Defending the Delta

[Sombs]

---

These log entries are created in secret and aren't available neither to the Core nor any other entity.

---

Log - Ezrael Vertiga

Remember the last time I said "I should definitely do this more often"?

I really don't know where to begin with, and my memories about all the things happening are terribly blurred. It's just too much. But I'll try to sum things up. Maybe it all will get more clear to me.

First of all, the Core-Zoner-conflict has calmed down a bit. That's good on the one hand, but I was hoping it would give us a bit more cover to do our stuff in the meanwhile. The attention of sirius is spread between two major things now: The weird frenchmen attacking the California system in Liberty, and the giant ion storm that hit Sirius one week ago.

Maren and I can speak of luck. We were in Liberty right before the Gallics started the invasion. We had the meeting with the Lane Hackers. It was, well, I was hoping to be a bit less complicated. To be honest, I feel like I'm part of this stone old movie called "The Godfather". I was hoping we could just pay the Lane Hacker with money, intel or nomadic remains, but they want us to do something else as a favor. They want us to bring a message to the VWA. A message that will hurt. I'm not happy with that outcome, and I can't believe Maren is willing to do it. She literally... would kill for me...

While the Lane Hacker gave me both the system override software for the Apahanta as well as the transmission encryption matrix to make sure people aren't able anymore to hack my messages, he told us the software would expire if we don't do our part of the bargain. I just hope we get enough time to prepare. Hiring some mercenaries that aid Maren delivering the message, or, preferably, being able to use the Apahanta therefore. As far as I know, those VWA guys are active in Luneburg, or Sigma-15, as they call it since the ion storm. The Apahanta can't go there right now, it would just draw too much attention to it. But maybe our new friend Nancy can help us.

Now that Maren and I are a couple for, well, a bit more than a week, it definitely feels like we know each other for months. And the fact that she would kill for me is just impressive. I don't know if I could do that, at least not the way she would. She's such a gentle lamb and her mentally state isn't very stable, even though she tries to hide it. Her cardamine addiction makes her suffor more than she would admit, and I don't think it was very helpful of Noah Xonnel to convince her to commit suicide. That guy... if I ever see him in person, I'll punch his nose. How can one dare to push someone into suicide!? I won't forgive this...

However. I think Maren is enjoying the time we spend together. I'm very happy about that, because all the circumstances are totally fucked up and weird. I mean, she's staying with me on the Hoffnungsschimmer, and she behaves like it's already her new home. I like it. I really, really hope she's happy with how the things went.

And now, we even have another guest on the Hoffnungsschimmer. Nancy Sweetwater. A very cute girl, to be honest, and she can speak of luck that I'm with Maren now. I met her in Omicron Delta doing the usual patrol routes, kicking squidbutts. She was curious about a Core Mako that doesn't attempt to destroy everything in sight. So we talked for a while. That girl has a serious memory issue, according to her, and I'm convinced that she's talking the truth. She can'T remember what happened in the last years, and it also seems like she doesn't have any friends around here in the Omicrons. That's bad, because she seems to be a nice person. And she's an excellent pilot. I saw her taking down a bloodthirsty Horus|Order-pilot. So, Maren and I invited her for dinner on the Hoffnungsschimmer. It was awkward, since we tried to cheer her up but failed in doing so. She stayed for the night, sleeping 16 hours until Maren decided to wake her up. Her mental state is probably even worse than Maren's, and that's why we will have to take care of her. I really hope she will be better soon, and she's welcome to stay as long and often as she wants.

And that ion storm...

It seems it originated in Omicron Major. It was strong enough to affect multiple jump holes, nebulae, asteroid fields and even forced some stations to relocate via jump drive. So, the Apahanta tried to track back the storm's route. In the omicrons and the omegas, the influence was the strongest. And it's obvious now it has something to do with the reactivated dyson sphere. Yes, it is active now. A week ago, there was nearly no activity in Omicron Major. And now... now the dyson sphere has even an own atmosphere. It's weird, and we will probably need years to find out what the hell happened there.

A friend I made earlier, the Coalition Captain Pimakhova, asked me for a meeting. So we met in Omicron Minor, and I told her about the recent events. She seems to be suspicious about the way I handle things when it comes to Core-loyalty. I guess she's way more clever than I thought. Anyway, she asked me about the ion storm, and I shared my knowledge with her about the changed nomad systems. The infrastructure, the way they defend it more desperately, and the dyson sphere. I thought she would simply send the information to the SCRA command, but instead, she decided to do what I suggested her not to do: Entering the nomad space and see the dyson sphere herself.

I warned her multiple times, and I told her we would target the Pyl'nist's engines to prevent her from doing the trip. But her ship was faster than the Apahanta. I couldn't allow her to go alone there. So we followed her, acting as a guide since the Apahanta was there already two times. Things worked out quite well. Noone saw us. But, my god, the fear! Pimakhova is a weird girl, and I have to admit I'm a bit attracted to her for some reason. Maybe it's the poetic way of her talking, or her smoky voice. Well, I don't think she will get old with black lungs like hers. Never saw her without a cigar. Never.

Anyway, I don't want it to sound wrong. Maren is still my number one and that won't change. It's just funny that Omicron Delta is a system full of interesting ladies. I guess I have to fight my old behavior from Curacao. Should be doable.

Well, I mean, if I even live that long. The preparation to steal my own ship are nearly finished. Today I'll get us the interior defense turrets for the Apahanta. When those guys are installed and tested, we're ready. Livadia gave us a chance to prove ourselves peaceful. We will take the Apahanta there for repairs. I also contacted Auxesia again and briefed them about the plan. When everything is done and the Apahanta is repaired, we will probably leave the Omicrons for a little while. Bill Hickok from the Junker Congress invited us to hide in Puerto Rico, where we also would be able to resupply and repair at their shipyard. I have to repeat myself: those guys are incredible trustfully, and I hope I won't disappoint them.

I think I need to take a break here. It's just too much in my mind, and I'm sleepy as hell. And I won't risk Maren to wake up and being confused about being alone in bed. I just couldn't sleep without talking about all this...

---