Shamash and the Signal
17 Nov 2023T.Fulda
Entry for Earth Year 11/17/3309I've been flying for years now, but I've never bothered to make a log until now. Like many other Commanders from the Pilot's Federation, I answered the call to deal with the Grey Swan situation in the Shamash system. Like many others, I shot down the rogue Grey Swan ships and made a tidy little profit off it too. Normally that would be the end of it. I am, after all, a professional. I deal with crazies around the Bubble all the time, why should this be any different?
The only issue is I can't get this op out of my head. It still bothers me. Many have pointed out the stark similarities between this situation and the logbooks recovered from the Generation Ship Thetis. Having heard those logs myself, I can't help but agree. Given the proximity of the Thetis's final resting spot to Shamash, it lines up with where they claimed they initially picked up the signal. Not to mention, the end results from hearing the doggone signal are the same.
Met a fella at a Port bar last night who insisted it was Thargoid in origin and that the folks rescued from the Titans would be "switched on" to start killing other humans. Now, I've flown more than my fair share of missions against the Thargoids since the Battle of HIP 22460, but I ain't never seen them use signals as a weapon. Clearly the Thargoids have evolved their tactics since their Titans arrived, but still nothing like this. Moreover, to my knowledge no one in Shamash (especially the Grey Swans) nor the folks aboard the Thetis were abducted by Thargoids. To me, it's pretty damn clear that something else is out there that wants us gone. I guess whoever or whatever it is should take a number, clearly "destroy all humans" is becoming a hot trend these days.
But seriously, who the hell is it, then? The Guardians? Ain't seen no Guardian sites this far into the Bubble. Perhaps the Guardian machines that killed their creators? Perhaps, but why the hell would they do this? Moreover, ain't nobody seen one except the drones patrolling their ruins sites. My guess is, probably not the Guardians.
Final question: Where is the signal coming from? The Thetis logs state pretty damn clearly that they picked up the signal approximately 15 light years from the time they made that log (presumably in the same system where the derelict now rests). The logs make mention of it originating from an uninhabited planet. That's what gets me. Shamash is largely filled with gas giants and their moons. She did not say moon, she said planet. Unless I'm taking her choice in words too literally, that leaves Shamash 4... A barren ice world with a few colonies spattered around it. Obviously when the Thetis passed through, those colonies weren't there, so it would've been uninhabited at the time.
Still, after the Grey Swans were quelled and the bond payments cleared, I flew around Shamash 4... Low and slow. Couldn't find shit except rocks and ice (although the hostel there ain't bad for a couple drinks and a full 8 hour rest on terra firma). Still, if there's something to be found in Shamash, I can say with reasonable confidence that it's gonna be there. Still, one crazy bounty hunter and his Vulture ain't enough to cover the whole planet. I've made some crazy long trips in my day, but covering the whole surface of a planet in sublight travel by myself? No, thank you. Maybe someone should get those egg-heads from Canonn Research on it. I'd shoot 'em a note but they'd probably just call me nuts.
Anyway, another successful day in bounties. Cashed in a tidy profit of about 10 mil, so not a bad day's work. Folks from the Post-Disaster Evacuation Service are asking me to get back on evacuating civilians from systems under threat from the Thargoids, but at this point it seems largely pointless. The Thargoids have been so far pushed back the risk to civilians seems minimal. Still keeping an eye on the situation, though. The Bugs ain't done... Not by a long shot. Anyway, that's different log for a different day.
CMDR T.Fulda signing off.