The Cradle

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The Cradle

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Chapter 11: "The Cradle"
Major players	Universal Council Varse Expedition Team Kestrel Expedition Team Soren Lynk
Vote outcome
Major events	Locating of the Varse and Kestrel expedition teams Discovery of fourth artifact
Timeline Chronology
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"Subjugation"	"[[]]"

Summary

Transcript

Report from the 27th conference of the Universal Council: time of ζ Sagittarii 3.32
Held on board station Ignis, in the neutral center of the Core Systems.

Councilmembers for the Empire: Ji Young-Joo, Ferus Haden, Cael’an Ashuret
Councilmembers for the Federation: Áurea Adonis, Kim Lee, Elijah Burke
Councilmembers for the Union: Aish Fenix, Mandla Bankole, Haley Nguyen

The following is a transcript of the briefing on the relevant vote for those involved in the Explorer program:

As was stated in Soren Lynk’s transmission following the conclusion of the last vote, the planet Mímir has returned, after being lost to us since the 23rd conference of this dating. Initial surface analysis showed absolutely no change in the composition of the planet; its crust has aged by the roughly the same amount of time that it was gone for. The only perceivable changes were the complete absence of the signal that led our ships to Mímir in the first place, and the disappearance of turbulent storm clouds covering the surface.

However, the Council’s fleets did pick up another, separate signal: a distress beacon, belonging to Captain Nicolás Kestrel. Our ships ventured onto the planet’s surface, bringing the full force of our fleets to bear on Mímir. While the tunnel networks of the planet were labyrinthine, our operation managed to successfully follow the signal to its source. The following is the last transmission the Council received:

Transmission from Soren Lynk
Location: surface of Mímir, cave network
Dating: 4th report – time of ζ Sagittarii 3.32
Designation: mission report

This is Soren Lynk. We have just passed the last leg on our path to the signal, and it seems the caves are opening up- (scuffling) hold on, why’ve we stopped? Ayun, man, what’s the matter with- good lord. There is something huge in these caves. I repeat, a massive object has been found in Mímir’s caves. Organic or not, it seems to be emitting some strange pulse, and- there’s people here.

(faint orders barked, echoing off cave walls)

They look like- yes, that’s them. It’s the original crew from the Panopea’s fleet. Still breathing, that’s good. Get Captain Kestrel on your shoulders. (thudding) And Commander Varse can go… here I think. My lord, what’s happened to them? They look… drained. And this? That’s her mission log. Still functional, that’s good.

(click)

Listen, our operation is currently preparing to bring the crew up to the surface as soon as we can. The nearest class-S ship will update the Council further on the situation.

Transmission ends.

Following this, Captain Kestrel, Commander Varse, and the rest of the surviving crew were ferried beyond the caves. Commander Varse’s logs (which are currently being indexed, to be released publicly later) indicate that this object the expedition found is a fourth artifact similar in nature to the Bastion, the Nexus and the Oracle, but far smaller than any of them. Small enough, Commander Varse’s logs suggest, to be transported out of Mímir’s cave system.

The exact nature or function of the artifact is unclear, but it most likely has something to do with Mímir’s sudden reappearance. Early scans of the caves indicate signs of a recent massive Quantum surge.

Another fact worth noting is that the Arbiter, the class-B vessel sent into the light and captained by Kal Haden, is now nowhere to be found. It was assumed the ship had made contact with Mímir, but this does not appear to have been the case.

With the Crimson Wolves at large and the recent attacks on Quantum shipments, it would be better to have as many fleets as possible on standby at station Ignis. However, this new artifact cannot be left unguarded. If the Council’s fleets are to be kept on standby, this would require an arduous transport of the artifact back to the station, which would be placing the station itself, as well as the rest of the Core Systems, at great risk.

The other option is to leave the artifact where it is and use the Quantum deposits on Mímir to facilitate initial experimentation with its function. Unfortunately, this would leave the artifact quite vulnerable; so far from the Core Systems, it is quite an appealing target, not only for mercenary groups, but also for other factions. We do not want a repeat of the later years of the Quantum war. Thus, the vote placed before the Council is as follows:

Does the Council ship the artifact back to station Ignis, incurring risk to both the Council and its surrounding systems, or does the Council leave the artifact where it is, prepare it for further research and perhaps even for use, and take precautions for any forces that might threaten our possession of the artifact?

Your faction contact will issue a statement shortly in your respective vote channels before the commencement of the vote, twelve hours from now.

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