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[color=#99FFFF]Schultz Journal Entry 43

I have been working on getting contacts within most Nomad knower's around Sirius, trying to create a network of allies before we try this again. When Cassandra contacted me 3 weeks ago, I had before that thought she had been killed, as Sturm was..

It's been almost a year.. Come august, when the nomad fleet attacked us.. All cause of the Professors experiments, which I had no knowledge of until three weeks ago..

I didn't know what was at stake, I had blamed the countless death's of my crew on Sturm, cause what ever he and Cassandra where working on, it triggered a series of events, which ended in over 45 crew members deaths...

-sighs-

I blamed the professor, cause the Nomads targeted us, attacked with such brutal force that we should and would have been destroyed, if it hadn't been for the Peregrine.. The strange Cruiser was our savior, and it seams Cassandra's as well..

When she contacted me 3 weeks ago, she told me off the project Sturm had been working on, a Virus, that he had believed could kill or at least hinder the Nomads, if altered correctly, now, I don't know exactly what the definition of the virus was, since I am no micro-biologist or a doctor in that area at all, I am an explorer.. I have a crew for that.

She told me that she had survived thanks to the Peregrine, and it's captain, who had taken her away from known space, so the Nomads wouldn't search for her anymore. In exile, she had been studying the data collected by her teacher and friend, Professor Sturm, she needed the time to understand it, to research the viral strand.

Now, she was close to an answer, but she needed materials which they could not procure, since the data was on board, she couldn't risk showing herself just yet. And they needed more people this time around, she suggested to me to contact different people that would and could help with the Virus and with the nomads, people who knew things..

We started directly, started to send messages to people, contacts of mine, in the Zoners and in the Order.. We got in touch with "The Doctor" of the Order, a man known for his knowledge of the Nomads, this was the greatest beginning I could hope for.

Now, we search for nomad technology and nomad specimens around Sirius...

Test subjects, as Cassandra called it..

-sighs-

Oh well, we'l see what happens..


Log ends

Schultz Journal Entry 44



We have got in contact with a... Contact, that had a Nomad piece of technology that Cassandra could use, and ever since the deal went trough perfectly, the research team, lead by Dr Harrier, have been building a containment unit to hold the artifact, or what ever it now is.

The contact wanted us to meet with one of it's operatives by Gran Canaria, a perfect location, for both of us.
On the way there, the containment unit was completed, and i'm positive that it will work, cause id hate for the same that happened once before, to happen again.

Therefor, we.. Or rather me, have had to hire more security on board. This time it's a mercenary group called: "Sons of Aesir" a Rheinland merc group, they had some ground mercs ready, and for a considerable sum, they agreed on guarding the research area on board.

Plus, that we no longer move across large distances, without escorts.. I'm NOT making the same mistake twice.

Around 14.00 hours we got a message from the contact.


[Deleted Name]: Are you the one the boss told me was going to buy this thing?

Schultz: If it was the Nomad artifact, then yes it is us. Are you at Gran Canaria waiting?

[Deleted Name]: Yeah I'l be waiting here for ya.

Schultz: Good, we will be arriving shortly.

~Awhile later~

[Deleted Name]: I can see you on scanners, hurry it up, I want this thing of my ship..

Schultz: That's why -we- have made precautions, a containment unit, and a lab devised to hold what ever energy it emits away from us.

[Deleted Name]: So... It's that dangerous!? Why did the boss put it on my ship!?

Schultz: Probably cause of that reason.. But do not worry, wel be taking it of your hands shortly.

[Deleted Name]: I got a visual on you.. Let's do this.

Schultz: Roger that, we are stopping a bit away from Canaria, dock with the access point underneath the Tisiphone.

[Deleted Name]: Roger that..



[Deleted Name]: Is ya' team ready?

Schultz: Ready

The civilian ship closed in on the underbelly of the Tisiphone, towards the docking clamps



[Deleted Name]: Open the clamps then..

The docking clamps underneath the Tisiphone engages

In the corridor leading from the Tisiphone a research team of five awaits, with a mobile containment unit a large suitcase.

The seller walks out of his ship and looks at the team, hes holding a metal box.

[Deleted Name]: Ah there is mah money

The man hands them the metal box containing the artifact or technology, and grabs the breifcase, then says to the researchers

[Deleted Name]: You boys be careful with that thing

The seller walks back into his ship but the researchers says as they places the box in the containment unit

Researcher: Don't worry, we will be.

[Deleted Name]: Right, time ta' get this money to mah boss

The civilian ship dettaches itself of the Tisiphone's docking point

Schultz: Pleasure doing buisness with you..

[Deleted Name]: Righto lad, same 'ere. Oh and...

Schultz: Hmmmm?

[Deleted Name]: Ya' never heard of me or seen me..

Schultz smiles slightly and chuckles

Schultz: Of course...

[Deleted Name]: Good..

The civilian ship takes of, and the Tisiphone plots a course back to the omicrons..


I knew that this was only the start, we have gained some of the needed materials for the research, but not nearly enough to be able to make a suitable base.. Atleast not according to Cassandra, now, I wonder what The Doctor thinks of what we have so far...

I just hope we know what we are doing...





Log ends

Day 9

Cassandra has retreated to her room to work on the artifact. I have left her to it, spending half my time speeding away from Sirius, and the other half working on my own personal project: Trying to understand the ship I love. Who knows how this will end? Perhaps this is my final mission in life, to help these people bring an end to the Nomads... whatever they decide to do, I shall help them, not just because of my loyalty to humankind, but also due to what they did to this ship and the children that are with me now...

Day 17

I have now not seen Cassandra for 2 days, she has been in her room trying to decipher a genetic code so complex that my head immediately began to swim, and I had to leave the room... Me and physics? Genetics? Not a good match I feel. On another note, we have officially left Sirius, and I have set a course for a Red Giant star that the Peregrine spotted on her telescopes. The radiation should shield us from any scans that are sent our way... somehow I have a feeling we will be out here for a long long time.

Day 31

It appears the Peregrine's weapons systems that appeared when we were facing the Nomad battleship do not exist, nor have they ever done so... either the Peregrine is lying to me, or they never existed. Both of these possibilities are worrying, were we hallucinating? Or does my own ship want to keep secrets from me... how can it keep secrets from me? The AI should be gone... perhaps it is not, perhaps I do not have control over my own ship... for the first time in a long time, I am truly worried.

Day 38

It's a strange change from being able to leave my clothes anywhere and eat whatever I like. Cassandra insists on having fruits and vegetables at every meal, and throws stuff at me if I leave my T-shirts in the hallway... god, I swear I am never getting married.

Day 51

Goddamit, I think I like her.

Day 53

Yes, I definately do.

Day 54

For gods sake, women, can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

Day 59

I'm avoiding her, she found an empty pizza box in the control room.

Day 103

It has been a long time since I wrote anything here. Cassandra seems to have made plenty of progress on that Nomad thing, and I have turned my attentions to hobbies in my spare time. It seems that the Peregrine is capable of building ships aswell as providing food and water, some sort of energy to matter conversion. I am currently designing and will soon be making a ship for myself, though I'm not certain how big or small it will be...

Day 111

Something is happening to the Peregrine... we have been in orbit of the star for 68 days now, and all of a sudden the Peregrine started... well... growing. Ports are opening on the side of the ship, and new machinery emerges, builds, constructs... I do not know how much longer my ship will look the same for.

Day 122

Our living spaces have increased dramatically... when a laboratory was created next door to Cassandras room, it confirmed my suspicions that the Peregrine is not dead. My ship requires me to link with it in order to fly itself, to do most things, but hidden away is the being that died so long ago.

Day 124

We are falling towards the star. This is my goodbye.

Day 125

We seem to have fallen... through the star. Shields are active, power readings off the scale... I think the Peregrine is using the power of the star to fuel herself, but to do what? Get bigger still? She is already unrecognisable... My fingers remained crossed that this transformation is not a curse...

Day 217

Today is the first day I succesfully got the computer operational once more. My ship no longer looks like she used to, at the moment it looks like the beginnings of a Zoner Juggernaut, and I assume that the Peregrine took that shape as the only other type of ship in her database, we were Zoners after all, but she is far from complete. I can still merge with her, and today we set a course back to Sirius. Cassandra needs help now to finish this. Let us hope these transformations do not stop us...

Cassandra had spent almost a year on board the Peregrine, a living artificial ship, controlled by Saker Kwah.

Cassandra Michaels, is the only now living person who knew exactly what Professor Sturm had been working on, a virus that according to his tests would and could affect the Nomad genome, now granted, the research was still in it's early phases. But Dr Michaels have had time in peace researching and testing the Virus, and altering it..
Her logs over the last months are listen below.





Day 8

Ive managed to isolate myself in my study, trying to determine the physical properties of the Viral strand, it is so complex i'm starting to question I can figure this out..

I know Sturm would have wanted me to, so I have to continue trying.

Saker have been nothing short of a gentleman, I haven't told him what exactly I am working on.. But eventually I will.. I just need more time to figure this out.



Day 16

It was amazing..

I had no idea how I could even start to explain it, but the Viral strand shares some characteristics with a bacteria, I believe that this could be why Sturm believed it could affect the Nomads..

I have locked the door after I tried to explain the math of the calculations I needed to finish in order to understand the basic building blocks of the strand.
Saker scratched his head, he was trying to be pleasant, but I knew that he didn't understand what I was doing, so I closed to door, so I could work alone.. I hope he doesn't resent me for it..



Day 24


Today, I wondered what effects the Virus would have on a human being..

Would it be as a flu virus, but as the characteristics are similar to bacteria Id believe a rash, coughing, fever and swelling.. After that, I would not know.

I do not enjoy being in the dark..

That's why i'm continuing the research on the basic abilities of the virus, or what they would be..



Day 38


Now, I am usually quite tidy of myself, so I enjoy a clean room and especially a tidy ship.. Now, Saker, he doesn't seam to have had much interaction with women before, he continues to eat the wrong food, continues to leave dirty shirts on the floor... In the hallways... -sighs-

Now, I kind of threw a data pad at him when he had left clothes on the hallway floor.. Again..

It is weird, I continue to think more and more about him..


Day 51



As I was eating a salad today, Saker walked in, without a shirt, he got a little shock, and ran off to get dressed..

I usually don't. . Well, get embarrassed about those things.. But. He, doesn't look all that bad..

Heh..

-coughs-
I really need to concentrate on on the Virus..


Day 53


I was thinking about Saker today, on how friendly he is, and how kind he is to me, how he left Sirius for me.. And for the Hades strand..

-blushes-

I shouldn't even think about him this way, it isn't the right time.. But it's hard not to.


Day 54


I watched Saker work out today, I stood in the door way.. For about 10 minutes, before I had to go back to my room..

-sighs-


Day 78


I have made a breakthrough!

I have dissected a sample of the virus, and managed to figure out its molecular structure, or at least a part of it!

It is far more complex then anything ive ever seen before, I am positive that this isn't something normal, not even in Sirius..

What ever it is.. Im positive that it can be used against the Nomads..

Sturm, I think I can finish your dream..


Day 87


Ok, ideas pile up in my mind..

I need to test this on a bio sample..

And the only thing available to me is.. Me..

Im going to take a skin sample and test the Virus on that..

Now I will have to figure out a working containment holder for the experiment to take place..


Day 107


Last night I finished the containment holder, and ive taken a bit of my forearm for my experiment..

The vicinity to the star seams to have some interesting affects on the Viral sample I've taken out of the container..

Tomorrow, i'm conducting the experiment..


Day 108


So far, the experiment gave a little results..

I need to take a break, ive been up for 46 hours..


Day 109


It's fascinating!

The skin sample started to react to the virus, and began to change..



Im sure that this means that it's an adaptive virus..

-sighs-
If what I think is correct, then this may prove to be the catalyst needed to affect a Nomad..


Day 124


We where so close!

Now we are falling into the star...

I wish I could be with saker, at least now at the end..

And to think that I can't finish this..


Day 217


Saker informed me that we have power to the shields and engines, and I told him we had to return to Sirius, we needed samples, and gather allies to test the Virus..

It is time.. Finally!

Cassandra walked trough the hallway that lead to to Sakers Quarters, she was thinking about what she had recently found out, about the weird signature the infected sample she was experimenting on..

She had no idea what it meant, only that it wasn't good, she knew that if the virus would infect a human being..
She shook her head, and knocked on the door.

No answer, she knocked again..

Where could that good for nothing be?

She turned in the hallway and headed back towards the Bridge of the Peregrine, she had to talk to Saker, before they arrived in Sirius again..

The hallway turned, she sighed, she began to have second thoughts, but she could help herself, she needed to tell him..

She had realized that the ship had indeed grown larger, much larger, she almost got lost.. But she managed to find her way to the bridge..

The door, she took a deep breath and opened it, she saw him sitting there, looking at a console..


"Saker.. I need to talk to you.."


He turned around at her, and she couldn't help but smile a little, the eyes, the nose and the chin, he was so handsome, and he made her heart beat twice as fast..
How is he going to react to this?

Saker's fingers twitched as he used his mind to check his ship. At the current rate of growth, his ship would become a Juggernaut (If that was indeed what it was transforming into) within 18 weeks. A long time, and during this time his systems were incredibly unreliable.

He sighed softly, and checked briefly on the children before disconnecting. Then he stopped. He read 41 signals in the Nursery.

There were only 40 children.

He disconnected from the mental link just as he heard Cassandra's voice behind him.

"Saker.. I need to talk to you.."

He smiled and turned.

"Sure, what's up?"

She stood now, looking down at her feet, her insides felt like a bee hive, she almost thought she started to sweat..

Then she remembered of how this would and could end, and how she needed to make her feelings clear to the man she owes her life to..

She inhaled and then looked up directly at him..

"Ehm.. Look, I have something to get of my chest Saker, something that has been needing to be said, before it all ends, if it ends that is.."

He looked as if he was about to speak, but she quickly moved in close and put a finger over his lips.. At first she looked serious, then she realized how it must look. So quirky, so unoriginal. .

"I just need to say this, ok?"

She looked at him to say something..

He nodded...

Then she continued..

"Look, this all may end, well, end.. In us, me, you, the children, the peregrine.. Just, end, ok? What ever happens I just want you to know.."

She looked down for a minute or so, then she looked up directly at him..

""I really need to thank you for all that youve done for me.. Im sorry for not talking, or spending more time with you the last few weeks... You are the closest friend I've had.. Thank you"

She started to tear up a little..