» Samantha Brown

[Toaster]

Section 8

Sender ID: Hawkins
Receiver ID: Captain Samantha Brown, LNX Akhetaten
Encryption: Bastion

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Re: EARHART

Captain Brown,

As per our agreement, you will find a copy of the preliminary report on the EARHART sector attached to this transmission.

Following deliberation with my superiors, Section 8 advises that a secure network be established between itself and the Akhetaten over which future intelligence, discoveries, and developments may be shared between our two parties. Commodore Edwards and Vice Admiral Uhmen will be familiar with such a network's operation. Regarding the evidence concerning the Technocracy, you may also refer to Commodore Edwards.

That is all.

- Hawkins

Attachments

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READ ONLY: Report on EARHART, 13 Oct. 833

Section 8

Login ID: Trasser
Entry Date: 13 Oct. 833
Location: Planet Akabat, Omicron Mu

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Priority Report: Codename EARHART

This is Commander Maximilian Trasser's report on the preliminary expedition into the newly discovered, presumed extra-Sirian system, codename EARHART.

At 1835 hours SMT, October 12, the Unto Nightfall engaged its jump drive for a "blind jump," opening a hyperspace breach to what conventionally should have been a random location within the Sirius sector. The Point Of No Return, under my command, escorted by field operative Armsman, was to enter the opened breach, traverse hyperspace, and investigate whatever system we entered on the other side. As predicted based on analysis from a previously attempted blind jump, the Point Of No Return exited hyperspace in an unknown location. Due to rapid destabilization of the jump hole, Armsman was unable to follow; the Unto Nightfall was forced to open a second breach, which the operative was able to traverse. While he, too, entered the same location as us, our arrival points were separated by several dozen clicks.

The location, confirmed by visual data comparison with the Unto Nightfall's logs to be codename EARHART, appears to be a starless sector of space. While similar in appearance to locations in the Edge Nebula, we were unable to pinpoint coordinates using known astrographical data, corroborating the hypothesis that EARHART is extra-Sirian.

The EARHART sector

Fascinatingly, the entire sector was littered with debris. Scanner sweeps confirmed the majority of it to be of human origin. Several dozen remains of spaceships were discovered, most of relatively recent date, including the two Libertonian dreadnoughts Fairmont and Whitefield and their escorts, presumed lost in 826 A.S., as well as ships of Rheinland, Kusari, Bretonian, Gallic, and Outcast origin.

The LNS Fairmont

The LNS Whitefield

However, we also discovered wreckage of significantly older make, dating as far back as the earliest days of Sirian exploration: the LCC Bell, dating back to 92 A.S., and the LCEC Ordway, dating as far back as 60 A.S.

The LCC Bell

The LCEC Ordway

At the center of EARHART, we discovered a formation of clearly artificial origin: a series of smaller objects, enveloped by energy fields of a yet unknown kind, forming a ring around a large central structure, consisting of two horizontally segmented, roughly diamond-shaped polyhedrons forming a pylon. Their segments shift by rotating every few seconds. Between the two objects' obtuse points, sensors detected a point of high, extremely concentrated energy. Exact readings were impossible to take, resulting in readout failures across the board. The exact energy output, dimensions, mass, material composition, or temperature of the structure are therefore currently impossible to ascertain. However, it is clear that these structures are not of human origin.

The central structure with surrounding ring formation

Armsman and the Point Of No Return attempted to approach the formation to conduct another series of scans at closer range. However, the smaller structures forming the perimeter seem to serve as a defensive system. They targeted both our vessels and launched kinetic projectiles at incredible velocities and ranges. The Point Of No Return took a direct hit, which overloaded her shields immediately. We aborted our approach, took evasive actions, and retreated out of range of these weapons. Scanners could not determine the composition of the launched projectiles, nor the exact mechanism by which they were launched.

The sector's intense radiation, likely emanating from the central structure, was gradually wearing through both Armsman's and the Point Of No Return's shielding. Nevertheless, I decided to perform a sweep of EARHART's outer reaches. Around the perimeter, we discovered eight further structures of clearly artificial, non-human origin. Consisting of three pairs of connected petal-like "arms" in a ring formation, these constructs vaguely resemble human-made jump gates. While four of these objects were inert, four more were actively containing unstable jump holes. Amazingly, scans showed that two of these led to Sirian systems, Sigma-19 and Zurich. The other two destinations could not be determined. It is possible that these lead to further extra-Sirian systems. As with the sector's central structures, even close-range surface scans were unable to determine the "gates'" material composition.

An inert "gate"

With our ships' shielding rapidly wearing down and radiation damage to their hulls accumulating, I made the decision to abort any further exploration of EARHART. Armsman and the Point Of No Return set course for the gate containing a jump hole to the Sigma-19 system and entered. Despite its unstable nature, we successfully reentered real space intact. The egress point showed signs of extreme instability, likely rendering a return jump through the jump hole to EARHART recklessly dangerous, if not outright impossible. Given the state of our ships, I chose not to make an attempt.

We returned to Omicron Mu at best speed and without any incident to deliver the collected data.

I advise extreme caution regarding future expeditions into EARHART. It is unknown whether further blind jumps will open breaches into the sector, nor whether there will continue to be viable egress routes back to Sirius. Further, the intense radiation and present hostile weapon systems pose a severe threat to any exploratory force.

End of report.

Attachments

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