| Liner Samsara
|
- The Robert Fitzgerald was attacked by Outcasts shortly after it left Kurile with a load of Alien Organisms. A distress signal was picked up by the Atka base, but by the time fighters could scramble, distressed ship had vanished into the mists of the Kunashir Cloud. As far as we can tell, it never came out.
- This is some dangerous space you are in. It's good to have friends in places like this. If you ever need to head into Omicron Theta, the Zoners have a base where you can land and resupply. I hope you get along okay with the Corsairs. If not, it could be a one-way trip.
- Sometimes the Outcasts and Corsairs will run into each other. When that happens you better watch out because it is going to get bloody. It's impressive to watch two skilled opponents fight each other to the death. It occurs occasionally in this system - more often in Sigma 19. Probably happens in Sigma-13 too, but you don't see much there.
- I was able to capture an Outcast in Omicron Beta a few months ago. First, I disabled his ship and hit it with an electro-pulse to knock out the people inside. It's an old Bounty Hunter weapon that's available to Guild members only - kind of an EMP on steroids. I'm told it zaps both computers and nerves. Once he was unconscious I suited up and went space walking. Nastiest bit was figuring out how that breathing gear of theirs could be pried from the cockpit. Those sniffers don't survive long without their portable cloud.
- We employ a lot of Bounty Hunters at and around this base to protect our interests here. Some months ago we hired the very best to do a special job for us. We needed live Outcasts as test subjects to run experiments on. We have to do distasteful things at times to provide the people of Sirius with the finest in medical research. The Bounty Hunters don't much care, they prefer to kill their targets outright rather then do live captures, but a healthy dose of credits will sway their minds. That's mercenaries for you.
- We bring these guys Alien Organisms from Freeport 9 in Omicron Theta. We also bring them other basic supplies. When I head back to "the Nine" I'm usually hauling Pharmaceuticals bound for Crete. That's why the Corsairs don't kick them out of here tomorrow. That, and they see that the Outcasts have it in for these guys.
- Cardamine affects human beings in many ways. Aside from the narcotic powers of the drug, we believe that it also has anti-aging benefits. We are trying to develop a product that would increase the human lifespan two-fold. If we could do that, Cryer would multiply its profits overnight. A longevity drug has been a human dream since before our ancestors fled Sol. And we're on the verge of cracking it, I just know it.
- Test Subject 04227986 escaped from her containment area a few nights ago. She managed to kill several guards between the subject area and the communications center. Once inside the communications area she continued her slaughter. She wasn't discovered for twelve minutes. We were able to recapture her alive, though she injured three more of us in the process. I'm told her wounds have already healed. Remarkable regenerative capabilities, which might be another Cardamine side effect.
- We often buy Organisms that the Zoners collect. They find them in Omicron Theta, and Omicron Beta. Most of them are the standard types, but you never know when a new strain will come along. Theta and Beta are controlled by the Corsairs and Outcasts respectively, so there's no way we'll be able to go there ourselves.
- This place kind of freaks me out. I'm looking forward to getting out of this test tube. You wouldn't believe me, but I could have sworn I've heard screaming here late at night. Don't tell the scientists I told you that, it wouldn't be good for business. Still, are these eggheads testing on humans now? Can they even do that?
- Alien Organisms are flown here by our pilots from Kurile, since we are always in need of more test subjects. It is usually an easy flight unless you are unlucky enough to stumble across the Outcasts or Corsairs in this system. The Corsairs will usually try to take valuable cargo if you have it. The Outcasts will kill you outright.
- The test subject who escaped from her cell several nights ago has been haunting my dreams. She slaughtered everyone that he came across, and when they dragged her back to her cell she was laughing and screaming the most horrible things, over and over she cried; "Santiago is coming!" Our communications officer tells us that the chance any messages she sent got through were very slim, but I still can't help worrying about who Santiago is.
- This system is the border between the Sigma region and the deep Omicrons. Compared to the Omicrons, this is still civilised space. All you find out there are Hispanics, Zoners and worse. Us Hunters sometimes go there "on business", especially when there's bounties on specific Outcast or Corsair targets, but that's no cakewalk.
- The Corsairs do not attack us very often, but the Outcasts are always running raids against this base. They seem determined to destroy us, which is very disconcerting. I am just a biochemist; I don't want to be caught in the middle of a war. If it weren't for the fact that exobiochemistry in practise is only done at a very select few locations in Sirius, I'd not have come here.
- The Outcasts have been exposed to Cardamine for centuries. They are the key to understanding how the drug affects human beings. If we could understand that better, we could make a less dangerous Cardamine that wouldn't interfere with worker productivity. We could then legally distribute it to the Sirius population. Problem is, the Outcasts know that would put them out of business. The Cardamine trade is their means of survival in more than one way. That is why they are hitting this base so hard.
- During the Freeport 7 attack, a brief communication was received on Freeport 9 from a Bounty Hunter named Jim Adams. He had managed to make it into the Kunashir Cloud, but still had hostiles in hot pursuit. Most people figure he was trying to make it to the Jump Hole to Omicron Theta. He never made it here.
- Cryer established this base here in Sigma-17 because of its close proximity to planet Kurile and the Alien Organisms found there, which are the subject of our research. We know that there is a link between the Alien Organisms and Cardamine, because they both affect RNA and DNA molecules in the same way. Most likely the Cardamine plants were mutated when Alien Organisms came in contact with them - a process similar to what happens when Cardamine comes in contact with human DNA.
|
| Battlecruiser Valmy
|
- Perhaps the admirals did not count on those Kusari remnants joining forces with them. No matter, we're only a month or six behind schedule, but with Leeds fallen, Bretonia has lost the bulk of its industry. It is only a matter of time before attrition forces their complete surrender.
- It is strange. Those Kusari ships that were still resisting us, those exiled traitors? I've not heared from them in weeks now. Who knows, maybe we killed them all? I'm glad they're gone, those guys were maniacs with guns. They scared me more than the Bretonians.
- The Bretonians, yes. They've put up more of a fight then we were led to believe they still could. Perhaps Kusari did not mangle them enough yet. Trust those Council fools to break up a plan that was several centuries in the making. Once we're through with Bretonia, I hope His Excellency shall turn his attention towards Marne.
|
| Shonan Base
|
- This base trades in Commodities almost exclusively with other Corsair bases. The less we have to deal with outsiders the better. We get our Water and Oxygen from Crete, so this base is almost entirely free from foreign trade. The Zoners are an unwanted presence here, but we tolerate them for now.
|
|
