New ship. Progress, and a complications. Things just can't get just a bit easier, can they?
I waited so long for Viper to come up that the Marauder started breaking down faster than I could repair it. So...I looked up the Black Market for something. I was desperate and uh... I couldn't stay grounded. So I've got an old Odin to do the job. I customized how I could. New engine array, transfer of weaponry from the Marauder, and added lead plating to protect against Radiation eventually. I uh...all that matters is that I'm back in the game. Properly equipped, now. Thing is...
I've found it hard to trust anyone nowadays. I even got to question Raven's allegiance, for god's sake! She got hurt bad at some point. I went through a whole mess of a situation, too. Even got to have a stand-off with an Infectee. Eye to eye and...all that. It didn't end well for neither of us, but Raven's better now. Better than she was before, at least. Physically. Emotionally she's...I don't know how to say it. She's doing worse than I did so many times. Because she got scarred. Badly. She can't even talk without a modulator! "Surviving isn't living", one would say. She needs a reason to push on. And someone to motivate her, I suppose. I-I think. I hope I'm right. Because she finally decided to stop by my home and rest. After she nearly got killed in that attack. S-She...uh, well she can't even protect herself properly. Whenever we're together, it always feels like I have to be the one to keep her safe and...I suppose I owe her that. She nearly got herself hurt so many times and she still doesn't learn that not everyone can be helped! ...though I'm starting to see the hypocrisy in me when I said that.
Things had taken a bad turn with Raven's condition. That is true. And it went even worse with-- how things are going, overall. I'm playing all sides right now, and I'm-- I'm losing grip of the situation. Being all "independent" is pretty hard now. Everyone seems to want something from me, a-and I'm not sure if I can deliver. And after what happened yesterday? In that-- place, again. We were so many I've lost count. Too many voices to listen to, or maybe it was just the blood loss. I got snagged by the Anomaly, and panel cover got ripped out of its bolts...damn thing had sharp edges too. It sliced at my abdomen pretty well - well uh, the side. a bit under the ribcage and barely missing the right lung. It was stuck in the seat, too...at least I made it back to a place I could get patched up partially. The doctor probably ripped me off with the cash, but at least he stopped the bleeding and-- at least that. Comically enough, the Jacket has a profound tear mark soaked in blood - long dried now. I'm not sure if I can show myself for a few hours. Maybe a day, two. Bennet was there. So I left the gathering in Inverness as silently as I could with -- Locke's...cloak he entrusted me to keep safe. Hours later I quickly made a quick run next to Barrow. Left a sealed crate for the Xenos to bring back inside the Station with his equipment. His name carved into it. So he knows. I'm really, really sorry I had to do what I did. I just couldn't see any other way.
I'll see how things fan out. Check on Raven soon, too.
I took a closer look last night on these Sentinel Remains. Ash gave them to me a day or two ago. Can't remember.
After what happened just outside my home. Everyone gathered. Some stranger. Then a Nomad Warship...well I can't be bothered anymore to talk about it. I've given all I could to Hawkins. Things get weirder by the day. I...decided to just hit the bunks for the rest of the day. Mostly. I couldn't sleep and all and-- and I went into the lower section. I put on a HazMat outfit and entered the main lab. The remains were there, still swirling. Still somewhat active, but also dead.
Where should I even begin...yeah, right. Starting with the outer shell we can see largely crystalized bulges snapping in and out of the relatively intact pieces. I've placed "normal" Nomad samples that I've collected in the Omicrons next to the Sentinel ones. To make things simple, Sentinel remains will be called "Subject A", and Mainshare Remains will be called "Subject B".
Subject A, as I mentioned. Has hardened bulges over the intact parts of the remains. Subject B is smooth for the most part. Subject A's shell is noticeably heavier. I've put both masses on a scale, one by one.
Subject A: 7,3 kg/ per outer shell roughly the same size as Subject B
Subject B: 5,3 kg/ per outer shell roughly the same size as Subject A
This could in theory explain why Subject A moves slower compared to Subject B. More mass, slower reaction. However they compensate not only in higher armor, but higher firepower, too. Unlike the norm you see in the Omicrons, counterparts of Subject A can focus their appendages into one singular beam. Out of experience, smaller forms focus all three appendages placed on their sides into the primary one - situated on the "nose" of the predator form. The beam takes roughly...Five to six seconds to completely destroy a fighter - say a Guardian, or a Wraith, or...anything of the sort. Said beam can also "bend" at dangerous angles. To the point it could sometimes shoot backwards, or to the side. Strafing or "boxing" is the only way not to die instantly while still remaining in combat. Even those aren't all that safe. The beam is constant, and the Sentinel could -- correction. /Has/ been seen using that to it's advantage, actively flaying around the beam to hit it's target. Smaller forms fire this beam of energy in short bursts. Maybe their size can't provide constant energy flow?
...that only stands for smaller forms, though. Up to say...forms roughly the size of a bomber. Anything bigger than that can and /will/ provide enough energy to keep that cursed beam active at all times. Worst case? You meet a Sentinel big enough to match a...say a "Bismarck"-class Battleship. Subject A doesn't seem to come from such form, so I can't tell out of any sort of biological evaluation, really. I'm just saying this out of experience. Two such forms exist. One has evolved to be extremely effective against snub craft by having multiple cysts that can fire these heavy-duty beams. It can also fire all of them at once. So...note to self: stay away from those. I could say though, that in theory such a warform should be relatively "easy" to take down by enough bombers or by two warships of ours. The other Sentinel Warform though. That's a different story. It specializes in taking out capital ships, while being somewhat "weak" to snub craft. Problem is. We won't know which is which until it fires.
The one weakness I could notice in both their behavior and biology, though. They get easily distracted. And when they multi-task by firing multiple guns at - obviously - multiple individuals, their efficiency drops really, really low. And I mean /really/.
Moving down the list...intelligence. Utilities. Under the thick shell I can see...mostly liquified organs since termination - boom. There is, though. A crystalized organ. Hardened. Pointy, too. I ordered a service droid to lift it and bring it close to Subject B. It started glowing profusely. I have no real idea on what it is. I hope, though. I...hope it's their way of identifying friend and foe. Be it Nomad or other. Or their way of transportation? They did seem to appear out of nowhere at times. I need to look more into that.
Sadly the rest of the remains are pulverized piece of trash. Why does the Order react so aggressively to get them? Barely anything is useable here. I'll need more intact pieces to continue. Anything other than a few crystalized organs and pieces of this so called "shell" is liquified, swirling. Whatever...I'll pass this part of the study to Hawkins.
Hey, Hawkins? You will probably read this. I'm still looking into it. I just need more remains to work on, preferably...uh. In better condition.
V: I f*cked up...I f*cked up real bad. I've been doing everything just like I did in all the rehearsals and- a-a-and it didn't- it didn't work!
T: Calm down now. Breathe in. One, two, three. Breathe out. Four, five, six. Tell me. What did not work?
V: I-I-I tried t-to #### -didn't work! How am I supposed to go back now and act as if nothing happened?!
T: You just do, sir. You. Just. Do. Hah! I'm sure Miss Raven would understand that and give you another try at it! You are mag-ni-fi-cent just the way Sirius had made you!
V: Oh for god's sake not you too...I-I-I need to leave for a while. Lay low. J-Jesus Christ what have I gotten myself into...
T: Leave?! And who will tend to the Station! And to you?! You can't expect some random stranger to do it all for you now. Can you?
V: The keys to the Dagger are in my room. It's yours now. Entirely. A-And I've patched you in to u-uh. Man the Dunlin.
T: Preposterous! You are not thinking straight, Vincent!
Sheesh. It's been a while since I recorded my thoughts in this journal. Might as well make it worthwhile, since a lot of things happened that changed the pace of things. I got the Rebel for myself, Section 8 severed ties with the Xenos, Raven getting worse by the day, a Navy Officer that we rescued had a whole Navy Fleet rattled. And so on.
Starting with what's important: Raven. Until yesterday, Raven was somewhat okay. Although I overheard she disabled some inhibitor. Got no clue why. Sh*t...now she's forgetting things that happened recently. I'm giving her two months, tops. Last month might not be the most pleasing, though. I simply hope she can still handle things on her own for a little while longer. And after this "Journey" ends. She will be on her own, probably. I've got to make sure everything goes smoothly.
And that brings me to the Journey - again. The Order waved me off. Raven told me they found a source of intel. I've said it before straight to their faces, but...it wouldn't hurt to say it here, as well. So I just wished them luck. Kind of. This...Empress. Cassandra Hayes, apparently. She got really, really hostile towards it. Towards the Xenos. To the point Section 8 and their associates severed ties with the Xenos. They won't be using their Stations for shelter anytime soon. I've seen Hayes leave with a Rogue. Hemlocke, I think. Maybe The Order is turning towards the Rogues for shelter? Nah...but the possibility is there anyway. Hayes got so low to mock the Xenos over Locke's diplomatic attempts. Damien didn't like her tone that much, either. So I just stood there listening to the lot point fingers at one another - and somehow I found myself being involved in the conversation as well. Putting her own words here. Just to remember what some Order Agents are like. I...filtered out the noise a bit. I have the feeling multiple discussions at once took place. Topics, even.
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[20.11.2021 20:25:39] Ridge: Let's stop at that. Please?
[20.11.2021 20:26:15] Empress: Hmph.
[20.11.2021 20:26:29] Empress: You're not much better, Abrams.
[20.11.2021 20:26:38] XA-Cobra: Leave him alone.
[20.11.2021 20:26:51] Empress: Surrounding yourself with the worst Liberty's got to offer. And whatever other low-lifes you can find.
[20.11.2021 20:27:07] XA-Cobra: Rich coming from somebody with a face for radio.
[20.11.2021 20:27:10] Ridge: I also cooperated with you. Kind of.
[20.11.2021 20:27:21] Ridge: So you are also Liberty's worst.
[20.11.2021 20:27:31] Empress: "Kind of".
[20.11.2021 20:27:47] Ridge: Yeah. Kind of. Because every single time I ended up being bossed around by you. The Order.
[20.11.2021 20:27:58] Ridge: And I don't like that.
Maybe I surrounded myself with "Liberty's Worst". But at least "Liberty's Worst" people were there when I needed help. And were definitely there to offer any sort of support. All the Order did was boss me around as if I was a toy. I tried. I really, really tried to befriend The Order, but I suppose I just can't cope with their all-knowing behaviour. At least now I know I don't have to work with them any longer. The discomfort might finally be gone. I stopped visiting Section 8 for those stupid tests, too.
That bickering with Hayes happened shortly after I re-branded my Rebel. My Rebel, now. I...finally got the guts to talk to Damien about it. Now I am the proud owner of a Xeno Very Heavy Fighter. I left my Odin back at my Station. And got rid of some ships I just couldn't have around anymore. The Marauder is gone, and so is the Loki I've bought. Had it returned to New Berlin. Got half the sum back, but at least it's something...I wasn't using it anyway. Either way. Fort Ramsey. I've been there and asked for help to have the papers sorted out. -- not much to that, though. Xenos don't really have "papers" to sort out. They just cleaned the transponder and all that. Ship is as clean as it can be. I got a few lessons at basic maintenance for it, too. Especially now that I've also had the engine array replaced with my own, as well as the guns. It sure is kind of weird to have Gallic Weaponry on it right now. But it should be sorted out when I get back home. Tick called back. The Adapted Weaponry is all functional now. So now I'm a Scientist in a Xeno Fighter with Nomad Weaponry and a lot of odd friends I wouldn't have thought to be able to make. I guess...I guess being "anti-social" is not a thing I am anymore. I better leave the convo' between me and Damien. Just in case anyone comes asking "why do you have our ship?".
Code:
[20.11.2021 17:48:27] Red: Damien? -- O-Or Cobra. I'm still not sure how should I call you formally. Sorry.
[20.11.2021 17:48:33] XA-Cobra: What is it?
[20.11.2021 17:48:50] Red: That uhm. Discussion. Thing I wanted to ask.
[20.11.2021 17:48:56] XA-Cobra: Shoot.
[20.11.2021 17:49:35] Red: I'd rather not -- hah...well, uh. You know I like being a Xeno. Lets me vent when I need and...you know. Have some fun.
[20.11.2021 17:49:50] XA-Cobra: Just spit it out.
[20.11.2021 17:51:02] Red: [Vincent left out a sigh as he had a hard time saying what he wanted to say. His tone showed a mix of fear and shyness.]
[20.11.2021 17:51:34] Red: Can I...you know. Just keep the ship? I told you I wanted to ask at some point, or wished to. Can I just...keep it?
[20.11.2021 17:51:56] XA-Cobra: It's been yours since you bought it and broke it.
[20.11.2021 17:52:12] Red: With my papers and all, I-I mean. Everyone and their mother somehow knows I have relations with the Xenos.
[20.11.2021 17:52:49] Red: Might as well go all in. I want to scrap the Odin and-- well just remain with /one/ ship. I hate having to switch all the time.
[20.11.2021 17:53:03] Red: Takes up a lot of space for just one-- s-so...wait. I can, right?
[20.11.2021 17:53:07] XA-Cobra: I've given you my answer.
[20.11.2021 17:53:17] XA-Cobra: You can stop stuttering like some broken neuralnet relay.
[20.11.2021 17:53:31] Red: Just like that...?
[20.11.2021 17:54:15] Red: I-I mean. Well I didn't quite think just asking out of the blue would work out. Not like this I-I-- well uh.
[20.11.2021 17:54:22] XA-Cobra: Please stop.
[20.11.2021 17:54:26] XA-Cobra: Speak clearly or not at all.
[20.11.2021 17:54:41] Red: Right...hooh...alright.
[20.11.2021 17:55:41] Red: Well that would only leave the fact that I'd like to uh. You know. Get it all sorted out compatibility wise.
[20.11.2021 17:56:01] XA-Cobra: That'll be up to you.
[20.11.2021 17:56:03] Red: How much would it take to get that sorted with your engineers. Money wise. Donation with a huge bonus next to it.
I was more than happy for the rest of the day. Especially during a brawl between the residents standing by Ames and the Navy. I joined in to cover up for Locke and Bennet. True...once Locke got shot down, I kind of ran off with Tulip as I saw the fight was not going our way. Had a change of heart in Galileo, though. Bennet was still there. The Xeno Bennet, I mean. "Daquan". Went back into the fray to help him out. At least the barrels had cooled down in the meantime. But I did score two kills! Somehow with the others' help. I mean it. Not in a million years would I have taken two people down all by myself.
Code:
[20.11.2021 22:40:32] Death: Jonah.Handcok was put out of action by Ridge (Wasp/Hornet).
[20.11.2021 22:41:38] Death: Lance-1 was put out of action by Ridge (Gun).
The last thing I'd talk about is this Navy Officer. I went in Kepler a few days prior to getting the Rebel. I experimented on how the Anomaly reacts to Nomadic materials. First I threw in some Azurite. It sucked all of it in! Albeit, with a small delay. But it did! I was so close to it. Right by the insertion point. As my ship got damaged by the radiation, the Anomaly began to flicker, and I found myself stranded somewhere. My radar glitched out for a few good minutes. Then it showed I was in Kepler. And that the Azurite I threw in was right next to me. That Anomaly is not just one. It spreads throughout the system! And it didn't end there. I cranked up the experiment a little. Those Sentinel remains. I threw them into the main Anomaly. Only one piece and-- and it spewed out a Navy "Defiant"-class Gunboat. Torn, broken, crippled and a dozen other types of damage. Raven, Ash and I towed it to Ames. We noticed that there was a single survivor in the wreck, but we couldn't stand to ponder how he or she survived. Raven hired a medical team to tend to the survivor. While that "team" was busy, a whole Navy Fleet showed up. Several dozen fighters and a few Capital Ships armed to the teeth. The Akhetaten was there, too. Personally I have reasons to believe they called for backup. And backup they got. Sh*t...that fleet opened up fire on Ames first, and then warned us all to evacuate the premises. All that because of a Defiant? Doesn't matter. Raven docked for a minute, then came back telling us to run. And run we did. Ash, Raven and I went off to Ontario as fast as possible while the Navy Fleet was busy. I hope it was worth it.
Never ask me to make a promise again, because it is very likely that I'll break it. I just hope Raven won't catch wind of this.
Luciano came by right after me and the Xenos went on a raid against both the Navy and the GC. I lived long enough to see it through, I guess. But, uh...yeah, he still tried get me to Order Space. This time it worked, though. Damien was there, too. And as much as I'd hate to admit - they were right. The Xenos can't possibly fend off the Sentinels. The Order barely can! No matter where I'd go people will always die and-- ...doesn't matter. I guess I'm going, and Locke is coming with. In a day or two I will be on my way to the Omicrons. Away from home, from my friends, from everyone. I might as well try to learn something that I couldn't in Liberty while at it.
I...uh. I told Tick about this whole predicament I'm in. It is safe to say he wasn't happy about it. He made a lot of drama about it. In the end he agreed to help cover my tracks. Just so I wouldn't have anyone follow me to the Omicrons. Anyone close, at least. Vincent Abrams has left for the Taus to complete some contracts! Get some money by himself and learn some new things, too.
I packed up my Rebel with consumables for my ship like spare oil, a few spare parts I could fit in the cargo hold and a crate of whiskey. Spare clothes...yeah. That would be it.
Well I suppose I should start off this new entry with something happy for once. Thing is I got nothing to work with in order to do that.
Yeah, I'm not with the Order anymore. I mean, I think I'm not. It took some planning and my own ship to do that. That involved asking for help from The Wild and Raven. Congratulations, Vincent! You might as well be considered an infectee' at this point. I hope that was the last of my episodes of "Vincent, The Schemer". First I stopped taking in alcohol - kind of hard when I get near-traumatised at least three to four times a week, though things slowed down lately. Especially odd, now that there's a giant, derelict construct next to the Anomaly in Kepler - or the Triage, as how Raven likes to call it. Looks ornate, I guess. Worn out and with some sort of glyphs everywhere. Wish I could take a look at it right now.
On the other hand, I really would try and catch up with the rest. I really would, but going with The Order left my base undefended. Kind of. The Rogues swooped in and grabbed a lot of the stuff I had aboard. I blew up the transport, true. But now everything is just...lost. I got a fresh load of droids and started the repairs, but it'll take a while. Even the Marauder and the Odin I had previously are...uhm. Well, broken down to a pulp. It took me a while to look at them, but uhm. Well. I said many times that I'd get one of them fixed up and use as a replacement. Honestly? I was too optimistic. I'd die by simply being near the Marauder, and whatever's left of the Odin had been purposefully cracked, bent and blown up to bits. I guess they also got to steal a few of whatever was left of the Xenos' shipments of firearms and decided to my Odin was good for a test subject. It's the Thor Mk.I I'm left with.
The transport I usually used for moving up supplies wasn't lucky to stay unharmed, either. They ripped off a few hull panels. They tried crack the ship open, I guess. Overall? I'm down to one replacement ship, and that's a bomber. Which I think will become my "primary" ship for a good while. Things could've been just fine if I hadn't left for The Order. Very smart of you, Vincent. Very smart. You reap what you sow now.
To sum it up? My home's been ravaged. I'm down to one ship left and a barebones transport. I'm a fugitive from The Order, and I need to get in touch with Locke. Fast. Right, and I should try and be useful around Liberty again. Useful in a good way, not what I've done until before going with The Order. At times I could've gotten away with my "lack of spine". Now, though? I feel more like a loser when I can't reply with something coherent to someone, or when I'm threatened.
Well I'm not sure how to start this one off. There's Raven saying she's proud of me for telling Section 8 to shove it. And then there's some...progress, I guess? I mean, progress with Damien, if I can call it that.
I'm not the brightest, strongest or definitely the wisest one. But I'm getting there. And I started off that path with a discussion I've had with one of Section 8's Operatives. It will
have consequences. They came up to me - that's kind of a long shot actually. They...no. We met randomly in space. It wasn't the most heartwarming reunion, either. He started it off with a blunt question. In my opinion? That cold tone was uncalled for.
Code:
[04.02.2022 15:57:57] "Solemn"|S8: Abrams.
[04.02.2022 15:58:06] "Ridge": Hey...you?
[04.02.2022 15:58:21] "Solemn"|S8: What are you doing out here?
[04.02.2022 15:58:43] "Ridge": Sightseeing? Enjoying life? ...anything that gives me /some/ joy in life?
[04.02.2022 15:59:14] "Solemn"|S8: Don't you have work to do?
Yeah, well maybe I don't have work to do every minute of my miserable life. Sorry - (not sorry). I came to the realization that opening a Vault even the Daam K'Vosh hid away from themselves won't just let me walk out alive or the same as I entered it. There's just no way. But if I do...man that will be a story to tell! Well, since Raven is gone into the Gallic Worlds that means I can't do much around Liberty - not without her being...there. So we do it safely. I don't want to do risky moves on my own. Or without...someone more rational.
Code:
[04.02.2022 16:02:13] "Solemn"|S8: One should take good care of one's tools, or they break.
[04.02.2022 16:02:21] "Ridge": Already broken.
[04.02.2022 16:02:33] "Solemn"|S8: Hm.
That's why I feel like I'm some sort of dirt stuck under your shoes whenever I merely exist around you. I don't want to be a tool. I made that clear from the start. But I guess my words are heard only when they can be related to "shoot Nomads, Nomads die? Way to kill Nomads, yes? Nomads". I never in my life wanted to power on my ship's weaponry and go all out. But then I remembered. "Vincent, you're in a Thor. He's in an Anubis. You pull the trigger of a gun aimed against your own head". So...I said this, instead.
Code:
[04.02.2022 16:07:17] "Solemn"|S8: If you do know anything or discover anything that might help us deal with 'our' problem, contact us.
[04.02.2022 16:07:29] "Ridge": No.
[04.02.2022 16:07:41] "Ridge": Now. I bid you a good day.
[04.02.2022 16:07:45] "Solemn"|S8: No longer intend to protect humanity?
[04.02.2022 16:07:54] "Ridge": I no longer intend to be anyone's slave.
[04.02.2022 16:08:04] "Solemn"|S8: Hm.
That. Saying that will probably get me in trouble. I was too busy boiling out of anger to realise what I've been saying. If Section 8 didn't understand before that I'm not cooperating with them anymore, now they did. Yeah, I want to dream of becoming a hero. "Savior of humanity!" and all that crap. I don't want to be a tool in order to achieve that, though. I want to be me.
There were better things to come out of this day, though...or worse? I'm not sure how to feel about it. I saw Damien in space today. I hoped he'd been slightly less angry at me since we last talked. Well...
Code:
[04.02.2022 19:42:34] "Ridge": Hey-- I...was going to say taht I just spotted a GMG transport heading to towards Pennsylvania.
[04.02.2022 19:42:40] XA-Cobra: Piss off, Vincent.
[04.02.2022 19:42:45] "Ridge": That. I meant th- right.
[04.02.2022 19:42:54] XA-Mimic: Hey-- We... have seen that.
That was the moment my hopes went down the drain. I...well, I left afterwards. Did as he asked and all that. Then I...returned. Why would I make a competent move for once and listen to people more skilled than me in...almost every aspect. He was out there fighting the GMG. The odds were pretty damn bad for the Xenos. I like to believe that this was one of my "brave" moments. I opened up a private channel to contact Damien.
Code:
[04.02.2022 19:50:23] "Ridge": ...look, ehm. You're angry at me. Probably, quite probably from what I've done. But I can help.
[04.02.2022 19:50:25] "Ridge": Let me help.
[04.02.2022 19:50:39] XA-Cobra: Fine.
That word was all I needed to...do something. Be useful. Prove I'm not the coward he said I was. Because I'm not. Xenos don't back off from a fight just like that, right? Xenos don't run off when their own are in trouble. I think that is the concept of "Liberty or Death" Damien has been promoting. And there I was powering up my weapons and setting up my console to see all GMG assets as hostile. I jumped from target to target. Whichever Damien would shoot, I would too.
And you know what? I took one down.
Code:
[04.02.2022 20:05:13] Death: GassyGas was put out of action by "Ridge" (Gun).
I actually took one down! Well, it didn't matter. Damien's ship was shot down shortly before I left my mark on the battle. I doubt he even saw it...but me jumping into the battle must've mattered, right? I did something. True...I was also taken down afterwards. I couldn't keep it up anymore.
. . . Vessel: 90-ARKM-N9 "Valkyre" Rheinland Heavy Fighter (Custom) . . . Vessel Status: [REDACTED]; found by unit "T1ck" one (1) hour after the incident; No Pilot
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