++ So noted ++

OOC: No worries, suspected as much :)

The four lead ships of King Squadron reached the heliopause, beyond the positive pressure of the solar winds and incidentally, outside the significant reach of gravity well. It was here that the meta-dimensional currents could be navigated, where the fabric of space could be warped and pierced, allowing all faster than light travel to take place.

All four ships prepared their course according to the shared charts. Navigators had been working for the hours upon approach and with a few last minute corrections, each ship laid in their course and spun up their Spike drives to launch them on their meta-cosmic trajectory.

Within moments, the 4 ships are gone. Disappearing in flashes of light and energy, only just visible by long range sensors throughout the rest of the system.

From here on out, for the 48 hours in transit, no communication can exist from the ships of the squadron to the outside world.

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INS-Harald Wartooth: Your drill is carried out with perfection. Ensign Gerson admits somewhat sheepishly for a cyborg that he has been carrying out these sorts of drills for years and in part this is how he keeps his crews in such great shape. They carry out the mock exercise with complete precision and ideal decorum and in record time. This small crew could teach something to the rest of the Astral Forces, no question. The captain is caught off guard of course, but the XO makes sure he is properly appraised of the situation and suggests the correct course of action when asked.

INS-Angantyr: Your drill is handled with some frustration, crewmembers are roused from their bunks during otherwise uneventful hours in metaspace and forced to investigate a phony power spike. They understand that it is a drill quickly, but they seem to resent being put through the paces somewhat, though the grumbling is minor and the skipper hears none of it in person, only through reports after the fact.

INS-Randver: Your drill is exercised quickly and one might argue hastily, though the objectives are met. There appears to be something of a growing grudging respect for the captain of the ship among the crew, and the XO appears to be more in control of the situation than before. The bellyaching and slacking off has decreased over all and the crew seems more alert than before.

INS-Valdar: Your drill is handled with the discipline and professionalism that exemplifies the values of the Astral Forces. You can see there is a little extra spring in their step as they see you emerge, still wet from your shower and dressed as well as could be expected as you participate, proving your willingness to lead from the front and put yourself to the same standards as the rest of your crew.

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In two short days, you emerge back into realspace and for the first time you lay eyes on the Ultima Black system. You can see the vast array of ice world stretching out towards the star.

From here on the edge of space, you are still receiving the IFF beacons from your local squadron and... in a moment, the beacon from Ultima Black IV station. It seems to still be functioning. It will take a couple of hours before they detect you and send hailing signals. As for the rest of the system, you'll need to initiate a scan.

The four ships bridges report in over the local commnet, using point-to-point narrowbeam transmissions for operational security. It seems everyone arrived in good shape without any major issues, though each ship reports being put on an unexpected emergency readiness exercise.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:21, Mon 30 Mar 2020.

Glancing around his own bridge, Captain Takagara nodded once in satisfaction and opened up a channel to the nearby vessels of his squadron, ++ Excellent navigation, my Captains. Let's open some distance from our point of emergence and initiate scan, please ++

He turned back to his own crew, "Let's open our eyes and ears, see what's here"

Finally, he opened a channel to the output, knowing it would take some time for the signal to propagate, ++ Hailing Ultima Black VI station; this is Captain Takagara of the Angantyr. We've arrived insystem and will be commencing our patrols ++
This message was last edited by the player at 07:26, Mon 30 Mar 2020.

Diana took a deep breath as they arrived, one she let out when she didn't detect any signs of enemy ships, and lack of anything opening fire on them. It paid to assume the worst at times. She gave a small nod when she was informed the beacon was still operational.

- "Excellent work. Commence a full system scan, let's get a preemptive check done for places of interest and see if we need to get our in-system maps updated for the upcoming patrol."

She then replied to Takegara's message.

++ On it. I advise we remain at the edge of the system in formation until we get word back from the station, and the Sigfried has once again joined us. ++

++ Confirmed, Captain Hersson ++, came the swift reply, ++ Not wholly stationary, however; I want some distance from our emergence point whilst our scans propagate so we're not sitting ducks ++

++ Naturally, Captain. We wouldn't want the Sigfried to Spike in up someone's ass. ++

Upon spiking in and seeing the IFF beacon broadcasting (at least was broadcasting a few hours ago) Zazan relaxes. He directs the crew to begin the data gathering.

++Understood, Randver iz underway and scanning. I hope ze spike was as productive for my fellow captains. I am discovering zat ze crew of ze Randver are quite... colorful. ++

Oscar gave a nod to the few crew on the shift with him. ++The Wartooth is standing by to assist in repairs and replacements as required.++

A tense hour or so goes by as you scan the black around several systems, each prioritizing a sector of space that might house something of interest to you. One by one, the shared system profile on the tactical network of King Squadron is updated.


Ultima Black Primary: [No Data]

Ultima Black I: [Out of Range]

Ultima Black II: [Out of Range]

Ultima Black III:
Ice Planet. Freezing temperatures. Above Average Gravity. No atmosphere. Ice volcanism.

Ultima Black IV: [No Data]

Ultima Black V: [No Data]

Ultima Black VI: Neptunian Planet. 10 Moons. Large structure complex on largest moon. Indari Hegemony IFF signals. Emissions from smaller EVA activity. Two Elephant-class cargo-haulers. Massive ships, but not armed or FTL capable, their only purpose is hauling in gas or ice to the refinery at Ultima Black VI. Comms also picked up normal ship to ship broadcasts from the cargo vessels and the station. No other vessels or anomalies detected in that area.

Ultima Black VII: [No Data]

Ultima Black VIII: [No Data]

Ultima Black IX: Ice Planet. Subzero temperatures. High Gravity. Thin Atmosphere. Thin rings.

System Edge (Local): UNKNOWN OBJECT DETECTED. 94.7% PROBABILITY: UNKNOWN STARSHIP TYPE
Your sensors have detected an unknown vessel, roughly frigate-class in mass accelerating towards your position along the system plane. The type and configuration of the vessel is unknown and matches nothing in your database.

Now that you have seen it, it likely has had time to see you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:54, Thu 08 July 2021.

++ Scatter, Kingsmen ++, commanded Volsung swiftly over the squadron command channel, ++ Evasion pattern six, whilst we have light lag. Full scans, please, of the unknown craft from the Randver and Angantyr. Designate her 'Sable-One', potential first contact ++

Letting those orders propagate, he turned to his own crew, ++ Send to the Hegemony station: 'Further to our prior message, unknown vessel encountered. Challenging', then scan the new contact and hail Sable-One, standard INS challenge ++

He thought quickly, adding on the squadron channel, ++ Wartooth, Valder: Scans of VII and VIII, if you might be so kind ++

Diana frowned when the unknown contact appeared on their shared scanners. The System edge, that was... Volsung, she believed. Her own scan of Ultima IX didn't return with anything worth noting to anyone that wasn't an astrogeologist, and as such she was more interested in details of the unknown ship that had just arrived.

- "XO, i want that ship scanned on all frequencies and monitored at all times, with all resulting data logged into our databanks. We'll pool the data into a probe once we reach the station, so for now i want to make sure we don't end up missing anything. The more intel we gather, the better, and High Command can sort it out once they receive it."

She listened to Volsung's message, and added something to her orders while relaying to the others that the Valdar would be scanning Ultima VIII next, as per orders.

- "Planetary scanners on Ultima VIII next, if you would."

Oscar alerted the rest of his crew and issued the orders to bring the Wartooth into proper formation. The scanner data was still trickling across his screen but he needed to get the new data up. Looking to the bridge crew with him, he spoke with a slight smile, “Someone warm up a new pot of caff. Looks like we might have a long day.”

Leaning over the console, he queued up the response to their new orders. ++Wartooth copies. Acknowledge scan target as Ultima VII. Sable-One designation assigned to unknown.++

Grabbing a fresh cup of caff, Oscar looked to the scan display. “Alright folks, let’s hit Ultima VII with the high beams.”

++Understood, preparing scan++

Turning to his bridge crew he barks "Helm: Evasion pattern Six. Comms: Prepare scan of contact mark Sable-One. Gunnery: Firing solution. XO: Confirm boarding team on Standby.

Captain Mysh hits the shipwide: "Harken Randver: Single contact, frigate size. Unknown designation and eager to get close."

The Randver, Valdar and Angantyr swing about, coming into a dispersed protective formation with the Wartooth behind them. General quarters alarms sound throughout the ships and announcements sound over the PA. "Actions station. All crew to action stations." Each ship begins to hum with a vibration only heard when the combat systems come online, capacitors and power banks loading up along with the spike drives revving up for battle.

All main scopes are focused on the unknown vessel, now designated "Sable-One"



The ship is strangely shaped, with negative spaces inside of it and some sort of unusual power core near the center of mass of the vessel. The mass is less than any of the corvettes in the squadron, and it appears to be somewhat fragile in design. It may not even be a warship, given it's unusual configuration. No visible weapons systems appear, although the early images are unclear.

Given that it was moving towards you already, it must have been in flight before you emerged into the system and yet... it couldn't have known you arrived before the hard speed of light carried your shapes to their scopes.

The various crew chiefs bring back some similar version of this answer: "Do you want us watching the bogey or scanning other planets?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:00, Thu 07 May 2020.

Diana thought for a moment before turning to her bridge crew.

- "Hmm... After the Squadron Leader was made aware of the new ship, we were ordered to scan the planet, but... Eh, the planet's not going anywhere. On my authority, focus on our new arrival. Switch to alert code yellow, with all crew on station, and ensure everyone has their shields within reach in case we do get boarded. Prep for defensive flak duties, but do not yet power up our main weapons: Given its path and trajectory when we first detected it, it may not even be hostile. How's the data collection coming along?"

She opened the channel to the other captains.

++ It's only one ship, and technically they're passing along the system's edge. Given our advantages in numbers and firepower i'd like to suggest hailing them on open comms first. So, who wants to do the honors? ++

The vessel continues its approach. All hails remain unanswered. It has done nothing but continue it's originally detected trajectory. No changes on your scanners or detected broadcasts.

It will be within weapons range within approximately two hours.

Oscar looked at the image of the unknown vessel. Sable-One was on a beeline for the squadron and it was shaping up to be an unfriendly encounter. Oscar keyed the tight-beam comms. ++If there is going to be a fight, I request permission to rendezvous with the Sig so they have an up to date scan picture when the spike in. Plus, I think it is wise not to leave any of our ships alone in this situation.++
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Fri 08 May 2020.

Captain Takagawa pursued his lips, considering their options, then flicked open the channel to the other captains, ++ No response to hails, nor our presence. Perhaps it is a derelict, or perhaps our presence is not noteworthy? ++

++ Your thoughts, please: I might cautiously recommend an approach and attempted boarding by two ships, whilst two remain to continue scans and await the Sig ++

Diana was the first to reply.

++ I believe the most effective way would be to reposition ourselves into its current course and heading, so that in order to avoid us, it would need to adjust its course. Should they continue to ignore us, it would then be a reasonable assumption that the ship is a derelict of sorts, giving us a reason to board for humanitarian reasons, rather than it being seen as a hostile maneuver. And if they do adjust course, it will be confirmation that we are being willingly ignored, also giving us a valid legal reason to investigate the ship. Either way, we should continue to send out hails on all frequencies and in all known languages, just to be on the safe side. ++
This message was last edited by the player at 10:09, Fri 08 May 2020.

Mysh feels the acceleration as the Helm executes the evasion order. ++A shot across ze bow would be a clearer message. I remind you all dat zis is Hegemenony space and Sable-One iz refusing hailz from INS craft.++
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:33, Fri 08 May 2020.

++ I would respectfully disagree, Captain Mysh. Everyone knows how wars end, very few how they began. I believe it is in the Hegemony's best interests to have it well documented which side was the first to open fire, which points at what i would call the necessity of avoiding taking military action against Sable-One, in favor of the alternative reasons mentioned earlier. ++
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Fri 08 May 2020.

++Nie Nie, Captain, please excuse if I believe zat waiting to see if an unknown ship flying under an unknown flag decides to fire unknown ordinance with an unknown range at you or any other ship in zis squadron is not an appropriate response.

Zis is ze frontier, zer is little room for nuance. If Sable-One responded to Captain Takagara's hails, zis would be a much different conversation. For all we know Sable-One does not monitor standard frequencies.

Have we detected a drive plume?++

The discussion goes on, data and calculations are being made automatically by the tracking systems and comms crew. Sable-one is approaching in a deceleration arc consistent with moving to the outer regions from within the system, soon entering the system's edge beyond the Crohn limit, that point where the star's gravitation field no longer significantly interferes with with spike fields and FTL travel. It is clear the unknown vessel will pass within engagement range of King Squadron and then cross the Crohn limit.

If Sable-one reaches that area just past King Squadron, they will be clear to make a jump out of the system. Perhaps back to the Akkadia system, Antoli and Hallus... or in a half dozen other directions, to other Hegemony Border worlds.

The unknown contact continues to ignore all attempts at hailing and does not behave as if it is even aware of King squadron's presence. There is no detectable drive plume, but the ship is clearly in the very last breaking phase of travel to the system's edge.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:23, Sat 09 May 2020.

Diana opened the comms again to reply to Mysh, but paused a second or two, believing it better to focus her efforts on the Squadron as a whole.

++ Captains, the type and make of this ship, including its power source, is completely unknown in any of the Hegemony databanks, both military and scientific. Captain Mysh is correct in that we have zero information on its ordnance and effective range, but if their ships were never encountered by our scanners, i feel i must point out that the same applies to Sable-One as well. To it, our combat capabilities are very likely a complete unknown as well, giving us the upper hand through our numerical superiority if nothing else. Captain Takagara, the ship seems currently locked on course to Spike out of the system, do you wish the Squadron formation to reposition into its current flight path with orders to board should it prove incapable of changing course? ++

++Sable-One has had plenty of opportunities to answer hails. I would recommend aggressive posture in case this is a Brotherhood ploy. A position of strength, if you will.++