Project New Dawn

[Frostpfote]

Project New Dawn

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Act 2: An endless journey

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Derelict (1/3)

About two years since the start of New Dawn's mission, deep within the Omicron Minor system.

Things had largely fallen into a rythm by now. Scientists worked in twelve hour shifts around the clock, studying samples taken from debris and wreckages. General crewmembers performed tasks such as food preparation, cleaning and providing assistance wherever else needed. All engineers had been put into cryo sleep, preserving their lifetime for a later date. Logistic and maintenance drones had been finetuned to such degree that Aurora had achieved full autonomy over these tasks, keeping the vessel fully operational and all cargo safely secured in its respective bay. The mission had progressed rather smoothly, albeit without large milestones in their research. The New Dawn had successfully defended itself against numerous attacks of not just physical nature.

Harbourship New Dawn, Omicron Minor system

An all to familiar ringing sound begins to play aboard the main bridge. The scanners have picked up an unusual signature, most likely not belonging to what used to be a human vessel. As per protocol, Aurora initiates a controlled burn towards the target, directing the New Dawn's most powerful scanner arrays towards the origin point of the signature, hopefully piercing the thick nebula that masked the possible wreckage. What is odd is that especially in this system objects of this size are only detectable in a very small radius around the ship, but this signature originates from a location approximately thirty-eight clicks from the New Dawn's position.

"Captain, the signature has been triangulated to an asteroid in G6, approximately fifty-three meters in diameter. I detect unusually high spikes of radiation originating from it. Your orders?" Aurora speaks in her usual monotone, calm voice, not yet engaging cruise speed until Captain Page gives her the order to proceed.

The captain makes her way towards a tactical table in the middle of the bridge, analysing the hologram in front of her. A striped line connects the New Dawn with a circle, indicating the rough location of the signature. Additional information about the minerals making up this asteroid can't be displayed just yet, as the nebula is too dense to survey it. "Aurora, bring us closer to the target location and maintain a perimeter of five clicks."

Immediately after the captain's orders the ship adjusts course and prepares for cruise speed, which is engaged shortly after. In addition to this Aurora prepares both salvaging and combat drones to form a small squadron that will be sent to investigate the area upon arrival. The dreadnought's sensors scan their surroundings frequently, making sure to notify the captain of possible ambushes. Additional crewmembers quickly gather aboard the bridge to spectate and possibly give their input on the matter.

Upon reaching the required perimeter the ship disengages cruise speed and begins to circle around the seemingly highly radioactive asteroid. At this point the asteroid has been successfully surveyed, indicating that it differs in no important factor from thousands of other asteroids the team had already scanned within Omicron Minor. "Captain, I recommend to proceed with extra caution. I could not locate the origin of the radiation, but all readings indicate that this is exactly where it stems from." Aurora's model appears next to the holographic image of the asteroid they are now slowly orbiting.

"Increase thrust and keep scanning our surroundings, bring PDCs online and target the asteroid. Something might be hiding in its shadow, we'll circle around it. Should we still find no explanation for the anomly, proceed to fire at it." The captain's words left the bridge in silence, as everyone aboard felt the sudden increase in velocity. Nobody dares to question her orders, not even Aurora. The Omicrons provide some of the most dangerous places in all of Sirius, so the possibility of this being a researchable anomaly are just as high as it being bait for an ambush.

The New Dawn slowly makes its way around the giant rock formation, when a blue-ish object reveals itself. Shaped almost like a ballistic missile, rivaling civilian liners in size. It most definitely is of nomad origin, yet it seems to be entirely dormant aside of constantly triggering the dreadnought's radiation sensors.

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