No Crowley, though theres a whole new mystery to unravel…
Waited several weeks, nothing so far on the Bretonian intel guy or anyone else. Crowley seems to have gone dark, our private link is as quiet as both Cat and Daros.
Took awhile to decide what to do, but I set out to the coordinates Crowley sent in the last message. Before long, anomalous energy signals, gravitational fluctuations, and a feminine voice. Of course someone would be here, especially considering I left it a good while before coming out this far. And why would it not be anything less than the generic “I’m asking the questions.”?
Several moments of conversation passed with her hidden, likely a cloaking device much like one I have mounted on the Eternal Journey. Every truth that hides the bigger picture is always the best option. After learning I wasn’t the echo sender, she revealed her Gunboat-class vessel. Yeah, some doctor. With a highly armed vessel. At least she wasn’t blasting, the weapons arrays weren’t giving any power signatures. Rose Emery. One thing I will say about her, she doesn’t linger too long, just straight to business. Some guy names Sailas Montgomery. Also a doctor. No, Ms. Rose, the only doctors I know are the ones that patched me up.
She mentioned a “Consortium”. The Starlight Research Consortium. One for the notebook. Explorer slash science guys who push the boundaries. Located in Tau 23. Her father was the director of it, who is missing. Something about in hiding. Sounds like he don’t wanna be found huh? Well maybe I keep an eye out. Sailas. Yeah, I am looking for people too. She changed the subject. Asking about how I heard of this anomaly and “From where?” The Freeport, Rose. Where else would someone get information? Gas miners wont share their last food ration if you were dying of starvation. Of course, she don’t know that ain’t true but. Well, it wont make a difference.
“Grandpa Crowley”. Okay well this is interesting. And Alberta? Weren’t that connection de-stabilised? “Oh, it is. Not for malfunctioning hyperdrives apparently.” I’m sorry, what? Theres a variation of Jump Gate tech compacted enough to fit on ships, and generate an anomaly at any time? Prototypes or not, thats quite an immense invention. Bet its something Kishiro have managed to pull off. Theres been rumours here ‘n’ there about them developing something monumental for the Kusari people. How did Zoners get their hands on some? For science, I suppose? Of course, for science.
Another name, Brad, and a little more sharing on Cat and Daros’ strange disappearance, last seen at Freeport Eleven in Delta. And well. She cursed. Quite unladylike if you ask me but who am I to judge? Not like I maintain a clean vocabulary all the time. “Always, its in the centre of this kind of shit.” She said that too. Lotta fire in that one. But no, maybe it depends more on if he is the kinda person to go out there and expand the knowledge of that sector. Well, until she described him. Yeah, definitely would be likely to go out there.
She advised words of caution about the anomaly. Not exactly my first time being around one actually. She told me it links through to near Liberty. So its an alternate path between Rheinland or Kusari to Liberty. Could come in useful, once the hazards are bypassed. We parted ways shortly after, but not before I gave her the names of my friends. Seems two pairs of eyes on two lots of missing people would be better for us both, peace of mind. A memory clawed its way back into my mind, something Cat used to say.. Stars keep you. I mumbled it as the Infinitum departed.
I asked myself why I didn’t tell her I knew a Crowley. The answer is simple. If he wants to be found, he will be found. Not exactly the first time he went to ground with little answer. In any case, the anomaly wont explore itself. Jumped through and headed towards what seemed to be a reading between two planets. Reached the edge of the nebula and my sensors just lit up with dangers and radiation hazards. Yeah, probably not a great idea to cook yourself, Jack. Get some sleep first. Freeport has room still. There I can see what dots of these names she gave me connect to who, or where, or what in this growing spiderweb of missing people…
