1) ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION
On 24. of February 819 A.S. around 11:30 Sol hours Guild Master Johnathan Sanders of the Independent Miners Guild sent a GuildComm wide message stating that a private investor requested Independent Miners Guild's help to look into building an outpost. Upon receiving this message I, Mara Arin, responded directly to the aforementioned Guild Master in private about taking the assignment.
On 24. of February 819 A.S. around 20:00 until 25. of February 819 A.S. around 1:30 the assignment was completed and this report was compiled.
The assignment was to survey the following two areas: S1) Kepler system, Kuryo Cloud an outcropping of a larger "Kuyro anomaly" S2) Sigma 19, Donryu Cloud a medium-sized offshoot of the Edge Nebula
2) [color=#CC6600]ABSTRACT (S1)
This survey was conducted with the help of eight scientists within "Uruz" class battle transporter which carried all the necessary surveying equipment and was modified for that purpose. For protection, a pilot named Marco Flanders was hired and he did his job admirably well without questioning what we were doing. The survey was conducted on a number of small zones to increase the accuracy of our results. In general, we have found that there is no sufficiently large asteroid which could be made hollow and support human life as the dark matter storm eroded and shattered all large objects, however there are a few mass clusters in which asteroids, when combined, could serve as a natural protection against the storm. We have also found out that the remaining asteroids are very dense and the minerals inside them have properties which prevent further shattering and erosion.
3) [color=#CC6600]PREPARATION (S1)
When I arrived on Java station in Tau 23, I ordered my crew to take off and set course for planet Kyushu in Kyushu system as that is where all the supplies we need can be bought. Upon my arrival on Kyushu, I told the quartermaster to get us some rations, water, food, oxygen and drugs. I knew we were going into a thundering dark matter storm which could tear our ship apart in seconds if we were to collide with only a single gram of dark matter, so in order to prevent that we wanted some oxygen on board so we can use it as a primitive physical shield. Such shield would be deployed by pumping oxygen in from of our ship to explode the dark matter particles forcing our energy shield to take only the energy released from the explosions matter and dark matter collisions would create. Drugs were also a big part of our cargo as we knew dark matter can cause what Ames scientists call "Pressure Sickness" which is caused by quick and often changes in pressure. While the quartermaster went to get us the required supplies I called Ames research station again to confirm that everything is prepared for our arrival. A team of eight scientists mostly of Kusari or Liberty origin where picked from a small pallet of available researchers back when I was still on Battleship Hood. All additional information and details regarding the crew and supplies will be attached to this report.
4) [color=#CC6600]PROCESS (S1)
Accompanied by Mr Flanders we made our way to Ames on which we landed and made a plan how we will proceed with this survey. After about a few minutes the whole team was assembled and we boarded the ship with all the equipment we required. Our plan was to use the already existing grid which pilots use to assist them in plotting their course and make zones whose volume and mass we would record while Mr Flanders was to stay on the perimeter of the cloud and see to it that we are not disturbed. Before we entered the cloud we each took a pill to help us ward off the "Pressure Sickness" and started to pump oxygen from the cargo hold. Once we entered the cloud scanners went crazy, but thanks to our onboard technician we were able to get them working again on very short distance, just enough to accurately determine the volumes of each zone. The oxygen shield helped our energy shield a lot, but often explosions caused a huge build up of pressure. Emergency compression systems went on to equalize the pressure inside with that outside. We knew we had to work fast if we were to complete this survey, so we carefully navigated through the asteroids and took a few readings for mass, volume, radiation and anomalies. After we mapped a few zones both the pilot and the navigation officer whispered to me that we began to take damage to the hull. Thankfully, the team from Ames was too busy working to notice the ship making odd sounds as it was being damaged, so we continued to monitor the activities outside. With time, I felt the pressure of outside explosions in my head, but I didn't want to abort the survey until it was absolutely necessary. When we finally finished the survey of all eight zones in the inner part of the cloud, the auto pilot took us right back to Ames.
5) [color=#CC6600]RESULTS (S1)
A) [color=#CC6600]Volume of space
The volume is standardized as all zones have the same amount of space. That volume would be 1225 cubic kilometers as width is 17,5 kilometers and height is 4 kilometers.
B) Volume of solids
The volume of solids, in our case asteroids, was calculated by comparing the known volume of „Uruz's“ containers with the unknown volume of asteroids. Most of the asteroids were as large as a single container which can hold around 233 liters (we came up with this number as we already knew that „Uruz“ can transport 4200 liters when having 18 containers).
We have found that the most suitable zone for construction, regarding the volume of solids, would be Z6 while Z1 and Z7 are to be avoided. All other zones are acceptable, but we would discourage building in Z4 and Z5 as they are on the opposite side of Ames research station and trade lanes which would in turn make construction that much more difficult.
C) Radiation
The radiation in each zone is small, but we still don't suggest prolonged exposure as it can severely impact the health of any human being. The radiation is increasing further into the cloud, so we'd discourage building in Z2, Z3, Z6 and Z7 due to them being in the center of the cloud. If we are to build an outpost in those areas, we would need to use powerful specially aligned shields.
D) Anomalies and hazards
The only anomaly that was found is in Z7. It appears as a wreckage of a transport ship similar to a model of a large train. It being there shouldn't be a problem during construction or after it.
Except for the radiation, there is also a raging dark matter storm present within the cloud. Dark matter particles will cause great problems as their collision with matter causes explosions of great magnitude. The pressure it causes is so great that if a ship's hull is to be directly exposed, even with top grade armor plating, the transport ship wouldn't be able to survive for more then a few minutes.
6) CONCLUSION (S1)
The Kuryo cloud has a few suitable zones in which an outpost can be built due to having a number of mass clusters. The dark matter storm provides sort of a curtain which scrambles the scanners and greatly reduces visibility hiding everything with in cloud from unwanted attention.
However, the storm also creates a lethal hazard. The radiation levels in inner parts of the cloud are alarming, not to mention the explosions it can create.
[color=#33CC00]The following zone is most suitable: Z6 The following zones are suitable: Z2, Z3, Z8 The following zones are unsuitable: Z1, Z4, Z5, Z7
Zone 1: unsuitable due to lack of mass, moderate radiation level
Zone 2: suitable; moderate amount of mass, but has an increased radiation level
Zone 3: suitable; moderate amount of mass, but has an increased radiation level
Zone 4: unsuitable; moderate amount of mass and radiation level, but being on the opposite side from trade lanes
Zone 5: unsuitable; moderate amount of mass and radiation level, but being on the opposite side from trade lanes and having an increased radiation level
Zone 6: most suitable due to having ample amount of mass, but has an increased radiation level
Zone 7: unsuitable due to lack of mass, moderate radiation level
Zone 8: suitable; moderate amount of mass, moderate radiation level
If we were to build a base where the amount of mass is moderate, the cost of tractoring and merging asteroids would be very high as well as upkeep once the base is constructed, not to mention the risk of having thin layers that couldn't protect base's inhabitants and visitors from the cruel storm outside.
On the other hand, if we were to build a base where radiation level is high, we will have to seek an organization who already uses technology which shields against it. I've found a few files that describe just the organization we might need named "The Order", hopefully they might help us in aligning our shields and sharing the technology needed to survive in such hostile conditions.
Also, in order to clear the persistent threat of dark matter particles destroying the base, I suggest using the same method we did to defend our ship, that is, use oxygen (or any other gas) to clear the zone in which we would build a base. By my calculations for a single zone to be cleared, we'd need to release at least 500 cubic kilometers of oxygen which would be roughly 100000 high pressure container units. Our ship only released 50 units, as you will see in the attachment.
At the end, I'd also like to add that building a base on the opposite side of the cloud from where the trade lanes are would be dangerous for all vessels as they would have to either go around the cloud which would discourage pilots from visiting the base while going through the cloud would mean greater exposure to radiation and possible dark matter explosion.
Attention! This report is the property of Mara Arin and cannot be copied, edited or used in any other way unless given a written permission.
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