~ by Andrew Robins
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58 Eridani: Episode 6

Record of owners meeting held on-board Freetrader “Mistral”, location 58 Eridani Analogue Reference 1, enroute to NRRNV Frigate “Lepanto” 45.64 days elapsed time – mission 14.

Shareholders present: Glandin Frutnok van Glomzimmer, Amelia Delaware, Buffy Chinks, Bob Stark

Observing meeting: Didi Turner (official witness of record), Huia Turner, Sheen Turner and Tina Turner of the Ramadan Collective. RI “Lepanto” present via remote.

Agenda:

1. Status review and update
2. Origins of the outbreak
3. General discussion re Vader situation
4. Discussion re status of communications link with sentry gun 5. What does the apparent tie up with our jump drive locus mean?
5. Future plans and goals

Item 1 – Status Review:

It is noted that the Vader outbreak in the hold has been contained. 12 members of the Ramadan Collective were unfortunately exposed to sequestration and are now deceased. It is noted that the shareholders officially offer their regrets and condolences to the surviving members of the collective here present, and extend to them the hospitality of the ship. State room 6 will be allocated for their use, and they will also be offered free access to the ships fabrication facilities and remaining supplies.

There appears to be residual contamination in the hold, although the use of specially constructed, high power infra-red radiators has been effective in sterilising all exposed biological material. All material has now been ejected from the hold with the exception of two items noted below:

1. The drone “Mike 3” which was used to eject the material from the hold
2. The artefact known as “the horn” which was acquired back on Mission Target 3 (see Agenda item 4)

The residual contamination takes the form of a glass-like material which has embedded itself into the ships hull. Lepanto has confirmed that similar contamination is also present in its structure, and that the contamination will not spread as long as it does not have access to an energy source. Further use of the infra-red radiators is not recommended, as the energy released has been observed to speed up this part of the contamination process.

Item 2 – Origins of the Outbreak:

The outbreak appears to have occurred when Moana Turner and Raz Turner handled artefacts that had been acquired on Mission Target 3, shortly after these had been subject to spectroscopic analysis. Records uploaded to Mistral core during the analysis confirm that the artefacts collected on Mission Target 3 include nano machines identical to those contained in the samples we have collected and successfully analysed from 025.456791 LV 1 – (hereafter referred to as the “C.O.D” – capsule of doom).

Lepanto confirms that the Vaders originate from Mission Target 3. When asked how they got here, it only states that we are all still present at Mission Target 3. (Shareholders note: “We must pursue this line of inquiry further with Lepanto”)

Item 3 – Vader Situation:

Sensor data from both Mistral and Lepanto confirms that there is a nuclear exchange underway on the planet (named “Origin Point” by Lepanto). Weapons used appear to be in the megaton range.

Origin Point also appears to have launched roughly 2 dozen large vessels, powered by nuclear pulse propulsion. These vessels are en route to Lepanto, and are apparently hostile to each other. Various types of ordinance appear to be being exchanged.

Item 4 – Link to Sentry Gun 5:

In the process of evacuating the contaminated material from the hold it was noted that the signal from sentry gun 5 began to weaken. Further investigation of this phenomenon determined the following two facts:

1. The signal from sentry gun 5 appears to emanate from our jump drive locus. Or at least the place where the locus was, when we still had a jump drive
2. The signal weakens when the artefact known as “the horn” is physically separated from the ship. None present are very happy with the idea of keeping a potential infection vector on board, but the shareholders have resolved to retain this artefact for now.

Item 5 – Future Plans and Goals:

1. Rendezvous with the Lepanto.
2. Resupply and repair Mistral using supplies found on board.
3. Investigate the anomaly.
4. Use the weapons on Lepanto to deal with the inbound Vader ships.

Let it be noted that the shareholders have no further plans beyond, “figure this stuff out and find a way home”.

Meeting ends.

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Check back in on Saturday 23 January for Episode 7 of 58 Eridani.

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You can read the previous issues by clicking on the following links:

Introducing 58 Eridani, a Game Log

58 Eridani Episode 1

58 Eridani Episode 2

58 Eridani Episode 3

58 Eridani Episode 4

58 Eridani Episode 5

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Andrew Robins is a long time reader – and sometime reviewer – of science fiction, fantasy and history. People pay him to test stuff, which most of the time is more fun than it has any right to be.

To check out Andrew’s book reviews, see “Book Reviews for ‘on Anything, Really’” in the right-hand side bar.