Mission Status: Completed

Outcome unclear; results unexpected

Summation: After making contact with NADIAN FARLAND's team, CAPTAIN-MAYOR IAN BROOKS and AMBASSADOR KELL joined his party and entered the relic temple.

After penetrating into the temple's interior, a control room was discovered. A member of Farland's team activated the room, and the room detached from the station.

At the same time, a dormant AI within the station, which identified itself as the PRESENT MIND, began direct communication. It possessed the ability to read human minds as well as project itself into thoughts.

It identified the relic temple as the ENABLING OF SEEING. Its creators were specifically identified as the uncontacted and unknown XANAGEE species. The station "enabled" the Xanagee to use the bending of spacetime caused by the gravity of an ultra-massive object, which we have dubbed the "DARK STAR", to view the distant past. This was in an attempt to understand the true nature of Leviathans, which were unknown even to them.

In the course of our trip, we were able to observe events from the ancient past. It is difficult to convey precisely, but the events seemed to be an "experience recording", with all of the dangers inherent in experiencing them. Though the ship/room was able to protect itself from all harm, it killed one of Farland's party who ventured outside of that sphere via an airlock.

AMBASSADOR KELL'S NOTE: These events are indelibly impressed into reality. They occur and have always occurred. This observation of them by the Captain and others is simply the only way they can be understood in linear time.

Through this time loop/dilation, we witnessed the birth of the Dark Star, which was far more massive than any star theorized to be able to exist. Externally to the temple, the Craton observed the arrival of a vast number of Leviathans, estimated at 3.7 million individuals, which formed a ring with a circumference of approximately 100 billion kilometers around the central point of the Dark Star. Their arrival seemed to be for the purpose of creating the Dark Star with their combined gravity. This exhibition of planning behavior challenges prior assumptions of Leviathan intelligence.

The purpose of the Dark Star seems to have been to create a "gateway" through which Leviathans could fully enter our plane of reality. The distinction between this state and their normal state is unclear.

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AMBASSADOR KELL'S NOTE: While able to project themselves into the planes of existence humans are familiar with, they cannot easily fully enter this plane of existence without such a gateway as that of the Dark Star. Through its gravity, it cracks the veil of reality.

I cannot speculate as to why they may wish to fully enter this level of reality.

Within the control room, we observed, in expedited time, the Dark Star proceed through its lifecycle. The presence of the Enabling evidently triggered it to go hypernova concurrent with the emergence of the Leviathan that appeared at Terris. For clarity, this Leviathan is to be referred to as "ORANGE".

While Orange obtained visible damage from traversing the star, it was able to restore itself after exiting, through unknown means. It was present for the hypernova of the star, but again survived, with no signs of permanent harm. This again brings into questions thoughts of potential methods of harming a Leviathan.

AMBASSADOR KELL'S NOTE: They are immune to all mundane forms of harm. To harm one involves very specific circumstances and carries a cost that cannot be measured.

After the collapse of the Dark Star, the Enabling's main gateway was destroyed by an expulsion of gamma rays released from the hypernova. This appeared to be some sort of intentional release valve to prevent damage to the rest of the Enabling, as neither our ship-room nor the rest of the Enabling showed any signs of damage.

This Gamma Ray Burst destroyed the RAVEN'S GHOST and caused a temporary failure of power on the Craton, causing some decks to become irradiated. Casualty report are in APPENDED FILE 3.

Damage to the Craton from this event led directly to the failure of two fusion reactors. The Ehni Dr. Y helped the Craton to partially recover through ACTING-CAPTAIN URLE's decision to suspend the EHNI CODE DUPLICATION DIRECTIVE.

After external view was restored, an unknown vessel was detected. It identified itself only with the code CBX-2025.

Contact was made with this vessel, whose assistance was accepted by Acting-Captain Urle.

The remains of the party in the Enabling were evacuated by a team from this vessel, who identified themselves as "Advent Soldiers".

Taken aboard their craft, we met with their commander - VERMILLION DAWN. Details of that conversation are in APPENDED FILE 7.

After slaving the zerodrive of the Craton to their ship, we observed the arrival of an unknown vessel of immense size, comparable to the Enabling itself. The identity of this vessel or its creators/crew are unknown, but the Xanagee are the most obvious candidates. The implications of their continued existence raises many questions.

At this point the Craton was able to escape the immediate vicinity. We have headed back towards Union space.

Damage reports on the Craton are in APPENDED FILE 2.

A further, more detailed report will be produced presently and sent to all relevant authorities within 48 hours.

Captain-Mayor Ian Brooks