The Aquila Ascendent's Log

EXCERPT - SHIP'S LOG FROM THE AQUILA ASCENDENT - 257 823.M41

Alpha Shift: 3 hours, 23 minutes - Auto-Log. Translation Complete. Estimated Duration of Transit: 241 days. Navigatorium Powered Down. Void Shields Active.

Alpha Shift: 3 hours, 27 minutes - Lord-Captain Gratian Leavigne. "We have just emerged from the warp almost a whole month behind schedule and right outside the Rubycon II system. Our navigator informs me that this is not due to his utmost incompetence, but rather due to 'aetheric disturbances native to the region'. In Low Gothic, he is telling me that the warp storms, even at this distance, hinder navigating the warp into the system from time to time. We are commencing STL travel into the system."

Alpha Shift: 5 hours, 21 minutes - First Officer Antonis Cusher. "Initial scans of the system have revealed 34 vessels. Most of them are frigate-sized, accompanied by a small number of cruiser- or transport-sized vessels presumably operated by independent freighter captains and rogue traders. We are still too far out to check for vessel registration, so we won't know whether we have actually found anything interesting here for at least 12 hours."

Alpha Shift: 8 hours, 15 minutes - Auto-Log. Alpha Shift Concluding. Commencing Beta Shift.

Beta Shift: 4 hours, 12 minutes - Petty Officer Amael Blashak. "We are continuing our approach of the system and station after effecting a slight course correction to account for the unusual solar activity of Rubycon II. I am told that we will be in range for vessel registration inquiry in a few minutes."

Beta Shift: 4 hours, 26 minutes - Petty Officer Amael Blashak. "I have ordered the Master of Etherics on duty to commence VR inquiries. So far, all five vessels processed checked out as legitimate. Continuing inquiries." Beta Shift: 7 hours, 21 minutes - Petty Officer Amael Blashak. "All vessels detected in the system have checked out as legitimate freight carriers or rogue trader vessels. It seems that whatever criminals the Lord-Captain is looking for, they are either not here by ship or they have some damn good cover."Beta Shift: 8 hours, 8 minutes - Auto-Log. Beta Shift Concluding. Commencing Gamma Shift.

Gamma Shift: 0 hours, 4 minutes - Lord-Captain Gratian Leavigne. "Well, isn't this disappointing. PO Blashak tells me that vessel registrations of all ships in the system checked out, which rules out any easy way to find our mysterious friends. Which I guess means that we actually have to dock at the station and investigate. We are continuing our approach; Master Helmsman Calgar tells me we are still 6 hours out." Gamma Shift: 2 hours, 7 minutes - Auto-Log. Passive Augurs Have Discerned Object. Distance is 3.4E+6 Kilometres in Port-side/Ventral Augury arc. Estimated Identification: Starship, Frigate-Sized. Configuration Unknown."

Gamma Shift: 2 hours, 8 minutes - Lord-Captain Gratian Leavigne. "A ship just translated out of warp to our side. Blashak reports that the ship's hull configuration is not in the ship's databanks. We are monitoring its activities but continuing our approach nonetheless."

Gamma Shift: 2 hours, 16 minutes - Lord-Captain Gratian Leavigne. "The unidentified ship has set course towards the station as well. It appears to be capable of much greater sublight speeds than we are; it will be in range for registration inquiry in approximately 6 minutes."

Gamma Shift: 2 hours, 24 minutes - First Officer Antonis Cusher. "The unidentified vessel has so far not responded to our inquiries for vessel registration. By order of the Lord-Captain, we have set an intercept course to confront and detain the vessel if necessary."

Gamma Shift: 2 hours, 29 minutes - First Officer Antonis Cusher. "The vessel still has responded neither to VR inquiries nor general hails. We are preparing to issue a warning shot as soon as we get into lance range, which will be in approximately 27 minutes."

Gamma Shift: 2 hours, 59 minutes - Auto-Log. Port Lance Batteries Discharge.

Gamma Shift: 3 hours, 0 minutes - Auto-Log. Multiple Energy Weapon Impacts Detected. Main Plasma Drive Offline. Main Power Offline. Lance Batteries Offline. Macrocannon Batteries Offline. Artificial Gravity Not In Effect On Decks 13 Thru 21. Fires Detected On Deck 12, Compartment 312B, Deck 13, Compartment 291A Thru C, Deck 14, Compartment 302A Thru D. Main Cogitator Offline. Emergency Power Restored.

Gamma Shift: 3 hours, 1 minutes - Lord-Captain Gratian Leavigne. "What in the name of the Emperor is this thing? This is impossible! A single salvo from this frigate all but crippled us in a manner of seconds. Cusher +Static+ oh Lord, Cusher is dead, so are at least…at least three…no four, five other members of the bridge crew are dead. They +Static+ us cold. I'm sending these logs the the Navy Authorit +Static, Transmission Lost+ can forward them to Domwell. Warn other ships to not +Multiple Explosions Detected+

END OF TRANSMISSION