[IC] Vauban's Journey

24th December 3301 – 23.52

The days of PanGalactic empty offices by Wrangell City 42nd Docking Bay seem a long way away today. The company has more than grown. If only a few of Snoquot Labour officials have publicly described PanGalcatic as a ‘bunch of mercenaries’ the indisputable truth is that the company is now feeding several millions of Snoquot inhabitants and is even running subsidiaries in the Imani System, a few light years from there.

Colonel Matzov’s art of tact and diplomacy prove to be a lot more than the unexplained but persistent rumors I was now only beginning to get used to.

In all fairness, none of this would have ever been possible without the continuous support from the Sirius Corporation and Li Yong-Rui himself, on both a financial and logistical level. We were part of the family, per se, and as a member of the family I was rewarded by the corporation with a full refitting of the Nostromo II, the old Lakon Type 9 I took from Wrangell City to 38 Lyncis in order to help with the new Orbis Starport project…

t9-refit.jpg


A very different beast indeed.

Through some engineering wizardry, the ship was now significantly lighter. The refinery and various limpet controller modules had made room for auto field-maintenance units, a twin SRV hangar, a rudimentary chemical testing and analysis laboratory and even a green house. The Nostromo II had a clear purpose and Mr Rui’s representative made it perfectly clear when handing the renewed vessel over: Sirius was about discovering new worlds. And regardless of the many pilots having already left civilized space, whether to simply investigate uncharted territories or more recently, to gather new clues about the distant Antares incident, more would never be enough…

It was his understanding that I had caught the explorer’s bug. He couldn’t have been more accurate in his assessment. Ever since I had come back from Sagittarius A*, I had been feeling out of sorts… out of place. So they had naturally thought of me for their next exploratory enterprise.



24th December 3301 – 23.59

Rui’s representative only took a few minutes to outline the mission.

For several centuries, explorers from all walks of life had set out for the unknown in the hope of finding the perfect world. Entire colonies had left even long before the development of our modern Frame Shift Drives, seeing generations come and go during their journey, and might very well still be out there today. The Siruis corporation had already commissioned several ships to go on a blind search in an attempt to find these pioneers.

The Nostromo II was also ready to go if I chose to. A basic A.I. had been uploaded in order to assist me in the search and to effectively help avoiding any potential human error.

I couldn’t have explained why or how, but I instinctively accepted, without even thinking. I felt a huge weight off my mind while boarding the ship and booting the systems ready…

t9-ready.jpg


I haven’t even warned Ivan Matzov… He’ll understand…

t9-leaving01.jpg


t9-leaving-02.jpg


(to be continued…)
 
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I still can't believe you're going exploring in a type 9... Of course, I went exploring in a Dropship, so yeah, but... At least it makes for interesting screenshots!:)
 
I still can't believe you're going exploring in a type 9... Of course, I went exploring in a Dropship, so yeah, but... At least it makes for interesting screenshots!:)

I felt very claustrophobic in my Cobra MkIII on the last trip, if you remember, thought that sort of ship would be ideal for a undetermined length exploration journey. Also could not yet afford a fully fitted Anaconda… so…
 
I felt very claustrophobic in my Cobra MkIII on the last trip, if you remember, thought that sort of ship would be ideal for a undetermined length exploration journey. Also could not yet afford a fully fitted Anaconda… so…
That's why I support the empire (well, mostly. Let's say that I try to, but I often get sidetracked...): Exploring in a Clipper is pure bliss!
 
I'm actually thinking about doing the same thing. Buying a Type 9 and taking it into the void. But I can't afford that ship yet. Well I could if I sold everything but... I love my fleet too much to do that so...
 
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I'm actually thinking about doing the same thing. Buying a Type 9 and taking it into the void. But I can't afford that ship yet. Well I could if I sold everything but... I love my fleet too much to do that so...

I'm a hoarder too, but I did stripped all of my ships in order, not to buy the T9 but the class 7 Fuel Scoop ;-)
 
I'm a hoarder too, but I did stripped all of my ships in order, not to buy the T9 but the class 7 Fuel Scoop ;-)
Why only class 7? Class 8 fuel scoop is THE MOST EXPENSIVE thing you can buy (including ships!) (except for the best bulkheads on Corvette and Cutter)!
 
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25th December 3301 – 00:06

Six minutes past christmas, and I am finally on my way.

While inspecting, at a quick glance, the latest ship’s installments and the many new onboard systems, I had to take a second look at my jump range, between 18 to 19 light years, a pleasant surprise and not too shabby for a Type 9. Oh, I won’t be able to make it to the extreme boundaries of our Milky Way but then again, neither would the pioneers that have left the homeworlds, throughout the last millennium… Whatever they could possibly have reached by now, surely I can reach it too.

I thought of my family for a minute, they must probably be thinking me dead by now. It has been over a year without me having ever returned or sent even a short message… for their own safety, they said. And then I thought of what Rui’s man said: a basic form of A.I., for my own safety this time. I hadn’t noticed anything different about the ship so far and this A.I. had yet to materialize. I looked around the bridge as to make sure it wasn’t hiding behind my jumpseat, without success of course, and picked a random neighboring star to jump to.

1st-jump.jpg


Piscium Sector ZE-A C16, nothing of interest over there I know that already but at least I have a vector now and I shall travel this way until traffic dies out.

Goodbye Wrangell City and goodbye Snoquot 5.

(to be continued…)
 
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"Out with it then Carpenter, I can see you have news, and I can tell it isn't good from the way you are hovering by the door" Matzov said bluntly.
"Indeed sir. I've had a call from Mandalay Chin's office..."
"Ahhh, the delectable Mandalay" purred Matzov.
"... they report that representatives of Snoquot Labour have been preparing dossiers on some of our dealings. They are alleging corrupt practices."
"They're what!? The low down rats!" Matzov cried, erupting into a fury. "Of what nature Carpenter? Did Mandalay's people say?"
"Transportation of illegal goods mostly, but also anti-competitive acts and bullying."
"Rumours and lies, that they themselves are guilty of Carpenter. We are providing the people here with jobs and prosperity, and some folks just can't handle that we're better at it than they were. I will have to thank Mandalay for the information. Send her an invite to dinner on the Melville, and find Vauban, I've not seen him for days. He'll need to attend."
"Hmm, that's the second bit of news sir" replied Carpenter timidly. "Taylor got a message from HQ and passed me a note, to pass to you." Carpenter handed over a rather shabby piece of scrap paper torn from a ring-bound notebook.
Unfolding it, and reading, Matzov's face began to pale, then crease, then tense.
"This is absolute madness" he muttered, shaking his head. "He's gone already?"
"Yes sir."
"A pity. A real pity. I might at least have told him of that old legend, The Dark Wheel and Raxxla, and maybe even put him in touch with someone I know, who knows a thing or two about Antares. The Missing are missing for a reason. Madness. And right from the top too." Matzov looked at Carpenter, both sharing a moment of silent reflection.
"He took the T9 sir" Carpenter gently ventured after a few seconds.
Matzov raised his eyebrows and began laughing to himself, "A crazy swine to the end, the bloody fool!"
Carpenter smiled. "I'll switch the dinner invite to a more intimate setting then sir" changing subject, as the mood lifted.
"Yes, do, do!" Matzov replied happily, as he turned to look out the window, towards Wrangell City's entrance slot.
"Fly safe Commander" he added in a whisper.
 
30th December 3301 – 11:23

So far everything is running smoothly, just a couple of refueling mishaps, merely reminders that there would be no Starports along the way for any potential hull repair. Better to realize that now than 10000Ly outward. “Where are you, mysterious safeguarding A.I. when I need you the most?”
“I am here, Commander.”

I literally jumped off my seat. Silky as may be, the voice came out of nowhere and my heart almost stopped. After the few seconds getting myself together, I open my mouth again:
“Where were you then?”
“I am and was always here, Commander.”
“Oh, quit being a smart one… Where were you when my hull was melting?”
“My programming forbids to override the ships controls and you have not asked for my help, Commander. I am truly sorry to sense that this has upset you.”

I just cannot believe I am speaking to air right now… Yet I couldn’t help but asking:
“What are you here for, then, if you won’t avoid me dying into a star’s coronae?”
“I am sorry to say I wasn’t made aware of the reasons for my uploading on the Nostromo II’s mainframe, but given the informations I am collating from Universal Cartographic database and your Sirius psychological profile, it would seem you are quite susceptible to suffering some form of solitary confinement psychosis syndrome.”
“What?”
“I would hypothesize you need company, Commander.”

How swell. Not only the Sirius Corporation had refitted the ship to first-rated standards but they had provided with a babysitter too.
“So what should I call you?”
“My identification is ‘Redi Interface v18.0.173’ developed by Dr. George Taylor from NovaTech Industries.”
“Dr. George Taylor, hey? That’s funny, my name is Taylor too… but that doesn’t make yours less of a mouthful!”
“If it is any more convenient to you, Dr. Taylor used to address me as Nova.”
“Nova” I repeated, “Sounds good to me. Good to meet you Nova.”
“Greetings Commander.”

(to be continued…)
 
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