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Crowley · 02-13-2023, 06:30 AM,

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

[Image: 3c423aae5c4cbe298b6edeb139406301smol.jpg]

From: "Unable to Identify Location" - Dr. Sailas Montgomery

Subject: Classified Grant Fulfillment: C-217-A

Encryption Strength: Clearance Level Green 7 Required

This mission is only for those with Clearance Green 7.

Clearance Level Verified!

If you have any further questions related to this classified fufillment request, please see me in person or via an encryption comm.

--Dr. Sailas Montgomery
Director and Lead Researcher, SLRC

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"HERE TO STAY"
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Proselyte · (This post was last modified: 02-14-2023, 04:26 AM by Proselyte.)

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

From: "Ikarus Station" - Dr. Aspen Harlow

Subject: Life from the Machine

Encryption Strength: Impossible

Gents, as I'm sure you're aware now after that foreign burst transmission, I might've made us a new friend!

Well, "friend" is probably jumping the gun with an alien artificial intelligence, but I made a productive peaceful contact with one of the AI drones from Gammu, which is an unbelievable milestone for me in this career. Just remembering the experience is giving me chills! I'll try to contain my excitement from here on, but I can't overstate how relieved I am to experience a positive interaction with something of alien origin. I'd thought they were just naturally as hostile as we humans are to each other, and thank God that's not categorically the case.

I was running a stint as acting captain on the Commutator, looking to earn commissions from transporting materials so I can afford the Jintsuriki radar suite upgrade for the Attlerock. Security officer Schwarz and I linked up over Pygar, and while carrying iridium through Omega-48, that's when we encountered it. Intriguingly, some Auxo pilots were following it as well and observed the whole length of our encounter - my intuition says they were testing us. Based on what they told me, they were likely there to guarantee the AI's safety against a hostile reaction, but I can't be certain.

I've included the full record of the encounter here. I think I'll see if I can contact an Auxo representative regarding advice on a simple, friendly return transmission to the alien intelligence. Maybe information on the relative position of the Tau-23 star? If I'm deciphering it's transmission correctly, it might think we're local to Omega-48. Correcting that misconception should be harmless.

Incidentally, do you think it's safe to use a chunk of Ice-61 as an office decoration? Just checking.

--Dr. Aspen Harlow
Exploration, SLRC

Attachments-(2)

Flight Log Recording

Image Capture(s)

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Crowley · 02-15-2023, 12:32 AM,

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

From: "SLRC-DSX>Horizon" - Dr. Sailas Montgomery

Subject: Zoner Defense Fleet Merger & Inverness Instability

Encryption Strength: Impossible

I'm pleased to announce that the Zoner Defense Fleet, and their operational tempo, has now been completely rolled under the SLRC umbrella. Commander Elias Wilder has retired his commission from the force and any assets that the Fleet possesses will be retagged and reconfigured for our uses. I'd like to thank Commander Elias Wilder for his tireless tenure as the Zoner Defense Fleet commander in the recent months and wish him the best of luck in his retirement to Planet Eerie in Pennsylvania.

Secondly, I want to touch upon the elephant in the room: Freeport 14 and Inverness. Under no circumstances are any SLRC ships to enter Inverness during this rampant warmongering in the system. We are not to aid any faction on either side with military action of any kind. This is including any request from a fellow Zoner group or organization. If I find that anyone has been aiding either side in this conflict I'll personally see you removed from the Consortium and blacklisted from the scientific community as a whole. Military conflicts are not beneficial to anyone. If medical aid is requested from any of these groups, refer them to Med Force Enterprises and Doctor John Holliday. We are not equipped for medical aid.

Lastly, if any Zoners are attempting to flee Inverness for safety, aid them as you can but do not go into the system or get involved in a conflict with any forces chasing the individuals. If our ships come under attack from anyone involved in this conflict outside of Inverness, our security teams will handle the situation. I expect anyone going out on long distance research missions or any ships passing near Inverness, take a security detachment with you to ensure the safety of your crews. While I don't expect Crayter or Bretonia to attack our vessels, conflicts of this nature tend to stir up the local riff-raff and independent pirates looking for a quick buck.

As always, I'm proud of the work each of us are doing every day to try to make Sirius a better place in this warmongering environment that we seem to find ourselves in as of late. Report here if there are any reports involving our people as a result of the ongoing instability within the Inverness system.

--Dr. Sailas Montgomery
Director and Lead Researcher, SLRC

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Proselyte · 02-18-2023, 10:24 PM,

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

From: "SLRC-XPS>Attlerock" - Dr. Aspen Harlow

Subject: A Little Place Called Home

Encryption Strength: Impossible

Howdy friends. On my way back to Ikarus from a short trip into Pennsylvania to visit Allentown on Erie, though I had to travel on the downlow. You just know Liberty wouldn't be able to resist hassling me over my gear...

Speaking of gear, that was half the reason I went. Harrisburg in orbit was able to import some of those Kishiro Jintsuriki scanners, and I've been meaning to get my hands on an upgrade after my radar got scrambled in O-55. While I was there, dropping more cash on that than I've ever had before in my life, I picked up a few new tools.

If what I heard from the person ID'd as "Revenant" (ominous name) from Auxo is correct, not all the AI drones we might encounter can be reasoned with, so I picked up a single one of those fancy Helios beam emitters for deterrence. I'm still not comfortable with the thought of using it to actually fight, but... it does at least serve an additional purpose as a cutting tool. I've come across a lot of wrecks in a really short time, and having a way to "make my own door" if I need to EVA into one could be handy. The other new attachment is just a simple mining array, useful for taking small material samples aboard for analysis.

As for visiting the planetary capital itself, well, I've got some family who're members of one of the Civil Defense detachments planetside: the 3rd New Vernon Regiment run by my uncle. I met up with my cousin Jerron in Allentown, and we talked about Bretonia going haywire and the other stuff I'd seen. He said if somethin' insane happens and any Zoners need to relocate, his dad's in frequent contact with other militia and community leaders all across the world, and he's willing to help 'em out. Just a nice visit otherwise, but could be a useful bit of info to keep in our back pocket.

I've been a bit busy lately with some, uh, personal projects, but once I get back I'm going to start laying plans for another tour. Either getting some intelligence on the potential Nomad threat in nearby Orkney, or looking into some nooks and crannies in-between House space. Will keep you posted.

--Dr. Aspen Harlow
Exploration, SLRC

Attachments-(1)

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Crowley · 02-20-2023, 07:49 AM,

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

From: "SLRC-SEC>Circulation" - Dr. Sailas Montgomery

Subject: Discovery

Encryption Strength: Impossible

During a routine visit to Pennsylvania for a pick up of Helium for our instruments in Tau-23, one of the vendors there stopped me. He asked if we were in anyway related to IRG and if so, if I'd be interested in some old materials he had on hand. I explained to him that we were an independent organization from the IRG but we had some folks working with us that were once apart of IRG.

He brought me to a room with 10, that's right 10, flawless Ingenuus Cores. He was asking 50 million credits a piece for these rare items. After I validated the authenticity of the items...I dipped into what was left of my grant money during my tenure in Cambridge and purchased them. The downside is I'm now completely broke...the upside is the Ingenuus Cores are now safely in a restricted area onboard Ikarus Station for further research and development.

Dr. Wright, come see me at your earliest convenience. I'll be in my office.

--Dr. Sailas Montgomery
Director and Lead Researcher, SLRC

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"HERE TO STAY"
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Proselyte · (This post was last modified: 02-20-2023, 10:50 PM by Proselyte.)

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

From: "Ikarus Station" - Dr. Aspen Harlow

Subject: The Bigger Fish

Encryption Strength: Director's Eyes Only

For the sole viewing of Doctor Sailas Montgomery.

I hoped sleeping on this would make it easier to write, but I just ended up staring at the paneling on the ceiling all night. I'm still putting it all together.

I was witness to some real damn suspicious happenings yesterday, while picking up batteries for our scanners from the Ames stockpiles. I'll warn you, about seventy percent of it is just bad faith conversation between some folks who are carrying a lot of hurt, and I'm guessing no shortage of lies too. I... wish I could have said somethin' to help them, but without some kind of establishment with 'em beforehand, best I could do was watch and listen if I didn't want to be another idiot in the peanut gallery. And I did. Closely. What I heard sounds like bad news. Here's the summary:

During our sortie in Orkney, Revenant gave me the line that the anomalies in the Kepler system are "contaminated", that the dark matter storm is host to some kind of unconscious, murderous life form, and that they're attracted to and agitated by hyperspatial phenomena (later making additional reference to them being attracted to "minds" as well, if she was talkin' about the same thing). Mentioned jump gate destruction being related to dark matter storms earlier in the flight, too. If that's all true, that's dangerous enough - I'm damn glad we don't have any hyperspace research facilities out Kep way. Then I went to Kep, and in the midst of a little pilot party in the Ames NFZ, she said that examining their properties would be of interest to me, considering how close we are to a strange one here in 23. Yeah, she directly related the one here with the ones there. Feeling freaked out yet? Because I am.

Not only that, but she, among others present, seemed convinced we were staring down some kind of extinction-level event related to these things. Out of everything they told me, they advised not to go poking at some "gate" (which, despite some deflections shot my way, I'm sure is in Kepler) and to steer clear of the anomalies in-system. Well, Caliban, the other star-crossed sufferer in this duo, went right ahead and dived into one not long after, spoolin' a hyperdrive I think. Possibly the rift in question. Revenant and her buddy Points went in after him, trying to save his bacon. I thought they were as good as dead at first, but pouring over the logs, I think they've... done it before? It took them someplace, someplace they came back from.

Your guess is as good as mine on what the hell is going on, but I'm pretty sure what I overheard is critical as it relates to the security of Ames. Damn, even Ikarus here, what with our little landmark outside.

You can draw your own conclusions about the feuding between Caliban and Revenant, if you want. Revenant has been really forthcoming with information in my experience, but after this, Iistenin' to her here... I dunno, I've got this sense, something's up there. "Trust but verify", is all I'm saying. If she ever turns up again, that is. Hard for me to take that bet.

--Dr. Aspen Harlow
Exploration, SLRC

Attachments-(2)

Orkney Outing Excerpt

Kepler Excerpt

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Crowley · 02-22-2023, 02:22 AM,

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

From: "Ikarus Station" - Dr. Sailas Montgomery

Subject: Project Ameliorative

Encryption Strength: Impossible

During discussions with Auxo, they have mentioned many times in passing that current hyperspace jump drive travel destroys space and can cause dangerous Baxter anomalies to spring up in the vicinity that travel using these devices is often times used in. Additionally, there is the theory that hyperspace travel to areas with Dark Matter some how excites the dark matter and it's photons causing the Dark Matter storms that we've seen across systems such as Alberta and Kepler.

Bearing that in mind, we are looking into an alternative form of hyperspace travel that is safer and less damaging to space and subspace. Titled "Project Ameliorative", we will begin doing research into this project using the DSX>Starlight, a recent acquisition from the ZDF fleet. The Starlight (named for our group) is a Conference Zoner Gunboat which will be modified to house this experimental drive once developed. At present, we have 10 inert IRG Cores that we can experiment with. Along with Dr. Wright (who was there when they were developed), we may be able to come up with a thesis and/or theorem based around this new experimental drive and the IRG Cores.

I'll be at Ikarus Station this evening to discuss with others the best plan of action for the development of an undertaking such as this. Feel free to stop by and discuss.

--Dr. Sailas Montgomery
Director and Lead Researcher, SLRC

Attachments-(1)

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Stoner_Steve · 02-24-2023, 05:04 AM,

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

From: The Auora Borealis - Dr. Brandon Wright

Subject: Guests at 14

Encryption Strength: Impossible

Director,

I know the situation at 14 has been, exciting, as of late; and its your lucky day, I'll be adding to that excitement. Sean has informed me while on patrol he came across a Pilgrim Liner, filled to the brim with scientific research and Nomad remains, and not just a few either. I've attached a scan provided by Sean as well as the black box tapes.

I think we may need to tell our friends at Valravn about this one. The remains I can somewhat ignore we're well aware of the inactive hive. The power cell, really shouldn't be in the possession of those sorts of people. Especially if they're going to be getting smashhammer drunk at our bar.

--Dr. Brandon Wright
Research and Development, SLRC

Attachments-(2)

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Stoner_Steve · (This post was last modified: 02-26-2023, 12:05 AM by Stoner_Steve.)

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

From: The Aurora Borealis - Dr. Brandon Wright

Subject: Grant Fulfillments: A-109-3 & A-115-H

Encryption Strength: Impossible

Good Morning Campers,

We have two unfullfilled grants which are listed below. Let me know if there are any questions.

Our first project, A-109-3, is a pretty simple turn and burn. Starting at Barrier Gate Station C, you'll need to pick up a research expedition (//Commodity: Survey Team). They are bound for Planet Mindanao, Tau 44. Yes the radioactive one. I would make sure to check out a hazmat suit from Jimmy down in acquisitions. Once you arrive in orbit you'll need to deploy them (//eject the commodity and screen shot). The expedition has their own landing craft and will make their way to the surface from there. Report in on this frequency and payment of 5 units of scientific data will be credited to your account.

Our second project, A-115-H. Is slightly more complex. Starting at Freeport 5, you'll need to pick up a modified survey device (//Commodity: Reconnaissance Module). After pick up proceed to the Alegranza Cloud, Omega 48. Once there proceed to grid A/B 7. We've received reports of an unknown type of asteroid in this vicinity, should you come across any in the area use the survey device to pull a reading for our records. Report in on this frequency and a payment of 5 units of scientific data will be credited to your account.

--Dr. Brandon Wright
Research and Development, SLRC

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Arant · 02-26-2023, 10:46 PM,

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

From: Ikarus Station - Dr. Lillian Genda

Subject: Eventful Times

Encryption Strength: Heavy

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Hello, this is the first time I've shown my face since applying to join the SLRC some odd few days ago. I have several things to address but first I must thank the Director for indulging in a stipend of which I've used since to purchase and renovate an old Corvos-class Explorer. As for my future collegues in the days to come I also apologize for my tardiness and absence in the social circle as myself and the crew have all been busy making sure that the ship we've purchased (second-hand, used, falling apart) does not immediately fail upon start-up the next time it leaves port.

Though despite it all and our best efforts it would appear hard work can /not/ defeat laziness and opulence were it not for the timely assistance of another of our companions in the SLRC we would have found ourselves stranded in the open dead in the water. Introductions aside, it is time for my first official report.

Upon my return trip from Omicron Theta to pick up remaining crew, equipment, and supplies before introducing my former work place to the black emptiness of space that my attention was brought to a developing situation. From what I can understand it would appear one of the so-called 'Baxter' Anomalies had somehow stabilized and formed into a semi-stable, one-way wormhole. We tracked them as far as Kepler until the survey probe we sent through lost visual signal but we managed to maintain some feasible connection by staying in close proximity of the anomaly itself. I'm sure when they return from Liberty space Points and Aspen can tell us more but parsing through the white noise has me concerned now.

Looking through past logs already submitted I do believe the best thing we can do is maintain control over our local airspace by clearing away any anomalies that get too close to the station itself. I have no idea why Tau-23 seems to have such an abundance but we managed to "close" the breach by assaulting it with a low-brow mix of tachyon, radion, and gamma radiation. I wouldn't recommend direct approach with any craft larger then a small freighter lest you risk getting pulled into an endless void of infinite darkspace. They were lucky this time but I'm not sure about the next .. one might not come back out the same if at all.

-- Dr. Lillian Genda
Research and Exploration, SLRC

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