4520-03-1519 - We're heading off to Pythagoras - we'll be using the flux at 126, 87 to give us a headstart and save on fuel expenses. On that note, Max finally returned results from the ship's diagnostic. He reports that the Tesseract is in fact a device that helps with our engine's fuel efficiency. Nice!
[Update] We encountered an Elowan ship at the end of the flux gate at 173, 88. They weren't happy T'Larra was on board. We had to make quick work of them when they opened fire.
[Update] We detected a flux gate at 180, 87 and took it to do some exploring. It put us all the way up at 237, 153 - which was way off course. Alien activity turned up just west of it - turned out to be a minstrel. There was also a star some distance north-east of the gate. We chose to investigate it - it might have some significance.
[Update] Star system is empty. Useless. Moving on.
4620-03-1604 - We found a cluster of stars near the Pythagoras region. The first one we entered had flared. It was a red star with two planets. We picked up some titanium and rhodnium on the innermost planet, so it wasn't an entire bust. The second planet was rockworld with oxygen and mostly nitrogen atmosphere; it had no water.
[Update] There was alien activity closer in the main cluster of stars. It was another spherical ship that communicated in binary. We couldn't make heads or tails of it.
4620-03-1615 - We entered a yellow star system with three planets. The furthest planet out was an iceworld and had no mineral content that scanners could discern. The innermost world is a small world, almost like a moon; it is of interest in the fact it has water, but it has a flourine and chlorine atmosphere - a great way to suffocate. It's mineral content is almost non-existent. Second planet also has water in the hydrosphere, but it is on an ice world. The atmosphere is composed of CH4, NH3, Argon - useless for colonization.
4620-03-1621 - We entered a system at 216, 86 - which is close to the coordinates listed in the book we've salvaged from the Uhlek planet. One of the planets here is Earth. Closest to our approach is a number of rock worlds; to the opposite side of the system are a number of gas giants.
[Update] The fourth planet is a habitable world. It is probably the one we are looking for. It is an oxygen planet, but with a mostly nitrogen atmosphere; it also has a water based hydrosphere.
[Update] Upon getting ready to land, the Cylindrical Red Device started to make noises and some coordinates came up on our screen. They pointed to 105W x 15N. Upon landing the Cylindrical Red Device started whirring louder and making chirps as we got closer to the coordinates it pointed to. We found something called the Hypercube according to paperwork next to it. It scans for long distance alien activity and it seems to isolate it on our computer's maps. Being descendant from the Old Empire has its advantages.
[Update] We found an invoice that pointed to a shipment of Iridium to arrive on Mardan 2 HQ located at 56N x 16W. This shipment was to arrive no later than the third day of... - it endsd there.
[Update] We also found a log conerning flares coming from Earth's sun. People were panicking; I don't blame them. The flares were apparently intensifying. The best guesses by 'them' were three days on the outside. I assume they mean the surface. There was no date, but a later log entry was dated for 2-28-3480. It describes a surface tempurature of 150 degrees Celsius (translates to 302 Farenheit). The people that were underground (this was a surprise) only stayed alive that long due to the fact they were underground. Not neat, not neat at all.
[Update] We found a cornerstone inscription on the ruins - Ben and Anna's Academy of Independent Thinking
[Update] We found ruins on the lower portion of the second contintent south of the equater in the western region of the planet. There was a sign that indicated it was First Church of the Last Laugh. They had a 'sermon' that day, So far, so what. I don't know what to make of it. T'Larra said it was of no importance.
4620-03-1703 - Thunderstorms are common on this planet. Lightning shocks have hit our ATV infrequently, but more importantly they have been wreaking havoc with our instruments and our map sensors. Our coordinates are unknown, but we know the ship is to our north-east.
4620-03-1706 - Found the ship. It also appears heavy winds are common on this planet.
[Update] Ruins at 39S x 98W. We found a newspaper clipping dated for Jan 28, 3478. In it, an article indicated scientists were expecting a cure for cancer any day...
[Update] Ruins at 32N x 117W. Newspaper clipping dated for 3404; it was an ad for homes on the moon of this world. The real estate started at 699,000,000 MU. This came at a catch for being available to senior citizens ages two-hundred and up only. This is all a pipe dream by Arth standards; but adjusted for how we use MU, I doubt very much that 699,000,000MU is what it is worth by Arth standards and uses. A pipe dream none-the-less!
[Update] Ruins at 24N x 90W; ancient historical textbook with a reading about primitive societies that would live out fantasies for countless hours in front of two dimensional phosphor screens. Historians believe this marked the downfall of civilization.
[Update] Ruins at 75N x 98E; newspaper dated July 1st, 3476 with an article about the emperor of the United States announcing the royal family would be on hand at this year's 17th centennial celebration that would be held at the capitol in Disneyland.
[Update] Ruins at 59N x 6E; newspaper dated April 1st, 3465 - article about representative from CMIS Christian Missionaries in Space. They report the successful conversion of quasi-humanoids in the Omega Sector. They have 'once again' saved a race from their native cultural depravity.
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[Update] Ruins at 5N x 13W; magazine dated May 3rd, 3450 - article featuring an interview. The donor for the first successful brain transplant, 'George Schmenge' had little to say.. Amusing.
[Update] Ruins at 18S x 8E; newspaper dated March 22, 3477 - government tax hike to go into effect. Effective April, middle income families can expect to pay 260% of their annual income in taxes. Good grief.
[Update] Ruins at 28S x 22E; newspaper article about Johnny Beaver as the last animal to die. Seen it in ruins on another planet.
Ruins Locations 9N x 101W, 47S x 81W, 39S x 98W, 28N x 118W, 32N x 114W, 24N x 90W, 39N x 91W, 52N x 129W, 75N x 98E, 53N x 63E, 52N x 62E, 59N x 6E, 5N x 13W, 18S x 8E, 28S x 22E.l
4620-03-1900 - We collected some interesting information on Earth; most of it was useless. Mardan 2 was of interest though, and the last star system we have yet to check in Pythagoras is probably where Mardan 2 and Mardan 4 are. Old Earth was not very forgiving to us - we were rocked by winds, hit by thunder storms, lightning was frequent (at least at first); and we had to survive an earthquake or two, all while we saw tornados on occasion in the distance. Despite our sensor reading, this planet has far from 'calm' weather.
4620-03-1902 - We pulled into orbit around the fourth planet just after 200am. We went to land and the Cylindrical Red Device indicated an artifact was at the North Pole. This planet was Mars. We lowered our shields and disarmed our fuel to conserve our dwindling fuel supply.
[Update] Found the Ring Device in some ruins at the north pole on this planet. There was a sign that read Starflight Navigational Research Station. We got lost at least once. We didn't find any other ruins on this world and blasted off for the inner two rock worlds.
4620-03-1918 - We're now heading out to the remaining planets which are all gas giants.
0 Star, Hydrogen, Helium; 66.6G (Sol)
Inferno to Inferno; Extremely Violent Weather; Predominant Surface Plasma
Atmospheric Density None; Mass 4x10(24) Tons
1 Flourine Compounds, Hydrosphere Metal Compounds; 0.7G, Zinc, Plutonium, Copper
Inferno to Inferno, Moderate Weather, Predominant Surface Rock
Atmosphere Density Thin; 4x10(22) Tons
2 No Atmosphere; Hydrosphere Chlorine Compounds; 1.7G, Tin, Silver, Aluminum
Searing to Inferno, Moderate Weather, Predominant Surface Rock
Atmosphere Density Moderate, Mass 1x10(23) Tons
3 Nitrogen, Oxygen; Water; 1.0G, Promethium, Mercury, Chromium (Earth)
Arctic to Tropical, Calm Weather, Predominant Surface Liquid, Atmosphere Density Moderate; Mass 6x10(22) Tons
4 No Atmosphere; 0.7G, Methanol, Ethanol Hydrosphere; Aluminum, Chromium, Rhodnium (Mars)
Temperate to Searing, Calm Weather, Predominant Surface Rock, Atmosphere Density None; Mass 4x10(22) Tons
5 NH3, Hydrogen; Hydrosphere Ammonia Compounds; 29.8G, Lead, Magnesium, Copper
Arctic to Tropical, Extremely Violent Weather, Predominant Surface Gas
Atmospheric Density Very Thick, Mass 1x10(24)
6 Methan, HCN; Hydrosphere Ammonia Compounds; 29.8G, Iron, Molybdenum, Aluminum
Sub-Arctic to Temperate, Extremely Violent Weather, Predominant Surface Gas
Atmospheric Density Thick, Mass 1x10(24)
7 No Atmosphere, Hydrosphere 12.6G, Nitrogen; Nickel, Tungsten, Mercury
Sub-Arctic to Arctic, Violent Weather, Predominant Surface Liquid
Atmospheric Density None, Mass 7x10(23) Tons
8 No Atmosphere; Hydrosphere Nitrogen; 5.8G, Copper, Iron, Rodnium
Sub-Arctic to Sub-Arctic, Violent Weather, Predominant Surface Liquid
Atmospheric Density None, Mass 3x10(23)
4620-03-1923 - After an exhausting run of sensor readings and logging, we blasted off for the last star system - Mardan.
[Updates] Mardan consists of five rock worlds and one gas giant. At least three of these worlds are ice worlds; the second one looks habitable; it is also Mardan-2. Mardan-4 is also of interest to us.
4620-03-2006 - Mardan-2 does not have an atmosphere. Odd, considering an invoice in one of the Earth ruins said there was a station of sorts here. We are landing at those coordinates... now!
[Updates] At 55N x 19W we found ruins. There was a letter requesting researchers at the Mars Polar Station be directed to look into this and...
We found a notice also. To all personnel - Earth Base One, at 12N x 104W, is temporarily quarantined due to...
Found a request letter asking for mining stations 25 through 158 on planet 4 (Mardan-4) to bring immediate supplies.
We found no other ruins and blasted off.
4620-03-2012 - The last planet we encountered was Mardan-4 - it was surprisingly an ice world. Sensor readings showed it was a habitable world so we logged it; more importantly it was rich in Rhodnium, a very high selling mineral. We set our coordinates to land and set to work doing two things - looking for ruins, but most importantly - mining for sweet Rhodnium that will fill our coughers nicely. I can see those weapon upgrades accompanied by a huge cache of Endurium. We did however, land hard and the engines suffered damage. Repairs will begin once we blast off for orbit.
[Update] Ruins at 30N x 9E; Newspaper clipping about a tax hike of 260%. Seen it.
[Update] We found a sign and some ruins. This was the eighty-second mining station on Mardan-4.
[Update] We found a sign and ruins; another mining station, this time marked number two-hundred and forty-four.
[Update] Ruins at 37N x 57W; newspaper clipping about the first brain transplant.
Locations of Ruins 30N x 9E, 2N x 1W, 49S x 11E, 37N x 57W
4620-03-2120 - We need to cut our exploration short. We have just shy of twenty-two units of Endurium - enough to raise concern about getting back to Arth. We're blasting off with intent of selling our mineral cache and getting more fuel.
4620-03-2123 - I checked the map to show our general location and noticed strange holographic markings where on it. They were coming from the Hypercube we picked up on Earth. We can't be bothered with them - for now. The Ring Device was also doing something similar; holographic images I mean. They looked like continuum fluxes and I assume they are due to the fact the lines on the map also joined up some of the markings. Some markings were unmarked. This device will come in handy for later.
[Update] Turns out it only took us seven units of Endurium to get back to Arth space. This Tesseract sure is handy!
4620-03-2203 - All three planets we logged were qualified for colonization and we were awarded 117,000 MU for the log report. I saw to it to sell our entire cargo cash - minerals, animals in stasis, and that annoying Black Box that the Thrynn sold us. That last one is absolutely useless. Repairs on the ship commenced as needed. I did not mention that we managed to land hard a second time on Mardan-4 while using the ship to scour the planet for more ruins - our hull suffered damage this time. Total repair cost is 22,000 MU. While ordering for repairs, I had the option to buy and equip the ship with a Photon Torpedo launcher or a Fusion Blaster. I opted for the Fusion Blaster as the Tesseract may make engine fuel economy better, but it is better safe than sorry when exploring different areas of space. After ordering 160 units of Endurium (and making us broke... again), we had two last mysteries on our hands - a space pirate named Harrison and the location of the Four Seedlings. We know from conversations with different races that Harrison had a history on one of the planets in the top star of the staff constellation is. We also know where the staff constellation is. Without knowing the location of the Four Seedlings, our agenda was obvious.