Brad. It's been a while. Three years by my estimation. I wanted to reach out to you earlier but my various destinations prevented me from doing so. Until now, I wasn't able to escape the hell that I've been in for all these years.
Chances are, A.B.A.D.D.O.N. has picked up the ping from the Dreamscape at this point. Well, that's because it settled into Orkney briefly before jumping away again into some very odd places...well, places that are odd compared to Alberta...I'll leave that set with you for a moment.
[She sighs.]
Allow me to explain.
Sailas and I took the Dreamscape out for a deep space research mission with what was left of the Consortium after the disbandment. He mentioned that we had to "get the hell out of dodge before they caught up to us". To be honest, I never figured out what had him so spooked...but he lit out of Sirius like his ass was on fire. Well, we didn't get very far before the Dreamscape hit some kind of subspace eddy and sent the entire thing tumbling end over end through hyperspace. We ended up in Omicron Beta, coming out of a rift at nearly the speed of a standard Trade Lane. Luckily for us, the Dreamscape was reinforced by Leo after our first adventure into Alberta because the ship impacted several dozen asteroids before settling into an uncontrolled drift.
[She sighs again, recounting the experience.]
Once again, Sailas lit out of there without a concern for me or the other crew. He jumped on the Sisyphus and bailed. I'm convinced that someone or something was after him. At this point, I don't care. If I ever find him I might just kick the shit out of him for his behavior.
Anyway, I stayed behind and got most of the crew offloaded into various ships. I stayed behind to get data off of the databanks before leaving myself, but something happened to the drive onboard and the ship jumped again...this time back into Alberta.
I'll admit, I panicked at first. You recall my first adventure here nearly got me killed. However, as time went on...I grew accustomed to the place. Despite the impact in Beta, the Dreamscape was still sealed and most systems except for engines and weapons were functional. There was ample food left behind for a long distance exploratory mission and the hydroponics were still functional...so I set in for the long term...certain that this place would probably be my grave. Years went by. I only had myself for company. I exercised, spent my time pouring over the readouts from Alberta and pretty much just...existed.
Then, something odd happened it was as if the entire system was shaking is the best description I can give. The lightning within the storm intensified and struck the Dreamscape. Without warning, the drive powered up again and hurled me into the Orkney system, where I'm sure A.B.A.D.D.O.N. picked up the ship. Immediately after, the ship jumped again and threw me into...some place. I don't really have an answer for what this place was but...there were strange structures everywhere...unfathomably massive towers of an unknown substance. The ship jumped again, this time into another system with odd gates surrounding the outside where it eventually settled, and sits now.
I saw a few gates with open jump holes and took my chance to get out of there. With resources finally beginning to dwindle after my three years aboard, I decided now was as good a time as any to get out of there. I took the Ridge, now renamed the Echo of Infinitum, and launched for the nearest gate where I found myself in Omicron Delta of all places. I landed at Freeport 11 and decided to drop you a line.
[She takes a breath.]
I realize this is a lot to drop on you. Being around no one for three years tends to have a strange effect on people--myself included. I find myself being distant from people and things...as if they are just an illusion. Suffice it to say, my days of being an explorer and researcher are over. I have no interest in that anymore...there are things out there that defy logic and explanation. I'm taking the Echo of Infinitum and going to use it to make a name for myself. The Dreamscape is still out there, in that weird place. If you know now to reach it, it's yours for the taking...complete with all it's scans of Alberta and...elsewhere.
As for me...you might see me around. Lastly, if you see Sailas?
It's good to hear from you, even if the circumstances are...well, let's just say unconventional. Three years is a long time to be tumbling through hyperspace and dodging what sounds like some seriously bad luck. A.B.A.D.D.O.N. definitely picked up the ping from the Dreamscape, which is why I got your message so quickly. Omicron Beta, Alberta, uncontrolled drifts, subspace eddies – that's quite the journey you've been on.
Let me start by saying I understand your frustration with Sailas. Disappearing on you like that was a rotten thing to do, especially after everything you've both been through. Last I heard, he'd settled in with the Core in the Deep Omicrons. Given their recent activities in Omicron Kappa, my guess is he's on Planet Gammu. Not exactly a peaceful retirement, but the Core does tend to attract…colorful personalities.
As for the Dreamscape, that's a tempting offer. Alberta holds a lot of secrets, some we might be better off not knowing. Having the ship's data could be invaluable, though. Give me some time to mull it over.
On a personal note, I understand the isolation getting to you. Three years alone in a vast and strange place like Alberta would do that to anyone. But don't give up on people just yet. We've all been through some rough patches, and having someone to talk to, even just occasionally, can make a world of difference.
If you decide to stick around Omicron Delta, look me up. We can catch up properly, swap stories, and maybe even convince you there's still some adventure left in you. As for Sailas…well, let's just say if our paths cross, I might just have a few choice words for him myself.
Stay safe out there, Rose. And remember, you're not alone.
--Dr. Brandon Wright Research and Development, SLRC
I decided, based on the info you gave me, that I would go and pay Sailas a little visit. I headed towards Durban and asked for a meeting with the prick citing a desire for upgrades from Core technicians in exchange for work.
When I came to Durban, I did not state that I was looking for "my father" only that I wished to speak with Dr. Sailas Montgomery concerning upgrades for the Echo of Infinitum. I gave them my name and waited, expecting Sailas to either ignore the meeting or attempt to dip and head deeper into the Omicrons. To my surprise, he showed up. Here's the thing, Brad. The man that met me isn't Sailas. He's a good doppelganger no doubt...but not the man I know of as my father. My guess is, whoever this man truly is, he didn't have the time to research everything about Sailas' life, including his family members. My last name being my mothers instead of Sailas' probably threw him off.
My name, the ships name, and everything else did not elicit a reaction from him. He acted as if I were another Freelancer looking to upgrade my ship. I sensed no duplicitous nature or reason for him doing this...he simply did not know who I was. This "Sailas" is a red-herring, Brad. An actor placed in our path to stop us from looking deeper; a distraction. Sailas fell off the grid on purpose. Maybe something or someone was after him...after all, what man would abandon his daughter like he did? Do I have it all wrong? Was he really in danger?
I need to figure this out. I might have a lead in Sigma-13. The Echo randomly pinged a location in Sigma-13 citing something called "Echo Protocol". Do you know what's at "-50361 0 9517" out there? Closest thing I can figure is Newport Station. I'm going to investigate.
This is getting stranger by the minute. A Sailas impersonator? That throws a whole new wrench into things. Here's what I'm thinking:
Your gut feeling about Sailas disappearing for a reason seems spot on. Maybe someone or something is after him, forcing him to vanish under a new identity. The Core wouldn't be above using an imposter to throw you off his trail. Unfortunately, my knowledge of the Sigma sectors is limited. Sailas handled most Consortium research there, leaving me in the dark. "Echo Protocol" could be anything from a mundane data transfer to something much more sinister.
That being said, Proceed with Caution. Sailas programmed A.B.A.D.D.O.N. and other Consortium systems. If he's hiding, expect booby traps. Remember the water pail incident at my office? That was amateur compared to what Sailas could cook up. Proceed with extreme caution.
You should investigate Newport Station Discreetly: It might not be the exact location, but Newport Station could offer clues. Look for former Consortium or Freelancer personnel, research labs, or anything related to "Echo Protocol."
I also want to consider the Dreamscape. If Sailas planned ahead, the Dreamscape data could hold the key to the Echo Protocol. Maybe it's mentioned in logs, research notes, or some hidden file.
This whole thing is a tangled mess. Sailas disappearing, the imposter, and the Echo Protocol… it all feels connected. Keep your wits about you, Rose. Don't let them manipulate you.
I'll dig into my network and see if I can uncover anything about the Echo Protocol or Sigma-13 research. In the meantime, keep me updated.
--Dr. Brandon Wright Research and Development, SLRC