The entire crew has been incinerated to make sure that the virus didn't survive. The "purge" had been set to start right before the ship returned to Sirius. The "Purge" Protocol was a way of killing every life form aboard the ship or in specific sections of it. The air was first frozen to - 500 degrees Celsius, then it was ignited and consumed at 500 degrees Celsius.
Raluca's clone was in cryosleep in one of the escape pods. She was going to Sirius as the only survivor of this disaster. Her mind contained the information about this lethal virus and some basics about the sector where humanity was living. Despite being Raluca's clone, she didn't receive her memories. Ral wanted to let her learn on her own, to let her forge her own destiny.
After the purge, Starlight executed a planned jump and returned to Sirius. Raluca's clone woke up and this is where the story starts.
One day later...
So, I'm in Kepler... let's see...
NeuralNet-Wiki Wrote:
The Kepler system is an Independent World that connects Liberty and Kusari. It contains two jump gates: one that leads to Shikoku, and another that leads to Colorado. They are connected by two trade lanes, with Ames Research Station between them. Because it is larger than the Galileo system and therefore takes longer to cross, as well as the more convenient location of the Galileo jump gate in Colorado, it does not experience heavy traffic other than those who have come to trade with Ames Research Station. Additionally, a heavy Xenos presence based out of the Denko Cloud has further discouraged Kepler's use as a significant trade highway between Liberty and Kusari.
What's wrong with the map? It stopped downloading the interactive components. What the frak?
An alarm starts and the girl rushes to the command deck. The ship was already inside a radiation cloud. The electronic systems were collapsing one after the other. Come on, baby, don't make a scene now. Let's turn. Turn... that's it.
Suddenly the ship shakes like it hit something big. Screw it. Full stop! Star, damage report. Star! Damage report, now!
The VI was down. Meaning that the huge ship could not be controlled by only one person. It needed at least the skeleton crew. Oh, come on! I have to check everything by my own, now. Well...
After couple of hours, the damage report was ready. So, the VI is dead, external sensors are gone, comm relay is damaged and its functionality is unknown... figures, the fire control is inactive on the engines decks, all three engines are offline, one of the biodomes is compromised, and life support on half the decks is offline. Thing is... most of these problems are not from radiations or asteroids but from damage from our trip into the Void.
The woman started a video log. Each morning she was spending a few minutes in front of a small camera.
I fixed the comm relay last night and sent out a distress signal. I don't know if anyone received it. I don't even know if the ship managed to transmit it. What I do know is that I am able to pick up some radio frequencies now... A few hours ago I heard a transmission that sounded like this: "I'm smelling fresh meat..." No idea what was it about but I hope someone received my signals... And I hope no one tries to eat me if they find me. But I can't be picky about my rescuer, can I?
This morning I managed to get to the air tanks and the situation is bad. I have fresh air for 104 hours. The nav system is completely fried and looking at the window won't do any good. I can't see any stations or planets except that cloud that got me into this mess. At least I'm not heading towards it. I need to send another message, describing my location. I wonder if I can transmit more than just sound. I'll try. I can't just hope that someone will find me and no nothing.
Situation was getting worse every hour. Multiple decks and compartments were losing life support. The ship's shields failed. However, the survivor managed to get in contact with a number of ships that offered assistance and started a search. She even managed to repair the comms.
Just when it look like she might have a chance, a fuel pipe exploded in the proximity of the air tanks. She was terrified.
Today, a ship located the wreck. It was a Xeno. The rescue mission was underway.
Starlight: Oh my God! Hello!
Garry.Johnson: Hah.
Garry.Johnson: Nephilim calss, eh?
Garry.Johnson: Quite big junk I have to say. Starlight: Yea... we... I have returned from a trip outside of known space
Garry.Johnson: "Outside"? Starlight: As in... not in Sirius
Garry.Johnson: Ok ok.
Garry.Johnson: I've brought you some supplies. Starlight: Wait...
Garry.Johnson: But I thought to find freighter, not... colony ship. Starlight: Erm... all decks lost life support. the hangar is compromised. Starlight: I don't think you can dock
Garry.Johnson: So I guess there isn't much of that colony ship left in there, eh? Starlight: Don't think so... it's a wreck. Probably it could be used but I doubt anyone would spend a fortune to repair it.
Garry.Johnson: What happend out there? Starlight: Our intention was to find a planet outside of Sirius and colonize it. Starlight: Also, we had a team of professors that were conducting genetics experiments... cloning mainly.
Garry.Johnson: Don't even say that you have any geneticaly modified crap in there. Starlight: They were experimenting on some virus, trying to clone it and find vulnerabilities in order to kill it. Starlight: No... the ship is clean.
Garry.Johnson: You sure? Starlight: Yes... I will explain what happened
Garry.Johnson: I'm listening. Starlight: A very violent storm hit the ship. The geneticians made some mistakes and didn't follow the security protocols and... Starlight: A deadly virus started spreading. That's when the captain initiated the Purge protocol.
Garry.Johnson: Wait a second.
Garry.Johnson: You want to say that you took deadly virus on a colony mission?
Garry.Johnson: Seriously?!
Garry.Johnson: And now you bring infested ship back? Starlight: Yes... most of the ships of this type have a research center.
Starlight: The ship is clean! I am clean
Starlight: The purge kills everything...
Garry.Johnson: How can you tell?
Garry.Johnson: So why it didn't killed you? Starlight: I was in cryo... separated from the ship's environment.
Garry.Johnson: Eh.
Garry.Johnson: Cryo.
Garry.Johnson: You think this is a impenetrable barrier or something?
Garry.Johnson: How do you even operate this junk alone?
Garry.Johnson: You stink buddy.
Garry.Johnson: You stink hard. Starlight: What? I'm not operating anything
Starlight: The ship is dead.
Garry.Johnson: So how did you get here?
Garry.Johnson: I'm sure it didn't just drifted into middle of Sirius. Starlight: During the Purge, the ship returns to known space. It's an automatic protocol
Garry.Johnson: Eh.
Garry.Johnson: You're alone out there? Starlight: The jump should have taken it to the Omicrons but something happened and I ended in here...
Garry.Johnson: yeah. Starlight: Yes! I'm the only survivor...
Garry.Johnson: Only one?
Garry.Johnson: Ot you have any zombish stuff in there? Starlight: The only one in cryo at that time.
Garry.Johnson: So you have couple hundred crew members and one cryo? Starlight: Look... I woke up when the ship entered Sirius. If the virus was still active, I would have died after one day
Garry.Johnson: Or virus is active in other part of the ship. Starlight: Impossible... I inspected all the compartments of the ship before they lost life support.
Garry.Johnson: How can I trust you? I find a abandoned colony ship in a middle of Sirius with ONE crew member, that I don't even know his name. Starlight: Eh... thing is... I don't know my name either.
Garry.Johnson: What. The. Heck. Starlight: Can't you just trust me? If I wasn't speaking the truth, you wouldn't know about the ship's mission. Starlight: Or the virus...
Garry.Johnson: I suggest you'l check main computer and see crew members list. You might find yourself in there.
Garry.Johnson: And, how should I take you out there?
Garry.Johnson: Extracting anyone from a damaged fighter or transport is easy.
Garry.Johnson: But your ship is damn big.
Garry.Johnson: You can be everywhere. Starlight: I'm on the Command Deck... upper structure of the ship.
Starlight: I have an exterior suit in here
Starlight: Ships shields are down so... a rocket should be able to make a whole and "flush" me out.
Garry.Johnson: Rocket...
Garry.Johnson: I have hull breacher. Starlight: That should do it
Garry.Johnson: But that's too dangerous.
Garry.Johnson: One particle shot should break the windows. Starlight: Maybe... wait a sec
Starlight: The computer contains images of all the crew memebrs...
Starlight: I look like the captain... Raluca Kiss. But I can't be the captain. She was awake when the Purge was initiated.
Starlight: She was the one to activate it!
Garry.Johnson: You see, your comms are little malfunctioning.
Garry.Johnson: You're a man or woman? Starlight: I'm a woman. Sorry I forgot to mention that.
Garry.Johnson: I can hear a... neutral voice.
Garry.Johnson: Raluca Kiss...
Garry.Johnson: They're going to kick my ass hard for this... Starlight: You know her?
Garry.Johnson: No.
Garry.Johnson: But she isn't libertonian for sure. Starlight: Well... this is a zoner ship.
Garry.Johnson: And this is a Xeno explorer.
Garry.Johnson: And those ships don't match.
Garry.Johnson: Let's hope they wont find out. Starlight: Should I say I'm libertonian if anyone asks?
Garry.Johnson: Yeah.
Garry.Johnson: It will save my life.
Garry.Johnson: Ok, my hatch is positioned.
Garry.Johnson: Should I open it? Starlight: Erm... ok.
Garry.Johnson: Or you have something more to do there?
Garry.Johnson: Ready? Starlight: Take me out of here.
Starlight: Yeah. Do it
Garry.Johnson: Ok.
Garry.Johnson: Johny, open that hatch.
Garry.Johnson: Left one!
Garry.Johnson: 3.
Garry.Johnson: 2.
Garry.Johnson: 1. Starlight: Oh shi...
Garry.Johnson: Do we got her?
Garry.Johnson: Johny?
Garry.Johnson: Johny: Yeah, got her.
Garry.Johnson: Good.
Garry.Johnson: Close the hatch. Starlight: Thanks!
Starlight: Can you help me take down the suit?
Garry.Johnson: You're welcome.
Garry.Johnson: Of course.
Garry.Johnson: *helps in taking down the suit* Starlight: Ahhh... that thing is heavy. Thanks.
Garry.Johnson: No problem.
Garry.Johnson: Barney, set course for Ames! Starlight: *You see a normal outfitted zoner woman. Green eyes, long black hair, normal in any other possible way*
Starlight: So... what happens now?
Garry.Johnson: Now...
Garry.Johnson: I think I'll drop you at Ames. Starlight: That's a zoner installation, right?
Garry.Johnson: Yeah.
Garry.Johnson: I can't take you anywhere else.
Garry.Johnson: I may take you to Nome, but... You're too unlibertonian to do that.
Garry.Johnson: Watch out, we're in dark matter cloud.
Garry.Johnson: We may have some... turbulences. Starlight: This is where everything started to go bad...
Garry.Johnson: That was a dark matter storm? Starlight: Nah, when I returned to Sirius, the ship was functional.
Garry.Johnson: 15k from Ames.
Garry.Johnson: Prepare for some... "Action". Starlight: But an Ion storm sent us right into this cloud and... before I caould take it out, the ship's system started to fail
Starlight: I guess the damage was cumulated with what happend in dark void
Starlight: What do you mean... action?
Garry.Johnson: Well.
Garry.Johnson: I'm a bit suprised that your ship isn't outfitted to stay in dark matter cloud.
Garry.Johnson: Action?
Garry.Johnson: You see, many corporation transports have a certain turret malfunction that when they see a Xeno they shoot at him even in No Fire Zone.
Garry.Johnson: Ok, we're here. Starlight: I see...
Garry.Johnson: You should better think what to tell them.
Garry.Johnson: Well.
Garry.Johnson: We should. Starlight: Ok... so... I shouldn't tell them about the virus and the purge and... better if I invent a whole new story, right?
Garry.Johnson: Well... Yes.
Garry.Johnson: You shouldn't say such things here. Starlight: Alright... give me a name.
Garry.Johnson: Well.
Garry.Johnson: Let me think.
Garry.Johnson: Jane Rockbell? Starlight: Rockbell? Really?
Garry.Johnson: What?
Garry.Johnson: I'm bad at inventing names. Starlight: It sounds like a... I don't know.
Garry.Johnson: Well. Starlight: I like Jane.
Garry.Johnson: I know that guys *points at a hangar worker* is called Shelton. Starlight: Alright... I'll go with Jane Shelton. Libertonian enough?
Garry.Johnson: Well.
Garry.Johnson: It should work for now. Starlight: Good. I think they heard the distress signal so they know about the ship, right?
Garry.Johnson: They should.
Garry.Johnson: There's a lot of not so nice people around.
Garry.Johnson: Oh. Starlight: So... if I tell them that the ship suffered all that damage in the Omicrons while under attack by Nomads...
Garry.Johnson: They'll ask why you're in Kepler. Starlight: We had to make an emergency blind jump that landed us in the dark matter cloud, here.
Garry.Johnson: That could work. Starlight: But... How do I explain the lack of crew?
Garry.Johnson: Maybe by those big holes in your ship? Starlight: Erm... there's still one problem.
Garry.Johnson: Yes? Starlight: The logs are still there. A zoner should know how to pass the encryption and read them.
Garry.Johnson: Oh well. I can't fix that. Starlight: Actually, you can...
Garry.Johnson: I can? Starlight: Your ship has weapons, right?
Garry.Johnson: Yeah.
Garry.Johnson: Of course it has.
Garry.Johnson: Even our unarmed ships have weapons. Starlight: Destroy the Starlight.
Garry.Johnson: What?
Garry.Johnson: It would take ages! Starlight: Yeah... you're right.
Garry.Johnson: But wait. Starlight: I know!
Starlight: What?
Garry.Johnson: What is your ships estimated hull integrity? Starlight: 1.5 millions
Garry.Johnson: But if I will aim at weak spots...
Garry.Johnson: It can be done.
Garry.Johnson: I have life support capable of sustaining my ship for a year. Starlight: Wait... I have an easier solution.
Starlight: Let's say you didn't find the ship and I can't point them to it.
Garry.Johnson: Ok, I've counted some things and... I'll have to fire my hull breaker 775 times.
Garry.Johnson: What do you mean?
Garry.Johnson: You say that we didn't saw anything? Starlight: I used one of the escape pods when the air tanks were damaged and launched. You found that thing.
Garry.Johnson: Yeah.
Garry.Johnson: I did. Starlight: And the ship will remain there till I can get back on board and "fix" the logs.
Garry.Johnson: Sounds good.
Garry.Johnson: And when you'll be able to fix the logs? Starlight: Erm... when I will have the resources to get back there and repair some of the systems.
Garry.Johnson: Sounds good so far.
Garry.Johnson: But how you'll get those?
Garry.Johnson: You know, we can "find" some of them. Starlight: I didn't plan so far ahead.
Starlight: How?
Starlight: Ah... I see what you mean.
Garry.Johnson: You know, people tend to carry them around here in unarmored ships. Starlight: I never imagined myself doing piracy...
Garry.Johnson: You don't have to.
Garry.Johnson: I have some firends that are more "legal". Starlight: Really?
Garry.Johnson: They can help you.
Garry.Johnson: Yes.
Garry.Johnson: I have a friend which is actually in Bretonia, but I can call him here. He owe me a favor. Starlight: Can I ask you something?
Garry.Johnson: Sure. Starlight: Please let's continue this conversation on board of the station, with some food in front of us...
Garry.Johnson: Yes, I agree.
Garry.Johnson: But don't expect any luxury stuff here.
Garry.Johnson: And be sure to take anti rad pill after eating.
Garry.Johnson: You never know where that food was before. Starlight: So... I'm Jane... Shelton, only survivor. Crew was lost in Nomads attack. I blind jumped in Kepler. Alright, let's go.
Garry.Johnson: There's only one bar here.
Garry.Johnson: Follow me. Garry walks into one of corridors. Jane follows him examining the people around them. When they got to the bar the man started looking for a free table...
Garry.Johnson: Ok, here we are. Starlight: The fashion evolved while I was out there.
Garry.Johnson: Well. I didn't saw any changes in last 8 years.
Garry.Johnson: Let's sit here. Starlight: Look at my clothes and now look at that zoner over there, pointing at a zoner engineer sitting at the bar.
Garry.Johnson: Well.
Garry.Johnson: Pretty much the same. Starlight: Since when do zoners wear red?!
Garry.Johnson: What?
Garry.Johnson: Where do you see red zoner...? Starlight: That guys has a bracelet... look. It's red.
Garry.Johnson: Ah, this one...
Garry.Johnson: Yeah, that's a bit different clothing. Starlight: It's ok if it's a singular case.
Garry.Johnson: Yeah, it is. Starlight: Food. How much is the food here? I got no credits.
Garry.Johnson: I have some.
Garry.Johnson: Well.
Garry.Johnson: Food here is expensive and disgusting. Starlight: Oh God! If you can get me an ID I will be able to repay you and more.
Garry.Johnson: Get you an ID? Starlight: Yeah.. like that thing that tracks your "reputation".
Garry.Johnson: Hah, you shouldn't have any problems with getting Freelancer ID here. Starlight: Awesome
Garry.Johnson: Well, I have a firend who can get you a bit more lawful. Starlight: What do I have to do?
Garry.Johnson: Well, first you need a ship. Starlight: I hope that bank is still around.
Garry.Johnson: Unlike food, they have good ships around here.
Garry.Johnson: I hope that you know how to fight in fighter, do you? Starlight: Erm... I only used the simulators to fly a fighter
Garry.Johnson: Oh well.
Garry.Johnson: I can't teach you how to fly a fighter with Spatial.
Garry.Johnson: Just let me make a call, one second. Garry starts talking to communicator, while Jane starts eating the ordered food like it was her first meal after weeks of starvation.
Garry.Johnson: Marc? Ames, two days. What? I don't care! and puts communicator down, almost breaking it. Then he starts eating.
Garry.Johnson: Oh.
Garry.Johnson: Better than the last one. Starlight: Everything in order?Jane asked with her mouth full of food.
Garry.Johnson: Yeah. Starlight: I'm sorry... this is good. Better than what I ate since I woke up on the Starlight.
Garry.Johnson: I've just called somebody who can at least show you the basics of fighter fighting and other stuff you need to not crash out t.
Garry.Johnson: there.
Garry.Johnson: No problem. It's really tasty compared to my last meal here. Starlight: I guess I'll be staying at Ames for the next two days?
Garry.Johnson: Yeah.
Garry.Johnson: You should take some rest. Starlight: Good idea. But where?
Garry.Johnson: Well, I have a small... room here.
Garry.Johnson: I have to go back to Nome for those 2 days, but you can stay here.
Garry.Johnson: Or you can stay in my ship. It has sleeping room inside. Starlight: Really? Thanks. Hey... no one asked us anything when we docked... is that normal?
Garry.Johnson: Yeah.
Garry.Johnson: Don't ask. Don't tell.
Garry.Johnson: Very comfortable policy. Starlight: Right. I think I'll chose the room if you don't mind. I had enough of space and ships for now.
Garry.Johnson: Hah, no problem.
Garry.Johnson: My room is located in living part of the station, two decks above us.
Garry.Johnson: You'll have a nice view on dark matter clouds. Starlight: Are you kidding me? I love dark matter clouds! said with a big grin on her face.
Garry.Johnson: Through a 20 centimeter wide window, but still. Starlight: Kidding... does it have a shower?
Garry.Johnson: Yeah.
Garry.Johnson: Kind of. Starlight: I really need a shower. -smells her clothes- Yhhh... I really need a shower.
Garry.Johnson: Well. Starlight: And I need to wash these...
Garry.Johnson: I can see now that you haven't visited our ship after 3 months long recon mission.
Garry.Johnson: You see, we don't have a shower at all.
Garry.Johnson: You just wash yourself with some chemicals.
Garry.Johnson: Do you want to see that room? Starlight: Yes... let me just finish this meal.
Garry.Johnson: Ok. Starlight: Let's go, she said, giving away a loud retching. Sorry!
Garry.Johnson: No problem, no problem.
Garry.Johnson: Let's go. Starlight: Hey... there are people still looking for me out there. Do you think we should let them know that I'm no longer in danger?
Garry.Johnson: Well.
Garry.Johnson: We have a greeny bounty hunter. A some kind of mad murderer and a Junker.
Garry.Johnson: No need. Starlight: Alright... mad murderer?
Garry.Johnson: I don't know.
Garry.Johnson: I got his transmission too.
Garry.Johnson: That guys that was talking about fresh meat. Garry walks into an elevator, followed by Jane. Starlight: That sounded like a Corsair to me.
Garry.Johnson: Here?
Garry.Johnson: He would be killed in no-time by Rogues and Hackers. The lift bips, announcing the level they were at. Garry walks out of it, followed by Jane. Starlight: This lift moves too slow...
Garry.Johnson: A bit. Garry opens very very small round shaped hatch and waits for Jane to get inside. Starlight: This is it?
Garry.Johnson: Yes, it is.
Garry.Johnson: Get in, we wont fit in there together. Starlight: Wow... it's so... The room had a very small bed, a shower cabin and lots of things attached to walls (books, posters...).
Garry.Johnson: Small? Starlight: Just perfect.
Garry.Johnson: You see that cabine? that's the shower, but there's a water rationing here. Starlight: I can't wait for that, she said while she started unzipping her suit. Starlight: So... meet you in two days?
Garry.Johnson: Ahh... Yes, yes... he said, visibly embarrassed. I've to go check my ship. Starlight: Thanks... Garry!
Garry.Johnson: Have fun here.
Garry.Johnson: Good luck, Jane. He leaves towards the elevator and hears Jane from the room. Starlight: Thank you for everything, Garry. See you in two days. Stay out of trouble.
Garry.Johnson: You too!