TARANIS
11 Apr 2023Jav Marlo
TARANIS29 NOV 3308, Hyades Sector FB-N b7-6.
The Taranis anomaly has arrived to the Hyades Sector FB-N b7-6, as predicted, and it brings with it countless numbers of Thargoid vessels that are harassing the system. Neither capital ships have entered the sector yet. The nature of the anomaly is not clear, but it has affected the whole system creating a hazardous environment similar to that on HIP 22460 after the Proteus Wave. We have been hunted by Thargoid Interceptors the moment we saw the anomaly, like a yellow comet, entering the system. But I have pursuit that thing for three months thorough deep space, and I am not leaving without taking a closer look.
The Athena pursued by Thargoids at Hyades Sector FB-N b7-6
Ayumi, check the scanners, can you find the anomaly?
Aye, but please focus on losing those Thargoids at our tail.
We are good, we are faster. Find me that damn thing. We are going to lose them the moment I put us into supercruise.
(Frameshift drive charging 3, 2, 1…)
Our Guardian frameshift drive booster is melting, but we are good apart from that. Are you feeling any pain in your chest, like in HIP 22460?
Yes (heavy breath), but now I know what to expect. And I know it will be better in some minutes. Don´t worry. I can take it.
Just please do not faint again.
And you please focus on the scanners. I’m alright.
Got it, it is orbiting one of the bodies… there over the Ammonia World.
Heading there.
Do you think… could it be… a Thargoid mothership?
Nobody has seen one in the last two hundred years… since John Jameson… but we are about to find out… Dropping out of supercruise.
The Athena arriving to the Taranis anomaly
What the… it´s not… it is…
A cloud… A huge cloud.
Looks like a Lagrange cloud… over 100 klicks wide.
I am getting closer. See if the scanners can detect anything inside.
The Athena approaching the Taranis anomaly
The scanners cannot penetrate the cloud. But energy readings are off the scale. There must something in the inside… well… generating the cloud.
And we are about to find out. We are getting in.
GETTING IN, ARE YOU CRAZY. Don´t you remember what happened to the Kingfisher?
Do not worry. I will pull out at the first sign of danger. We have explored Lagrange clouds before. I will be cautious.
Jav Marlo and Ayumi on the Athena
I cannot understand why we cannot wait for Universal Cartographics or the Cannon Interstellar Research Group to explore this thing. This obsession of you will kill us.
I told you… I can hear them inside my head… all the time… in my dreams too… and it is more intense the closer I am to this thing… it’s calling me.
That´s not very comforting.
Hey, do not worry, look ahead, it´s just a cloud.
The Athena getting into the Taranis anomaly
Keep you are eyes open… anything so far?
No, there is a lot of interference. This place is messing with the scanners.
Any corrosion signs on the hull?
Not so far… wait… THERE… straight ahead.
I can see them. Reducing speed.
The Athena approaching unidentified objects inside the Taranis anomaly
What are those?
I don´t know. But they are ignoring us. That´s good… look… it´s moving away from us… leaving something like a caustic stream behind.
Unidentified object expelling a caustic stream
Do you think those things are creating the cloud.
Could be. Coming a little closer… just a little bit. Keep your eyes on them. Let me know if one comes closer.
There are hundreds of them.
Unidentified objects inside the Taranis anomaly
But they seem unaware of our presence… their function is probably generating the cloud… I am pulling a little bit more to the centre.
I hope you know what you are doing.
You know I don´t. I just feel that I have to do it.
Jav… one of those things is getting closer.
How?… Where?
I mean it is gently floating toward us from below.
An unidentified object closing on the Athena
Gently floating toward us?... Do you mean?... Like a mine?
LOOK DOWN! IT IS ACCELERATING.
How could it?... EVADING NOW!
An unidentified object about to collide with the Athena
IT´S TOO LATE.
BRACE FOR IMPACT.
An unidentified object exploding close the Athena inside the Taranis anomaly
(static)