Day: 49 since the beginning of on-board recording

Year of event: 22+ 10^(10.1395)

Notes: n/a

The sight of Virrena was truly something to behold. Its surface was covered in lush pink forests, and an even lusher, algae-filled atmosphere where floating cities grew like mushrooms on a dry tree trunk.

In the half-hour it took Cassie to reach whatever outpost the Space Force had taken them to, Re’A had come to regret so many of her words and decisions. Dorothy had to be physically stopped from trying to override the engine and redirect the coolant system to allow for a ‘double sun-jump’ which would get them directly to their destination. Re’A had to actually hold the small woman while Cassie explained that they had no means of knowing if Gaia had any functioning weapons, or if it even was still there.

In the end, the captain had resigned, after having been convinced that it was too big of a risk to take. She had not moved from the piloting chair since. She sat there, legs under her chin, silently observing the cortege leading them downwards.

Cassie had tried to fill the cockpit with joyful chatter, but even that died down once they entered the guts of an industrial outpost and were guided towards a concealed landing bay.

Re’A didn’t know that the other woman cared about her. She didn’t think it was possible. And yet, Dorothy Sanders had no reason to try and get away from the Force if not for Re’A. The Faklar understood that they were up to some shady business, but nothing that would explain this level of resisting the Force. After all, they could as easily continue with their mission after they’d gotten rid of Re’A, and erasing such a mishap from one’s criminal record was by no means a hard task. Hence, this only made it harder for her to think about the selfish nature of her decision to stay. But at that time, that decision was also the lower-risk one, as who could have predicted that the Force would be willing to go as far as to threaten them with their state of the art disruptors?

Although she couldn’t know for sure, she could piece things together from bits of conversations overheard on Cosmos 6. She doubted any of the three leaders of that station, Tully, Illia and Lozzo, had connections that ran all the way to the middle ring. But the captain of the battle-cruiser that had intercepted them had mentioned ‘rightful ownership’ and combined with the amount of force used to sway them to land, the list of people who could do this was surprisingly short. In fact, it only contained one name: ‘the Dobermam’.

Cassie smoothly landed onto a designated symbol on the ground, projected from above, as was custom in most stations this size.

“So, this is it then?” The AI asked.

“‘It’ is a very vague notion.” Dorothy spoke, and finally got off her chair.

She walked passed Re’A before disappearing in a tiny nook by the med-bay.

“Are you certain you do not have any weapons aboard?” Re’A asked, despite knowing the answer.

“No love, but we have the good ol’ big boum stuff-”

“That will take us out with the explosion.” Dorothy cut the other woman off. “But it will make for good leverage, if push comes to shove.”

The technician finally emerged from whatever hidden part of the ship she had been in. Her hands were covered in dark, oily liquid, and she looked displeased with herself.

“Did they order us to get off yet?” She asked.

“No, I believe they’re still working on the welcome committee. Doesn’t look like they’ll have any balloons.” Cassie replied.

“If I just go you two should not be in trouble.” Re’A spoke, suddenly filled with the urge to make things right.

The Human shook her head ‘no’.

“We are too deep in, aren’t we? I don’t think it’s just about you anymore.”

“Oh, care to share captain?”

Dorothy’s expression of discontent deepened for a brief second.

“It looks like they want you as well Cassie. Maybe me too, but I really hold no value to them as far as they’re aware.” The technician turned toward Re’A before continuing her explanation. “They revealed their trump cards, those flagship cruisers capable of solo hyperspace voyages. Your people should not be able to have this kind of technology, or at the least it should still be in the very early experimental stages.”

“They don’t intend to let you out alive.” Re’A concluded. She instinctively clenched her fists, as if getting ready for battle. She wasn’t going to just let this happen.

“I can’t let that happen,” Dorothy continued. “So,” She cleaned her hands in the sink before rolling up her sleeve to show a tight black bracelet wrapping around her wrist. It had a gem-like miniature screen insert that shone with a dim blue light. “If something happens to me, this will inject an oxidising agent into my bloodstream. Then-”

“I can’t believe you’re following proper protocol cap!” Cassie joyfully exclaimed.

“You should not do that-” Re’A attempted to interject.

“Hush. Both of you. Let me finish.” Dorothy cut them off. “Cassie, remember protocol alpha-13?”

“Yes captain.” The Ai replied in a dejected voice.

“Alright. I want you to turn it on. Put yourself under quarantine as soon as we disembark. Conditions for suspension will be the re-entry of one of us inside you. If the other does not join within an hour, or if you receive a transmission from this,” Dorothy shook her wrist, indicating that the poison she had attached to it also served as a life-signal transmitter, “you are to leave and perform a low-orbit jump.”

“We should-” Re’A tried to interject again, but she was once more cut off by the technician.

“If something does happen to me, you are to engage protocol Genesis. And you,” she turned towards the Falkar, “Are to leave the station before the auto-drones blow it to smithereens.”

Re’A nodded, acknowledging the orders. But she still did not agree with that. She hesitated for a second, thinking back to all the trouble she had caused so far, but after careful consideration decided that was the best, and perhaps only chance she’d get to speak her mind.

“Do you not think – no, I think it would be easiest if you stayed in the ship. When I disembark, I can create a distraction for you to get away. I believe if given a pulse rifle, I could disable at least two of the smaller cruisers …” Re’A trailed off, noticing the expression the Human woman was making.

“It is a good plan. But there are too many variables. Too many things I have little or no control over. For example, I do not know how they tracked Cassie. And I think you overestimate Cassie’s ability to get away. She’s a stealth transport ship. She’s not fit for long pursuits or fights. She’s made of sturdier stuff than those guys, but an ABS will get her down.”

“I confirm.” Cassie chipped in. “It would hurt a bunch if I get shot at.”

“You don’t have nerves.” Dorothy sigh. Then, she looked up at Re’A and put one hand over her shoulder. “I’ll try and talk us out of this. So try not to get into trouble in the meantime ok?”

Re’A nodded, because she felt that that was the expected response. But she did not agree with the Human. Maybe she’d gotten comfortable aboard this strange ship, with its even stranger crew, or maybe it was the memory of all those years running errands and getting her hands dirty for there crooked people, but in that moment she felt as if going down in battle was her best course of action. As much as she wanted to, she could not rely on Dorothy to get out of here. Not when two seemingly opposing players (The Force and the Doberman) were involved. And yet, she wanted to hope.

“Captain Sanders, officer Re’A, I don’t want to interrupt whatever moment you’re having, but should you really be waiting for them to hail us first? I mean, I don’t know much about these situations beyond what I’ve seen in movies, but you should assert dominance by leading the discourse, should you not?”

“I am not sure there will be a discourse.” Re’A spoke.

“We’ll make one.” Dorothy nodded, pulling away her hand. “Alright. If this shall be our last march, we shall make it a memorable one.”

“Don’t be so dramatic cap’.”

The airlock door slid open, revealing an immaculate, and somewhat deserted industrial hangar. Re’A’s tails coiled around her leg, as she flowed the Human outside.

Notes:

Our editorial team, which I have found myself at the head of by now will of my own, apologises for the delay in the release of this entry of our report. The head editor, Evieleyn, has had an unfortunate accident. Or perhaps it was a family member of hers; I am not sure on the details. I have received an official ETHC letter designating me as the temporary ‘chief of operations’ following my ‘impromptu burst of initiative’ almost two months ago. I believe they were referring to those supplemental materials I added to the report.

However, what I did not realise was the amount of work that went into redacting this report. I was always given a paper copy (as per my own request, as I believe my colleagues work in digital format), and was asked to comment on it. What I did not realise out editor, my respect for whom has skyrocketed since I took her position, had to sort through and write down multiple entries done in different media formats. I am not sure if I am allowed to disclose this, although I don’t see why not, but this report is built from four main data sources.

Everything that occurred aboard Cassie was of course recorded by her. It was then supplemented by a written account from Miss Sanders, and an audio recording from Re’A who speaks way better Standard English than she gives herself credit for. Everything that occurred outside of their ship was recorded [Redacted].

I too am not sure what has happened with that annoying woman, but damn I wish they’d send a replacement. The word ‘slow’ does not begin to describe what Lark is. Thankfully I don’t think he has figured out how to redact my comments, so I can say what I want for now.

800815

Oh, also don’t sun jump in-atmosphere. You’ll nique your engines like, real bad. And a fun fact, it’s still called sun-jump even when the jump is performed with residual exotic material and no freshly-harvested one. Because when those engines were invented, there wasn’t anyone stupid enough to attempt sun-jumping without a sun. Don’t ask me why it’s called sun-jump and not star-jump though. I would assume because of laziness.

I would just like to say that I have been given some advanced material a few weeks back, in preparation of an upcoming entry of this report, and I would like you to hurry up and release that part. Otherwise, I just might publish my notes as an independent paper on spatial distortion caused by exotic matter realise within a hyperspace entry-point nexus.

Current year: 22+e^(23.347)

Redactor signature: Mathew, Lark