Astral

[Leo]

Login Successful. Message terminal v90.1
[via KPA node]
User Node-███ connected

::>> CODEC UMBRAL DETECTED
::>> ENCRYPT: EXTREME
::>> IDENT: UMBRAL
::>> SUBJECT: LOG NUMBER TWO

---

// LOG BGN

I'm coming to a concerning realization about the Umbral--she's just too damn big for some places. More than once on my recent travels I've come across places that I either can't dock at, can't fit, or barely fit. A secondary craft might be necessary before long. Just today I had to force the ship into a small opening in Omicron Kappa after disabling the shields--I scrapped up the hull a bit in the process.

Now, I've surveyed quite a few wrecks of late and only one comes to mind that might suffice is a deeply damaged craft in Leeds, one called Volans. Energy readings from the ship match SEC records of the Technocracy, but the ship appears to have additional signatures that match the Core as well. Now, I'm woefully inept concerning my personal knowledge of the Technocracy and the Core, the former having only briefly crossed paths with them on Coronado and the latter I've never interfaced with them so who knows the history here. Regardless of the past and origins of each group, the ship appears to have the right configuration for my uses.

I've passed this on to SEC and they've given me the go ahead to reach out to various parties--and here is where I have a choice.

1. I reach out to the Technocracy. I've come across a few AI Personality Fragments in the past few days exploring the Omicrons. They appear to be left over from battles with the Core in the Edge worlds and maybe they can make use of them or get them back to the right people. In exchange, maybe they can help me design a ship in the same vein as the wrecked ship in Leeds. I can then use it as an alternative to the Umbral when exploring...hard to reach places.
   
2. ...or I reach out to the Core. With the ship showing similarities to their line of vessels--and the records of their thirst for AI technology--they might be able to sell me one of their craft in exchange for services rendered. No doubt this would make me an enemy of various parties in the Edge worlds if I went this route and I'm not too keen on pissing anybody off at this juncture with me just starting my career of Exploration.

SEC has given me leeway to "choose my own fate". Quite dark words considering the stakes. I'll have to put a pin in this for now until I talk to one of the groups in person. I think the logical path is to talk to the Technocracy first--once I'm out of the Edge worlds. If they give me the cold shoulder or disregard my messages, the Core might be the secondary option. I'll have to figure it out in time.

I've charted the rest of the Taus along with Alpha, Beta, Theta, and Kappa--that last one was damned odd. I've docked on Livadia Shipyards for the night. Some of the local engineers are drooling over the Umbral, I might give them a short tour tomorrow as long as they keep their hands to themselves. Time will tell if that's the case.

// LOG END

---

// ATTACHMENTS
NIL
* * *

Logout Successful
[msg route lost | link severed]

---

You fear oblivion. Yet you forget. The universe remembers every atom of your being. Even dust hums your name in the dark.
Starlight Research Consortium | The Banished Legion | Astral