Cambridge Stellar Research, Surveillance Mission #3, Goddess Geode, Baffin

[Tenseiken]

[color=#009900] *data upload initiated*
*~~~~~~~~*
*data upload complete*

After the remaining members of the CSR returned to Cambridge they regrouped for their next mission. The vessels Apodyopsis and Zenon.Romano, both new to the scientific group, joined and prepared their vessels for the long travel through Bretonia and the Taus to the Goddess Geode in the Baffin system. Captain Carter came there to guide them to their destination.

CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Greetings!
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: And you are just in time, captain.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Greetings!
CSR|Xaror: *initiating jump sequence*
CSR|Xaror: *jump sequence complete*
CSR|Xaror: *preparing for cut in 3,2,1*
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: You come well-equiped..
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: So, Baffin. Am I the only one who is going to be there for the first time?
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Nah... It will be my first time aswell.
CSR|Xaror: *system "Baffin"*
CSR|Xaror: *amount of data collected: 206 terraquad*
TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Well, I hope you find it pleasant and informative.
CSR|RV-Equinox: They say, It's wonderful.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: And I'd say that it could be better. Though, this ship contains that new lab that cost me all my nerves.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: I've spent most of my life in the omicrons and omegas so in all fairness most of this space is new to me.
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Well, we're not pretentious, and we have few rules.
CSR|Xaror: *initiating jump sequence*
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Of course everywhere has rules, senor.
CSR|Xaror: "Convoy incomplete. Missing vessel: CSR|RV-Equinox"
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: We seem to have lost Khan, yes.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Well, Equinox doesn't look much promising as a ship - not to offend Khan, of course.
CSR|RV-Equinox: This piece of scrap is very big. And we have sometimes problems with the docking sequences of the tradelanes.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: I noticed. And very scrappy.
CSR|RV-Equinox: But it's been a good ship for years! Although soon we have to replace her.
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: *The Xaror guy.. sniff.. brain the size of a planet. Hubba hubba!*
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: You'll have to excuse Gay.. she doesn't meet many AI's her equal..
CSR|Zenon.Romano: I was under the impression AI don't have brains but routines senor
CSR|Xaror: *convoy complete*
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Gay's emulators are rather... advanced, yes.
CSR|Xaror: *contacts detected*
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Ah... That explains it.
CSR|Xaror: *scanner clear*
CSR|Xaror: *initiating ion drive*
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Oh, well, I never found an AI a good companion. I prefer them to shut up around me. Though, that's just because I never met my only special AI.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: AI make reasonable companions but i prefer either solitude or other humans
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Gah! Beat feet!
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Hey, I'll beat more than your feet, you hear me?!
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: It's an old terran expression.. no offense meant Professor.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: And I thought my former brethren were violent.. ah well.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Well, linguistic never were my... let's say, effective side. I apologise.
CSR|Xaror: *convoy incomplete*
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: But beating feet doesn't look as something pleasant on the recieving side.
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Aye. Friendly fire around here can be deadly..
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: It simply means "Run!"
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Eh on crete we'd just yell run. A lot quicker...
CSR|Xaror: *convoy complete*
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Almost there.. Should be a bit quieter the rest of the way.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: But then again language is quite simplistic on crete.. It's why I've spent most of my time on geology.
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Well sir, I hope our small floating hollow ball is of interest to you.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Crete? You never told me that you're from there, to be honest. Oh, well, can't say that I was around Cambridge Cellar for long.
CSR|Xaror: *hostile detected*
CSR|Xaror: *imminent danger*
CSR|Zenon.Romano: I'm sorry senor I didn't tell in advance because to be honest how many non blood thirsty hispanians have you met?
CSR|Xaror: *convoy incomplete*
CSR|Xaror: *missing vessel CSR|RV-Equinox*
CSR|Zenon.Romano: The Equionox is missing again eh?
CSR|Xaror: *standing by*
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Oh, sorry.. was getting a bit nervous. We'll wait at Freeport 6, eh?
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: So, you got those Matlese quite "cooperating", right? Quite unusual to see that.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: It's not uncommon to feel nervous among those cardamine junkies senor.
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Baffin occupies a delicate position, Professor. We have to make do with the neighbors we're dealt, eh?
CSR|Xaror: *vessel CSR|RV-Equinox detected*
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Oh, well, I promised not to talk 'bout politics.
CSR|Xaror: *initiating TL sequence*
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: You will see ships of all stripes in Baffin. We keep the area free of fire as much as possible.
CSR|Xaror: *convoy complete*
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Exit the next lane two rings ahead, please.
CSR|Xaror: *initiating gravitational jump sequence*
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Well, that's pretty much good for work.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Also I'm amazed my accent didn't give my origins away earlier.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Not sure that atmosphere on Cambrige is favourable today when half of the students demonstrate for war and half against. And I have to listen to all that.
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Ah yes.. politics.. the bane of humanity.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Eh politics are quite easy where i come from..

The convoy finally reached the system.

[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Welcome to Baffin. I'll point out the salient features... Mal can give you the full tour when you're settled in.
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: In that direction, Planet Eris. In that direction... The twin moons of Hodge and Podge. Tidally locked. Ahead, the Geode itself. You'll find access to be quite easy... A "skyhook" descends from the Station directly to the interior. One other thing, until Mal can authorize clearance, our Temple is restricted access.. You may get a visual.. high above us. There. Pueblo Bonito.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Xaror, please make the scans, we will try to contact Mal.
CSR|Xaror: *initiating orbital scan*
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: So, here we are. Looks impressive, even facinating.
CSR|Xaror: *orbital scan complete*
CSR|Xaror: *powering up personality core*
CSR|Xaror: *~~~*
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Well, you are welcome to dock. Will you be requiring any facilities on Shasta?
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Khan, orbital scans won't bring us much anyway. I can find everything from theim in neural net in a minute.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Sure, but I prefer the information, what we gathered.
CSR|Xaror: *powerup complete*
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Going wider will be interesting.
CSR|Xaror: "Greetings Sirs. It seems we arrived at the destination."
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: *Oooooh... he has manners too! I like this one!*
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Gay, stand down, you lascivious wench... Make yourselves comfortable. I need to deliver these meds, and I'll notify the Episkopos.
CSR|Xaror: "The orbital scans detected a massive amount of biomass in the centre of the planet"
CSR|Xaror: "Origin unknown"
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Ah, those would be Mal's pet Scrubbies.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Scrubbies senor?
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Scrubbies. Pet Scrubbies.
[TAZ]Gay.Deceiver: Mal gave them the name because they "scrub" harmful and toxic materials from environments.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Anyway, thank you for taking us here. We will have to gather our stuff and also I would like to speak with Mal in person if possible.

The group waited until the [TAZ] vessel Episkopos arrived. Soonly after that a pirate vessel entered the system.

[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Ah, Captain Khan, I believe.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Greetings, you must be Mal.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Indeed I am.. or so Eris tells me.. heh. But please, call me Mal here at home. I prefer baggy shorts to robes.
CSR|Xaror: *non circular athmosphere detected*
CSR|Xaror: *athmosphere growth in the southern areas: 15%*
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Umm.. yes.. the Scrubbies are giving us some atmo in the Geode.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: And you can call me simply Roy.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Very well, Roy. And the others...?
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: I like the way it sounds. I'm Vii then and I share your tendency to baggy shorts.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Name is zenon and ehh I prefer trousers over shorts.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Delighted to meet you all. Hopefully Ambassador Holliday, or Administrator, will join us later.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: So. Could you give us a fast update about the research?
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Umm.. yes. Well, I have a theory that somehow, the Geode can collect and focus cosmic energies.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Well, let's amble towards "the Ranch" while we chat.. we won't get too close.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prim: As I was saying.. the energies collected by the Geode seem to have a positive effect on the primate physiology.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: That is what you have there senor I am Interesting in.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Oh, continue then.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Sorry about this bloody ship's speed. Makes it hard to travel in formation... heh.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Ah... Just look at my ship. She can barely cruise up at all.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prim: I myself have spent considerable time in the Geode. I discovered it by accident.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Christoph.. Private tour.. Be a good lad and come back later, eh?
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: I might consent to officiate at your nuptials.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: ahh.. a shame. Well, the plant at Sedona is mostly automated.
Jake,Christoph: What? Who said I was here to tour? Just checking out Pueblo Bonito.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Sure you are, cabbage.
Jake,Christoph: Question though. Why so much biodomes?
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: I have a little news for you, Christoph. Your name has passed my desk before. Not favorably, I might add.
Jake,Christoph: I'm sorry?
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Continue violating our space, mate, and there will be consequences. Now be a good neighbor and bugger off, eh?
Jake,Christoph: Eh. What have I done wrong?
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Sorry... This jerk has been harrassing our folk in Coronado.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Oh, right. I read all that in a ninety pages long broschure for the visitors. Page seventeen answering all the "Can I fly" questions. It had a pretty simple "Yes, but no" answer.
Jake,Christoph: Scrubbies are kinda far up your behind, aren't they?
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Let's get a bit closer.. then we'll visit the actual farms.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: There's a brochure for baffin eh?
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Christoph. You just insulted the wrong man. You're Enema'd. Permanently.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Uh, probably. At least it looked so.
Jake,Christoph: Riiiight.
Jake,Christoph: Still don't know what you're on to.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Watch for your name in lights, son.
Jake,Christoph: Yeah, watch for the novas inbound, then.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: I am on about you harrassing Zoners in Coronado.
Jake,Christoph: Harrassment? Barely.
CSR|Xaror: *scan complete*
CSR|Xaror: *unknown station structures detected*
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: Taking samples...
Jake,Christoph: Piracy isn't really harassment, you know.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Eh senor cristoph i do believe lawful people see that as such.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Pay this cabbage no mind, folks. I'll deal with his smarmy mouth later.
Jake,Christoph: And STO? If you call them Zoners, I laugh at your pathetic definition of neutrality.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Yes, it's the alternative representation of men love. Right.
CSR|Xaror: *vessel inbound*
Jake,Christoph: Hmhm. No talking now? Then no talking ever, Zoner.
CSR|Zenon.Romano: Which vessel xaror? Didn't he tell you he was currently busy with more important business senor?
CSR|Xaror: *vessel "Jake,Christoph" detected*
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: I was inclined to offer my services for your wedding, Christoph. You can forget that.
Jake,Christoph: So he is.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: I don't think that this is going to be productive. But I can step in with a mere recomendation for a reroute.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: And here are the farms. Here the Scrubbies are collected and taken to Sedona for shipment.

The pirate closed in on the group and engaged the vessel Episkodos with a SNAC.

[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: An attack without warning, Christoph?
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Oh, impressive. Khan, what should we do now?
Jake,Christoph: Had your warning, you threw it away by acting like the boss of humanity.
Jake,Christoph: So up yours, buddy.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Mal, do you need our help? Seems like we can't let our new friend alone. All ships, engage the enemy!
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Well, never tried it before. Let's see what this thing can do.

The vessel Zenon.Romano was destroyed by the pirate but he made a lethal mistake. He released a Nova torpedo while being too close to his target. The explosion caught his vessel and destroyed it.

CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Uh, who did that?
CSR|Xaror: *Target destroyed itself with a nova torpedo*
CSR|Xaror: *initiating search for escape pod of the vessel "Zenon.Romano"*
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: I deeply regret the intrusion, folks. Thank you for the help.
CSR|Xaror: *search complete*
CSR|Xaror: *tractor beam initiated*
CSR|Xaror: *pilot collected*
CSR|Xaror: *Pilot of vessel CS|Zenon.Romano secured*
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: I'm afraid i must conclude the tour for now, and effect repairs.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Please, get settled in, and we can continue when you're refreshed.
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Yes, Mal, that will be a much better idea. Science can wait, so can the cultural curiosity.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: I shall also have to add a certain pilot to our list of banned vessel.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Sorry again, guys. He's a cabbage.
CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Khan: Okay, so let's meet at the station near a beer.
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: You saved my butt. Much appreciated.
CSR|Xaror: *Agressions against any convoy vessels will result in a respond of lethal force*
[TAZ]Episkopos.Prime: Need to go report this, folk. Thanks for comin'. Hope we can have a good run. 23's!
CSR|RV-Apodyopsis: Roy, Mal, Zenon, see you later.
CSR|RV-Equinox: We meet at the station's bar.

The vessels docked to the orbital skyhook above the Goddess Geode.

---

<span style="font-family:Lucida Console"><span style="color:#33CC00">*personality core activated*</span>
Science consists of stating the obvious and linking the facts. </span>