This is Commander Jacklyn Hewitt, INS Procyon. Aftermath of Flight Beta was less than perfect, but far from a wipe. Minotaur fell to enemy fire, buying time for the rest to make it out. Severed contact with Flight Beta once we hit the Barrier, and began the long trip north. Time for that extra fuel we loaded to be of use.
I've been in contact with someone who only identified himself as the 'Sponsor', though to what he didn't say. My suspicions are the Order, or perhaps some Gallic-based entity, but to know for sure we'll need to reach him. From the messages he'd sent prior to Flight Beta, we appears to be based from a freeport in the far northern Taus, but star charts that far aren't reliable if they don't come from the source. Here's hoping that altruism isn't dead.
This is Hewitt, signing off."
________________________________________________
Initiating Datalog Entry
"Personal log: April 7th, 830 A.S.
Hewitt again, INS Procyon. Seems activity in Magellan has reached something of a standstill after the action last month. Naval garrison hasn't sent much into the nebula after us, which provided the cover we needed to reach Mactan. Hackers weren't too thrilled to see us, but respected our ties enough to provide us with a top-off and some rest before we head out tomorrow.
Seems West never told anyone past the minefield about the excursions into Magellan, and their commander was quite interested in knowing what was going on. Given the bad blood, I can understand why, but at least this will better prepare them to receive potentials once the last two flights get underway.
We'll be making our way into Bretonia next, although I doubt that things from here on will be any easier. The smog clouds are known to do considerable damage to sensitive equipment, and our sensors likely won't stay pristine for long. The Mactan commander provided me with coordinates for a Freelance outpost in the West Leeds Cloud, so that will be our next stop. Assuming all goes well, they should have better maps into the Taus than the Hackers do, as I'm sure plenty of Outcasts and Independent Miners make their way there.
Power has been restored following fuel line severance from the main reactor. That our air held out for that long without recycling is nothing short of a miracle. Chief Engineer Hailey confirmed that direct impact had been made with one of the Barrier 'roids, and lodged it within the ship's superstructure. While pressure was restored to decks seven through ten in that compartment, it didn't stop the air venting into the nebula. Hailey wants to send a team in to survey the damage, but only after power to shields has been restored. Until then, we'll be sitting tight for the crew to get systems back in full.
No communications so far from other members of Flight Delta. A nearby sensor sweep detected numerous friendly and enemy fighter and gunship wrecks. Likely what remained of our escort and our pursuers. It could be they saw the ship hit the asteroid and assumed it vented the entire ship. If so, this may give us time to bring systems back up and make for the rendezvous.
Next log will be set.. for three days, barring anything unexpected.
This is Fairchild, end of log."
It's been 46 hours since last transmission with the Xeno Adjutant through the net. Since then, things have deteriorated.
Commander Benson notified me yesterday of a breach of ship communications, followed shortly by a strike by our engineers. The ship is holding together, but we'll never make any port with this many delays.
I'm ordering the better quality rations be limited only to those who finish their assigned tasks. It's drastic, but we need to stay focused out here. I'm hoping this issue will solve itself.
Frasier, out."
________________________________________________
"Log, Benson, April 20th.
We've locked ship communications, weapons, and hangar doors. Until Captain Frasier returns, we're in a state of lockdown, and I don't see it ending until Hanlon gives up.
Deck reports fifteen KIA, seven wounded. No idea where they got sidearms, but they sure don't look like any of the ones we were issued. Marine teams assure us they have engineering sectioned off, although no actual word yet on the Captain's status.
Active log will remain on stand-by. I'll also keep the red switch in case things go south fast.
Commander Hewitt, INS Procyon.
We departed the freelance outpost in Leeds yesterday to make our way up north. The last few months were spent haggling for better deals on food and water; Not my strong suit, but the ship stayed intact for what its worth. Amazed my contact is still waiting for us.
In addition to food and water, I was also able to procure maps for the regions north of here. We'd barely left Bretonian space when we were jumped by a Gaian raider that didn't seem too interested in chatting, and only thanks to the intervention of some Mollys were we able to get out with minimal structural damage. I compensated the Mollys for their actions, then we parted ways.
The next systems our maps had marked for us was Roussillon, the Council's old holdout system. No contact of note aside from a Royalist gunship that didn't impede us.
We passed through one more Tau system before the map ran out. A nearby anomaly in the white nebula brought us to Provence, where we made port at yet another freelance outpost at the system's edge. I'm going to make some contact with the station locals, and maybe even procure another set of maps. I've had no word yet from my contact, but I assume if he's waited this long, he can't be a fraud.
Will log updates as they present themselves.
Hewitt, out."
________________________________________________
"Personal log: September 18th, 830 A.S.
We made contact with a member of the Unione Corse a couple days ago, and have since established communications with the Corse's leader, one Principal Alfredo Orsini. The man himself is quite accommodating, and has allowed us safe harbor, although I've kept the Procyon to Monte Carlo for the time being so as to not arouse concern.
The crew has been getting some R&R, and the ship some attention. I suspect the final push north into the Taus will need us all at full strength.
I've inquired to Principal Orsini to provide us with maps of the region, but he's so far been reluctant to do so, likely out of security reasons. I've provided a response, but so far he's not given me one in kind.
We'll see if the Corse can provide us with the maps we need, no matter how annotated. If they can't, I'll have to see about finding second-hand information from the freelancers and the patrons here on Monte Carlo. I don't relish the idea of going behind the Corse's back, but my contact won't wait forever, and time is of the essence.
Systems are intermittent, but power has been restored to gravity fields and, for the time being, life support. Sergeant Avery says that it will take time to bring most systems online, but assures me sensors won't take too long to bring back up.
So far, we've counted six decks in fifteen sections that have been breached. Airtight compartments are holding as well as they can, but Avery says it's only a temporary solution. The hangar is completely inaccessible, and engines and aligning thrusters are out.
Out of confirmed casualties, we've tallied 298 so far, including XO Whittaker, mostly from hypoxia and vacuum exposure. The bridge remains intact, but emergency shutters weren't fast enough to save most of the crew. Only Lieutenant Holford made it out, and just barely.
Avery has what remains of the engineering staff working on bringing systems online, but he suspects we may have a fuel leak, given the lower than expected gauges, though he may also suspect damaged sensory equipment.
We won't be moving for a while, so all efforts will move towards rationing what resources we have. Water and nutrition will need to be allocated accordingly, lest we spark a mutiny over food. At least life support remains intact, for now."
