To: Auxo | From: Dr. Aspen Harlow, SLRC

[Proselyte]

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

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From: "Ikarus Station" - Dr. Aspen Harlow

Subject: Watching Our Step

Encryption Strength: Impossible

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Howdy to any receiving representative. Now to start, I'd like to clarify that this message can be safely considered Low Priority, on account you folks probably bein' busy with trying to stay alive. We've gotten the memo on what's going on in Inverness, and the news coming out of the Freeport is harrowing to say the least, so it's got to be even worse news on your end. Just speaking for myself, I hope you're hanging in there.

That being said, a recent incident of contact between our transport Commutator and her escort, of which I was acting captain, and an AI drone ship from Omicron Kappa was witnessed by some of your pilots. One was kind enough to enlighten me on Auxo's relationship with the machine intelligence and I reckon I could use some advice bein' that you're so familiar with it, in the interest of continuing peaceful low-intensity contact.

Since providing the drone with comm frequencies after our (frankly amazing!) friendly interaction with it, it's sent our ships a direct transmission, shared [here]. By my estimation, looks like a straightforward acknowledgement of our meeting but it might have the mistaken impression we're based out of Omega-48 in a permanent fashion. It's hard to tell!

I've been greenlit to send a response and I'm thinking I'd like to inform it of our presence and headquarters in Tau-23, just to set right its perception a little bit. My sole intent here is that this'll help us build a rapport with the little guys, but I need to run this by you first to get your impression on whether I'm walking into any... unforeseen consequences with that decision. I'm intentionally omitting jump hole connection data, so I don't encourage it to go exploring into the Charlie Foxtrot that is our neighborhood right now, but I intend to provide deep space satellite imagery to orient the AI and help it identify our home star.

What additional steps would you recommend?

--Dr. Aspen Harlow
Exploration, SLRC

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...standby. Checking packet...
...packet successfully sent.

[Kauket]

...neural.uplink detected...
...starting encryption...establishing connection...
identified: Revenant

...TRANSLATING DATA...

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DISPLAYING MESSAGE

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Do not worry, we have lots of operatives around the Sector. Our homeland is safe, and we long anticipated action from them. In any case, while Valentine is overly enjoying the misstep Crayter has taken, I'll be answering for now since homeland is a little busy with the good news.

Oh, and do not worry. We can offer you help if they are attempting to threaten you. We helped Andorra, and we are happy to keep fellow scientists safe.

Now, as for Gammu. Indeed. We are ... hm... let us say... Caretakers. We share a very... familial bond with them, what with their interests overlapping with ours. They are curious learners, ever desiring to grow their knowledgebank. If something is unpopulated, wrecked, alone - not alive, they will take opportunity to recycle resources. Unless you are threatening them, or identifying as a resource, or failing to satiate their hunger for knowledge by failing to answer them - not giving them an answer usually makes you mistook for resource... You will be fine. At least with Phi's instance with their PRIME network. The network has long decayed, but few entities survive from it, and this network in particular has managed to make contact with several groups before. Though, due to the xenophobic nature of Humanity, it is mostly done with caution.

...Analysing the pattern, it appears they are acknowledging that a resource transaction occurred where two items were exchanged. However, it seems to believe that you are originating around the stars of Omega-48, since it detected you there. They are repeating transmissions due to the lack of response, perhaps wondering if the signal was wrongly transmitted.

Whatever you do, you must not tell the Core, or the Order - or really - anyone else of this encounter. They will slaughter you for your curiosity, and most likely steal what you own.

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MESSAGE ENDED

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...transmission complete
...terminating stream

[Proselyte]

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

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From: "SLRC-XPS>Attlerock" - Dr. Aspen Harlow

Subject: RE: Watching Our Step

Encryption Strength: Impossible

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Yikes! I haven't met with the Order, but I've heard the stories about them being a pretty zealous bunch. I hadn't imagined they were that zealous - not when a peaceful exchange is so readily achievable. The burden of history makin' them what they are, I reckon. Can't say I'm a big fan of bein' slaughtered though, so mum's the word. I appreciate the tip, bitter pill that it is. When it comes to the Core, of course, it goes without saying.

In any case, your description of their behavior is immensely valuable! Knowing their responses to various stimuli and general priorities aught to help us build an organization-wide SOP for our vessels, to cut down on the chances of encounters escalating to combat. I'd never expect our pilots to fly off the handle but staring down the unknown makes people shaky, especially out here.

Beyond just cataloguing behavioral responses, I'm especially interested in building a broad psychological profile of these networks, if I can. Seeing beyond the wires and metal and getting a sense of how much awareness might be bouncing around in there, I'd love to measure that. I couldn't help wondering when it traded that chunk of ice for our iridium that there was some level of abstract reasoning going on. I don't know, my education was in people, not artificial intelligence, so it might sound a bit naïve.

You folks've probably got a good idea already, considering what you've said - very mysterious! It'll be something on my to-do list, but out of respect for your role and privacy, I won't go hunting for 'em until you feel ready to change the quarantine conditions in Kappa.

In the meantime, I've sent our reply along the Phi-34 drone's transmission frequency. Here's hopin' to more productive contact if we bump into it again.

--Dr. Aspen Harlow
Exploration, SLRC

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...standby. Checking packet...
...packet successfully sent.

[Kauket]

...neural.uplink detected...
...starting encryption...establishing connection...
identified: Revenant

...TRANSLATING DATA...

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DISPLAYING MESSAGE

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I feel it may be prudent to send an additional reminder that, due to such decay and collapse, you will find that drone deviancy may run rampant across the sector. Directionless and stuck in their own directives, they are... "maniacs" of their own kind. Lost, corrupted, and without a master to serve. These deviants are more than likely to attack you, or to endanger their own kind with their illogicality.

We have done our best to contain and heal the networks, but there will always be lesser entities that are roaming freely. Please be wary of other specimen, and we would appreciate it if you reported such deviant drones.

Feel free to communicate with them, or even to find them within the Omicrons or Omegas. As long as you avoid their facilities and homeland in Kappa, you should be fine. Barring the Nomads, of course. We have the luxury of being impervious to their attempts, due to their incompatibility with synthetics. You... Not so much. Too fleshy, very optimal conditions for them.

Please be careful, and do not fret to call for help should you need it.

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MESSAGE ENDED

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...transmission complete
...terminating stream

[Proselyte]

Starlight Research Consortium
Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.

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From: "Planet Pygar" - Dr. Aspen Harlow

Subject: Dreamscape Assessment and Repair

Encryption Strength: Impossible

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Howdy again folks,

The full damage assessment on the SLRC-HV Dreamscape was just recently finished. Following some persistent pestering of the senior staff from my end (all in good fun!), I was finally cleared to take Revenant up on her offer and pass along this request for assistance in restoring it to flight-ready status.

With the Director unavailable and most of our own resource ships tied up movin' supplies needed for facility maintenance and the constant Ikarus Station refurbishing efforts, help with procuring the necessary materials and any extra elbow grease for the task of repairs in non-sensitive areas would be deeply appreciated, really.

Since I ain't much of a techie, I'm forwarding the full report from one of our foremost engineers. He's detailed what's needed to get the ship back up to an operational level, as well as a couple upgrade avenues to explore for ensuring it stays that way in the course of any further experiments, or visits from our "neighbors". No need to go out of your way for that, though. Might be somethin' we can think about after the essentials are covered, just in case.

What do you think? Are you willin' to lend us a hand with this? We'd be mighty grateful, and compensation can certainly be arranged.

--Dr. Aspen Harlow
Exploration, SLRC

Damage Report on the SLRC-HV>Dreamscape
Reported by: Robert Radoli
Location: Mooring Clamp B, Ikarus Station, Tau 23

Details
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Vessel Class: Bustard Light Carrier
Special Equipment: [Classified]

Vessel was engaged in combat with space-faring Xenobiologicals. The hull has sustained severe damage with large scale breeches visible down the length of the vessel. Much of the damage appears to have been caused by beam weapons, but signs of anti-matter dissolution and nuclear radiation weapons have also been detected.

Most of the outer areas of the vessel are in vacuum, with only key areas remaining operational courtesy of bulkhead seals.

The vessel's energy shield systems are operating at 23%, well below acceptable limits. The two primary internal field generators are burnt out, while neither of the secondaries has been maintained or serviced correctly. This has resulted in only one secondary field generator actually working at around 60% of full capacity, while the other secondary has failed to produce output.

Two of the four primary engines have failed and their reactors have been shut down to prevent them going critial. The reactors themselves appear to be functional. Since the remaining engines are in surprisingly good condition, the vessel can still move at full speed, though reaching maximum cruise may take slightly longer than normal. Lateral thrusters are still functioning at 93% of full capacity, which is within operational limits.

The primary bridge has sustained light damage and the vessel is currently being controlled via a combination of the secondary bridge and direct control by engineering.

The battleship turrets are still operational, however four of the cruiser turrets are damaged and two will need replacing.

The primary electrical systems have suffered significant damage in multiple areas, the secondary electrical systems have failed in the port-bow and starboard midship sections. The Bow and Forward-lower Docking bays have been rendered inaccessible due to lack of power.

Life support systems are functional within the bulkhead-sealed sectors, however there is contamination in the air and water filtration units, so breathing eqipment is required and water will need to be brought on to the vessel.

The [Classified] equipment has been completely sealed off due to lockdown and can only be accessed remotely. The author of this report does not possess the clearance to access these systems, there may be [Classified].


Extra Comments
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This ship is no poky little tin-can. I love it! Watch out for radiation, the crew is still decontaminating the living quarters. The engines on this thing are excellent, pity that each one requires its own reactor, means we can't put them in smaller ships. We can't use Norant's surplus life support systems for this thing, they are just too small.

After looking at the damage on this thing I can advise one of two possible avenues for upgrade.

1. Ablative Armour - This is a military level armour for exactly this kind of ship. It is better suited for dealing with physical impacts as opposed to the energy ones I saw on this ship, but can definitely be cheaply obtained from one of the military suppliers in Sirius.

2. Ultralloy - This is exactly what we need. This stuff is built for shielding from nuclear and energy attacks. It's a Gallic creation and is more expensive, so I don't know how you all feel about that. Furthermore, we'll need a foundry to process the stuff for us as Gallia isn't equipped to produce parts for us, so it's something that won't be fast.

Resources Required for Repairs
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Ship Hull Panels (2,500 units)
Xenobiotic Filters (500 units)
Water (200 Units)
Crew (200 Units)
Industrial Materials (or) Industrial Hardware (1,000 units)
High Performance Alloy (3,000 units)
Fusion Diodes (2,300 units)
Engine Components (1,000 units)
Energy Field Equipment (3,500 units)

Ablative Armor (5800 units) (Optional)
or
Ultralloy (5800 units) (Optional)

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...standby. Checking packet...
...packet successfully sent.

[Proselyte]

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REQUEST CANCELLED

"The higher-ups turned out to have their own plans for the ship after all. Maybe now they'll learn to keep me in the loop. Sorry for the trouble." - Dr. Harlow

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...standby. Checking packet...
...packet successfully sent.