A brief follow up mission report from the TRV-Scylax. This one will be incredibly brief.
The mission in questioned initiated in 829 A.S. in order to track down a source of perceived background dark matter disturbance detected beyond the edge of Bretonia's Carina Nebulae, on the very edge of the Sirius Sector. It was suspected we may have triangulated a source of Sentinel activity and conducted investigations in response to the distant readings.
The TRV-Scylax approached the rough vector of the signals and initiated the first task. These preliminary scoutings entailed deploying probes deep into the Carina cluster in order to determine the source of this stellar disturbance. A notable discovery was made from the secondary probe sent out from the Research Vessel, with one large abnormality with the formation of a set of stars engulfed within the nebulae itself. Akin to a veil of matter. Yet, every probe that attempted to reach the sector, had been destroyed by unknown forces.
Returning back to home base with the newfound triangulation data at the end of 830 A.S, the TRV-Scylax prepped for the secondary surveys of the site, including some escorts and contractors for the expedition. Along the way, we had discovered new and stable hyperspatial fissures that provided great convenience in navigating back to the Carina nebulae. Inevitably, with such conveniences, came the inconveniences of far more frequent unstable fissures. It proved to be a boon in the end, as efforts to find a way to approach the nebulae proved ineffective due to the unknown field that encased it.
Discovering a newly formed anomaly only big enough for smaller craft, we successfully managed to deploy one probe into the sector to act as a buoy for the TRV-Scylax's experimental jump drive system, bypassing the deadly wall.
Breaching the cloak of the Carina nebulae blanking around this sector, we were presented with six stars interlocked with each other in this sector - almost appearing as watchful eyes, wisping out stellar energy around the sector. Caution was most heeded from the grave danger of the abnormal formation. It is speculated that this dense blanket of interstellar matter was acting as a bubble for this sector.
We seized this rare opportunity to map out the sector, nicknamed Eudoxus. What was notable was the presence of a singular world, dubbed Planet Ketumati, of rich organic life present, including the wreckage of what appeared to be primitive post-Sol-era vessels that dated back as far back to 102 A.S. trapped in the gravity well of the planet. From brief scans, we understand that the survivors who failed to flee the system had made refuge on Planet Ketumati. It appears their living standards had regressed technologically to pre-space travel, and were exceptionally aggressive to any foreign contacts, fearful of the unknown. Due to our mission parameters being set to non-interference, we abstained from any attempts at communicating with these locals.
During the search for the cause of the disturbances - it was noted some level of disturbances had originated from the world below, an unusual formation of crystalline substances were detected scattered across the northern hemisphere of Planet Ketumati resonating an energy pattern, echoing these patterns across the continent. We discovered that there was indeed a presence of what we suspect to be a DK relic within a severely compromised structure disturbing the local ecology. Botanical samples were retrieved from both fauna and plant life for studies. The site was acknowledged as too dangerous for life forms to approach. Due to the scarcity of the mission and the possibility that the site would become unreachable, an unanimous agreement came to terms, expedition teams attempted to retrieve the specimen. With some casualities, the teams were able to extract the artifact and contain it.
Unbeknownst to our teams, the sampled fauna from the surrounding environment had extraordinary side effects. It appears that some form of infectious memetic agent had began to infect our teams during an incident. A type of fungi had compromised majority of our outgoing teams and later on contaminated a number of personnel onboard the TRV-Scylax. At first, it appeared that the infection was simply ... inert. It is speculated that this specimen operated on a psychic frequency, similarly to the crystals that echoed the artifact. This outbreak began to manifest as as the TRV-Scylax attempted to leave the system as it broke through the containment field.
Our teams failed to find the source of the dark matter disturbance, chalking it up to side effects of erratic behaviour of the anomalies affecting the stars. It was noted that the fissures used for entry were beginning to collapse. With great haste, the TRV-Scylax attempted to escape the pocket system. An unfortunate circumstance had occurred, a great, sudden explosion. During the attempted jump, the Research Vessel was stuck in hyperspace during the great collapse known as 'Black Out'. During this ... incident of what only can be described as a hellish limbo. Prolonged exposure to the hyperspatial field had drastically deteroriated the integrity of the TRV-Scylax, as well as the psychological health of multiple personnel.
During the limbo, the fungi's biological properties seemingly reacted to this state of being during the jump, breaking out of the containment field, infecting many individuals including myself. Notable side effects entailed overriding the nervous system, hallucinations, septicemia. Out of the fourty-three infected personnel, there were eleven fatalities.
From here on and the aftermath of falling out of hyperspace, amnesiac effect from prolonged exposure had occurred. What we have gathered from the data logs that a select few members of the crew, and synthetic personnel, had endured the effects. The TRV-Scylax exited the faltering jumping sequence in a critical state deep in the Carina Nebulae. Several functions and cargo compartments were lost, including the artifact. Active crew members quickly worked to recontain the hostile pathogen, successfully developing a temporary remedy, derived from the unaffected fauna specimen. Recovery took approximately four-to-seven months for those afflicted. The long-term effects have yet to be fully assessed.
The TRV-Scylax found itself stranded on an unknown world with a less than graceful landing. Consolidating what little resources were remaining, just enough resources were extracted from the nearby environment and remaining equipment to create a call for an extraction, surviving barely a year in isolation on an unmarked world with barely enough resources to sustain for life through filtering techniques.
With the less than safe return of the now-decrepit TRV-Scylax from the exotic task, we failed to locate the true source of this grave disturbance or discover any traces related to the Sentinels. The losses of several people and the exotic artifact were regrettable from this expedition, but all was not in vain with the samples retrieved. Biomedical reports were sent in from the teams, humorously dubbed 'Zombie Spores' by the contractors, to the Citadel for analysis. Upon return in 833 A.S. - all personnel were subjected to intensive medical studies to ensure that everyone was fit for duty. The TRV-Scylax is slated for repairs and refitting to accommodate for the change of circumstances with the hyperspatial field.
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