The Secrets of a Ghost

[Aristaan]

Back From the Grave

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With his new found surge of righteousness, and his mind revitalized from neglecting the Omicrons, James spent a large portion of his spare time studying further into energy and particle physics. Deeper and deeper he went down the rabbit hole, testing what he could with what he had. Testing small theories until he could no longer progress. He knew he could not make an impact alone, to which he decided to seek out an old friend.

Raven probably had her own worries, but that would not stop James from getting back in touch. This was the first step. As far as James was concerned, he wanted the Order to believe he was dead for as long as possible, because when they finally discover he isn't, they'll likely come looking for what they claim is theirs. Raven would not be the only friend he would seek out, as Finn McCool was also among those he trusted. If IRG and Auxesia would back his work, he would have almost all of the resources to do any manner of developments. Weaponry was his key focus, as power cells were only a small portion of issues ships would have against the imposing alien threat, and the IRG had a good solution for that issues as it was. If you put enough power behind a big enough conventional weapon, you can go a long way, but if you think a bit more creatively, a new weapon line entirely could be arranged.

James knew Azurite would reveal a new craze of military technology, he just didn't have all the pieces when studying the solid. Now that a gas form is available, much more can be done, to which he is now devoting much of his time studying.

[Aristaan]

A New Visage

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Viktoria had brought it to James' attention many times; she wanted her own body to control so she could have an independent way of life. Even if her normal aspirations were just memories simulated to create a sense of desire, she wanted to seek it out on her own. James had already created several units she could control, but none fit the mold quite right. After all, a face to be recognized was part of what made people human. He had to make it unique. Using her hologram as a template, James began to work on a mechanical masterpiece. Weeks went by, and the two rarely spoke, but after long hours of work, it was finally completed.

Darkness. Then light, and encroaching darkness again. A few more flashes of light revealed a scattered and blurred image, which began to focus to coherence.

"James...?" she said with slight surprise. No longer was her voice heard through comm links, but instead originated from James' closest approximation of human speech. Viktoria laughed, overjoyed with what she could see and hear. She gazed in amazement at her hands moving in close precision to how she could remember. "Took you long enough..." she said begrudgingly, as James stayed quiet, revealing a mirror-cam. A helmet eclipsed what Viktoria believed to be her face, and she looked at James with some disappointment. "I wanted to surprise you a bit," James stated, pressing a small button on his console.

As the button was depressed, Viktoria's vision wavered further, focus was lost for a brief moment as colors became even more vibrant and clear. Mechanical linkage fled from her face revealing a soft, curious complexion.

Viktoria gazed with an unerring stare at what she had become, both overjoyed with pride in her son, and overwhelmed with purpose. She knew that James had put everything he had in creating a body to fit exactly what she wanted. James spoke softly, "You can still do everything you could before, mobile control, everything... But while here, at least you can experience life as we do."

[Aristaan]

[Accessing Terminal...Granted]
[Welcome to Allied Cognitive Technologies Laboratories]
[Accessing File: Project; Wardens of Sirius]
[File Status: Terminated.

---

The role of "Warden" is given to those who defend the progression and evolution of the human race with selflessness, dignity, and honor. Few have been considered "right" for this position in the eyes of Dr. James Erzie, primarily because few people act in true selflessness, and often have ulterior motives. This further progresses the ongoing discord the civilians and innocent suffer around Sirius. The efforts collectively of the Zoners and IRG have earned certain individuals with the possibility for the title, but none have earned it yet. James himself does not feel worthy of it, but instead strives to become what he envisions.

Project Wardens is a goal to create an organization that, when properly used, will allow for the sole purpose of repelling Nomadic influence with as little collateral damage to the public as possible. They operate from the shadows, within the houses, or the Edge Worlds in big and small ways. The Wardens themselves are not an overriding affiliation, but a shared and agreeable goal for people of various backgrounds, granting amnesty for the sole purpose of alien repulsion. That is, in concept.

This project is still in its conception; Dr. James Erzie does not have the equipment or personnel to impact Sirius in the desired fashion. In time that will change.

Phase one: Recruitment

Extreme numbers are necessary to tend to the mission. The chosen few among those with the combat expertise to do so. Dr. James Erzie will soon deploy various recruitment items, and contacting the closest friends he can count on. Among them are the Auxesians, IRG, Zoners, and the Bretonian Government. There are some exceptions, as certain individuals have shown promise, such as freelancers and Junkers.

Phase two: Arsenal Technological Advancement

Whether it's through technology sharing and conversion, or through mutual manufacturing and funding, the base armaments, weapons, and armor for the general populous must be expanded. Several engineering projects must be put into motion, including the civilian use of capital vessels (Civilian as referred to non-military organizations). Not under open conditions, but appointed positions given to personnel specifically and purposefully for the role of "Warden."

Phase three: Training and Deployment

Once all other measures are in place, more active movements can be made to minimize Nomadic expansion, furthering humanitarian progress and expansion. Infested humans should also be considered as a part of this ongoing threat and medical procedures must be developed for the separation of host and incubus.

---

With all measures in full effectiveness, There should be room for a better and more progressive future.

[Aristaan]

New London Jumphole Generation Experimentation Log

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Jumphole was successfully created by Raven's scavenged parts. Directory of the gravitational anomaly was unknown at creation, but resulted in a hyperspace travel port from New London to Omicron Kappa. Upon its creation, numerous nomad bogeys were sighted, with varying class nodes.

It started as any normal engagement, however, as the nomad onslaught continued, the Cultists arrived to deal their worst. Though they did not stay much after they had weakened the strongest nomad in the group, the "Vagrants" lingered, two of which I personally
dispatched.

Auxesia and the others were able to secure the jumphole from all imposed threats, including Order and Core advancements into the system. We will be analyzing the data from experiment further, with grand hopes this may reveal new technology for our manufacturing.

[Aristaan]

Warden Project Concept

Hidden File

[Accessing Terminal...Access Granted]
[Welcome back to Allied Cognitive Technologies]
[Loading File: Dr. Markus Artouras...Done]
[Forwarding to project: Warden of Sirius...Done]
[This file has been edited recently by Dr. James Erzie - Status: Abandoned]

Planned Details

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“WARDEN” DEEP-SPACE RESEARCH BATTLECRUISER

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Introduction
Noticing the need to improve technologies to combat the constantly evolving Nomads, Dr. James Erzie; with the help of Bretonia, DSE, the Ingenuus Research Group, and Zoners; will bring a state of the art strategic research vessel capable of taking down the large Nomads into Sirius. Conceptualized by Dr. Markus Artouras, and previously developed by the Zoners in 812 A.S, the project was never completed due to the death of the Doctor. This vessel takes lessons from many factions, particularly the Order’s usual strategy that faster is better. It’s primary mission will include self-preservation tactics through evasive hyperspace jumping, which could also be used on the offensive. Regardless, it will utilize great operating range and technology to its advantage and display the superiority of the human race as a whole (In theory).

Combat Armaments and Equipment Overview
This research battlecruiser represents humanity’s strength and wit, showing that Sirians would do anything to become superior and evolve. This new strategy will utilize speed, cunning, and guile to discover and create new technology for Sirius.

Combat Equipment
In order to compete with the evolution of the Nomads, the “Warden” utilizes a prototype Ingenuus power cell, which is required to support the strength of the weapons, shielding and jumpdrive on board. Its primary purpose is to act within the growing Nomad threat, and with that in mind, it is only fitting that it is outfitted with a cloak disruptor to overload EM veiling to ensure positioning in not compromised. This equipment may be effective, but emergency use of the Jumpdrive for evasive warping is the ultimate escape device. To incorporate a new protective tactic, Dr. James Erzie plans to develope experimental dispersion sub-shielding, further reinforcing effective armor around glass and sensitive areas. These shields are designed to disperse kinetic impact force, reducing impact velocity and pressure. This is done in efforts to reduce structural damage significantly, rather than completely preventing impact. With this concept in play, the power drain of the sub-shields is far less, allowing them to recover in between impacts. The recovery period nearly eliminates the failure point with traditional veil-type shielding. This however, does not fully replace the need for traditional shielding, but augments it at a cost of power.

Weaponry
The Vessel incorporates two battleship primary turrets on each winglet, and six heavy cruiser armaments: a light mortar on the bottom of the forward fuselage section; three cerberus turrets, one on each winglet, and one in the top of the forward fuselage section; and two cruiser missile launchers at the rear. The “Warden” also utilizes six additional cruiser secondary turrets to force medium scale vessels away, and a single battleship flak turret to act as countermeasures to torpedoes and fighters.

Utility Equipment
The thrusters use unique, using variable nozzle output and direction, allowing for hard strafing and safe atmospheric re-entry. They also allow for output focusing during cruising and combat thrusting, increasing thrust without consuming additional power. Hardlight generators at the aft section of the main fuselage allow for planet-side landing in variable terrain and easy access and deployment of research and survey equipment. The Warden has a large hangar, primarily for land vehicles and research equipment, but can be instead loaded with heavy amounts of fuel and munitions if the mission calls for it. The ship also has a large laboratory workspace, contained in the lower observation deck. This acts as a specimen and sample storage area and a workplace for larger scientific exhibitions. This laboratory is equipped with state of the art equipment, allowing for research to be done at an excellent pace and in real-time. The elimination of a material supplier creates additional time to be spent on research instead.

[Aristaan]

New Beginnings

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So, the IRG has taken me on board, a feeling that resembles glee flows through me. I wish I could believe that I have new purpose, however, this development is merely the facilitation of greater ability. I'll have many opportunities, but I still have my mission. Justice must be done, The Corsairs will pay for their crimes, and the Nomads will as well. But at this time, I have much work to be done. I have the necessary supplies to move forward.

What does fill me with some level of happiness is that I now how a work-space for my small and large experiments, however, I need to transfer my equipment from the "Talandar." Once that is complete, I'll have some teams install some of the research and medical modules aboard the new ship I have been given access to. There's no rush, but the sooner I can go looking for Finn, the sooner I have additional able minds to study with. I want to help all I can, and finding Finn is the first step to bringing to IRG back on its feet. Not to say it currently isn't.

[Aristaan]

[Accessing Terminal...Access Granted]
[Welcome back to Allied Cognitive Technologies]
[Loading Events Labeled "The Big Move"]

---

The events covered in this file are a recent development of James' new chapter of fully equipping a mobile laboratory in the interest of working with the Ingenuus Research Group. He christened his personal labs "Allied Cognitive Technologies" after the work of Markus Artouras, who initially formed the now dead organization. Though the labs do not have a functioning business infrastructure, their name describes their intended purpose.

Allied Cognitive Technologies, or ACT was a directive started in 807 A.S. to educate students, scholars, and scientists alike of the events and risks when dealing with Nomad technologies. Many halls and labs were allocated on the Zoner Colony ship, "The Sanctification," to aid in educating the masses on what the Zoners knew at the time about the Nomads. Though there were many rifts in knowledge, the ship sailed successfully for 10 years fulfilling that purpose, to which many students were gravitated. Upon the destruction of the vessel, the project was never recovered, however, Dr. James Erzie kept the christening for his labs, in the case he was ever able to resurrect the project. Though he never really did, He found it a fit honor to call his labs a part of ACT, for they serve similar purpose.

Construction of the Laboratory
Many of the fine observation and experimentation equipment that Dr. Erzie utilizes were already obtained and used aboard the "Talandar," and with the help of a few moving crews aboard Shasta Orbital Skyhook, the equipment was moved rather quickly. As far as lab work-space, James never had access to such a broad area, and this wasn't even the maximum he could get working with the IRG. For successful lab experimentation, all variables must be controlled. From light emission, power output and input, and mere working space, all of it must at least be measurable to be successful at any level. All of this extra room for activities had to be filled, to which modules could easily be installed and incorporated from Ames Research Station.

This construction process is on-going, and will be for the next few days following this data access. The desired inventory list set by Dr. James available here.

Laboratory Equipment and Personnel

3 Research Modules
2 Reconnaissance Modules
1 Medical and Surveying Module
10 additional trained Crew
5 additional scientists/personnel
2 Ingenuus Power Cells
Additional supply inventory: 100 Nano-tube crates, Helium in various forms, and H-fuel

Construction is due to be done within the next two days, to which Dr. Erzie can start some of his higher intensity experiments.

UPDATE: Lab construction, installation, and transfers complete, Allied Cognitive Technologies is now at the service of Sirius.

Thus begins a new chapter in research, starting with the Lambda Helium Cooling project.

[Aristaan]

[Accessing Terminal...Granted]
[Welcome back to Allied Cognitive Technologies Laboratories]
[Accessing File: Project; Lambda Helium Cooler; Log 1]

---

Test initiated. All systems: Green. Initiating start-up sequences.

Ingenuus power cell at three percent.
Creating power restriction, ten percent. Internal temperature, 950 degrees and stable.
Starting helium compression; helium temperature: 4 Kelvin, internal pressure: 4 kPa. Gravitation disabled.
Reducing helium temperature... 3 Kelvin. 2.5... Lambda point achieved, beginning injection. Temperature fa-... equalized. Internal temperature: -144, coolant run-time: 1.3 seconds.
Heat sink temperature: 128 degrees.

Test complete. Purging system.

Test results conclude that helium used at lambda point creates extreme heat conductivity. Heat transfer is nearly instantaneous, allowing for quick relocation of heat from source to sink. Combustion risk of helium is low in normal operating temperatures, high in extreme heat. Lambda conversion requires an enormous amount of power, to which we have no shortage. Efficiency levels of both power and coolant allow for further tests. Helium remains elemental but gaseous. Static tests will continue, notable findings documented. We require an active and flowing system in order to maintain temperature levels with constant power demands.

[Aristaan]

[Accessing Terminal...Granted]
[Welcome back to Allied Cognitive Technologies Laboratories]
[Accessing File: Project; Lambda Helium Cooler; Log 2]

---

Test initiated. All systems: Green. Initiating start-up sequences.
Ingenuus power cell at four percent.
Creating power restriction, ten percent. Internal temperature, 990 degrees and stable.
Starting helium compression; helium temperature: 4 Kelvin, internal pressure: 4 kPa. Gravitation disabled.
Reducing helium temperature... 3 Kelvin. 2.5... Lambda point achieved, beginning injection. Temperature fa-... equalized. Internal temperature: -131, coolant run-time: 1.4 seconds.
Heat sink temperature: 132 degrees.

Test complete. Purging system.

Test results further confirm and conclude previously discovered points. Running multiple iterations below five percent on power input to confirm results.

Test initiated. All systems: Green. Initiating start-up sequences.
Ingenuus power cell at five percent.
Creating power restriction, ten percent. Internal temperature, 1040 degrees and stable.
Starting helium compression; helium temperature: 4 Kelvin, internal pressure: 4 kPa. Gravitation disabled.
Reducing helium temperature... 3 Kelvin. 2.5... Lambda point achieved, beginning injection. Temperature fa-... equalized. Internal temperature: -125, coolant run-time: 1.5 seconds.
Heat sink temperature: 134.5 degrees.

Test complete. Purging system.

[Aristaan]

[Accessing Terminal...Granted]
[Welcome back to Allied Cognitive Technologies Laboratories]
[Accessing File: Project; Lambda Helium Cooler; Log 3]

---

The following trial is to stress test the coolant system under static demands. Emergency protocols met, powering up.
Test initiated. All systems: Green. Initiating start-up sequences.
Ingenuus power cell at five percent.
Creating power restriction, ten percent. Internal temperature, 1040 degrees and stable.
Starting helium compression; helium temperature: 4 Kelvin, internal pressure: 4 kPa. Gravitation disabled.
Reducing helium temperature... 3 Kelvin. 2.5... Lambda point achieved, beginning injection. Internal temperature: -125, coolant run-time: Continuous.
Heat sink temperature: 134.5 degrees.

Increasing power to six percent.
Lambda point maintained, continuing injection. Internal temperature: -115, coolant run-time: Continuous.
Heat sink temperature: 137.5 degrees.
Helium circulation ongoing. Internal pressure maintained.

Increasing power to seven percent.
Lambda point maintained, continuing injection. Internal temperature: -104, coolant run-time: Continuous.
Heat sink temperature: 141 degrees.
Helium circulation ongoing. Internal pressure maintained.

Increasing power to eight percent.
Lambda point maintained, continuing injection. Internal temperature: -95, coolant run-time: Continuous.
Heat sink temperature: 157.4 degrees.
Helium circulation ongoing. Internal pressure maintained.

Increasing power to ten percent.
Lambda point maintained, continuing injection. Internal temperature: -74, coolant run-time: Continuous.
Heat sink temperature: 169.8 degrees.
Helium circulation ongoing. Internal pressure fluctuating. Additional power diverted to vacuum systems. Pressure normalized.

Adjusting power restriction, fifteen percent. Internal temperature, 1554 degrees; fluctuation: 24 degrees. Maintaining current status.
Internal temperature rising rapidly, catastrophic failure immanent; deactivating systems.
Test complete. Purging system.

Test results conclusive, restrictions of power diversion cause system failure, fail-safes are essential for high-performance within the system. Helium became volatile under the extreme heat conditions in a static system. Extreme risk if used in combat systems, localized use advised rather than ship-wide. Variables become more difficult to control in a larger system, efficiency falls.