ATCNet - 3rd Formidine Rift Expedition - Report 3
13 Sep 2020Belexticus
> Welcome to the ATC Sisyphus Local Network.> Terminal ready. Standing by.
> CONNECT HOME
> net://1432.129.987/ATC/OOCA/Sais41.90625~-112.5625~-36.4375
> Establishing subspace network connection…please wait…
> Enter clearance code: ***********
> Please wait…
> Seeking carrier wave…
> Carrier wave established. ATCDalgarno/432G/δ37.21,α+4.989
> Connection established 102658UTC/33060913
> Connection stable. Ready for transmission.
> Welcome to ATCNet. Stand Together, CMDRs.
> Enter login: X9W-40WSISYPHUS/BELEXTICUS
> Enter password: **************
> Select subnetwork:
- Office of Adjutant to the Admiral
- Squadron Command & Fleet Support
- Office of Corporate Affairs
- Directory of CMDRs
- Public ATC Intranet
- Gumster’s Bar & Grill
> Welcome to the Office of Corporate Affairs subnetwork.
> CONNECT OOCA/ATCNET_NEWS/DISTRIBUTION/INBOUND_SUBEDIT
> Connection established.
> User BELEXTICUS verified. Ready for submission.
> ATTACH FILE/33060913FORMIDINE;33060913IMAGEPACKET
We are underway. Our mission has begun. The mood was set by a rousing speech made by Star Marshal Commander Eben to all our courageous pilots who had signed up for the expedition. As we stood intently listening to him in the briefing room, the final paragraph struck us all with awe: “Through the torrid conditions about the stars and upon returning home, entire populations will present themselves before you, their hands raised in applause, their eyes wide open to catch a lasting memory of their heroes. Staring at the ecliptic, tired after the long day, the Imperial Slave, his back aching from his work, will fall silent to celebrate your exploits. After the endeavour, honour will follow; invigorated, you will enter Dalgarno Ring in ultimate glory. And later, you will remember your exploits on the 3rd Formidine Rift Expedition, and you will be able to say with pride: ‘I was there.’”
From the deafening sound of the ATC Sisyphus’ klaxon to warn us of the impending departure, we knew that we had made a great choice in joining this crew of explorers. A flight of watch officers was appointed, with CMDRs Commander Eben, Alligator, Bishop Hollands, Phekdak, StaticKnight, Nyle Locke and myself taking the first watch. Our first stop was the LBN 623 Sector, with its charming purple nebula. Here, a selection of ships formed up off the bow of the Sisyphus in a formation tribute to Artemis Corporation. Onward, we jumped to the Iris Sector where we caught sight of the Pelican and North America Nebulae which, despite their distance, struck me with gratifying beauty before reaching our first major waypoint, the GM Cephei system and the Elephant’s Trunk Mine. Unexpectedly, our combat ships were called into action as fighting raged high above the extraction sites in the system’s rocky rings.
The mission has not been all fun and games however. Despite top security aboard the carrier, it is suspected that a Marlinist separatist terror cell has embedded itself within the crew. Infiltrating the navigation computer using subroutines, these traitors were able to prematurely spool up the frame shift drive to transport the ship onwards to the NGC 7822 Sector, stranding the Star Marshal himself in the Elephant’s Trunk. Thankfully, this was realised by the chief navigation officer after only one jump and the malicious software was removed. A close call for Commander Eben who may have been marooned in this beautiful but uncivilised place.
Pushing forward, we have started our long traverse towards the Formidine Rift. God-willing, we should reach it in a few days. We now rest in the Hegua CM-O d6-10 system, struck in the blinding splendour of a neutron star.
This is CMDR Belexticus, in deep space aboard the ATC Sisyphus, for ATCNet.