Data log found in an abandoned spacecraft pt6 - Close encounter
07 Nov 2020Orion Blacksun
<ship's log><Nyarlathotep ORI-07>
<Cmdr Orion Blacksun>
<02 nov 3306>
Day 47
I arrived at the system not knowing what to expect. What I found was nothing. An empty system, no planets, not even an asteroid cluster. I waited for a couple of minutes but then decided to leave. Obviously there was no cosmic wisdom to be had here. I must have entered the coordinates into the computer randomly in my delirium. With a mixture of disappointment and relief I set course back towards the bubble and engaged the fsd.
But just at that moment everything went dead.
Thargoids no doubt. I activated my remote camera drone to get a look at them, or at least tried to, but it didn't work either. A shiver went down my spine, I had encountered the thargoid shutdown field several times and the camera drones are never affected. Had the thargoids improved their technology? Then something flashed by my cockpit. It looked like the end of a tentacle, mottled and greenish, writhing unpleasantly. This was no thargoid like I'd ever seen before. Then a bump. Something had collided with my ship. I then heard the most awful screeching sound coming from the back. The wail of tortured metal. My hull was being torn open. I grabbed my blaster and with a courage born of utter desperation awaited my fate.
I was sure sure the hull was on the verge of being breached when suddenly the ship was full of light so bright that I could bearly see, and to herald its arrival a sound so horrific that I know I will never sleep as well again as I did before I heard it. A sound not meant for mortal ears, the roar of a god in pain.
I felt my ship being tossed aside by something and it span wildly. I was thrown about the cabin and it was all I could do to prevent myself crashing into the terminal. As I tumbled I caught a glimpse of something outside. Just for a second, but that image is now permanently seared into my memory. Two colossal organic ships (creatures?) dissappearing from view. One dark and green with several flailing tentacles. The other bright and crystalline shaped like an eight pointed star. The dark one was fleeing while the bright one persued it.
It was just a glimpse but it was enough. Moments later my ship's power came back online and I was alone.
In a daze after what I had witnessed I plotted a course to the nearest station, in the crab nebula, I don't really remember the journey except right at the end when I was approaching the station and got interdicted. I think my tortured mind finally snapped at that point and I just laughed hysterically, broadcasting on the comms for all to hear. The pirate abandoned the interdiction and fled and the next thing I knew I was waking up in a hospital bed.
So here I am, station x in the crab nebula. They won't let me fly until they're confident I'm sane enough, and given some of the pilots I've met that's saying something. I'll rest up here for a bit, try to piece together what happened and decide what to do next.
Day 61
I still don't know what it was I saw. Some new type of thargoid, something else altogether? Whatever it was took a big bite out of my ship and if it hadn't been for the arrival of that bright star I'd have been in its belly. So now gone is the eldar sign from my ship, it was of no help. Perhaps the thargoids or whatever read it as 'lunch is served'. In its place I have put an eight pointed star. With this heraldry on my ship I feel much better. I'll paint it on all my ships when I get the chance. I also had a good look at my ship. There were deep gouges in the back and the hull was very close to being compromised. It's a miracle I made it here. I was also able to get a biological sample from that thing. A piece of tentacle still attached to the hull. No doubt the biologists would have a field day with this but I have a better use for it.
I'm resolved to finish what I started. My ship is repaired and the doctors here have given me the all clear. I'll continue on the route mapped out by Montgomery. I'm far from the next system so I'll go via a couple of nebulae as a distraction. Take some pics.
I leave tomorrow.
Day 70
Having passed through the rosette and seagull nebulae and with a stop off at hell's gate I'm now back on the route. I've not seen anything sinister but at this stage I'm glad of that. Next stop is betelgeuse and after that algol. This takes me right past kuwema which is the home system of the squadron I joined. It seems so long ago now. I'll take a detour and stop by for a bit, see what they're up to. I also intend to drop off that tentacle sample to arucane famous diner. There's nothing that guy won't turn into food.
I'll finish the route after I've had a rest. I know I need it.
And by rest I mean doing some mercenary work for the Empire or perhaps the Feds. Looks like I came back at an interesting time.
This is Commander Orion Blacksun signing off.