Captains log, 10028 Comrades are fighting on front against Houses and their pawns, and our Battlecruiser Krasnaya is sent to scout nebulas and too samples. Who am I to judge high command, maybe research of surrounding areas is not tha futile after all. So far, no hostiles was detected on our long range scanners and even on our directional scanners. Just for safety meassures I ordered my crew, to run shop on silent mode. We ping nebula with our active scanners only once an hour. Should be enough to look around ourselves, but not to attract unwanted attention.
These Nebulas are so silent. It is like flowing through endless mist or thick cream, it embalms our hull, and when engines are not running and systems are not humming, I can hear how thick nebula is tickling our hull. Small electrical charges are sparkling on it, making sound of rain, that I heard on audiorecordings from planet. It is so strange, feeling that I never stepped on soil of any celestial object. My, and most of lives of my comrades start and ends among the stars. It seems suiting that we have it in our flag.
Today, political officer had speach, how our ancestors in Sol system are proud on us, and that their fleet consisting million ships will arrive soon, to help us out. He was speaking about how we are spearhead of social justice for everyone. Crew was cheering, in these melancholic travels, they need to believe we are part of something bigger. I had to smile, imagination of House fat f**ks faces, when our grand fleet arrives and kicks them from their thrones once again. Where will you flee now? We will chase you, until your last breath ...
Black haired woman in white uniform with red stripes places Datapad back on her table.
Omega 49 seems empty and plain. Local nebulas do not hide any surprises and no reasources that we can exploit. Not even organisms on bacterial level. Obviously, we have this area well mapped, but no-one ever knows. Our odyssey continues ...
Captains log: 10029 It is another day flowing through Nebula. Our ship is slipping through these mysterious mists like spoon through creamy synth paste. When we look from windows, we can see only white and accassionaly asteriods, as nebula lightings sometimes sparkle. Yesterday we had contact with enemy, squadron of Corsair pirates were flying through nebula, probably towards Dublin system. We shut down all unnecessary systems, and watched sensors. They were passing close, and probably suspected something, as they started to roam around us, scanning asteroids. My Chief of Science belives they are looking for another sources of artifacts. One way or another, for good hours there was nothing to do, other then wait if we will prove our combat prowness as Coalition vessel, or we will be passed unnoticed. All lights on ship were switched to red, and tight spaces of corridors looked even more compressed. Crew was spending time in big rooms like mess hall, telling stories to each other. They were telling stories about battles but also legends. I listened to them for a good while, and I can't deny earie atmosphere of our situation. Aside from stories about glowing alien vessels, one old crew member with large beard told stories about ships long lost showing up on sensors, just on outside of detectable range, and when ships got closer they disappeared. He talked about voices from comms that are whispering from wreckages, and sometimes still personal items of dead flowing through nebulas. Whole crew was listening to his stories without single breath. And I was thinking, what we will find in Nebulas, we can find anything around. I looked into thick fog, being suddenly intimidated by our task. Thankfully, lights went on, and first officer announced through intercom, that Corsairs left the area.
At evening, I called meeting of Officer staff. Political officer took speech as first, reminding us about importance of our mission and that Omega systems became ruthless warzone. Nobody denied his words. I asked my Chief Engineer Pyotr if our docking bays will be operational. It seems, we will need more supplies and spare parts. As I understood from his words, there are queue for repairs among Coalition, and recon ship won't like get on front of it, but we need those docking bays. Klara, our Science officer reminded me that without docking bays and working shuttles, we can't reach planet and asteroid surfaces to collect samples. I decided, that we will have to visit some place to ressuply.
This is captains log of 1358-C8 CS Krasnaya, we changed course E-D/3-4.
Captains log: 10030 --Combat record-- Helm: Captain, entering nebula, Sevastopol up ahead! Comm: Captain, we are recieving distress call from SCRA vessels in the area, they are under heavy attack from Bretonia armed forces! Jekaterina: Comm, do we have any intel on locations of hostile vessels? Comm: Niet, Captain, our capital ships were disabled, strike crafts are searching the area. Jekaterina: Very well, Helm, maintain course. Sensors, switch to active search. Sensors: Da, captain, switching to active .... Captain! We hare picking signatures up ahead! Jekaterina runs to sensors, lighting another cigarette: Ping sensor sweep now! Sensors: CAPTAIN, MULTIPLE WARsHIPS UP AHEAD, ON OUR RIGHT! One of them is on our intercept course! Jekaterina: IFF? Quickly! Sensors: It is BFA, captain, they are closing in! Jekaterina: How far is Sevastopol, helm? Helm: 7K, captain we can hide in it's shadow for our escape. Jekaterina puffs cloud of smoke from her cigarette: Helm, one-seven to left. Engineering, drop shields and divert power to the engines. Sensors: They are closing! Jekaterina: Helm, hide behind the station, cut engines once we pass it and let us slide on our vector, turn off all sensors and power! Helm: Da, captain! Jekaterina: Let us pray ... --End of record-- Damn Bretonians invaded New Moscow system. They were trying to find us in Nebula, but reinforcements came quick and they had to retreat. We were sitting turned off for and half an hour to be sure no surprise is left behind. For example, like cloaked bomber. Their damages to our fleet and New Moscow contradicted our plans to change part of our cargo bay to small docking bays for shuttles or crafts. Our command informed us, that they have no spare parts for us and they need to use them for main battle group. How disappointing.
We will get our docking bays in diferent way *She sighs and lights another cigarette*. Aside from that, we had very interesting encounter in Nebulas. While doing spectrographic sweep of Nebula, we noticed strange anomaly close to our ship. It happened to be Gaian destroyer, reaching out to us. Captain of it sounded very educated and we talked about general topics, like their cause, terraformation. But then he askedus for a favor. To contact our command, and ask them for help against Bretonians. In exchange Gaians could provide artifacts of distant alien civilisations to boost our research. I will wait, till he contacts me again, to be sure it wasn't just plain proposition. Artifacts could be very handy and could give us some extra knowledge and about help, after Bretonians dared to put their noses to New Moscow, they will be probably more then eager to settle the score.
Last entry. Our application to SCEC was accepted. Krasnaya and it's crew is now flying under their symbols for glory of people, Coalition and it's science.
Captains log: 10031 FROM: High Commissariat of STA, office of Alexey Novikov.
RECIPIENT: Captain Jekaterina Valerieva.
SOURCE: Mykolaiv Research Station, Omega 52.
SUBJECT: Application reviewed.
Comrade Jekaterina Valerieva.
Your application for service in Expeditionary Corps is approved by the High Commissariat of Science and Technological Advancement. Documents pack confirming transfer of 1358-C8 under Expeditionary Corps command was send to Secondary forces office. The scientific division will later contact you and send data about possible objects of interest.
Good luck, captain, we sure you won't fail Zhukovsky's traditions.
Clearance came few days back. After our service, our ship got it's names among our comrades. And with proven loyality towards Coalition we embarked on long journey. As assigment came, I was bit concerned as description was more loose, then I was used to. We had to travel to outer regions and collect data and information. I called officers meating and we discussed our plans how to fulfill this task. Science officer was most eager of us, promoting idea of delve deep into unknown regions at start. Political officer was more reserved, advising to first visit areas close to Coalition space, so we can retreat back, if situation will require it. After long discussion, we decided to go through safe way. Course is set towards Tau systems.
We reached Tau systems, no resistance so far, we met only one lone wandering GMG pilot. IFF filed. We stayed in Taus for quite while, monitoring nebulas and movement of miners. There was nothing that much interesting. After day, collecting meaningless data, we decided to continue further through north to omicrons. Cheif engineer told me, that in bar on planet Istanbul, he heard Hessians stories about them, that they are filled with wonders, and wealths that Corsairs use to fill their coffins. But Travel to these regions required crossing Kusari borders. We traveled low profile, do not getting close to their infrastructure and sneaking through jump holes. On long distance scanners, we saw KNF ships not aware of our presence. More I was concerned about Outcasts cardamine slaves. I heard stories of their ferocity and unpredictability. After crossing even their territory, we finaly left out Kusari, unharmed and undetected.
We found shelter among Order. I wasn't aware of this organisation, but they are too aware of us. Their hospitality was ... unexpected. We are used to be seen as enemies of all, hated and feared. But not in this part of space. After such long travel, our ship went on maintanance in Carthage shipyard. My crew was free to roam station, with some ... limitations ofcourse. I spent most of my time listening to stories and and checking maps (Those they allowed me to see). By their description, Omicron Xi hosted planet named Knossos, which is visited by Corsairs, Outcasts and even Zoners. Those courageous enough, can search it's upper atmosphere for relics of long lost civilisation. But not only dventurers roam upper part of gas giant atmosphere, there are also beasts lurking in clouds for those who try to steal from this grave.
Intrigued by information we gathered, we decided to embark on our further journey. While we were preparing, and crew was boarding back Krasnaya, two small crafts were passing us with hail "Konbanwa", kusarian greetings. After small chat, we introduced ourselves, they were pilots of Blood dragons, renegades of Kusari. They were on patrol, taking new blood into dangerous land to see universe as ourselves. Their names were Ubukata Tsuya and Miyazka Yuyuko and for my surprise, they already knew about Coalition and they were pretty friendly. Since our goal was similar, I asked them to acompany us to rumored planet. They accepted, as we offered them compensation for their help.
Travel was, rather calm. We ecountered mine field which wasn't showing on our sensors (Note: Such mines could be used by Coalition to fend off Bretonian invasions.). And in Omicron Zeta, there were tough finghts happening between bloodthirsty Corsairs and adventurers. Luckily we mannaged to slip through. When we reached Omicron Xi, gas giant immidietly appeared on our sensors. We descended to atmosphere, concerned what we will find there. As our sensors started to work again, my whole crew remained silent for good minute and just observing from windows. That whole planet was littered by ancient ruins. It was breathtaking sight to see. We traveld to one of side ruins, exchanging our thoughts with Blood dragons, ready to launch geological survey probes. As we did, we collected samples and took survey datas. On our way out, we met huge medical ship captained by captain Sonja.
As we left planet Knossos, we parted our ways, giving Blood dragons part of our SC stash, that we were provided by SCEC for our missions. Through Omicron Gamma and nearby systems, we returned back home bringing to Coalition parts of Alien weaponry, geological specimen and organic matter left on specimen. It was long journey, but Krasnaya delivered us safely there and back.
Captains log: 10032 As High Commissariat of STA requested, our ship Krasnaya headed to the Liberty space, it was long travel. All my crew was sitting nervously and silently, while we were passing Bretonian space. With each other system, our nerves were more like tight strings. In any moment, anything could happen, which could result in failure of mission. Our ship is now loaded with Liberty ship for covert operation and one personal shuttle for emergency.
We passed Bretonian space safely, using only Jumpholes, asking freelancers and local criminals to show us way to another jump point. Bretonia Armed forces weren't aware we passed. And after few days, when we were forced to use official jump gate to Liberty space it lied before us. With blue and yellow nebulas, unreachable to many of us. As we arrived we saw some Liberty Navy patrols and Police which when saw might of Coalition battlecruiser confussedly charged their engines and flew to their bases. I knew they will tell about presence of our ship and we have only limited time.
Krasnaya for few days found its home in one of nebulas, supported by local unlawful groups for refuel and maintenance. I spent most of my days in cabin of station looking on my ship, as it is repaired by small service vessels. I must admit Liberty has very good sensors, as we move from Nebula we picked on long range sensors, that fleet is heading our way and we had to hide again.
With help of sympathizers I was able to land on one of Liberty planet. I gave goodbye to my ship and my crew. I gave them orders to return back home. and return for me when I will send distress signal, or in time of extraction. I rented small flat on one of their planets and think about my crew. Thanks to jump drive, they are probably now already on New Moscow, cheering up for my luck. I wonder, if I will ever see them again, as capitalist eyes are never shut. But I have to finish my mission. First I need to get my new ID, so I can move freely ...