The discovery by the KNF of a strange phenomenon occurring deep within their lines has caused an alert on the high circles of the Naval Forces. Fearing that these anomalies are the result of some sort of new device by their enemies, the KNF has employed the KNI to investigate and determine the source of these anomalies, as soon as possible.
The Naval Intelligence division set up Operation Kumo no Ami, in hopes of picking up the pieces that would lead to the creators of this new menace.
The records and communications within this channel were collected by the Naval Intelligence, and classified as Secret under the Naval Forces status.
Accessing Report - July 8th [img float=right]http://i.imgur.com/6ucb5jI.png?1[/img]
Decrypting: Key KNI8123
Authorization: Level 4 (Top Secret)
Mission objective: Investigate the source of anomalies appearing within New Tokyo
The Nightshade wing, consisting of a freighter equipped with scanning equipment and two escort fighters, disembarked from Kansai Research Station, destinated to the next possible anomaly locations, in order to understand what is causing them, and to locate the source.
The scientists' predictions were partially correct - the first two predicted locations within New Tokyo did not show any anomalous readings, until the wing started to move closer towards Waypoint 3. Guessing the location of the anomaly by heading towards the direction readings were highest, the wing managed to stumble across the anomaly and establish visual sight. The anomaly was reportedly ten meters wide in diameter, orbited by gas that was, according to the pilots, dark purple in colour wavelength. Scans have shown that the anomaly posesses a gravititational pull towards the center - where anomalous activity seemed identical to a wormhole. The gas did not match any characteristics of any currently known elements, possibly an entirely new element of its own. The possibility that this gas is a weapon should not be dismissed.
Observing the movement of the anomaly, an occasional spike of radiation - and more gas being expelled from the polar ends of the anomaly. This phenomenon seems to be the one at fault for triggering our radiation warning systems in New Tokyo. Shortly after, the anomaly seemed to spew out an enormous amount of energy and gas, eventually collapsing on itself and releasing the small cloud away from its orbit, before disappearing into nothing with only the purple gas in its stead. The readings after this event show nothing besides a relatively large amount of radiation residue coming from the gas itself. The team collected samples of the gas and returned to Kansai Research Station.
This finding proves that, although sporadic and hard to predict, it is possible to find out where their next locations might appear. The anomalies themselves seem to be rapidly collapsing wormholes, and release an unknown element periodically over its short lifetime. Further research on the gas will be conducted, and next possible locations for anomaly appearance predicted. If successful, we will be able to send probes through the anomaly to confirm whether or not it leads to a new location, and scouts after them if it proves to be true. In order to put a stop to these troubling anomalies, we must find the source. - Lead Scientist Arakida
The new scanner settings provided by mission command have proven useful, since our standard settings usually can't distinguish such short events from background noise. However, something about the anomalies is changing.
Our patrol was in an assigned sector, keeping the sensors up in hopes of spotting one of those anomalies forming up. Frequency of sightings has risen from one each 3 days to almost one every 36 hours. Members of the analysis group are unsure how much of that is due to improved search methods, and if there is also an increased frequency of appearance.
Our patrol picked up readings similar to the signature emission, and headed to the source. This was just 7 hours after the latest report, so concern was high among the crew.
As we had visual confirmation of the anomaly, we noticed that it indeed resembled pretty much the passage anomalies that are the jumpholes. The gas and radiation emissions reported were present although in smaller but concentrated bursts. In addition, the anomaly appeared somewhat stable, and records indicate that it remained so for about 3 minutes, far longer than previous sightings. Whatever is causing this anomalies, it's getting more efficient.
We launched a probe towards the anomaly, and soon it was pulled by gravity to the core of it. Radiation levels spiked for a bit, before the probe was indistinguishable from the anomaly from our point of view. data fromt eh probe revealed some sort of nebulous space at destination with little to no details, before the anomaly collapsed and the signal was lost. We were unable to find the probe for retrieval, which leads to the conclusion that the anomaly did indeed transport it to some other point, or destroyed it upon collapse.
Samples of the gas were collected again, and the data packages were delivered at HQ for analysis. We will resume field operations within 6 hours.
New developments from field survey. We are getting accustomed to the signature readings in a way that we are detecting the anomalies much faster. Their active interval is also expanding, which is giving us more time to check them thoroughly. Unit Yanagi-3 was today's spotter, and we soon arrived at their location.
We sent out the probes and maintained watch on the radiation and physical readings of the anomaly, while our operator handled the probe. Soon, two things were made apparent to us: the anomaly was indeed a passage to a yet undetermined region of space, and that there was something more within that ominous nebula.
Throwing caution to the wind, I ordered our vessel to enter covert mode and to prepare for a jump into the anomaly. We could chance a dozen minutes or so on the other side, and with the anomaly as big as it had become, I hoped that it would fare as good as a stable jumphole.
Jump was successful (otherwise we would be goners), and we arrived at this... clouded field. An endless and cloudy darkness surrounded us, no light of a sun, no shine or shadow of a planet or moon, just apparent endless darkness. Sensors were not picking any neural net relays, nor we had any points of reference to compare with our star charts. Our navigator decided to call it An'un, the dark cloud.
we recovered our probe, and redeployed as a beacon to monitor the status of the anomaly as we ventured forth into the uncharted space. The nebula composition is unlike any other known major nebulas to us, but something about it gave it the eerie feeling of Omicron-92.
There was some gravitational readings on the nebula, and we used that to guide us to the crucial finding of our survey. There were structures there. Not one, but a very large cluster of them. Ancient, or just alien. Nothing resembling any known manmade structures. Guess we can assuredly scratch out the other houses as the culprits for this phenomenon. The nomad presence, a heavy one, gave us that assurance.
There is a cluster of island like installations, that we determined were forming a ring around a large, planetoid sized artificial installation. It's design resembled the largest nomad specimens we have on record. Several pictures are in annex of this report.
The nomad specimens were around the ring structures, which were routing some large volume of energy to the main structure. Before we could observe more however, this power flow ceased, the nomads suddenly became alerted to our presence, and to top it all, the anomaly displayed a visible weakening. We had spent long enough there, and the last train was departing very soon.
Our gunboat broke off covert mode and went full speed back to the probe location. For a moment we thought it had lost it's location, as we approached an anomaly, before we realized it was a different one. I decided to not take more risks and head back to the probe, as the nomads were starting to deplete our shields in our hesitation.
We safely managed to escape back to Kusari space, and the few patrols that pursued us through the anomaly before it closed were dispatched by the security wings that were on site. We believe none has managed to activate the veil and escape.
Data has been sent to the Operations Quarters. Whatever these "Spiders" are working there, their web is reaching far and wide, and that is a menace to Kusari, and mankind.
Kage here. The KNI patrols continue to find sights of the now designated Kumo holes, in the New Tokyo space. Research still hasn't come to an explanation as to how or why they are being detected in the capital system alone, but have deduced that they are being generated by the strange structure the Nomads were guarding.
Furthermore, analysis of the data from Majin expedition confirmed that Azurite is being used on the nurturing of the construction, and that traces of the Azurite are what we detected coming out of the anomalies.
Regarding the structures, they have raised concern that the main purpose might be something a bit greater than the generation of these anomalies. In fact, it is not sure that the anomalies are an intended effect of the operation of the structure, considering that most of the times the anomalies themselves are not being used or guarded by the space specimens of the aliens.
Whatever it is the real purpose of the Nomad structure, the capability of generating passages deep into our lines is already a threat high enough to require action. I trust KNI command will take the appropriate measures.
KNI Internal Message - July 16th [img float=right]http://i.imgur.com/6ucb5jI.png?1[/img]
Decrypting: Key KNI8110
Authorization: Level 2 (Restricted)
Nitta Shoni
KNI operatives - I'm sure it isn't unknown to most of you by now that New Tokyo is under influence of something very strange. The phenomenon has been spotted everywhere in the system - by civilians, by criminals. By us. Kusarian news channels started to blow these anomaly appearances out of proportion, so time is not in our favour. Our scientists and scouts have been hard at work at tracing the source of these unusual anomalies that have started plaguing the system, and after much dedicated work, we have finally figured out the culprit.
The Naval Forces Command has been informed of our research and progress, and an expedition to put an end to these anomalies is going to take place tomorrow. The intended expedition is going to begin at 18:00 UTC, though it may vary depending on where and when our scientists will be able to find and stabilize an anomaly due to its unstable nature of appearance.
KNI Command has found it necessary to gather all KNI agents that are currently off-duty or doing minor assignments back to New Tokyo to help safeguard the civilian population until the expedition is over.
Operations within New Tokyo space:
1. Direct all spaceborne traffic towards operating trade lanes exclusively. Discourage travelling off the trade lanes until the crisis is over.
2. Maintain order. Assure travelling civilians that the situation is under control. Do not give out classified information.
3. Patrol the trade lanes. Be aware that the rise of panic and disorder may be an opportunity that criminals would not like to pass. Terminate any criminal elements that appear with prejudice.
Operations on New Tokyo and the stations in the system:
1. Discourage traffic from exiting the atmosphere, or exiting stations.
2. Calm the population. Arrest individuals that attempt to spread panic. Assure the civilians that the situation is under control.
3. Interrogate individuals that appear to know a lot more than a civilian should know, especially if they are spreading this information.
Understand that your actions should not result in your faces appearing in newspapers. Your actions should be subtle. Do your best without exposing yourselves in a negative light - it would be best if your goals would be achieved anonymously. Agents Kasaru no Kage and Falz Angel were selected for joining the expedition and assisting the main members in their tasks. Report to the New Tokyo headquarters for briefing immediately.
Let us work together to end this crisis as soon as possible!
KNI Internal Message - July 16th [img float=right]http://i.imgur.com/6ucb5jI.png?1[/img]
Decrypting: Key KNI8110
Authorization: Level 3 (Secret)
Nitta Shoni
As of 2100 hours of today, operation Kumo no Ami has been concluded, although on a bitter remark.
The KNF assembled the expeditionary strikeforce to be sent through one of the Kumo holes, with enough heavy firepower to put that nomad complex out of commission for a long time. We prepared to send a strike team ourselves in their support, but due to many difficulties, we deployed only Agent "Falz Angel" as an observer to the team.
The strike team arrived at the location of insertion, were an anomaly had been forming for a while. The KNF strikeforce included heavy units and a sizeable fighter escort, proceeded into the anomaly with our agent.
Communications became strained, with Angel Falz reporting heavy fighting, nomad resistance, and the presence of units from all of the House navies present. It appears the nomad plan affected the other nations as well.
Unfortunately, the portal closed down before we knew the result of the battle. No word from the strikeforce before they were cut off, or of the situation of the Nomad structure.
There have been no reports of further anomalies opening. Scientists are telling us that the attack might have been successful in disabling the Nomad structure, at least for the moment.
Current situation renders us unable to ascertain the condition of our agent, nor mount a rescue operation. Agent Falz Angel, as well as the elements of the KNF strikeforce, are all classified as MIA.
Today was a heavy loss for our team, but the resulting safety for our House is the proof those loses were not in vain.
Speed and Vigiliance,
Nitta Shoni, Kusari Naval Intelligence