4620-04-0600 - We found ruins at the appopriate location; they were just at the base of some mountains, next to a forest with a lake some distance away. The ruins were pretty badly damaged, but we found a few log entries for what we are looking for. On January 1st, 3380 the Institute engaged in something called Project Teleport. This involved teleporting an individual from a specially designed starbase (known as Crystal Base 1) to the surface of the Crystal Planet. Due to the distance of this nature, they could not retrieve the individual. The individual would be sent in with a nuclear explosive. They wanted to stay in contact with the starbase if at all possible. They intended to locate and destroy the control center of the planet. Problems include a lack of sufficient explosive power, teleportation reliability, and amongst other things communications through the magnetic field generated by the Crystal Planet.
There was a communication's log about two years later; it was from the starbase. Fourteen hours transpired after Commander McConnel was sent down. No communication was recieved from him. After twelve hours and eleven minutes from the time of his departure there was an explosion on the planet's surface. Drones were sent out to test the defenses of the Crystal Planet after the explosion.
Another log, dated May 5th of 3386 (six years later), a research council's findings conclusion were that the only way to destroy the Crystal Planet was with the use of 'three devices'; one of which is the Crystal Orb needed to nullify the magnetic field of the planet. The Velox have it in their possession and it is known to them as the Small Egg. The second device needed is the Crystal Cone, it will identify the location (from orbit) of the control center of the planet. It's location is 29S x 55W of the first planet in system 20, 198. There was a remark about it being deep in Uhlek space. I don't think they will be an issue after the planet is destroyed. Another note includes that the Crystal Planet is only vulnerable at the control nexus. Lastly, a bomb of sufficient explosive magnitude is required to destroy the Crystal Planet; it was unknown to the council how much power was needed, but they estimate something in the order of a Gigaton.
By this point T'Larra and I knew already what we were going to do. We still had one of the two Black Egg planet bombs in our possession. The first was well used now that we must return to Uhlek space. The Small Egg we may be able to pry the location from the Veloxi now that we have become their 'best alien buddies'. David out.
4620-04-0607 - While attempting to reach the 'secret jump into Uhlek space' provided by the Spemin; we ran into a Veloxi ship. The time was now. He gave us the location of the small egg; it is at the Most Magnificent Hexagon and is on the planet Sphexi. Sphexi is the first planet of 132, 165. I didn't ask the location of the Hexagon; the Cylindrical Red Device should take care of that if the Small Egg is indeed an artifact. We bid the Veloxi fairwell and took the jump into Uhlek space.
4620-04-06-23 - The first planet was an NH3 and Hydrogen atmosphere with a water hydrosphere; there was very little water to be seen from space - it looked more like a giant mudball. The Cylindrical Red Device went crazy when we attempted to land. It was pointing to the location we needed to be regardless.
4620-04-0708 - This system is a red star with two water based planets. I'm hoping they can be logged.
[Update] The second planet is a water world. We logged it.
4620-04-0717 - We set off a Veloxi drone in orbit; we destroyed it with some quick bursts from our Tri-Cannon. Some scans of this planet indicated it had an abundance of life as well as a high mineral content. We will be spending some time mining for minerals on this planet after acquiring the Crystal Orb. As we attempted to land, the Cylindrical Red Device went nuts (as usual). We landed at the coordinates indicated.
[Update] Amidst some ruins of the ancients we found a number of isolated bits of Endurium. We collected it along with the Crystal Orb. I assume the arrangement of the ruins (hexagon) is why it is called The Most Magnificent Hexagon.
[Updates] Hostile lifeforms made this a dicey affair. T'Larra and I suffered some minor injuries from them rattling around the ATV; Max as usual is pretty sturdy. We left the planet with a full cargo hold and are returning to Arth to buy more fuel which we are in need of. T'Larra and I are also discussing our plan of attack on the Crystal Planet at 192, 156.
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4620-04-0816 - About two hundred units of Endurium is in our cargo hold. I replaced our damage armor from our last encounter with the Uhlek. I still can't believe they are that powerful. I wouldn't mind their shielding and weapons on our ship! Right then, the Crystal Planet.
4620-04-0903 - Upon entering the system the ship's computer reminded us again that this system had flared recently. The Crystal Planet loomed in all of its evil as we approached.
[Update] We established orbit without incident due to the Crystal Cone onboard. As we were about to land the Crystal Orb shot some coordinates on our landing map. About 39E x 51N is where we need to land. Wish us luck.
4620-04-0906 - We did some exporing of the ruins at this location and found what looked like a well preserved camp. In it we found some used and unused supplies along with a notebook. The notebook was dated for 8-8-3382 and owned by a one Commander McConnel. In it he spoke of the control nexus being visible from the camp (which it was) and the sense of disorientation and diziness he experienced after teleporting. A second entry indicates the electromagnetic field surrounding the Crystal Planet appears to block communications due to the fact he has recieved no communications from Crystal Base 1. The log which he created was intended as a failsafe incase of such an event. In a third entry he set the charges the control center which was a massive ruin of the ancients. He made mention of the 'lumps of Endurium' which were everywhere. T'Larra and I had made note of them while we explored the area. We didn't plan on any excavating until we'd done some exploring.
In the fourth entry Commander McConnell explains that he had an 'astounding experience' and seems to have made telepathic contact with the Ancients. They were apparently on the Crystal Planet when he landed; they were indeed 'controlling it'. As of the time of his writing, the charges were set for less than an hour; Commander McConnell only wished he could communicate what he had experienced. Thankfully for him, he did get to almost a millenia after the fact.
[Update] T'Larra and I are a bit dumbfounded at what we have been reading in this log. McConnell couldn't believe it, and neither could we - the 'lumps of Endurium' are in fact intelligent life - they are the Ancients. McConell mentioned that we have infact spent hundreds of years hunting them to burn for fuel in our ships for interstellar travel. The log continued that their metabolism is so much slower than ours that they exist in an entirely different time framework. He figured they don't even know that we are sentient. He believes the Crystal Planet served as a link that established contact at all. Regardless, the Crystal Planet was to be their last defense. McConnell couldn't blame them in the fact that carbon-based life probably seemed like a virus to them. McConnell didn't blame them for the Crystal Planet, but at the same time pointed out that at this point it was us or them. That was were the log ended.
4620-04-0910 - T'Larra and I had a decision to make at this point. Should we even collect any Endurium at this point. It would be a cruel thing to extract a lifeform from its native environment only to burn it as fuel. However, any life on this planet would be destroyed with it. T'Larra and I decided that in fact yes, it would be better for us to get as much Endurium as possible and grant the Ancients a little bit more time before they died. They would die with the planet anyway, so it didn't matter. As McConnell had pointed out, it was us or them.
[Update] We picked up as much Endurium as we possibly could find and then set the Black Egg for a delayed detonation within the massive ruin that served as the control center. As we were returning to the ship, we experienced an earthquake. I didn't think it was the Black Egg, but as we broke orbit, we noted an explosion from the contol nexus surface. The planet began to emit several flashes from the surface and began to implode. T'Larra set the engines to maximum burn to get us out of there.
4620-04-1000 - We were Awarded the Interstel Medal of Sublime Achievement by the Citizens of Arth and the stock-holders at Interstell. This award is the highest achievement anyone working for Interstell can achieve. We were also given a 500,000 monentary unit award for our valor and finally thanked for saving everything that they hold dear. The only thoughts that T'Larra and I had was to continue exploring the galaxy; Max suggested that we get a special pass for 'free Endurium' from Arth. Time will tell if this happens. Until then, the ship is being upgraded with the highly-coveted seemingly powerful (not to mention high-priced) phaser with the award money. At this point in time, I'm not sure if I agree with buying Endurium to use as fuel; however, to continue with our mission we have no choice. Perhaps given enough time we will be able to find another fuel source.
Wish us luck as we continue to explore the galaxy; or better still, we are currently are in need of another crewman. If after reading this log, you or anyone you might know is interested in aiding our mission, don't be hesitate to contact me.
Captain David of the ISS Optiplex, signing out for the last time.
4620-04-1000