//This is a joint roleplay story between the Starfliers and Starlight Research Consortium. There will be a variety of additional screenshots from Freelancer systems throughout this story which are not (currently) in the mod. The story is open ended for the time being but time will tell when it actually ends.
The Darkhorse had been exploring the various regions of the newly discovered Deep Omegas for some time. After spending approximately four days investigating Omega-97, it was time for the vessel to head back to civilized space. The crew onboard, equal parts Starlight and Starfliers, were anxious to return home to Tau-23 and begin researching their various discoveries. The two organizations had been working together onboard hand-in-hand utilizing the ships advanced scanning array to peer into various places best left undiscovered. The treasure troves they had uncovered were worth their weight in gold.
Dante Flintlocke sat on the bridge. He was nearing the end of his shift when the Starfliers commander would take over for the night shift. He stood and stretched his back. He made a mental note not to sit for such long periods. The initial stress of entering the Deep Omegas was high. Various craft attempted to stop their ship from getting deeper into the systems but they persevered by means of cloak and various other defensive capabilities. The Darkhorse, and accompanying Starfliers craft, were weaponless. Except for a single cruise disruptor for breaking open various wrecks, the Pathfinder-class Cruiser was defenseless.
The sensor tech nearby audibly gasped before furiously typing away, an indication of discovery. Dante's ears perked up, awaiting her report. She had made the same gasp when they discovered the unusual planet buried deep within their current system scarcely a couple of days ago.
"Sir." she said, finally speaking up.
"Go ahead." he said smiling.
"We're picking up an anomaly. Signifignant gravitimetric readings and trace amounts of Hawking Radiation."
Dante's eyes enlarged. That could only mean one thing.
"Pin the readings and bring us about. Mind the corners and keep an eye out for more anomalies. What else do readings show?"
"Early indications of a sizable jump rift, sir."
He relaxed a bit, not a singularity then...but there was one nearby, possibly on the other side of that anomaly.
"Contact the Starfliers commander. Have them meet me here on the bridge. We need to have a discussion as to how to proceed."
Dante narrowed his eyes and nervously glanced at the helmet that paired to his armor as it laid in the first officers chair. Black holes had only really been studied in detail from a sizable distance and a good chunk of the physics involved with them were still theoretical at best--and for good reason. They were the most dangerous things in the cosmos...aside from magnetars that is.
"Things just got a whole lot more interesting." he said aloud looking out into the murky nebulous cloud of Omega-97.
You fear oblivion. Yet you forget. The universe remembers every atom of your being. Even dust hums your name in the dark. Roleplay is dead. Long live Powertraders and PvP I guess.
