Natio Octavarium Internal Affairs

[Kazinsal]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Taskmaster Harold Kane
Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet

To: Escher
Visibility: NONE

Subject: What the f*ck
Encryption: Your terminal is smoking.
Location: OCS Repentance, Tau-44

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We have a BIGGER problem.

After the OIC returned to base to report on what they had seen while scouting the structure seen earlier, we engaged the unknown ship with, uh...

You know what? This encryption isn't high enough.

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[ Encryption Increased: Point to Point, 64-Kiloqubit ]

Okay, no one other than you will be able to see this. The Repentance and Pure Imagination, supported by ADSV Dubbo, temporarily allied with la Marine Royale Gauloise, engaged and destroyed one unknown hostile contact and several unknown hostile drones. We could not identify the ships or technology the unknown contacts were using but I believe it to be related to the rise in Omicron-related cultist activity in the past months.

We split the received goods with the Gauls in order to expedite our safe retreat before a joint Crayter-Council force was set to arrive. Attached to this message are the tagged and catalogued components we retrieved from the wreckage and transferred to the Twilight Zone. I apologize for not retrieving more of it. We were... not planning on having a genuinely neutral conversation with the Gauls before leaving.

Heavily encrypted attachment found: Image

Heavily encrypted attachment found: Image

Heavily encrypted attachment found: Image

Heavily encrypted attachment found: Image

That is of course in addition to the two drone remains and five units of data from the Premonition.

I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight.

Harold

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Thexare]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Taskmaster Escher
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Harold Kane

Subject: Analysis
Encryption: Knowledge of the clearance level is above your clearance
Location: Around a few corners.

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Worrying.

Temporary alliance with Gallia was necessary. That they left peacefully afterward doesn't fit what I know of them, but it's appreciated nonetheless.

These appear to be some sort of nanite bioweapon. That sounds useful, until it ends up in someone else's hands. We need to see if we can find an antidote. I'm going to investigate a few leads, I'll be in touch.

Taskmaster Escher
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Scarfoxxx]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Sydney Harper
Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet

To: Taskmaster Harold Kane

Subject: System Security
Encryption: Yessir
Location: Melbourne Station, Tau-44

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G'day fellas.

With all the commotion that's been going on I went ahead and did a full sweep of the system, using a (mostly) clean nav-map to verify the integrity of our new home. For the most part, the patrol was uneventful. The Sumatra cloud and Makassar asteroid field were both about as horrible to fly through as usual, but nothing out of the ordinary. I picked up some weird signals in the ice fields though, notably these two lacking any callsigns, as well as a certain battlecruiser that I didn't fancy getting too close to. The two signals without callsigns turned out to just be some derelict Crayter ships, and after double checking they'd been there longer than we have I moved on to finish my patrol. Having scoured the whole thing up and down, I can pretty safely say that if anything's out there I'd know about it. And aside from what we already know is out there, there ain't much. Still, I'll go ahead and throw together a gallery of my ships logs at the bottom of this transmission for your viewing pleasure.
I'll be keeping an eye out periodically for anything out of the ordinary. I'll holler if I find something.

Attachment Found: Gallery

Syd

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Kazinsal]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Taskmaster Harold Kane
Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet

To: Fourth Octavarium Fleet, Octavarium Intelligence Commission
Visibility: Fleet and OIC Only

Subject: Crayter Technology Acquisition
Encryption: Thorough
Location: OCS Repentance, Coronado

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Attention, all Fleet and Intelligence assets.

This is a reminder to not acquire any Crayter Republic technology without express permission from either of Taskmasters Kane or Escher. We do not want to rock the boat any more than we already have with our diplomatic standings. This standing order is in effect until further notice. Updates will likely come in the following weeks.

Taskmaster Harold Kane
Taskmaster Escher

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Scarfoxxx]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Agent Thaumatrope
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Taskmaster Escher; Taskmaster Harold Kane

Subject: Unknown Installation
Encryption: ERROR: Encryption level is encrypted.
Location: NO-I-Pure.Imagination, SYSTEM LOCATION REDACTED

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Kane, Escher

I've gone ahead and analyzed the installation. I still have no idea who built it or why, but I've got some data to help us sort out just what the hell this thing is.



Initial scans indicate high frequency electronics and traces of an unidentified toxin, presumably related to the scraps acquired from the drones we shot down earlier.



Upon closer inspection, the intricate lattice appears to be support for an advanced armor alloy; much more advanced than anything I've ever dealt with. These structural supports would appear to be weak points in the installation, however thanks to this plating they instead offer an additional layer of defense to the inner section.



At the top of the installation is some form of observational platform, however without access to the inside of the facility it's unclear whether this is some form of command bridge or simply decorative. Regardless of it's purpose, the glass appears to be extremely durable.



Just below the glassy top section is four docking bays, which interestingly enough we do have docking permission for. However, the rest of the installation is either inaccessible or desolate. It may be prudent to assemble a ground team and some thermal breeches in order to further our understanding of this things inner workings.



These tempered viewports have some form of filtration against external viewing, scans come out unclear at best and attempts to look inside directly are moot. Not exactly the first time we've seen tech like this, but noteworthy nonetheless.



High levels of radiation are emitted from the bottom of the installation; either this is the powercore, or they're storing some ungodly things down here.



You may have noticed from earlier documentation the hardpoints around the installation. In total, there appear to be at least 26 mounting points for weapons. Interestingly there are no weapons on board, it appears to rely on defense from the drones we encountered earlier and its advanced armor.

We still don't know what exactly it is. But with some boots inside we can potentially uncover technology to get ourselves re-established. Properly re-established.
The sooner we get in the better.

Agent Thaumatrope
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Kazinsal]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Taskmaster Harold Kane
Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet

To: Natio Octavarium

Subject: Melbourne
Encryption: Mediocre.
Location: Melbourne Station, Tau-44

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All,

I am pleased to announce that Melbourne Station's upgrade and expansion project has been completed. Thanks to the ever-helpful hands of the Temporary Autonomous Zoners, we have expanded the starbase's operational capacity and durability significantly. Habitation modules are being furnished and will be ready for move-in shortly.

We have a home again.

Harold

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[ Secondary Transmission ]

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To: Escher
Visibility: NONE

Subject: Pillar
Encryption: Your terminal is smoking.

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E,

Now that Melbourne is properly usable, The Pillar is going to become a necessity. We can fit a couple thousand on board Melbourne but not the whole nation. Consider the reconstruction project completely signed over to the Commission as a priority. Engage other entities for it as needed.

Harold

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Thexare]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Shiranui
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Internal Affairs

Subject: Operations
Encryption: Drightly slunk
Location: I appear to have stumbled into a biodome.

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Now that I have my own ship again, (Deal with it. /\) I took a patrol and investigation run around the immediate neighborhood. Mostly Tau-23.


Instead of just blowing it up like I expected, Gallia chose to repurpose the existing outpost. Surprising restraint, really.


A closer look tells me that, the GMS don't seem inclined to jump in to a fight. Now, our history has shown me that when the Navy is shooting us, Ageira jumps right in with them. I don't know if Gallia is less unified in their crusade than we were led to believe, or if the civilians are too afraid to act. There may be room to maneuver here.


Yhey've clearly got plans for serious development in the region. Malta likely already knows, given the strategic value of Tau-23 to their smugglers.


Seriously, that's just painfully gaudy. It's impressive that they got the gates assembled so quick, though, given how unbelievably slow Ageira has been. I wonder if Gallic corporations are salaried instead of hourly.

I encountered two trade vessels at Freeport 6, [ExG]Okinami.Maru and [ExG]Hayate.Maru. I expressed curiosity about their group, but they were in a hurry - likely due to imminent stellar turbulence - and didn't elaborate. Their cargo was legal, a strange mix of berylium and furs, and they appeared to be a new trade organization. I couldn't force the matter, best not to provoke the Freeport 6 defenses, but we should try to get more information. Might be useful.

Now, Freeport 6 finally managed to get some decent sake for a change, so I'm going to be parked here for a bit. Call if I'm needed.

Shiranui
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Thexare]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Specialist Ken Matsuda
Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet Logistics

To: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

Subject: (no data)
Encryption: Illegal in all jurisdictions
Location: Error: Access violation at 0x4f6d6567612d3534. Contact system administrator for assistance.

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We've arrived at the den. Component construction will run concurrently with structural modifications, followed by installation. The entire procedure should be relatively quick, given the Vidar's similarities to the Hel.

It's unfortunate that Aquila's first project couldn't be more public, but the crew is in high spirits nonetheless. Being trusted with this work by the Hessians' best quite clearly says something.

Does anyone here have any Ageira contacts? We need to have a talk about how their lane system utterly fails to handle some ships. I'm amazed Orbital hasn't filed a lawsuit.

Ken Matsuda
Natio Octavarium

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Kazinsal]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Taskmaster Harold Kane
Affiliation: Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet

To: Taskmaster Escher
CC: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

Subject: Agent status
Encryption: Sacré bleu!
Location: Melbourne Station, Tau-44

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Escher,

I have an inquiry into the status of one of your agents. One you probably don't want to hear about, frankly, but that's never stopped me before.

Where is Proteus, and if the answer as I fear is "in a box somewhere", who do we have inside Gallia that can get me some information on a certain someone named... god, this is a mouthful... Amiral Isabelle Montlaville de Chanteloup de la Marine Royale Gauloise?

A logistical asset of ours in Liberty has forwarded me something containing a few names and claims that have made me very, very curious. Usually I would forward it to the Commission but I feel that it is more of a Relations concern due to the potential blunt force impact on our civilians in the Taus.

Taskmaster Harold Kane
Natio Octavarium, Fourth Fleet

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[ Transmission Ended ]

[Thexare]

[ Incoming Transmission ]

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Identification: Taskmaster Escher
Affiliation: Octavarium Intelligence Commission

To: Harold Kane

Subject: Proteus
Encryption: Achieving new heights in ludicrosity
Location: OCS Save Yourself

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Sustained target prioritization problems resulted, essentially, in the detonation of Proteus's emergency EMP device.

Ultimately I believe the Raiders' old AI program to have been an interesting curiosity, but not reliable enough for proper field use.

The entry level of the Pillar has been charted and a full sweep was done. However, the Mellori drones aren't capable of reactivating power. We'll need something else to reactivate power. I've sourced some robots and refitted them with drone control systems, and we will resume exploration shortly.

Taskmaster Escher
Octavarium Intelligence Commission

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[ Transmission Ended ]