Following their installation of a sensor device outside the titanium structure, Bratrizik ponders whether it would be possible to use it to communicate with the ship by beaming in a simple repeating signal. Yiris tests the strength of the communication link, and determines that the ship is still broadcasting out, but the countermeasures they took to protect the planetoid's infosphere remain in place.
Bratrizik questions CASPER whether the broadcast signal from the ship is being recorded. CASPER replies that it is, in a segregated secure module to ensure that it does not infiltrates the rest of the system. Bratrizik asks CASPER to use the seismic sensors to tap the first nine prime numbers, with a three seconds gap in between. After a further six seconds gap, repeat the signal. Throughout the process, CASPER is to monitor for a change in the signal that is being broadcast.
@ 17:56
Mine-1 contacts Mine-2 and reports that a small freighter has landed in a small valley about a hundred kilometers from Mine-2. The observation satellite in orbit around H-7758 indicates the presence of five individuals. They appear to be humanoid, but their environmental suit is inhibiting their life signs. The freighter does not sport a transponder, and there are no expected ships landing on H-7758 at this time. This rogue crew is evidently setting up a drilling site about 200 meters from the ship. Yiris replies to Mine-1 that they will go investigate.
Bratrizik asks CASPER is there is a possibility that the freighter's crew is aware of the strange ship under the methane ice. Though unable to rule that out, CASPER estimate that their distance from the unknown ship indicates a 0.056% chance of these events being related.
Given their present status aboard CAT-2, the crew decide it will be quicker to return to Mine-2, board a freighter of their own, and fly to the rogue ship. Once at the base, they ignite the landing strip before taking off in FS-345, one of the two CIDERA freighter ships parked in the mine's vast underground vehicle garage. The flight is uneventful but requires major corrections as the winds buffer the freighter dangerously close to methane mountains on several occasions.
@ 20:19
As they near the space where the other ship landed, visual sensors indicate that one of the brigands is outside the ship, standing by the drill. The sensors also report that the trespassing ship is nothing more than a rusted hunk of space debris that shouldn't even be able to to fly. Sensors are not able to penetrate the other ship's armor, but that's the only place the remaining individuals could be. There is a thick layer of methane snow here, so landing the ship will certainly ignite the entire area. Bratrizik suggests that while doing so might endanger the freighter, it will certainly deal with the individual by the drill, and might destroy the other ship.
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| Pirate Ship Tier 1 |
Nict maneuvers the trusters and lands the ship. Methane snow flies everywhere and ignitates, transforming the landing zone into a fiery green ball of heat. The sentry is instantly killed. At the same time, Bratrizik drops from the freighter's hatch and rolls in the dying flames. Nict transfers the piloting to Yiris, and follows the vesk outside. Figures emerge from the other ship, and begin firing on the two prone targets. Yiris lands her ship and joins the fire fight. Three of the four vesk soldiers targets are quickly eliminated, but the lashunta technomancer retreats aboard his shuttle and attempts to fly off. Nict enters the shuttle just before the doors seal, and exchange fire with the enemy before dealing the killing blow.
Bratrizik casts grave words on the tehnomancer, attempting to obtain information on their mission, but unfortunately the dead refuses to talk. Searching the bodies, they find one electrovore glove (1d4S), 3 credstick worth 95, 100, and 750 credits, and a signal jammer.
The three confer on what to do with the brigands' ship. They decide that Yiris will fly it back to Mine-2, while Nict will fly FS-345 with Bratrizik as a passenger.
@ 21:41
Whereas Nict has a fairly easy time making it back to base, Yiris finds that the brigand ship's flight controls are not very responsive and will require extensive mechanical repairs to make it safer to fly. The shuttle's instrument panels are also mainly broken. The android manages to park the shuttle in one of the empty hangars in the administrative section of the mine, and she files a report of the incident with Cidera that the shuttle was deemed not travel worthy, will instead serve as a repository of spare parts.
Back at Mine-2, CASPER reports there has been no change in the signal being sent out of the mysterious structure, despite the prime numbers being broadcasted to it.
Nict spends some time exploring the shuttle's computer, and he discovers that a message was sent to the shuttle requesting a core sample of H-7758. The message comes from a small mining outfit on Absalom Station called Exploria. Nict shares this information with his partners.
@ 23:04
Audra Davis, head of the Research lab contacts the crew of Mine-2 and tells them she is on her way in a freighter to collect a copy of the brigand shuttle's hard drive so it can be analyzed back at her facility.
Nict makes himself an extra copy as well. The party decide to hide their research and the information they compiled on the mysterious ship encased in the methane. They bury the information inside a security module which is then disconnected from the network. CASPER is then asked to purge all information related to their research on local servers, and both Nict and Yiris check to ensure it is all gone.
After the Gap - January 28, 317 @ 13:30
Audra Davis and Hendrick Jones land their freighter inside the hangar bay. After a nice lunch prepared by Bratrizik, Audra makes a copy of the CUP from the shuttle, and after exchanging pleasantries they depart back to the lab.
After the Gap - January 28, 317 @ 15:41
Yiris compiles the delivery and maintenance report for Cidera, and the crew begins preparation for the next transport coming in two days.
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