2202.01.21 -- The new power plant is finished. The decline of energy reserves has been halted at 24, and we now have a 40% surplus -- 11.8 being used, with an extra 4.7 beyond that being produced monthly. With mineral reserves also being gradually replenished after the layout for the Dorsal corvette, there were really no options for further economic expansion available for some months. Attention was focused on monitoring the mysterious creatures in Maghama, and the periodic reports from the scientific surveyors.
02.01 -- The Alpha Aliens depart Maghama, heading further in that direction. Within three days they are out of sensor range, but are not out of mind. They caused quite a stir, even if it was eventually much ado about nothing, at least in the immediate context.
Admiral SirFozzie returns to Humboldt from his flagship, the
Gogglir.
02.16 -- The new corvette is finished, and christened the
Paddagur.
02.21 -- The Impal Tov system is reached, and a new species discovered that does not match the readings of the Alpha Aliens is seen! These are classified, with equal originality, as species Beta. Colloquially they are known simply as the Green Crystals, which seems to be exactly what they are. Since they are on the opposite side of the system, and seemingly headed further that way, the
Laggasch holds position, waiting to see if they will simply go away. Fleet Intelligence does not think these are as benign, classifying the new contacts as hostile.
2.24 -- The incredible news continues with the following report from
Dr. Tellis Perj in Leesak ...
Initial analysis indicates we need to find at least a half-dozen artifacts if we are to piece together the mystery of the Vultaum Star Assembly. More work for the survey scientists, as if they weren't already busy enough ...
Meanwhile, observation of Beta demonstrates that they move by secreting some purplish enzyme 'behind' them ... a very strange method of propulsion.
04.01 -- The Betas have stopped at the opposite side of Impal Tov and are heading back across the system. Not towards us it doesn't appear, but it no longer seemed wise to hang around. The
Laggasch heads out for one of the two neighboring systems, Swur. A class-G star, it seems the more likely to have a habitable zone.
04.18 -- There is a world where something could live in Swur. Not us though. It's arid, far too dry for our biology.
05.01 -- The construction ship
Mildrosch, having spent over a year basically waiting around for something to do, departs Humboldt for an eventual jump to the Maghama system. It seems clear that the Alphas have moved on with no sign of them for months, and we have enough minerals stored up to build some more stations. There are several good prospects in Maghama, by far the most of any system. If all goes well, by year's end the Collective will have permanent assets outside of our home system for the first time.
09.11 -- It was a quiet few months. There wasn't much to see in Swur, but a couple more potential energy-harvesting sites were found. The
Laggasch returned to Impal Tov cautiously, hoping the Betas were done with ... whatever it is they were doing. It is after all just one jump from home ...
09.26 -- A bit of history as the first extra-solar station is now in operation in Magahama, the first of at least two mining operations there. It's now a journey across most of the system through open space to the site for the next one, by which time there should be enough resources to begin building again right away.
09.28 -- Finding the Betas still hanging out, the
Laggash jumps again to the pulsar Chergamore.
11.?? -- It surprises nobody that Chergamore has no life-bearing worlds. It'll get surveyed anyway.
12.01 -- an irregular signal reminiscent of our distress beacons has been found at Chergamore III. Aslik Deesh will investigate, risk factor of 17%.
12.22 -- Survey of Leesak is complete. That's everything in that direction without crossing the arm. Time to fill in what we know of the area immediately surrounding the Grasping Claw Nebula. Perj heads to the pulsar Hodranus.
After three years, what do we know? Well, the Architreuthis are not alone in the universe. It's a much fuller galaxy out there than we could have previously anticipated. We have seen two bizarre species of creatures that navigate the stars on their own, but we know nothing further about them.
The Oncorhynchus Collective has expanded to the Maghama system with a mining station, a second one on the way, with energy-harvesting and then research outposts to follow that. New scientific applications are expected in the next year, two of them, although Corperial is falling behind again. To be fair he had much the hardest job of the three, and the goodwill -- aka, stored-up society research from the discovered anomalies -- has run out.
Back on Humboldt growth has allowed the planet to reach 8 population, half of it's max. The numbers continue to increase at a good pace. Further development will be needed, but will not be an urgent matter for years. There are currently no alien contacts within our sensor range, and there is a healthy positive resource trend across the board.
Times are good despite the crisis a year ago. Boojie has been faithful and benevolent as the faithful have always proclaimed.