Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 15:01:20 GMT
The signal was simple. Crude and by no means strong, but not a faint, fading signal. Repeating at a high frequency it carried no real message, instead the signal was recognisable to the Autaya as one of a distress beacon. That same conclusion would not be hard to gather from what unknowns would be able to pick it up, the frequency and rapid urgency of the data, indicating a critical failure on multiple systems pointing it as a call for help.
For the Imperial Navy, this coincided with the loss of contact with the deep space research and development facility Astral Mesa, and the Navy mustered a response.
The station was a series of disks connected by a central shaft, with a large sphere close to the bottom, a single disc beneath it, surrounded by four arcing structures spaced away from it. Near the top, four large, cubic hangar bays sat empty, save for the few Autayan shuttles hanging from the ceiling. Nearby, a pair of Autayan cruisers followed the station's orbit, for the moment seemingly inactive.
If anyone else responded, it was yet to be seen.
The signal lit up like a flare on the sensors of the Erebus, a Kunai class light cruiser belonging to the Union of Worlds. Its sleek blue arrow like hull trailed by two additional smaller arrowheads of the Razor class escorts Harbinger and Redemption . All vessels were in this region conducting simple patrol operations, while a very long way from Union controlled space they were operating out of the Inari Technocracy, close ties with such had allowed the Union free access to their territories and the surrounding areas.
"That signal is pretty consistant whatever it is. Sensors give us its location but translators and decryption systems are working overtime trying to see if there is any underlying message" The sensor operator called out, the bridge was bustling with the sudden discovery despite its fairly small size. Captain Andromeda nodded in response, the women was quite tall, long blonde hair and grey eyes kept her appearance sharp, as did her immaculate Union uniform.
"Understood, what do the initial scans suggest it is? Its clearly something we havent seen before, likely a first contact scenario" She said aloud in reply.
"Initial AI reports suggest the signal is some kind of distress beacon, what the distress is or contents we cant decode yet." The inteligence officer then reported.
"I see. We have its location yes?" Andromeda stood up walking down to the large holographic display in the center of the bridge and folding her arms.
"Yes, putting it on display." A pinging pulse of light eminated out from the location, Andromeda nodded to herself.
"Fairly close... Tell the escorts to follow us, we are going to investigate this. Mission parameters are to render all available aid and secure relations with a potentially new empire. Helm lay in a course and initiate slipspace jump." She commanded. The crew all acknowledged.
"Course laid in ma'am, both escorts respond and green lights across the board. Ready to jump on your command." Navigation responded.
"All ships jump" The command came quickly and the Union vessels each sliced a tear into spacetime, the blue hole pulling the vessels in rapidly as they dissapeared. The jump was short, only around 33 minutes travel time to the location. The Union fleet translating in system with bright flashes of light as they began scanning the system.
"Unknown facility detected, nothing in the databanks about it. No other sensor readings in system, we are clear."
"Thank you sensors, this is clearly first contact. Broadcast standard greeting across all known frequencies and languages. We need to find out whats going on here."
Section Leader N'Thren-Amrel was on duty at the ComScan station of the Night Osprey class heavy cruiser SVS Solar Talon , which was assigned to patrol the Coreward Operations Area along with it's two escorting Wraith class destroyers; SVS Soulstorm and SVS Soul Reaver . The ships had been on patrol for a few weeks now, with no reports from either the far-ranging Probe Pods or the Survey Cruisers following in their wake. Patrol Triad Xe-12 was a patrol and enforcement force however, not a survey unit. Reports had come in of piracy, and so Laeneth-Xelas had ordered a number of Patrol Triads out at points around the Singer's area of influence.
A strident beep caught N'Thren-Amrel's attention. A signal had been picked up by the main arrays. It was at extreme range, and seemed repetitive. "Sentience Core, Requesting analysis of incoming signal. Likely hood of a distress or warning call?" After a short bit of time the ship's Sentience Core responded. "80%+ chance of signal being an emergency call of some sort. Cannot determine nature of possible emergency. 10% chance of it being a warning, again no specifics available. Calculating origin point...
While the Core was tracking the signal, N'Thren-Amrel neural-keyed his shipcomm to Squadron Leader Verenel-Karas. "Squadron Leader, I am picking up and extreme range signal, Sentience Core is tracking it now, linking to your control board." Touching some of the holodynamic controls on his panel, he linked the data readouts of the signal to the Ship Leader's control station. Verenel-Karas brought the signal data up on his panel just as the Sentience Core came up with a location. "Signal is originating from space that Probe Pods indicate is part of the Autaya Imperium. No further naval or Ministry of State information available on Autayan polity."
Verenel-Karas looked at the readouts the Core's analysis. 80%+ chance of an emergency signal... he thought to himself. "Helm, set course for signal origin point, Inform Fleet Command and signify that we are responding to an apparent distress signal. Also inform Ministry of State, this may become a first contact and we are not the best prepared for such." With a nod and an "At your Command, Squadron Leader." the Helm and ComScan stations reported back. The Code is the Code Verenel-Karas thought as he ordered "Engage phase drives."
The phase drives of the three ships activated, shifting them into the void between universes where their effective speed was much higher then anything possible in conventional space-time. The squadron moved quickly to the signal source, arriving in just over 40 minutes. The ships shimmered like ghosts materializing as they phased into the continuum in the origin system, their scanners started probing the system. "Detecting a space station of some sort sir, seems the origin of the signal. Also detecting 3 ships. Look like Union vessels according to the latest data download from Ministry of State and Fleet command. Light cruiser and 2 escorts." "ComScan, Do they look like they attacked the station?" "Negative, Squadron Leader. Station shows no signs of combat damage. "Signal them then, Diplomatic protocols." came the swift reply from Verenel-Karas.
"Have all personnel prepare to render assistance to stranded spacefarers." Verenel-Karas ordered as the squadron moved closer and Section Leader N'Thren-Amrel signaled the Union squadron. "This is SVS Solar Talon, responding to an emergency signal from this station. If you are here for the same reasons we would like to coordinate SAR and possible repair work for the station."
The Restevian cruiser Kel'namar and it's support ships dropped out of FTL about fifteen minutes after the Union vessels did, the six-ship cluster coming to a halt and bringing up their scanners promptly. The deep-space patrol of the cruiser, two destroyers and three frigates had picked up the signal broadcasting as they'd proceeded along their route, and they had decided to investigate. They recognized the Union's ships, sure as the sun rose. They even recognized the Autaya, whom they'd only made contact with about a month prior, Terakromis time. But they didn't know the other group, and so Captain Sergei Colestikov gave the order to keep their distance from them. At the same time, he ordered the station to be scanned and the Union to be hailed-- the usual handshake 'request situation update, nice to see you' kind.
The two Autayan cruisers following the station flared to life, sensors and shields coming online. For the moment, however, seemingly recognising they were severely outnumbered, weapons remained disengaged. Fortunately, word of the nature of more conventional communications in the galaxy had reached them, as a simple psionic and outgoing comms pulse was sent out by one of them. It contained linguistic data on the Autayan language, seemingly intended for translators, and a simple request that recipients send them the same. As well, it carried a tiny data packet that instantly decoded the data in the Astral Mesa's distress beacon. It read as follows:
>LIFE SUPPORT: OFFLINE
>GRAVITATIONAL CORE:
>COMMAND: OFFLINE
>SECURITY:
>MAIN POWER: ONLINE
>CREW COUNT: [[LESS THAN 10]]
>REQUESTING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
The pulse seemed to be in response to messages directed at the Imperial vessels. Anything directed at the station, however, was met with silence.
The Restevians noted the data packets sent out to them, and with no small amount of caution entered them into their systems. They knew the Autaya and the Autaya knew of them-- but it still was far better to be safe than sorry.
"Cruiser RNV Kel'namar calling Autayan ships," went out after a few minutes, "Requesting situation report. Do you have any idea at all what's happened here?"
Space fills without notice nor grand occasion, it simply becomes occupied by the resplendent form of the TSS Facsimile of purpose and the plain shape of the USS Screaming Austerity, the twin vessels maintain their speed out of FTL and circle like sharks, shields and weapons online in case of ambush.
"Hello my assembled lambs, how fare you all, we come offering aid and peace."
The captain of the Facsimile smiles as he listens to the priestesses words, Rasputin always enjoyed the melodic tones of the clergy.
"Captain we detect Singer and RSC idents, wait... FTL signatures detected its the Annointed ma'am, seems like we have some friendly support here, we are recieving messages from all of them in regards to joint support."
"That is good to hear, respond to their messages, and place our full support on co-ordinated SAR and repair work between our nations." Andromeda replied.
"Ma'am I'm detecting two cruisers datapacket has been sent by both, seemed like they just powered up. QAI is using this datapacket to decode the disstress signal, heres the contents."
The message was short and simple, and displayed on the main holoscreen. Andromeda rubbed her chin as she read it.
"Quite the situation, I wonder what happened here... Fine, ready up a boarding party, we need medics and SAR personnel ready, assemble a marine force from all three of our ships full tactical gear we dont know what we could find in there, better prepare for all circumstances. Notify our friends of our intentions and plans, perhaps we can work out some sort of easy sweep along with the others."
Verenel-Karas picked up the psionic data packet from the two Autayan cruisers shortly before the communications came in from the Union ship. Neural-linking to the _Solar Talon_'s Sentience Core, he relayed the Autayan language data and other information. "Disperse this to all relevant systems after standard psychometric security scan." he ordered. As the Core signaled acknowledgement he turned to N'thren-Amrel.
"ComScan, any life readings from the station or cruisers?" N'thren-Amrel looked at his readout boards for the Multispectral Arrays, then reported back. "Many readings on the station, sir but... They are extremely low level." "Injured personnel?" Verenel-Karas replied. "Negative sir, not in my opinion. Looks more like some sort of animal life. The two cruisers are showing lifesigns, normal energy state readings for sentient life. Wait... Sir I am picking up something else in the main spherical hull section of the station. Readings are diffuse and distorted, cannot classify."
Verenel-Karas nodded. "That explains the psi transmission then. Seems to be a psionic transmission. Signal the Union ship and the unknowns to begin coordination on SAR operations. Tell them there may be some sort of animal or other lower lifeform on the station so they should be aware of potential biological contamination." He then concentrated and sent a telepathic signal back to the cruiser that sent the psi transmission.
"I bring you greetings on behalf of the Singers of the Void. We have come in response to your station's emergency transmission and are prepared to render assistance. We have detected no life of your level on the station, but have detected lifesigns of a lower level of neural energy development. Is this a normal state for some sort of life you keep on this station? There also seems to be an unclassifiable life reading-very distorted, in the spherical section of the station's hull."
There was a moment before one of the Autayan cruisers responded, their message primarily detected at the Singers vessels.
"Affirmative, Drogai support units. Personnel signatures onboard confirmed prior."
The next pulse, both in general and a continuation to the former, was open and likewise came in normal comms format.
"Internal situation uncertain. Cause of communications loss unknown. Objective is securing all surviving personnel and research assets. Assistance would be appreciated."
As the Anointed vessels circled the station, they would see a large tear, like on paper, in the side of the sphere facing the planet it slowly drifted around.
The Union force came in close to the station, surveying it with their sensors and visual readings, looking for an entrance in, a constant stream of data going and in out to and from the other forces in system cross referencing finding and constantly updating SAR plans.
"The marine force reports in as ready to go, Lieutenant Phocron is ready to deploy along with a follow up of medical staff and engineers to help with the station" the report came in across the bridge, Andromeda nodded.
"Understood, tell them to wait in the shuttles and see if we can ask the owners of the station if they know of any access hangars we can land in without causing too much trouble."
"Message is away, hopefully they will respond fairly quickly, I imagine their dealing with a lot right now." The communications operative replied.
"Well its their facility, I can imagine we would be pretty tied up if this was ours in this situation for sure."
The Restevian cluster acknowledged this signal, and moved in. 500k from the station's outer perimeter they can to a slow-burn halt, and swung around to face the Autayan vessels and the station. Once they had come to a stop, their instruments powered up to full and the ships began scanning the station slow and careful at the same time that dropships detached and began to head towards the station.
Those dropships carried a mixed lot of soldiers, from human riflemen and power-armor troops to Karokalian close-combat troops to a few from the other races of the RSC. All were silent, waiting for the word to move out and either rescue this place's crew or avenge them.
"Boarding team, depart immediately." Verenel-Karas ordered. The Bith-12 boarding shuttle emerged from SVS Solar Talon's port docking bay, and began moving slowly toward the silent station. It made a spiral approach, getting closer with every orbit. The pilot could not help but notice the gash in the lower sphere of the station.
"Solar Talon Actual...are you seeing this?" the shuttle's pilot, Lt. Arelen said. "Station has one damaged area of hull. Exhibiting signs of both internal and external force application. Might have been a boarding attempt or ram...but could be something else. Suggest speaking to the owners for more information."
Verenel-Karas sat back in his bridge chair. "Acknowledged, Lt. Continue with plan, be prepared for hostiles on station, possibly drones based on lack of high-order life signs." Then he motioned to N'Thren-Amrel, who opened a general comms channel.
"To all parties involved in SAR operations. There is a tear in the station's hull. Nature of structural damage indicates possible collision or boarding action. Internal non-explosive cause is also possible. Exercise extreme caution. Hostile forces or internal macro-scale biohazards may be present. SVS Solar Talon Actual, out."
The shuttle moved closer to the station. Capable of carrying a platoon of power-armored troops and a platoon of assault drones, the shuttle now only carried 4 each of the troopers and drones. The rest of the space was taken up by medical and damage control teams, emergency equipment of various sorts, and heavy cutting gear in case it was needed to free trapped crewmen.
As the shuttle moved in towards an external airlock on the station, Verenel-Karas signaled the two Autayan cruisers. "I understand the need for operational security regarding this station, but if there was some type of research taking place on this station that could but my crew in danger, I would appreciate knowing about the dangers involved."
As the boarding teams of the various parties headed for the Astral Mesa, a contingent from the Autayan vessels likewise left the hangar bays of the cruisers, flying for one of the station's large open hangars. As for the messages sent to them, they were responded to relatively quickly. The Union was simply responded to with a signal carrying nav markers pointing to the three unoccupied hangars near the top end of the station, as was the RSC. The Singers vessels were addressed more directly.
"Negative, according to known research records. Military hardware development. Hazardous autonomous items unknown, unlikely." was the response. The next went out to all.
"Permission to engage security forces granted if engaged. It is requested collateral damage to the station be avoided."
"3 Markers and navigational points recieved ma'am directed towards three hangars near to the top of the station."
"Relay them to the boarding teams and Phocron himself, and tell him good luck." Andromeda replied.
The information streamed in as Lieutenant Phocron observed their landing destination, the scream of the engines already filling the enviromentally sealed compartment as the shuttle was lifting off. He stood in the rear bay of the Sparrow shuttle, 10 marines in full armour same as himself stood holding on to the railings while several medical staff also accompanied them, also in power armour but painted white. 4 other shuttles also had taken off all with similar layouts the Sparrows speeding through the void towards the huge station in front of them. Approach vectors were set as the shuttles came in to land within one of the three hangars designated for their arrival, all 5 landing in one cavenous hangar. The ramps dropped and the marines immediately disembarked weapons up scanning for targets making a defensive perimetre as the Sparrows nose mounted heavy cascade cannons also tracked ready to give covering fire. Phocron and the various medical staff also disembarked, the Lieutenant looking around.
"Air is breathable sir but not optimal, no signatures detected near us and no power signatures either, just some shot up shuttles and supplies" One of the sergeants reported. Phocron nodded. He was a very methodical and logical man.
"Keep suits sealed, I want those shuttles scanned and investigated, also pry open those crates and see whats inside. I want all entrances and exits covered and ready for moving out. Squad Bravo guard the shuttles and set up a temporary field ops area with whatever you can. Squads Alpha through Echo secure entrances and protect the medics." The squads acknowledged and soon fanned out.
Rasputin watches as the Union forces make station fall and begins to plan insertions of his own.
"Alright then, three insertion teams, one to support the Union landing, one to act as a rapid response team and another to support the Restavians when they join the party."
The sensor officer begins to direct the TK field towards the station, 3D imaging doing an amazing job of providing a detailed map of the stations surface and immediate internals, deeper inside however would have to wait.
Rasputin watches as three squads of fifteen men begin to form up, one tide thrower and one AM rifle is issued to each squad as weapons checks are made, adapted Triarch stealth systems are put through diagnostics as psi grenades are charged and shields tested, after all mandatory checks are completed stage two of the operation begins.
"Union forces this is SGT Huawei, keep your fingers off those triggers we are coming in."
Having given warning the first strike team teleports aboard, materializing a scant few feet form the Union lines, SGT Huawei waves to the blue armored soldiers as he finishes materializing.
Meanwhile the church vessel makes its own preparations, the choir aboard the ship reaches out to the singers vessel, an open door to a meta concert and comms psi network extended.
Phocron and the Union forces watched as the Annointed forces teleported into the hangar, Phocron himself tapping his helmet as a sign of recognition to Huawei. The Union forces had already taken positions, Bravo squad had assembled a small temporary command and medical post around the shuttles while Alpha to Echo both secured the exits and also scanned the damaged shuttles that resided in the hangar, checking in the supply crates as well just in case.
The Bith-12 boarding shuttle made it's approach to the open doors of the fourth landing bay. After a last scan the shuttle's landing spotlights came on, and Lt. Arelen looked over the shuttle bay. The bay had several shuttles in it, and Arelen immediately notice signs of combat damage, plasma or fusion beam weapons by the look of it. Damage to the rest of the bay was minimal, but there were signs of chaos as if combat had perhaps taken place.
"Heads up people." Arelen informed the crew and boarding party. "Signs of combat, including plasma or fusion weapon fire. Upgrade to Amber alert level, potential hostiles onboard." He then moved the shuttle slowly into the bay, the gunner in the dorsal pulsar turret traversing the guns back and forth, looking for hostiles yet finding none.
The shuttle touched down lightly, and the assault doors opened. A floating disk emerged, 1.5 meters in diameter. Weapon nozzles and the lights of phased beam arrays swiveled around it's perimeter as the assault drone hovered on it's grav drive. Finding nothing hostile it moved out, forming a perimeter along with the three identical drones following it. The next out were the four PA troopers in Nova XIX powered armor. They had replaced their normal backpack pulsar cannons with a mix of weapons, one trooper had a Night Ray, another an NFD projector, and the other two with fusion cannons. The SAR team was last, and they began going over to the damaged shuttles, escorted by two of the PA troopers.
"Definitely plasma weapon fire." one of the troopers said. "A lot of it too." The doors to the shuttle were open and the damage seemed concentrated around the cockpit viewport, boarding hatch, and engines. "Someone did a nice job of wrecking these and preventing their launch." the squad leader, Sgt. Liandrel said, before moving into the open hatch. The interior of the shuttle was a chaotic mess, parts and equipment tossed all over the interior.
"Well.. whatever did this it wasn't pirates. Nothing seems to be missing. What pirate would shoot up a shuttle and not steal anything? For that matter why did they wreck the shuttle and not steal it?" The SAR team moved in, checking each shuttle in turn and finding basically the same thing. "I agree with you Sergeant. This does not look like pirates or raiders. Not sure what to make on it." Specialist Nereth said to the troopers. Liandrel reported back to the shuttle. "Signs of hostiles onboard, alert the Union, Autaya, and RSC of this information. We're setting up a perimeter and will proceed into the station after SAR does a contamination survey."
On the shuttle, Arelen simply said "Acknowledged, Boarding Team Leader." and then signaled the Union and RSC. "To the Union, Autaya, and RSC forces. Have found signs of plasma weapon fire used by hostile forces against shuttlecraft. Be alert hostile forces may still be present. Lt. Arelen, SVSN, over."
In the shuttle bay, the SAR team's DC personnel began scanning for any contamination, CBR, dimensional, or nano-fractal. Meanwhile on the Solar Talon, Verenel-Karas and the ship's Sentience Core telepathically made contact with the choir on the Autayan cruiser. Contact established the Core and Verenel-Karas sent telepathically. There are signs of weapon fire aboard, though oddly nothing seems to have been stolen. This would seem to rule out piracy.
In the shuttle bay, the scan team said "Negative on all contamination. Atmosphere is breathable if a bit stale, no signs of dimensional resonances or nano-fractal presence." Arelen responded from the shuttle. "Keep vacuum integrity on your suits, best not to take any chances." The crews then prepared to proceed further into the station.
When the RSC landed, it was with a strange mix of subtlety and intense presence that the RSC seemed to often have, though in the bay which they landed there was nobody to see it. This didn't matter, as the troops equipped with the newest series of body armor disembarked the shuttles and formed into their individual squads before spreading out to head deeper into the station.
"Major Colestikov, RMC copies, Lt. Arelen." the Restevian commander acknowledged over the radio, noting the plasma damage to some walls and part of the floor he was walking on.
"Alright, keep it tight and cover." he ordered. "Warriors in front, all riflemen provide support." The Karokalians drew their heat-bladed swords and took point, their armor clattering as the Restevians fell into close formation behind them as they made their way out of the bay. All were alert and ready as they entered further into the station, keeping comms open to the other forces entering the station alongside them.
For the Imperial Navy, this coincided with the loss of contact with the deep space research and development facility Astral Mesa, and the Navy mustered a response.
The station was a series of disks connected by a central shaft, with a large sphere close to the bottom, a single disc beneath it, surrounded by four arcing structures spaced away from it. Near the top, four large, cubic hangar bays sat empty, save for the few Autayan shuttles hanging from the ceiling. Nearby, a pair of Autayan cruisers followed the station's orbit, for the moment seemingly inactive.
If anyone else responded, it was yet to be seen.
The signal lit up like a flare on the sensors of the Erebus, a Kunai class light cruiser belonging to the Union of Worlds. Its sleek blue arrow like hull trailed by two additional smaller arrowheads of the Razor class escorts Harbinger and Redemption . All vessels were in this region conducting simple patrol operations, while a very long way from Union controlled space they were operating out of the Inari Technocracy, close ties with such had allowed the Union free access to their territories and the surrounding areas.
"That signal is pretty consistant whatever it is. Sensors give us its location but translators and decryption systems are working overtime trying to see if there is any underlying message" The sensor operator called out, the bridge was bustling with the sudden discovery despite its fairly small size. Captain Andromeda nodded in response, the women was quite tall, long blonde hair and grey eyes kept her appearance sharp, as did her immaculate Union uniform.
"Understood, what do the initial scans suggest it is? Its clearly something we havent seen before, likely a first contact scenario" She said aloud in reply.
"Initial AI reports suggest the signal is some kind of distress beacon, what the distress is or contents we cant decode yet." The inteligence officer then reported.
"I see. We have its location yes?" Andromeda stood up walking down to the large holographic display in the center of the bridge and folding her arms.
"Yes, putting it on display." A pinging pulse of light eminated out from the location, Andromeda nodded to herself.
"Fairly close... Tell the escorts to follow us, we are going to investigate this. Mission parameters are to render all available aid and secure relations with a potentially new empire. Helm lay in a course and initiate slipspace jump." She commanded. The crew all acknowledged.
"Course laid in ma'am, both escorts respond and green lights across the board. Ready to jump on your command." Navigation responded.
"All ships jump" The command came quickly and the Union vessels each sliced a tear into spacetime, the blue hole pulling the vessels in rapidly as they dissapeared. The jump was short, only around 33 minutes travel time to the location. The Union fleet translating in system with bright flashes of light as they began scanning the system.
"Unknown facility detected, nothing in the databanks about it. No other sensor readings in system, we are clear."
"Thank you sensors, this is clearly first contact. Broadcast standard greeting across all known frequencies and languages. We need to find out whats going on here."
Section Leader N'Thren-Amrel was on duty at the ComScan station of the Night Osprey class heavy cruiser SVS Solar Talon , which was assigned to patrol the Coreward Operations Area along with it's two escorting Wraith class destroyers; SVS Soulstorm and SVS Soul Reaver . The ships had been on patrol for a few weeks now, with no reports from either the far-ranging Probe Pods or the Survey Cruisers following in their wake. Patrol Triad Xe-12 was a patrol and enforcement force however, not a survey unit. Reports had come in of piracy, and so Laeneth-Xelas had ordered a number of Patrol Triads out at points around the Singer's area of influence.
A strident beep caught N'Thren-Amrel's attention. A signal had been picked up by the main arrays. It was at extreme range, and seemed repetitive. "Sentience Core, Requesting analysis of incoming signal. Likely hood of a distress or warning call?" After a short bit of time the ship's Sentience Core responded. "80%+ chance of signal being an emergency call of some sort. Cannot determine nature of possible emergency. 10% chance of it being a warning, again no specifics available. Calculating origin point...
While the Core was tracking the signal, N'Thren-Amrel neural-keyed his shipcomm to Squadron Leader Verenel-Karas. "Squadron Leader, I am picking up and extreme range signal, Sentience Core is tracking it now, linking to your control board." Touching some of the holodynamic controls on his panel, he linked the data readouts of the signal to the Ship Leader's control station. Verenel-Karas brought the signal data up on his panel just as the Sentience Core came up with a location. "Signal is originating from space that Probe Pods indicate is part of the Autaya Imperium. No further naval or Ministry of State information available on Autayan polity."
Verenel-Karas looked at the readouts the Core's analysis. 80%+ chance of an emergency signal... he thought to himself. "Helm, set course for signal origin point, Inform Fleet Command and signify that we are responding to an apparent distress signal. Also inform Ministry of State, this may become a first contact and we are not the best prepared for such." With a nod and an "At your Command, Squadron Leader." the Helm and ComScan stations reported back. The Code is the Code Verenel-Karas thought as he ordered "Engage phase drives."
The phase drives of the three ships activated, shifting them into the void between universes where their effective speed was much higher then anything possible in conventional space-time. The squadron moved quickly to the signal source, arriving in just over 40 minutes. The ships shimmered like ghosts materializing as they phased into the continuum in the origin system, their scanners started probing the system. "Detecting a space station of some sort sir, seems the origin of the signal. Also detecting 3 ships. Look like Union vessels according to the latest data download from Ministry of State and Fleet command. Light cruiser and 2 escorts." "ComScan, Do they look like they attacked the station?" "Negative, Squadron Leader. Station shows no signs of combat damage. "Signal them then, Diplomatic protocols." came the swift reply from Verenel-Karas.
"Have all personnel prepare to render assistance to stranded spacefarers." Verenel-Karas ordered as the squadron moved closer and Section Leader N'Thren-Amrel signaled the Union squadron. "This is SVS Solar Talon, responding to an emergency signal from this station. If you are here for the same reasons we would like to coordinate SAR and possible repair work for the station."
The Restevian cruiser Kel'namar and it's support ships dropped out of FTL about fifteen minutes after the Union vessels did, the six-ship cluster coming to a halt and bringing up their scanners promptly. The deep-space patrol of the cruiser, two destroyers and three frigates had picked up the signal broadcasting as they'd proceeded along their route, and they had decided to investigate. They recognized the Union's ships, sure as the sun rose. They even recognized the Autaya, whom they'd only made contact with about a month prior, Terakromis time. But they didn't know the other group, and so Captain Sergei Colestikov gave the order to keep their distance from them. At the same time, he ordered the station to be scanned and the Union to be hailed-- the usual handshake 'request situation update, nice to see you' kind.
The two Autayan cruisers following the station flared to life, sensors and shields coming online. For the moment, however, seemingly recognising they were severely outnumbered, weapons remained disengaged. Fortunately, word of the nature of more conventional communications in the galaxy had reached them, as a simple psionic and outgoing comms pulse was sent out by one of them. It contained linguistic data on the Autayan language, seemingly intended for translators, and a simple request that recipients send them the same. As well, it carried a tiny data packet that instantly decoded the data in the Astral Mesa's distress beacon. It read as follows:
>LIFE SUPPORT: OFFLINE
>GRAVITATIONAL CORE:
>COMMAND: OFFLINE
>SECURITY:
>MAIN POWER: ONLINE
>CREW COUNT: [[LESS THAN 10]]
>REQUESTING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
The pulse seemed to be in response to messages directed at the Imperial vessels. Anything directed at the station, however, was met with silence.
The Restevians noted the data packets sent out to them, and with no small amount of caution entered them into their systems. They knew the Autaya and the Autaya knew of them-- but it still was far better to be safe than sorry.
"Cruiser RNV Kel'namar calling Autayan ships," went out after a few minutes, "Requesting situation report. Do you have any idea at all what's happened here?"
Space fills without notice nor grand occasion, it simply becomes occupied by the resplendent form of the TSS Facsimile of purpose and the plain shape of the USS Screaming Austerity, the twin vessels maintain their speed out of FTL and circle like sharks, shields and weapons online in case of ambush.
"Hello my assembled lambs, how fare you all, we come offering aid and peace."
The captain of the Facsimile smiles as he listens to the priestesses words, Rasputin always enjoyed the melodic tones of the clergy.
"Captain we detect Singer and RSC idents, wait... FTL signatures detected its the Annointed ma'am, seems like we have some friendly support here, we are recieving messages from all of them in regards to joint support."
"That is good to hear, respond to their messages, and place our full support on co-ordinated SAR and repair work between our nations." Andromeda replied.
"Ma'am I'm detecting two cruisers datapacket has been sent by both, seemed like they just powered up. QAI is using this datapacket to decode the disstress signal, heres the contents."
The message was short and simple, and displayed on the main holoscreen. Andromeda rubbed her chin as she read it.
"Quite the situation, I wonder what happened here... Fine, ready up a boarding party, we need medics and SAR personnel ready, assemble a marine force from all three of our ships full tactical gear we dont know what we could find in there, better prepare for all circumstances. Notify our friends of our intentions and plans, perhaps we can work out some sort of easy sweep along with the others."
Verenel-Karas picked up the psionic data packet from the two Autayan cruisers shortly before the communications came in from the Union ship. Neural-linking to the _Solar Talon_'s Sentience Core, he relayed the Autayan language data and other information. "Disperse this to all relevant systems after standard psychometric security scan." he ordered. As the Core signaled acknowledgement he turned to N'thren-Amrel.
"ComScan, any life readings from the station or cruisers?" N'thren-Amrel looked at his readout boards for the Multispectral Arrays, then reported back. "Many readings on the station, sir but... They are extremely low level." "Injured personnel?" Verenel-Karas replied. "Negative sir, not in my opinion. Looks more like some sort of animal life. The two cruisers are showing lifesigns, normal energy state readings for sentient life. Wait... Sir I am picking up something else in the main spherical hull section of the station. Readings are diffuse and distorted, cannot classify."
Verenel-Karas nodded. "That explains the psi transmission then. Seems to be a psionic transmission. Signal the Union ship and the unknowns to begin coordination on SAR operations. Tell them there may be some sort of animal or other lower lifeform on the station so they should be aware of potential biological contamination." He then concentrated and sent a telepathic signal back to the cruiser that sent the psi transmission.
"I bring you greetings on behalf of the Singers of the Void. We have come in response to your station's emergency transmission and are prepared to render assistance. We have detected no life of your level on the station, but have detected lifesigns of a lower level of neural energy development. Is this a normal state for some sort of life you keep on this station? There also seems to be an unclassifiable life reading-very distorted, in the spherical section of the station's hull."
There was a moment before one of the Autayan cruisers responded, their message primarily detected at the Singers vessels.
"Affirmative, Drogai support units. Personnel signatures onboard confirmed prior."
The next pulse, both in general and a continuation to the former, was open and likewise came in normal comms format.
"Internal situation uncertain. Cause of communications loss unknown. Objective is securing all surviving personnel and research assets. Assistance would be appreciated."
As the Anointed vessels circled the station, they would see a large tear, like on paper, in the side of the sphere facing the planet it slowly drifted around.
The Union force came in close to the station, surveying it with their sensors and visual readings, looking for an entrance in, a constant stream of data going and in out to and from the other forces in system cross referencing finding and constantly updating SAR plans.
"The marine force reports in as ready to go, Lieutenant Phocron is ready to deploy along with a follow up of medical staff and engineers to help with the station" the report came in across the bridge, Andromeda nodded.
"Understood, tell them to wait in the shuttles and see if we can ask the owners of the station if they know of any access hangars we can land in without causing too much trouble."
"Message is away, hopefully they will respond fairly quickly, I imagine their dealing with a lot right now." The communications operative replied.
"Well its their facility, I can imagine we would be pretty tied up if this was ours in this situation for sure."
The Restevian cluster acknowledged this signal, and moved in. 500k from the station's outer perimeter they can to a slow-burn halt, and swung around to face the Autayan vessels and the station. Once they had come to a stop, their instruments powered up to full and the ships began scanning the station slow and careful at the same time that dropships detached and began to head towards the station.
Those dropships carried a mixed lot of soldiers, from human riflemen and power-armor troops to Karokalian close-combat troops to a few from the other races of the RSC. All were silent, waiting for the word to move out and either rescue this place's crew or avenge them.
"Boarding team, depart immediately." Verenel-Karas ordered. The Bith-12 boarding shuttle emerged from SVS Solar Talon's port docking bay, and began moving slowly toward the silent station. It made a spiral approach, getting closer with every orbit. The pilot could not help but notice the gash in the lower sphere of the station.
"Solar Talon Actual...are you seeing this?" the shuttle's pilot, Lt. Arelen said. "Station has one damaged area of hull. Exhibiting signs of both internal and external force application. Might have been a boarding attempt or ram...but could be something else. Suggest speaking to the owners for more information."
Verenel-Karas sat back in his bridge chair. "Acknowledged, Lt. Continue with plan, be prepared for hostiles on station, possibly drones based on lack of high-order life signs." Then he motioned to N'Thren-Amrel, who opened a general comms channel.
"To all parties involved in SAR operations. There is a tear in the station's hull. Nature of structural damage indicates possible collision or boarding action. Internal non-explosive cause is also possible. Exercise extreme caution. Hostile forces or internal macro-scale biohazards may be present. SVS Solar Talon Actual, out."
The shuttle moved closer to the station. Capable of carrying a platoon of power-armored troops and a platoon of assault drones, the shuttle now only carried 4 each of the troopers and drones. The rest of the space was taken up by medical and damage control teams, emergency equipment of various sorts, and heavy cutting gear in case it was needed to free trapped crewmen.
As the shuttle moved in towards an external airlock on the station, Verenel-Karas signaled the two Autayan cruisers. "I understand the need for operational security regarding this station, but if there was some type of research taking place on this station that could but my crew in danger, I would appreciate knowing about the dangers involved."
As the boarding teams of the various parties headed for the Astral Mesa, a contingent from the Autayan vessels likewise left the hangar bays of the cruisers, flying for one of the station's large open hangars. As for the messages sent to them, they were responded to relatively quickly. The Union was simply responded to with a signal carrying nav markers pointing to the three unoccupied hangars near the top end of the station, as was the RSC. The Singers vessels were addressed more directly.
"Negative, according to known research records. Military hardware development. Hazardous autonomous items unknown, unlikely." was the response. The next went out to all.
"Permission to engage security forces granted if engaged. It is requested collateral damage to the station be avoided."
"3 Markers and navigational points recieved ma'am directed towards three hangars near to the top of the station."
"Relay them to the boarding teams and Phocron himself, and tell him good luck." Andromeda replied.
The information streamed in as Lieutenant Phocron observed their landing destination, the scream of the engines already filling the enviromentally sealed compartment as the shuttle was lifting off. He stood in the rear bay of the Sparrow shuttle, 10 marines in full armour same as himself stood holding on to the railings while several medical staff also accompanied them, also in power armour but painted white. 4 other shuttles also had taken off all with similar layouts the Sparrows speeding through the void towards the huge station in front of them. Approach vectors were set as the shuttles came in to land within one of the three hangars designated for their arrival, all 5 landing in one cavenous hangar. The ramps dropped and the marines immediately disembarked weapons up scanning for targets making a defensive perimetre as the Sparrows nose mounted heavy cascade cannons also tracked ready to give covering fire. Phocron and the various medical staff also disembarked, the Lieutenant looking around.
"Air is breathable sir but not optimal, no signatures detected near us and no power signatures either, just some shot up shuttles and supplies" One of the sergeants reported. Phocron nodded. He was a very methodical and logical man.
"Keep suits sealed, I want those shuttles scanned and investigated, also pry open those crates and see whats inside. I want all entrances and exits covered and ready for moving out. Squad Bravo guard the shuttles and set up a temporary field ops area with whatever you can. Squads Alpha through Echo secure entrances and protect the medics." The squads acknowledged and soon fanned out.
Rasputin watches as the Union forces make station fall and begins to plan insertions of his own.
"Alright then, three insertion teams, one to support the Union landing, one to act as a rapid response team and another to support the Restavians when they join the party."
The sensor officer begins to direct the TK field towards the station, 3D imaging doing an amazing job of providing a detailed map of the stations surface and immediate internals, deeper inside however would have to wait.
Rasputin watches as three squads of fifteen men begin to form up, one tide thrower and one AM rifle is issued to each squad as weapons checks are made, adapted Triarch stealth systems are put through diagnostics as psi grenades are charged and shields tested, after all mandatory checks are completed stage two of the operation begins.
"Union forces this is SGT Huawei, keep your fingers off those triggers we are coming in."
Having given warning the first strike team teleports aboard, materializing a scant few feet form the Union lines, SGT Huawei waves to the blue armored soldiers as he finishes materializing.
Meanwhile the church vessel makes its own preparations, the choir aboard the ship reaches out to the singers vessel, an open door to a meta concert and comms psi network extended.
Phocron and the Union forces watched as the Annointed forces teleported into the hangar, Phocron himself tapping his helmet as a sign of recognition to Huawei. The Union forces had already taken positions, Bravo squad had assembled a small temporary command and medical post around the shuttles while Alpha to Echo both secured the exits and also scanned the damaged shuttles that resided in the hangar, checking in the supply crates as well just in case.
The Bith-12 boarding shuttle made it's approach to the open doors of the fourth landing bay. After a last scan the shuttle's landing spotlights came on, and Lt. Arelen looked over the shuttle bay. The bay had several shuttles in it, and Arelen immediately notice signs of combat damage, plasma or fusion beam weapons by the look of it. Damage to the rest of the bay was minimal, but there were signs of chaos as if combat had perhaps taken place.
"Heads up people." Arelen informed the crew and boarding party. "Signs of combat, including plasma or fusion weapon fire. Upgrade to Amber alert level, potential hostiles onboard." He then moved the shuttle slowly into the bay, the gunner in the dorsal pulsar turret traversing the guns back and forth, looking for hostiles yet finding none.
The shuttle touched down lightly, and the assault doors opened. A floating disk emerged, 1.5 meters in diameter. Weapon nozzles and the lights of phased beam arrays swiveled around it's perimeter as the assault drone hovered on it's grav drive. Finding nothing hostile it moved out, forming a perimeter along with the three identical drones following it. The next out were the four PA troopers in Nova XIX powered armor. They had replaced their normal backpack pulsar cannons with a mix of weapons, one trooper had a Night Ray, another an NFD projector, and the other two with fusion cannons. The SAR team was last, and they began going over to the damaged shuttles, escorted by two of the PA troopers.
"Definitely plasma weapon fire." one of the troopers said. "A lot of it too." The doors to the shuttle were open and the damage seemed concentrated around the cockpit viewport, boarding hatch, and engines. "Someone did a nice job of wrecking these and preventing their launch." the squad leader, Sgt. Liandrel said, before moving into the open hatch. The interior of the shuttle was a chaotic mess, parts and equipment tossed all over the interior.
"Well.. whatever did this it wasn't pirates. Nothing seems to be missing. What pirate would shoot up a shuttle and not steal anything? For that matter why did they wreck the shuttle and not steal it?" The SAR team moved in, checking each shuttle in turn and finding basically the same thing. "I agree with you Sergeant. This does not look like pirates or raiders. Not sure what to make on it." Specialist Nereth said to the troopers. Liandrel reported back to the shuttle. "Signs of hostiles onboard, alert the Union, Autaya, and RSC of this information. We're setting up a perimeter and will proceed into the station after SAR does a contamination survey."
On the shuttle, Arelen simply said "Acknowledged, Boarding Team Leader." and then signaled the Union and RSC. "To the Union, Autaya, and RSC forces. Have found signs of plasma weapon fire used by hostile forces against shuttlecraft. Be alert hostile forces may still be present. Lt. Arelen, SVSN, over."
In the shuttle bay, the SAR team's DC personnel began scanning for any contamination, CBR, dimensional, or nano-fractal. Meanwhile on the Solar Talon, Verenel-Karas and the ship's Sentience Core telepathically made contact with the choir on the Autayan cruiser. Contact established the Core and Verenel-Karas sent telepathically. There are signs of weapon fire aboard, though oddly nothing seems to have been stolen. This would seem to rule out piracy.
In the shuttle bay, the scan team said "Negative on all contamination. Atmosphere is breathable if a bit stale, no signs of dimensional resonances or nano-fractal presence." Arelen responded from the shuttle. "Keep vacuum integrity on your suits, best not to take any chances." The crews then prepared to proceed further into the station.
When the RSC landed, it was with a strange mix of subtlety and intense presence that the RSC seemed to often have, though in the bay which they landed there was nobody to see it. This didn't matter, as the troops equipped with the newest series of body armor disembarked the shuttles and formed into their individual squads before spreading out to head deeper into the station.
"Major Colestikov, RMC copies, Lt. Arelen." the Restevian commander acknowledged over the radio, noting the plasma damage to some walls and part of the floor he was walking on.
"Alright, keep it tight and cover." he ordered. "Warriors in front, all riflemen provide support." The Karokalians drew their heat-bladed swords and took point, their armor clattering as the Restevians fell into close formation behind them as they made their way out of the bay. All were alert and ready as they entered further into the station, keeping comms open to the other forces entering the station alongside them.