Captain's Log: 09 May 821 A.S.
J. Scott, Commanding Officer SV-Atreyu, Corvo Class Science Ship
Today has been a trying and difficult day for the Atreyu. My ship and it's crew departed the Omicron Delta system at a approximately 1200 HRS heading for the Omega systems to study the neutron stars located in that area of Sirius. We were able to acquire valuable data on the types of radiation emitted by these stars and have the preliminary information necessary to develop shielding systems that should protect the inhabitants of those systems from the radiation that sickens them.
When we began our journey back to the Omicron Delta system our long range sensors detected multiple vessels with strange energy readings scattered throughout the system. I immediately ordered the ships to crew to engage our cruise engines and set a course for the strange vessels. Upon arriving at the vessels we conducted thorough sensor scans and determined that who ever had piloted the vessels had died long ago. I sent several crewman and marines to the ships to determine what happened to them and if there was any threat to our vessel.
Upon returning from the vessels my crew had retrieved three powerful weapons of unknown origin and a Derelict Nomad Artifact. Recognizing the danger of this device I ordered my chief engineer to immediately erect a force field around the device and place it in an unused cargo bay under armed guard.
Realizing that many citizens of Sirius would kill for this device I immediately set a course back to the Omicrons hoping that my contacts in the Edge worlds would know of a secure place to store it and prevent it from falling into the hands of anyone who would abuse it. Just prior to reaching the Omicron Zeta jump gate I was ordered to stop by a CORE ID'd gunboat. Once the GB scanned my vessel they detected the device and immediately became hostile ordering that I drop the device immediately. Before I could even make a decision to surrender the device or not an Order Carrier uncloaked and opened fire on the gunboat and told me to head for the Omicron Mu system.
Unsure of who to trust at this point and fearing for the safety of my ship I fled to the Omicron Zeta system at full cruise and searched for a friendly station to dock at until I could figure out what to do with the alien device. Long range sensors detected a neutral installation in the Yap Edge nebula so we set a course to the station with the CORE gunboat in hot pursuit.
Upon arriving at the station scanners detected three CORE Battlecruisers enroute to the station. Realizing that the Order vessel couldn't protect my ship even if it wanted to I decided to follow the demands of the CORE ships. Their demeanor changed from hostile to almost friendly as we set a course to the Omicron Rho system to deliver the artifact and I finally breathed a sigh of relief thinking we were out of danger. The captains even apologized for the trouble and offered my ship 40,000,000 to compensate the crew for their horrific experience.
After a brief stop at Capetown Station so the gunboat could rearm we continued towards the Omicron Rho system. I asked about the defenses near the jump hole and was assured by all four CORE vessels that they would be deactivated and would not fire upon my vessel. I assumed that they were an honest group of captains and that they wouldn't intentionally cause harm to a civilian research ship and ordered the crew to take us into the jump hole.
Immediately upon entering Omicron Rho three CORE Battlecruisers stationed at Rho side of the jump hole opened fire on my ship causing extensive damage and casualties before I could thrust out of weapons range. Once clear of the cruiser's weapon salvos the gunship demanded that I immediately drop the artifact or face certain destruction. Since my ship was heavily damaged and the gunboat had just rearmed I knew that I could not refuse his offer so I surrendered the device. Once surrendered the other three captains could be heard over the communication channels saying "We can just kill them now anyways".
Luckily they received orders back to the Omicron Zeta system and left my ship adrift in the Omicron Rho system. Knowing that it was not safe to remain in the system I had my engineers make enough repairs to get the shields and cruise engines online and we headed back towards the jump hole strafing to avoid the incoming cruiser fire that would surely destroy my vessel and kill it's civilian crew.
Arriving back in the Zeta system I headed to the only place I could think of that was free of any treacherous CORE ships... the Omicron Mu system. Not knowing if we would be attacked by patrols in the system I activated all weapons upon entering and was prepared to defend my ship if needed. Once in the system the Order Carrier from before apologized for not being able to assist and offered me docking privileges aboard one of their stations.
Now 12 hours after the betrayal in the Rho system my ship sits on an Order base being repaired, my crew are being attended to by Order physicians, and I am having a drink from an Order bar. I still don't know that I can trust the Order and I am not certain that I want too, but I do know that I cannot trust the CORE and will maintain a full combat alert anytime one of their vessels is in range in case they decide to suddenly open fire again.
My ship will be repaired within days and we will continue our mission of exploration, but the damage to my crew is irreparable and it will take months before things begin to seem normal on our ship again.
