The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part VI

Everyshore region – Chasnaye constellation
Harerget system – Planet V – Moon 1
CreoDron Factory station

5 June YC 127

Delphine looked at me expectantly, waiting for the penny to drop. It didn’t. I felt stupid.

“Erm…” I said, “You need to unpack it for me.”

“Don’t you see,” the agent said impatiently, “someone, or something, was grafting microcontrollers onto our drones. You have found a datacore which contains the code with which those microcontrollers were programmed. It’s quite possible that your datacore is the source of that code. If Immuri can find out where the code came from, we will know who, or what, was present at the site where the Damsel was destroyed.”

It made sense, now that she explained. There was one thing that caught my attention, though. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part VI”

The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part V

Crossing Enemy Lines

Everyshore region – Chasnaye constellation
Harerget system – Planet V – Moon 1
CreoDron Factory station

27 April YC 127

“I’ve found it,” I said, handing the scorched datacore to Delphine.

She accepted it as if it was a treasure, and said hesitantly, “And… was there anything else?”

I guessed she was asking about Dr Castille’s remains, and shook my head, “The explosion was really violent. There were hardly any debris larger than this datacore.”

Delphine nodded and asked, “And the pirates?”

“Terminated.”

Tears glistened in Delphine’s eyes, as she came to me a kissed me on a cheek. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part V”

The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part IV

Gistii Impaler

Data Retrieval

Everyshore region – Chasnaye constellation
Harerget system – Planet V – Moon 1
CreoDron Factory station

27 April YC 127

Having transferred the rescued scientists to CreoDron security, I headed to Delphine Xarasier’s office. When I pulled the door, I heard strange sounds coming from her room. Carefully peeking inside I discovered Delphine sitting in a guest chair with a commlink in her lap, crying.

I closed the door and asked in a gentle tone, “Delphine, what happened?”

The agent raised her head, saw me and suddenly burst out of the chair spilling the commlink on the floor. In a split second she crossed the distance between us and… hugged me tight, burying her face against my chest. Taken aback I stood there not knowing what to do. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part IV”

The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part III

Serpentis Research Laboratory Explosion

Lair of the Snakes

Everyshore region – Chasnaye constellation
Harerget system – Planet V – Moon 1
CreoDron Factory station

27 April YC 127

When I entered Delphine’s office, she was nervously pacing up and down.

“Captain,” the agent cried as soon as she saw me, “you have to save her!”

“Save whom?” I asked, confused.

“Aspasia! I mean, Dr Aspasia Castille. She is one of CreoDron’s top minds.”

“Um… Save from what? Or whom?” Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part III”

The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part II

Colony Station

Rendering Assistance

Everyshore region – Chasnaye constellation
Harerget system – Planet V – Moon 1
CreoDron Factory station

27 April YC 127

“You see,” said Delphine Xarasier, “there is a colony in Harerget which experienced an outbreak of Lumivent Sieve and which needs an urgent delivery of antibiotics. We sent them a batch three days ago but it never arrived. Now the colony is in desperate need of the medicine. Can you deliver it to them?”

I hesitated, “Um… Aren’t you an R&D agent?”

“I am. Why?”

“This is actually my question: if you are an R&D agent, why are you handling distribution contracts?” Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part II”

The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part I

CreoDron Factory

Studying the Scene

Everyshore region – Chasnaye constellation
Harerget system – Planet V – Moon 1
CreoDron Factory station

27 April YC 127

As I was jumping through the gates toward Harerget system, I contacted Delphine Xarasier, a Level 1 R&D agent who agreed to help Alitura with deciphering the datacore.

“Good morning, Ms Xarasier,” I said cheerfully, when a disheveled, sleepy agent appeared on the comms screen. Continue reading “The Blood-Stained Stars: Automation Impediment – Part I”

Deadly Arrival

Ozanero Voiras
Lonetrek region – Okela constellation
Tsuguwa system – Planet VI
Caldari Navy Assembly Plant Station

13 January YC 127

Today I decided to finally make use of my ‘promotion’ and try my hand at level 2 missions. I walked the familiar route toward the Security Department offices which took me to Purkkoken Honuken’s door. This time I had to remind myself that my destination was a bit farther. It felt like the extra length of the corridor that I had to traverse symbolised my elevation to the next level. The door I was looking for had a plate with the name of Ozanero Voiras, Level 2 Security Agent. I knocked on it and waited for a reply. Continue reading “Deadly Arrival”

What’s in a Name – Thorny

Federation Hastile
Lonetrek region – Okela constellation
Tsuguwa system – Planet VI
Caldari Navy Assembly Plant Station

4 January YC 127

After a festive break I visited Purkkoken Honuken to check if he had got any missions for me. The agent looked tired and uncharacteristically gloomy.

“What’s up, mate?” I asked jovially, “Still having a Yoiul hangover?”

Purkkoken scoffed, “What Yoiul? I’ve been working non-stop since you had your little fun with the Dominix.”

I felt a bit offended by his choice of words and raised an eyebrow, “As far as I remember, you expressed your appreciation of my actions and enjoyed that encounter yourself in no small measure.” Continue reading “What’s in a Name – Thorny”

What’s in a Name – Poke

Ibis in Biosecurity Responders SKIN
Lonetrek region – Okela constellation
Tsuguwa system – Planet VI
Caldari Navy Assembly Plant Station

27 December YC 126

I was planning another Okela patrol when I realised that I didn’t have a Heron in case I find a sleeper cache.

“Shopping time!” I called out, waking up Aura.

“Again?” she said, surprised, and added hastily, “Not that I object.”

“We have run out of Herons, remember?” I said, loading the capsule into an Ibis and undocking.

“Indeed. Why are you in a corvette, by the way?” Continue reading “What’s in a Name – Poke”

What’s in a Name – Smile When You Call Me That

Gallente Communication Array
Lonetrek region – Okela constellation
Tsuguwa system – Planet VI
Caldari Navy Assembly Plant Station

26 December YC 126

“Anything new and interesting for me?” I asked Purkkoken Honuken, making myself comfortable in his visitor chair.

“Actually, yes,” said the agent, “I have something new but I am not sure how interesting you will find it. Remember that ambassador evacuation mission?”

“Oh, yes. Have you figured out what Caldari Embassy was doing in Caldari space in a station called Caldari Consul?” Continue reading “What’s in a Name – Smile When You Call Me That”