Log Entry 32

Placeholder for the log when it appears, plus some notes about stuff I didn't consider while it was happening last night. 1) Officer Mamba shares some post-mission internal UPF memos with you.  Analysis of the footage and events at "interim point" (as they are calling it) leads the UPF to believe that the ships there were unarmed.  Also, they didn't begin movement out of the asteroid field until after your ship had crossed the halfway point and began changing course again to make the second jump. There are some analysts within the UPF who wonder what would have happened if you had not made that course change, or had turned around.  These analysts have been put on a watch list, and several have been sent in for "analysis". 2) The wreckage of the Sathar fighter that you destroyed was recovered after the battle.  It's atomic engine had gone critical, but since this was such high priority, the UPF put a lot of effort into recovering all the scattered pieces.  First off, they determined that the pilot was indeed a Sathar who was NOT wearing an insuit to prevent radiation from the fighter's closely connected atomic engine.  That's crazy, but in fact, he wasn't even wearing a spacesuit!  Second, they confirmed that there were four unused assault rockets (this one never got into range).  Third, they recovered no other weaponry, not even a pistol or a knife. 3) There's a lot of discussion regarding why the Sathar didn't finish you off.  Assuming the other three fighters had a full complement of assault rockets, it would have been simple to smash the life-boat.  So far, no answers.  One theory is that "if they destroyed the lifeboat, you'd jump out in spacesuits, so they knew they didn't have enough rockets to finish the job."  On the other hand, they could have roasted you alive with the exhaust from their atomic engines. 4) How did the Sathar know EXACTLY where you would exit the void?  Admittedly, they knew your trajectory when you left "interim point", but there is no way for them to know when you would decelerate out of the void.  Leading theory is that the Sathar must already have an exact copy of the same star route coordinates that you were given. There is an investigation within the UPF to determine how that could have happened.  A name that frequently surfaces is "the rabbit". 5) UPF headquarters received a message from someone claiming to be "the rabbit".  This person apparently knows full details of the whole operation, but claims that he had no part in sharing the jump coordinates with the Sathar.  Since the rabbit is a known Sathar agent, and since it is known that he acquired the computer-encryption key to Mr. Jones's files, nobody knows what to make of this message.  Especially since the rabbit simultaneously offered information that he has gathered regarding active Sathar agents.  When investigated and arrested, it turns out that the named persons were indeed Sathar agents, who are even now being interrogated.  Are there two rabbits? 6) The confusing conversation with the supposed robots at "interim point" has many analysts scratching their heads.  Some are saying that the answers to the questions could be interpreted many different ways.  In fact, one theorist has gained a small following by proposing (based on the content of the conversation) that the Sathar must be slaves of some robot overlord.  Others suggest that there is another "master race" out there somewhere.  However, most at least agree that when you showed a picture of the robot, the response was "servants' servants" NOT "servants-servants". 7) By the time of your arrival back in Dramune, the UPF has sent scout ships through the jump point who are now watching "interim point" from the outskirts of the "system", much like the Sathar are apparently watching the frontier systems from the outskirts.  At least for the moment, subspace radio messages indicate that the mining operation is proceeding as before. 8) There is a conflict within UPF leadership.  Some want to send a fleet through and eradicate the mining operation.  Others want to watch and try to learn more about the Sathar.  However, the majority wants to keep the fleets on standby as a defensive measure to protect frontier planets. Time will tell?

When last we left our merry band of adventurers... Ship came out into uncharted space. Eusyl scans the system and finds that there is no star, that this area has planetoid and remains of a secondary one are scattered about and practically standing still. In general we avoid the asteroid field and debry and chart a course over it. As we approach we notice what looks like ships near the asteroids, mostly small Hull1 ships that are powered down. There is 1 Hull12 transport ship, which is also powered down. The team puts on their space suits and then hails the transport ship. We receive a beep. We beep back and work through various communication tones until we receive a "Welcome" in robotic speech. With communication established and an understanding that we are dealing with a computer, we begin to try and figure out what they are doing out here. First we start by showing the various life forms aboard and asking if one of these is the computer's Master. Response is "None." Then we present them with an image of a robot and response is "servant." We next present them with an image of a Sathar from our encounter, and the response surprised us all - "Servant." Through different definition routine communications we learn that they serve the Master. That the Master is not any of the known races we displayed. That Sathar are servants to the Master. That Sathar agents pick up mining material, mostly metallic substances, on a 12 month cycle. They are currently 7.3 months into the current cycle. We define the time period in standard units. This is happening while we continue our course to jump out of this system. As we close and start to pass the asteroid belt, the Hull1s activate. They are technically faster than we are, however based on current trajectories and speeds, they would be unable to catch up and not jump to light speed. While they cant over take us, they match course and keep pace. We re-engage in questioning the computer on the other ship and ask intent. To stop us. We ask why, response is Per the Law. When asked to define Law, response is Hinderence. At this point Kyle shuts down communication, fearful that they may corrupt our systems or us. We keep going and jump as soon as we are able. We jump! On the other side there are several Sathar ships waiting for us, matching trajectory and speed, we now know what the Hull1 ships were doing - tracking. There is a Sathar Frigate that we avoid and chart course to out maneuver. The goal now is to keep out of range for as long as possible from the frigate and figthers and try to get UPF to come to our rescue. Our ship cannot win a battle against these forces. We quickly distance ourselves from the frigate, however the fighters group up and close the distance. Balta'sax takes shots at the 4 fighters that are closing, managing to destroy 1 and damage 2. As soon as they are in range, they fire 1 missile each. The missles hits and ship goes critical. We use the 8 minutes before full destruction to send out an SOS and get out! We take the sub-space radio we had been using to communicate with us. So while we made it out of the ship, we fully expect the pod to be destroyed, however the Sathar dont fire additional missiles and instead leave.We hope that having steered the ship back towards them before it is destroyed was enough of a distraction, however the behavior is strange. UPF arrives and rescues the pod and crew. We head back to Drammune and it is 3 major jumps before we are back. As we come out into new systems we learn and hear news about the incident. First we hear about the Sathar on the edge of Travane and Dramure and that they destroyed a private ship. By the time we end our trip back it is now believed to be a rumor and some fake footage. Mamba is able to confirm that we did destroy one ship which they recovered and congratulate us on the mission and recognizance we gathered. He confirms that Sathar have been seen in the edges of various systems and UPF is investigating. There is some debate, however, as to how best to deal with all of this new information. Also the UPF puts us through various tests as they arent sure why the Sathar didnt destroy us, that their behavior has been very odd. All the tests come back normal with no anomalies. [Author's note: Could be the way the Sathar are asking for help and that the Sathar werent the enemy, but whoever Master is.] Final piece of business is that the group is able to sell the old ship and have work started on the new ship during our travels. ## EOM ##

Well , as we land, Rod will make some calls. First to Artemis, to tell her that i am alright and if she want to come to Pinnacle station for the Big Pow Wow.. Then to Base to see if it still there and to ask Alice and her Ward if they are going to attend. After that taken care of a few call to Mumba,  Stating that i will need an room capable of sitting a thousand, than 9 room capable of fitting the 9 different color groups we created from the list of the attendee's. The Event will be catered , but hard drinks will only be hand out at the end of the conferences in celebration, and everyone will be given a drink before Rodworth's opening speech but ask not to abide till given the okay.. .     I will then call the Screecher and see if they will want a job as security.. Then the Malthar and see if he wishes to send some one to monitor the conference, i will hint that an important announcement will be issue and i will also contact Manoadalar from Inner Dramune and inform him i would like him to attend as a information important to the future of system will be release and it would be help ful if he is there to represent inner reach. And finally call our Publicists to find out standing in the polls of the Presidential candidates and to choose several members of the press to attend the opening speech.  

Artemis acknowledges your existence sweetly and is already on Pinnacle station, trying to keep a lid on things. Your base is still there, although there's a big rumor that the Neon Tygers were murdered when they disappeared, so the crowd has moved elsewhere. Mamba and Artemis already had some of your plans, so they've got the rooms you want set up, plus extras for break-out discussions. In fact, Mamba report sounds quite pleased, because Pinnacle station is making a lot of money as the venue. There are several different large alcohol vendors offering you exclusive deals if you use ONLY their brand.  The best deal seems to be PGC. Screechers are willing to work security, but seem a little nervous about it.  "If you asking more sec than the fleet, what's going down?" The Malthar is planning to be there, but not at the conference itself... he's reserved a set of rooms outside for "private discussions". Even so, he would be glad to send a representative, with the understanding that the representative is not authorized to make deals. The Manoadalar contingent has disappeared.  There's no word about them. Very suspicious. Your PR vrusk is very busy... "Polls?  Therrre arrre so many. The news agencies arrrre all worrrrking for differrrrent people.  Can't be trrrrusted."

Oh, exp for last session?

Bump

Sorry guys, I had some sort of allergic reaction to something I ate at supper.  I'm never touching A1-steak sauce again!  The ingredients all sound fine, but there must be something in the "herbs and spices".  I'm pretty much recovered now (2 hours later), but the game would have been pretty much impossible. And for Pete, since I keep forgetting, the XP from last session: +1 everyone that was expected to be on time was on time +1 log +20 major goal -> complete the jump through the shortcut and learn about the Sathar involvement there The new total: 255 + 22 = 277 xp

Glad you're feeling better. Sorry to be a nag about exp. Lets hope your illness doesn't take the "expressway out of town". (wink wink nudge nudge)