Machina Terra

*From <location removed>*
*To Capt. Andreas Emer*
*Encrypted plexus variable decay transmission - IB-425-389-a*
*Security Code: Zulu - Destroy After Reading*

Fleet Movements

Gentlemen, it seems our beloved subject is about to try something. The last recon mission sent to monitor their position reported that a small taskforce detached from the main fleet and initiated subspace jump in a course towards the edge of the local active grid.

Needless to say, this action does not fit any of the predicted behaviour patterns expected from the subject. Nothing has been detected on their probable jumpout location, and this serves only to further our concern. Such a situation demands closer inspection. I am therefore issuing a top priority order to all available vessels: track and pursue the aforementioned task force, without interfering with it�s activities. Any amount of resources can be deployed or redirected, providing that this doesn�t pose a significant drawback to previous assignments. Any and all findings are to be reported back in real time through this channel.

*End transmission*

______________________________

*From Capt. Andreas Emer*
*To <location removed>*
*Encrypted plexus variable decay transmission - IB-425-389-b*
*Security Code: Zulu - Destroy After Reading*

Re: Fleet Movements

Recon flights from the <name removed> have continued to monitor our guests closely. They jumped out at the target locus, and immediately rejumped to a new location. My advisor believes that this was a ploy to mislead any pursuers, and it almost worked. We have since investigated the new location, losing two pilots in the process before they began to move out. They were agressively defending whatever operations they were undertaking.

Furthermore, one of the black boxes recovered after the departure had an anomalous sensor reading. This has similarities to older Shivan signatures - more specifically, the Lucifer. It also has, however, significant differences, and our best analysis indicate that such readings were generated by communications among ships from the task force - logs from a recon flight monitoring the subject just as they were departing had no anomalous readings. We believe that whatever was causing the unusual emissions was recovered or scanned during the aforementioned operation, and are specially modifying one of our Pegasus recons with a hull-penetrating sensor package.

A full copy of Recon 3's black box record has been included.

*End transmission*

Attached Files

Excerpt from Gamma 1 flight recorder (77Kb)

______________________________

*From <location removed>*
*To Capt. Andreas Emer*
*Encrypted plexus variable decay transmission - IB-425-389-c*
*Security Code: Zulu - Destroy After Reading*

Complications

Close analysis conducted over the movement patterns suggests that our subject is proceeding towards the Polaris jump node, and it's very unlikely that they'll divert their course - as it's unlikely that a force so small has as objective a direct attack against the blockade imposed there. Knowing this, we must prevent local GTVA forces from intercepting the subject, using any means necessary.

Casualties on Allied forces must be, of course, avoided at all costs - but the continuation of our subject's plan must be assured. It is critical to all research efforts, and the latest discoveries made by Recon 3 indicate a rather worrying situation - the possibility, as remote as it might be, of another Lucifer class vessel or similar imply on extreme threat to the Alliance, but also on limitless possibilities for research and analysis. We must have confirmation on those sensor readings - make sure that they pass through the blockade undetected. The <name removed> is in position at the Polaris system to proceed with the investigation once the task force has cleared the node.

If possible, keep any and all scheduled recon flights active. We cannot afford surprises at this time.

*End transmission*

______________________________

*From Capt. Andreas Emer*
*To <location removed>*
*Encrypted plexus variable decay transmission - IB-425-389-d*
*Security Code: Zulu - Destroy After Reading*

Re: Complications

Squadron 04 was sent alongside freighter group 23 to divert the blockading forces, and succeeded admirably. The subject breached the blockade - undetected - by 0924 hours today, and is currently being monitored by stealth units reporting directly to the <name removed> in Polaris. They are already heading to the Regulus node, and estimated time for arrival is three hours and thirty minutes. The same diversionary pattern observed earlier is being employed, and the force is following a course through the rim of the system.

Captain Simpson has orders to keep pursuit at all costs.

Search and rescue teams sent to the first engagement location were able to identify debris from what appears to be a vessel of similar composition to the <name removed>, and the readings previously taken were confirmed as a rough match to those taken when the Nyx was first acquired. This might indicate a correlation between that vessel and the subject - what only increases our need to follow their current activities.

*End transmission*

______________________________

*From Capt. Adam Simpson*
*To Capt. Andreas Emer*
*Encrypted plexus variable decay transmission - IB-425-389-e*
*Security Code: Zulu - Destroy After Reading*

Chase action

We have been following the subject since it's arrival at Polaris, and we believe it is safe to assume they're proceeding towards a well defined objective - though the nature of such objective still eludes us (it will be referred as the Omega Objective from now on). First signs of scouting activities were observed by 0753 hours today, when several fighter wings were dispatched from the subject's location to different destinations within the system, and at least one attempted to leave Polaris through the Regulus jump node. It retreated shortly after it's arrival at the node location, probably due to the presence of an Alliance cruiser group in the area. Subsequent attempts from the subject to send recon forces through the node succeeded - most of the original scouting wings dispatched followed when the first group was able to jump through, and the rest of the task force did the same shortly afterwards. The last ship left Polaris by 12:11 today.

Our own reconnaissance flights were able to track the subject through subspace and into the Regulus system, and the latest fleet movements point to an unconventional planetary approach to Regulus IV. The planet is uninhabited and has no local defenses, what makes it safe to assume that the subject will remain undetected. AWACS scans at the location have found readings similar to the ones captured by the first recon sweeps on Capella, but the source of such signals could not be pinpointed or identified. The scanning group was pulled back to avoid confrontation with the subject, which is currently stationed inside the mass shadow of Regulus IX, probably waiting for reports from their own scouting forces.

Stealth vessels are keeping a close watch on the subject, and any developments will be informed immediately. A diagram of the current situation is attached.

*End transmission*

Attached Files

Diagram of subject status monitoring (73Kb)

______________________________

*From Capt. Adam Simpson*
*To Capt. Andreas Emer*
*Encrypted plexus variable decay transmission - IB-425-389-f*
*Security Code: Zulu - Destroy After Reading*

Chase action update

The subject attempted a breakout at 0351 GTVA Standard this morning, moving to initiate jump sequence at <location removed>. The shadowing stealth craft managed to aquire a scan before the subject entered subspace, and was able to pinpoint the subspace jump exit point.

Englobement of the jump location was complete at 0429, and the subject arrived in scanning range at 0442, whereupon the decoy force engaged the escorts, allowing a recon unit to slip in and aquire another scan. The recon unit reported gaining visual contact with the Omega Objective, described verbally as an extremely dark vessel, one which was fighter-scaled and initially resisted their efforts to scan it. The augmented sensors on the recon unit finally aquired a high-spectrum return - this, however, alerted the subject to the recon unit's position and it was attacked with maximum force. Immediately after, the subject proceeded to capture the objective (an action carried out with extreme efficience) and engaged subspace drives. We were unable to determine their destination this time, but it's highly probable that they're returning to the Polaris jump node.

Recon 1's black box has since been recovered and it's scan data, more complete than the previous ones acquired, has been attached to the message.

Casualties among the decoy force were moderate.

*End transmission*

Attached Files

Excerpt from Recon 1 flight recorder (67Kb)

______________________________

*From <location removed>*
*To Capt. Andreas Emer*
*Encrypted plexus variable decay transmission - IB-425-389-g*
*Security Code: Zulu - Destroy After Reading*

Objective identified

Close examination of the records obtained by the last recon unit confirmed a strong link between the Omega Objective and the <name removed>. Unfortunately, we were unable to prevent the objective's capture by the subject, what blocks us from furthering our studies.

Intelligence indicates that the subject will initiate a backtrack course to the Capella system and, as before, it is imperative that their presence remains unknown by standard Alliance forces. Furthermore, no attempts to retrieve the Omega Objective from the task force are to be made: such action has very little probability of success, and chances are that it would only attract the attention of any forces present in the area. All vessels and operatives have orders to investigate any contact that bears similarities to the Omega Objective, though: acquisition of a new specimen has become priority level zero.

This operation is over.

*End transmission*