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Exploratory Vessel Dea Matrona, [Location Redacted]
13. Septembre, 737 AGS
Sender:Agent Supérieur Marius Duval. Recipient:Gallic Royal Navy, Internal Transmission Center. Topic:ONI Report: Southern Tau cluster exploration.
Pilots of the Royal Navy; intelligence operatives,
The following is my report on yesterday's scouting operation that is to mark the beginning of a series of operations, through which the Office of Naval Intelligence will expand and improve its star-charts and other intelligence databases.
ONI operatives Morgana, Nantosuelta and Sirona accompanied the Dea Matrona, the research and exploration vessel under my command that has been assigned to this series of operations.
I will now document notable events that occurred prior to, during and after our charting of the Baffin system - the first of many systems we are to explore more thoroughly than we have in the past. It is worth noting that the priority of charting Baffin was increased after the ONI was informed of a planned meeting between the BDM and GRN officials that is to take place there1.
On our way to Baffin, we encountered a Kusari Naval Forces patrol of initially four and later five men and women at Freeport Six in Tau-29. An incidental encounter that quickly proved fruitful, as I was able to acquire permission from the naval officers to, in the coming few days, pass through Kusari territory on our way to the Sigma cluster - a cluster that, too, requires further exploration. The audio log supplied below should provide more detail, if required.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Ah. It's unusual to see royal navy pilots here.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: How is the war going?
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Well enough.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': I would say it is going rather excellently.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Good to hear.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': What is it that keeps your forces busy these days?
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: Hmm...
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: Well here is something you dont see every day either.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: It's always the same. The blood dragons on one side. Outcasts on the other.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: Well. That's interesting. Bonjour, monsieurs et madames.
Narcisse.Archimbaute: Bonjour.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Greetings, pilots.
KNF-Sen.Haruna: Hello there.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Bonsoir, pilots of the Corse.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': This has become quite the gathering.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: I...guess so, oui.
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: If I may ask, to what do we owe the plesure of both your visits?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': I cannot speak for the Corse, but this exploratory vessel, the Dea Matrona, is headed for Baffin.
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: Baffin eh? That isnt on my charts.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: Us Corsicans were looking for some of those 'Boraddoraganzu', as your call them - the Blood Dragons.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': There are public advertisements of the Zoners that inhabit the system. They refer to it as a 'super highway', if I'm not
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': mistaken.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: The Samura pay highly for their...assisted demise.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: hmm. I see.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Its location is, at the very least, not a well-kept secret.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: We just took care of a group of blood dragons.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: I assume they'll be hiding to lick their wounds for a while.
Narcisse.Archimbaute: My charts indicate the jumphole is only a mere 18k away.
Narcisse.Archimbaute: Its location really is not a secret.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: I've been to Baffin. But Kusari has no interests in that space.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: Bon, that's good to hear.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': The Kingdom has little interest in the system. However, knowledge is power.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': As such, exploration - even of an insignificant system like Baffin - is a worthwhile endeavour.
Narcisse.Archimbaute: Navy, would you perhaps need another escort? I am quite used to assisting the Kingdom and am currently under their employ.
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: Konbanwa, Morgana
GRN|ONI-'Morgana': In an illegal vessel?
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': I doubt we'll be requiring your services, Corsican.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Hai. I agree. Hopefully you'll find useful information.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: Not illegal, monsieur. I have the permit to show for it, if you wish.
GRN|ONI-'Morgana': Ah, mon apologies.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: As does my friend here.
Narcisse.Archimbaute: Oui, I was I believe the first to have such a vessel registered.
Narcisse.Archimbaute: Indeed I have owned this vessel since before it was made illegal.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: Oui. Sounds about right.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: Well, if you have no need of our services, I suppose we shall be off.
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: There is plenty of profit to be made in the Taus, of course.
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: I do not doubt that.
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: Tau 23 seems to be the center of everything, as always
[UC]V-Demitasse: Grayson: Oui, that it is. So, Narcisse, shall we be off?
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Ah we should move on as well.
Narcisse.Archimbaute: If in the future you think of a way for us to be of further use to the Kingdom do not hesitate to contact us.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Bon voyage.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Sayonara, corse pilots.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Forces of Kusari. This incidental encounter may prove fruitful.
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: Good day.
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: Hm?
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: How so?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': This exploratory vessel means to not only extensively map the Baffin system, but a longer trip
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': to the very east has long been planned.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': However, in order to travel to the east, we would have to travel through Kusari sovereign space.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': As such, perhaps now would be a good time for us to request passage?
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Ah I see.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: What will be your destination if I may ask?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': We would be, initially, headed for the Sigma cluster.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: And when do you plan to start this trip?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Our intel suggests that the Sigmas could, in turn, provide access to even more remote systems.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Ah.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Most probably within the next few days.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': A timeframe up to a week, I would say.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': The Sigmas are not our only destination, after all.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': It would depend on our findings in the Baffin system, I assume.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Among other things.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: I see.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Would you cross our space just twice for going there and back again?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Very probably, oui.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: As long as it's just that I think we can grant you free passage.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': That is excellent news. Thank you.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': I'm glad we could come to an understanding so swiftly, meisseurs and mesdames.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: I must warn you however...
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: A large part of the sigma systems is occupied by the Gas Miner's Guild.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: They may have a problem with your presence.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: I'm not sure how your relations are.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': We have had occasional run-ins with their transport vessels.
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: Konbanwa, Katsuo-Jokan.
[KNF]Nk.Katsuo.Shimoe: Konbanwa to all present.
KNF-Sen.Haruna: Konnichiwa [KNF]Nk.Katsuo.Shimoe
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Hm. We'll most assuredly come prepared.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': I can't say that we've clashed with the Gas Miners' forces in the past.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Other than the occasional embargo-running transport, from what I hear.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': I would prefer, of course, keeping things that way.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Naturally, well, we wish you good luck.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Merci. From what you have told us about the Blood Dragons you encountered, I needn't wish you luck in your endeavours.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': I hate to interrupt, but we should be on our way.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Then we'll be off as well.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: We still have to reach Shinkaku.
[KNF]Kh.H.Ishikawa: Sayonara!
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Farewell, pilots.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Au revoir.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Au revoir.
KNF-Sen.Haruna: Bye bye.
KNF-Takudo.Tomo: Goodbye, to you.
Of course, we proceeded to our destination immediately after this run-in with Kusari's Naval Forces. This panoramic image was captured immediately after our passage into the system. A trail marked by buoys grabbed our attention, and led us straight to a - so far unexplored - jump anomaly within a large ice nebula.
Luckily, a Zoner vessel - a yacht of sorts - callsigned The Gremlyn jumped through the anomaly moments later. We took this opportunity to gather more information on the system, and interviewed the Zoner. Despite his odd and, at times, incomprehensible accent, we were able to acquire sufficient information - such as nav-map coordinates of notable planets and man-made structures - to plan out the rest of our operation. Again, I will supply a full audio log below.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Might as well figure out where they lead.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Just an ice cloud. Nothing too extreme.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': A jump anomaly. Save the coordinates for later.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Oui.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Bonsoir.
The.Gremlyn: Urm...heya...
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': A Zoner. Presumably no irregularity within this system.
The.Gremlyn: Oh, we's jus' passin' fru...
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Non, although this one has quite a collection on board.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': And yet, he might prove to be useful.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Those are unusual materials, captain.
The.Gremlyn: Aye, 'swhat I tends ta do
GRN|ONI-'Morgana': Who even needs that much booze?
The.Gremlyn: Collect fings
The.Gremlyn: Well, when ya want's ta partay...
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Are you familiar with this system, captain?
The.Gremlyn: An' I finds dere's people 'oo likes ta sample
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Please answer the question, captain.
The.Gremlyn: What queshtun?
The.Gremlyn: What I needs da booze fer?
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': I thought the academy had me prepared for foreign languages.
The.Gremlyn: I jus' tol' ya, partays an' placatin' people
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Are you, captain, familiar with this system?
The.Gremlyn: Ooh
The.Gremlyn: Da system, aye
The.Gremlyn: There's plenny o' good stuffs aroun'
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Please, go on.
The.Gremlyn: Well, dere's dis planet 'as good karma an' fin's
The.Gremlyn: Anna couplea 'oles, as I s'pose y's seen
The.Gremlyn: I fink it's mostly used as a thouroughfare, t' get fr' Lib'ty t' da Taus
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': We're aware of at least two anomalies. The one through which we entered, and the one through which you came.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Are there are any others?
The.Gremlyn: Not dat I's aware o'
The.Gremlyn: Lemme check wi' me science offisah
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Hm. Very well.
The.Gremlyn: Nah, jus' da 2, ee sez
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Other than that planet of yours, which other... tourists attractions, shall we say, are you aware of?
The.Gremlyn: Well, y'all might wanna toodle over ta Shasta, I 'ears t' locals dere is pretty accomadatin'
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Would you be able to give us a location, or anything resembling directions?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Those locals being the Temporary Autonomous Zoners, correct?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Nav-map coordinates would be of great aid to us, as well, as Nantosuelta pointed out.
The.Gremlyn: Aye, da Temporary Autonomus folks, dey's good folks. 'tis somewhere aroun' E/F 2/3
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Noted.
The.Gremlyn: Y'all aughta ask 'em 'bout dere amu'lets
The.Gremlyn: I 'as a few 'ere, ifn y'all wanna sample
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Another question, captain.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': We're not particularly interested in Zoner trinkets, I'm afraid.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': What can you tell us about the system you travelled through to get here?
The.Gremlyn: Ooh, Coronado? Jus' a lot o' ice
The.Gremlyn: Anna waystashun set up by someone called George summat-or-'nuver
The.Gremlyn: Some kinda freelancer 'oo put down roots or somesuch
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': This 'waystation', does it have a name?
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Interesting.
The.Gremlyn: Da Barrier Gate Stashun, I finks, not really dat orig'nal, eh?
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Presumably some sort of stopping point for vessels making use of this 'highway'.
The.Gremlyn: Yeah, summat like dat
The.Gremlyn: 'Tho, "Ighway" is a tad overstatin' it
The.Gremlyn: We 'as 'nuff trouble gettin' dis fing thru, I can't imagine bringi'n bigger ships
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Other than 'Shasta' and the unnamed planet you mentioned prior, is there anything you would recommend we see
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': within this system itself?
The.Gremlyn: Well, da Barrier Nebula 's kinda pretty, ain't it?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': The visibility in this nebula is rather poor.
The.Gremlyn: An' ya never know what kinda leftovers ya can find driftin' 'round in it
The.Gremlyn: Aye, ya can't see far, but what ya can see makes yeh feel...
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Cold, I would say.
The.Gremlyn: Depends on yer point o' view
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Or fortunate that I am inside this vessel, rather than outside it.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': But that is all irrelevant, captain.
The.Gremlyn: Hah, dat be true
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': The Nebula, Barrier Nebula as you stated, and Shasta. As well as that planet.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Those three things are exceptional, you would say?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Thank you for the information you provided us, Zoner.
The.Gremlyn: Well, yall wanted sightseein', I's just suggestin' sights t' see
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': We greatly appreciate your suggestions, captain
The.Gremlyn: Well, dun' let us delay yer from yer obv'sly important operashuns now, sirs
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': This was a very insightful conversation, indeed.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Ah, yes. Zoner. Feel free to proceed. We'll be headed off to 'Shasta'.
The.Gremlyn: G'luck
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': A safe journey to you, captain.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': And, I believe, a sweep of the Nebula might be in order.
The.Gremlyn: An' ta yew, fellas
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': As he said, one never knows what one might find in these sorts of locales, non?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Hm. Yes. It's difficult to tell what's inside this nebula without a more thorough sweep.
We then set off to the coordinates supplied to us by the Zoner. Little of interest was found within the nebula - now identified as the Barrier Nebula - as we passed through it. At the coordinates, however, we found a somewhat atypical station. While it resembled a Freeport, it was larger than the ones we have found so far. It was either unaware of our presence or lacked weaponry, as we took no fire from the station gunners. The Temporary Autonomous Zoners, allegedly, base out of the installation. According to our Zoner source, the installation is nicknamed "Shasta". No further information is available on it at this time.
Operative Nantosuelta then spotted another trail of buoys which was, of course, promptly investigated by us. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide a substantial amount of information about our findings at the end of the marked trail. It led us, once again, into the Barrier Nebula. There, we found another installation. The gunners aboard this station, however, did not welcome our presence, and opened fire on the Dea Matrona as soon as we came into weapons range. As such, all I can provide is this low-quality guncam shot of the installation's silhouette. Within this nebula, and at a range of five clicks, we unfortunately couldn't capture a clearer image.
Knowing there was little to be gained by staying near this installation - which, given its hostile response to our presence likely alerted the organizations that inhabit the Baffin system - we chose to return to the station we previously discovered.
On our way back, operative Nantosuelta alerted us to the presence of what appeared to be a TAZ security vessel. The vessel - later identified by Nantosuelta to be of the gunboat class - rapidly approached the Dea Matrona. While we certainly had sufficient forces present to deal with the potential threat, we deemed a direct conflict so close to the Zoners' own installations unbeneficial.
The following guncam shots were taken during our encounter with the TAZ vessel:
As such, my team aboard the Dea Matrona spooled up our cloaking device. Operatives Nantosuelta and Sirona docked with our ship, after which the device was activated, rendering us invisible. This marked the end of our operation, and we made our way back to the Tau-29.
The following audio log covers all communications that occurred after our encounter with The Gremlyn up until the end of the operation:
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Well, look at that.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': That's no small structure, non.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': A sort of Zoner freeport of the larger variety?
GRN|ONI-'Morgana': Appears so.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Nothing out of the ordinary.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Shall we proceed? I don't believe we can learn more of it here.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Very well.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': I believe I spotted another row of navigation buoys at the opposite side of the station.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Worth investigating, I suppose.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Worth investigating, no doubt.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Buoys wouldn't be placed without a reason.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Let's have a look at it.
GRN|ONI-'Morgana': Lead on
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Some sort of small outpost.
GRN|ONI-'Morgana': Hostile station, on scanner.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Its gunners seem... enthusiastic.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Keep a distance, they are firing already.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': They must not appreciate the presence of strangers... Another notable discovery, no doubt.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Let's return to the other installation for now.
[TAZ]Turkey.Curse: Oh my, that's a lot of gallics
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Contact, ten clicks out.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': Moving out.
[TAZ]Turkey.Curse: Cloaking cruisers? Hmmm...
[TAZ]Turkey.Curse: I wonder what you gotta hide...
[TAZ]Turkey.Curse: What does ONI stand for anyways?
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': A useful addition to the Dea Matrona, wouldn't you agree?
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': I expected nothing less.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': I believe this should suffice for today.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': Very much so, it could prove to be a life saver at some point.
GRN|ONI-'Sirona': Agreed.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': The 'Matrona is headed back to base.
GRN|ONI-'Dea.Matrona': We've got much to prepare for, after all.
GRN|ONI-'Nantosuelta': I believe we've gathered enough information to report back, oui.
This concludes my report,
Marius Duval
Agent Supérieur of the Office of Naval Intelligence
1Refer to this neural-net link for more information. Access restricted to senior officer ranks and above.