Section 8 - Logs

[Toaster]

Section 8

Login ID: Hawkins
Entry Date: 26 Nov. 829
Location: Unto Nightfall, Error

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Unknown system cont.

Our cautious exploration of this system has continued for another forty-eight hours. Trasser's suggestion to investigate the gas giant and its ring systems proved most prudent. While the resources we found within the orbiting rings were scarce, what we were able to mine greatly expedited the process of restoring the most vital of the Unto Nightfall's damaged systems and repairing the gravest of radiation damage. Engineering once more worked a miracle, though the results of their work are hardly pleasing to the eye. A downside I am willing to overlook, given the circumstances and the fact that the ship's jump capability has been restored.

We continued to avoid the nebula to the system's north-east. Both Trasser and I were uncomfortable with the idea of exploring its depths, though why exactly we could not tell - instinct, perhaps. Instead, we remained in high orbit of the gas giant, letting its gravity guide the Nightfall's course across its circumference, giving us an excellent view of the entire system. Sadly, our sensors remained unable to obtain any detailed readings of our surroundings.

As we orbited the planet, however, we detected something particularly unusual, even by this system's standards. An object circling the gas giant at a lower altitude.

At first, sysops assumed it was a large asteroid or small moon orbiting the planet. As our orbit took us closer, however, it became apparent that the object was artificial in nature. Our sensors - for all their lauded capabilities - were once more unable to ascertain any details. In fact, what readings we were able to gather suffered corruption and artifacting. Sysops is unsure whether this is due to the system's general background radiation, interference from the planet's magnetosphere, or perhaps an effect originating from the unknown structure itself. Nevertheless, visuals indicated that it was not of human origin or at least not of any design known to Sirius.

Further, comms picked up a strange signal pattern apparently being emitted by the structure but was unable to decrypt it.

While I admit that my curiosity is certainly piqued by this development and I would very much like to investigate this unknown structure more closely, Trasser advises against approaching any further. He is right, of course. Our foremost prerogative at the moment is to depart this system, return to known space, and reestablish contact with the rest of Section 8. We have been lost far too long already and with our jump drive repaired, we have no more time to waste.

While sysops and engineering complete a series of simulated jump sequences to ensure the drive can operate within safe parameters, we will complete one final orbit of the gas giant and deploy a number of probes throughout its ring systems. With any luck, they will survive the system's radiation and we will be able to establish a link with them upon our return to [REDACTED] and calculate coordinates for a future return to this system.

Of course, this depends first and foremost on whether or not we succeed in jumping home.

- Hawkins

Attachments: None

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