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Uninvited

Surveyor Report: Day 1525

Streaker pod arriving in Beta AS2 zone
Tracking nearby large contacts, searching for asteroids…
Asteroid located
Adjusting course for intercept
Firing boosters

Intercept achieved; tethers deployed
Streaker pod landed and stable

Deploying long-range scanner…
Tracking for suspected anomalies…

Warning-
The above entries have been deemed as external interference and have been logged for review


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Internal Logs: Day 41

Pilgrim System

System:
Pioneer shuttle deployed
Pilgrim shuttle breaking off course; commencing U-turn manoeuvre
Estimated time of completion- 2 days

Pioneer on-course for asteroid intercept
Base pod triangulating position of Pioneer
Tracking landing position

Pioneer intercept with asteroid successful; deploying stability tethers
Pioneer landing successful

Base pod on-course for asteroid intercept
Base pod intercept with asteroid successful; deploying stability clamps
Base pod landing successful

Contact between Pioneer and Base pod successful; attempting commandeering
Base pod commandeered

Mission 12, Phase 1 successful

Proceeding with equipment off-loading
Hornet ship deployed


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Surveyor Report: Day 1525

Anomalies detected
Slicers and Minions deployed to search and destroy

Warning-
The above entries have been deemed as external interference and have been logged for review


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Mission Log

Author: Captain Nathan C. Jackson
Mission 12, Entry 3

We have arrived at the asteroid we will be using as a stationing point. The landing went pretty well. I had to do a little EVA to get to the base pod that landed a fair bit away, but the Pioneer and the base pod are stable on the asteroid. We are still trying to find out if there is any point on the surface that we can just pop a drill onto like we do on Beta II. If that does not work out, we may pull out a fabricator and just get a couple of Prospectors up and mining.

After that, we will need to set up way more infrastructure to start ferrying stuff back to the Beta II and Transcender. I also did a little scouting op. as much as scouting the nearby blackness and emptiness of space along with the lifeless exterior that is the surface of this pretty massive asteroid counts. If you are wondering, how is it empty space when we’re supposed to be in an asteroid field, well allow me to explain a little about real-life astronomy.

That impression that most space media have of this space clogged with boulders is not true, especially around pretty large bodies such as the one we are on right now. This is not the biggest asteroid to ever exist, but it is still pretty big. With time it will clear out the space in its immediate vicinity thanks to its gravity throwing things out of orbit. Smaller and faster asteroids will still have fly-bys with the bigger asteroid but for the most part, it will be going around alone. Those asteroids that fly by are going to be harder to manage. We will want to intercept them and mine them as well. How we are going to do it is going to be interesting to figure out, especially if we do not want to end up destabilising a couple of asteroids into a collision course with Beta II. Well, now that the thought crossed my mind… but no, it’s too risky and not worth pursuing for the moment.

I am rambling if you cannot tell, make no mistake. I am trying to enter the headspace I somehow entered during the day we were testing the Sentinels. It is not working… I think. Trouble is coming. We don’t know exactly when it will arrive, it was supposed to enter the space right around when we landed, but nothing has happened yet. I am on standby, the Hornet is fuelled, armed and ready, all we need to do now is wait.

And pray.

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Audio Transcript

Location: Pod 314, Beta AS2 Mining Outpost
Time: Mission Day 41, 1023

Cptn. Jackson standing by in the Hornet launch bay.

Cptn. Jackson: Hey Tara, how powerful are our long-range sensors?
Tara: They are strong enough to detect meteors the size of the Hornet whizzing past.
Cptn. Jackson: So, a bunch of missiles can still definitely sneak into the array before we notice?
Tara: It is possible…
Cptn. Jackson: …Should I deploy? Just so that there is an extra pair of eyes out there?
Tara: …You cannot stray away from the outpost; you are the only firepower we have.
Cptn. Jackson: Copy that- defensive holding pattern and patrol sweeps only.

Cptn. Jackson proceeds to the Hornet.

System: Hornet ship launched.
Hornet: Wish me luck, Tara.
Base: Good luck, captain.
Hornet: Thank you. Beginning patrol sweep.

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Location: Beta AS2 Mining Outpost Airspace
Time: Mission Day 41, 1052

Hornet: Sectors 1 through 4 clear, proceeding to Sectors 5 to 8.
Base: Copy.
Hornet: Say Tara… a thought…
Base: Go ahead…
Hornet: The sensors can't read the airspace behind the asteroid’s horizon right?
Base: That's a negative.
Hornet: Should I focus on that space first?
Base: … Affirmative, don't push your luck for too long though.
Hornet: Copy, switching patrol sectors to the peripheries and beyond.

Time: Mission Day 41, 1121

Hornet: Northern periphery clear, shifting towards the east.
Base: Copy.

Time: Mission Day 41, 1201

Hornet: Eastern periphery clear, shifting towards the south.
Base: Copy.


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Surveyor Report: Day 1525

Anomaly confirmed
Slicers and Minions en route to intercept

Warning-
The above entries have been deemed as external interference and have been logged for review


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Location: Beta AS2 Mining Outpost Airspace
Time: Mission Day 41, 1247

Hornet: Southern periphery clear, shifting towards the west.
Base: Copy.
Hornet: Wait… Stand-by…

Hornet: Minor heat signature anomalies detected. Trouble has found us.

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