairs will cause.

| Location: Newark Station, New York | Date: 4th December, 818 A.S. |

What a fail. I was preparing a trip to Sigma 13 to pick up some nuclear devices to install the new nuclear, MOX-powered engine on my new ship, which I named Mysterium, when I met Anna Smith in space and asked her to join me. She agreed and so we hit the lanes via Kusari to the Sigmas.
So far no problem. We arrived at Helgoland station, loaded in the devices and travelled back.
I was about to dock with Newark, when the LSF stopped me, claiming I'm transporting contraband and forced me to drop it right away. Because there is more or less no choice when two heavy fighters want from a local authority make a demand, I did what they wanted.
All the run, for nothing. Looks like I need to get the Mysterium to Sigma 13 and install it there. I hope the police wont force me to rip out the engine once it's build in.

Later today I received a message from the Duluth Shipyard that they finished the hull and engine repairs on the Mysterium.
After I pick up my new toy and headed back to Newark, all the normal things started to happen again. A police officer claiming everyone a criminal (even other employees of the LPI and the navy) and shooting everyone, common skirmishs between authorities and pirates, and of course some visitors.
This place is getting more and more weird. Or insane.
But also some good things happened. I never wanted to spend much money on weapons. Never. But most of the stuff available on the civlian and black markets is crap. Luckily I met a Zoner, Sister Joanna, who offered me some "Onyx" called weapons for a reasonable price. Still having an empty slot on my Spatial, I decided to buy a single Codename weapon from an arms dealer. I payed 150 percent of the amount I payed the Zoner to the dealer. For a single gun! That business must make you rich.
Anyway, I think the investment is worth the money.

| Location: Newark Station, New York | Date: 8th December, 818 A.S. |

Great. But kinda expected. Political issues with the Junkers. They are not very happy that a non-Junker has currently one of their ships. Until that problem isn't solve, the Mysterium stays grounded.
I recently borrowed an old Hegemon and hired a crew for it to start a small mining business in Kansas.
I got a report from them that a carrier of the Black Navy Guard was around in the iridium cloud there. They said there have been reports of unknown ships in the area and that they are looking for something strange.
I assume they mean that thing we found on our first expedition tour through Kansas.
The commanding officer of that carrier, Captain Veers, said that there is a reward if anybody could lead them to the unknown object. I might contact them...

| Location: Newark Station, New York | Date: 11th December, 818 A.S. |

Alright, all problems solved. I already spent too much time on this. I concentrated so much on the ships that I almost forgot why I am doing this. I planned to travel to the stars and explore new worlds, not sit around on a station, solving diplomatical and technical problems.
Actually, my plans change pretty often.
The Scientia has completed her work and returned from Kansas. Seems like that system is not as empty as I once thought. The iridium cloud attracts a lot of miners, and now with even the navy around...not that quite place I was looking for.
I started to make a list; there is such a lot of places out there...I don't even know where to start.
I got some good tips from Popess Concordia and Salem Jansen; Omega-11 with a sun dying and becoming a super nova, the mysterious Omicron Lost system which seems to be empty, Hokkaido, remote and desolate, quite unexplored...
How ever. That salvager is past. History. It's done. I got rid of it, also of the Atlas transporter and put my last credits into a Democritus yacht. A fine little ship, and contrary to the old Mysterium, no rust, no dirt, just shiny corridors and rooms.
The replacement for the Atlas is an used Enterprise Liner. The main reason why I am now on the rocks.
But, I need a useful, and for some regions, a well armored ship.
However, the last supplies are loaded onboard both ships right now. We're ready to departure. Finally.
I still need a destination...maybe I will decide spontaneously tomorrow. And than start with the morning dawn.

| Location: Newark Station, New York | Date: 12th December, 818 A.S. |

Some delay occured. Such a big ship, and so many stuff everywhere. It will take me at least another day to get everything stored at the right place. Or better, it will take those workers I hired another day.

Since I got a free day due to this, I made a trip to Edinburgh and bought some cats. Once we departured, it might get boring and lonely here; well, I like it when animals are around...makes everything so peaceful.

Later that day, at Newark, I met that girl, Alice, who's alone aboard a Ahoudori. I presented her with one cat, I'm sure she likes it. She named it Testsubject#472. How cute, isn't it?
Actually, there is something strange about her...maybe I find out what it is...