Trouble magnet (28/03/3304)
29 Mar 2018Archived
Previously in James' LogbookThe post - mortem message from Blasius Hajdu asking James to seek out and help out the only family he had, young pilot's Academy graduate Matthew Matt Horner, shook James. He did as his friend asked and found the boy, also promising to look into mysterious demise of the Rear Admiral. At the same time Prof. Goldstein is getting impatient and wants to go and visit another set of Guardian ruins...
***
Prof. Goldstein’s Temporary Quarters
Freeport
LP 98-132 (Federation Space)
James pressed the button and the door slid open - they were not locked. He entered the dark corridor and blinked as the automatic lights nearly blinded him for a second. A quiet hum of the air conditioning was the only sound that could have been heard.
“Professor?” - he asked as he made his way towards another sliding door on the other side of the room.
"I'm here, James, come on in!"
Goldstein's temporary study was a sight to behold. A small room has been turned into a place for study. The table in the centre was taken by a large holo-projector showing a 3D map of the galaxy. Some of the systems were marked yellow, others red, one - Synuefe XR-H D11-102 - green. The walls were full of printed pictures showing different kinds of Guardian ruins and artifacts. Two laptops were set up on a desk. Professor was standing in front of one of the photos, running fingers through the beard, thinking.
“You wanted to see me?”
“As a matter of fact - yes” - Goldstein turned around and approached one of the computers. He pressed a few buttons - “I have contacted another commander and asked her to help us”.
“I don’t need any help.”
“Perhaps you don’t - but I do. With your constant unexpected adventures and people going missing around you literally every other day I figured we could use a hand of someone more.. reliable. Read.”
James grudgingly came closer to the screen.
Isidor GoldsteinCommander Pear, I hope I find you in good health!
My name is Isidor Goldstein, I am a professor at the faculty of Anthropology in Federal University of Deciat. Specialising in alien species and currently working on projects involving both the Guardians and Thargoids.
I have come across your reports from exploration of distant star systems and I was thinking if perhaps you would be willing to make some extra money while still exploring and also help with my research project. You see, I have received a handsome grand from the Federation to conduct a similar research as the Engineer Ram Tah, mainly into the Guardian structures and lore.
I am being aided by one commander, James Barrett, who says he could handle everything alone, but honestly I think it would be better to join forces, as the ruins may be quite dangerous. Plus he always gets himself in trouble and keeps looking for different people who may be dead or alive and it takes a lot of his time.
Hence my offer to you, I am willing to match the payments offered by Ram Tah should you accept it. I would also advice you to visit Meene system and obtain a copy of his decryption software.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Prof. Isidor B. Goldstein
>> REPLY >>
Namita Pear*** INCOMING LONG RANGE TRANSMISSION ***
...link established...
...downloading content...
! signed as reply !
.DONE
*** CONNECTION TERMINATED ****
-----
Professor Goldstein,
Indeed I am merry and healthy. By the look of your picture you're sitting in a Lakon, so I infer the same for yourself, regardless of the pilot.
While normally I would ask how you got my exact contact information, my socializing around Lyakhov Dock as well as the frequent trips to Farseer has probably given you more than enough to root me out. You flatter me with the description of a distant explorer; that tourist destination Beagle Point is about 33 times further than I've ever been... but, still, more than most in the Pilot's Federation I suppose.
By Mr. Barrett's choice of vessel I know you are at least in barely-competent hands for the task. If your description of him is anything to go by however, and you really are willing to match Ram Tah's payout, I feel little alternative but to assist.
Of course I have my own reasons for helping you. Your message and suggestion finds me just in time, as I write this reply in Felice Dock.
Ram Tah has gotten his assistance. He's made his weapons and sold them at a profit, and certainly influenced the Alliance ships as a result. Make no mistake, I have already embarked on an expedition to these ruins (which you find me at the start of) to better understand and arm myself in dealing with a threat. Nobody wants to be caught empty-handed at a knife fight; I want a gun.
But I've looked at Thargoid activities in ways other than through a targeting solution. They are by all means intelligent. Perhaps you will come to the same solutions as Aegis and Mr. Tah. Maybe you're the shallow end of the gaussian curve. Regardless, I'd like my second opinion before I throw my copilot and I's life on the line if and when the green saucers march up to Sol's doorstep.
Succinctly, yes, we will assist.
❤ CMDRs Namita Pear and Wade Alexander
“Grand. Another lass. Great idea, professor”.
“Isn’t it?” - Goldstein either was impervious to irony or chose to ignore it - “I want you to contact her and prepare together for another run as soon as possible. Destination: ruins in COL 173 SECTOR DZ-D C13-2 Planet: 12 A discovered by CMDR Deltus Infinium”.
“I will, yeah. Anything else?”
“That’s all. Perhaps also ask Cmdr Hajdu to help?”
“I can’t.”
“You can’t? Why is that?”
“Because he’s dead.”
***
4 hours later
Federal Navy Information Office
Leonard Nimoy Station
LHS 3006 (Federal Space)
“Let me run a search for you, sir” - a young Master Sergeant started typing on his keyboard. James’ ID check must have went particularly well, as suddenly both soldiers started to treat him with utmost regard - either because of his Federal Navy rank or standing with local authorities. He didn’t really care, as long as they delivered some answers.
“Strange... indeed, we did pick up a ‘Mayday’ call from Federal Corvette ‘Hyperion’ in this system”
“And...?”
The man was clearly puzzled. “And... no search and rescue party was dispatched, which is.. odd.”
“Aye. A call from Rear Admiral onboard a Federal Corvette.. and no reply?”
“Yes.. it seems so.”
James and Matt exchanged surprised looks.
“Alright. Give me the mayday call coordinates, I will investigate it myself”.
“Of course, Sir. Let me just download them for you.” - the young man pressed a few buttons. He furrowed his brows and repeated the whole process. Then he stared at the screen for a moment, shook his head and tried once more.
“I... it seems there is no data, sir.”
“How come? Isn’t it a standard procedure to use the closest relays and triangulate the exact coordinates? Isn’t it how you respond to all distress calls?”
“I am sorry, sir, but there is nothing in the system. I.. I would advise that you talk to one of the commanders about this”.
“Aye. Thanks for your time, sergeant. Appreciate it”.
“Don’t mention it, sir” - the man kept looking at his work station’s display in disbelief.
As soon as they left the office Matt grabbed James by the shoulder.
“How is that even possible? That goes against all the rules we learned about in the Academy!”
“I know, lad. It stinks more than Lavian tofu. Tell ya what, we’ll have to check it out ourselves. Meet me at the landing pad in 10.”
“Roger” - James watched as the young man almost ran towards his ship and took a deep breath. Goldstein was right. People disappeared around him in weird circumstances way too often...
***
Three hours later
Deep Space
LHS 3006 system (Federation Space)
Barrett set the throttle to zero and watched Matt pick up the escape pod. The remnants of an Asp Scout were floating around the single survivor. So far they have responded to several distress calls, checked a few wreckages, got ambushed once by four Pythons, but found no trace of ‘Hyperion’ or what was left of the ship. Which in itself was quite disturbing - debris left by vessel of this class should generate an USS detectable from hundreds of light seconds. Yet they haven’t come across anything.
“Lad, scoop this poor soul and let’s call it a day, I’ll see you back at Leonard”
“Sure thing. Thanks for all the help. And for the lessons.”
“Don’t mention it. You did a good job today. Maybe we’ll get lucky tomorrow”.
“I hope so. Alright, the escape pod is secured. See you later, James.”
“Yeah, see you, lad”- Barrett watched as Cobra Mk III entered the supercruise. He had one more thing to do.
“Betty, run a search for a commander, name: Namita Pear. Open long range comms when you find her”.
“Searching... match. Opening communications channel... now active”.
“Perfect timing” - the voice on the other side was moderately distorted and slightly annoyed - “just as the skimmers here decided to wake up”.
“Sorry. James Barrett here, I...”
“I know who you are.. excuse me for a second” - sounds of plasma accelerator were clearly audible in the background. The shooting lasted for a few moments- “so, how can I help you?”
“Professor Goldstein would like to know if you would be available for a trip to one of the ruins tomorrow”
“Possibly. Send me the system details and let’s coordinate then”.
“Aye. Will do, lass. Barrett out”.
He switched the comms off completely and sat there for a while, staring into the void. Another ruins run, this time with a commander he did not know...He missed Blasius already.