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~ > Voyager Vessel Hesiod <
~~ The Hesiod was a generation-1 Voyager Vessel whose crew made several landmark discoveries, including the location of the Aphotican homeworld and the utility of Larsson Rings. The original crew were Captain Iris Onasis, Navigator Gustav Larsson, Engineer Luka Soroko, and Ambassador Valentina Santos.
~~ > ONASIS.CAPLOG
|~~ NCECVV.HESIOD: CAPLOG-1
Captain Onasis describes her mission goals (study the orbital rings) and the strengths of each team member. Though Nav Larsson's piloting skills are just slightly above average, his research into the "sky rings" makes him a solid match for the mission. Because the ring may damage the ship's integrity, a skilled Engineer like Luka Soroko is essential. Onasis would have preferred his older sister Katarina, but she opted to stay in Atomica for robotics research. Despite pushback from Larsson and Soroko, Onasis invited Ambassador Santos as a late addition to secure a larger vessel and maintain the favor of NCEC. Ambassador Santos is far less micromanaging than the average NCEC representative.
END.CAPLOG ~~|
|~~ NCECVV.HESIOD: CAPLOG-2
Onasis summarizes Nav Larsson's analysis as they approach the ring (incl. distorted radio signals), and justifies her comfort traveling through it because other objects have safely passed through.
END.CAPLOG ~~|
|~~ NCECVV.HESIOD: CAPLOG-3
Onasis reports that the Hesiod was transported into another solar system, suggesting the ring may be some kind of wormhole. They are now receiving strong, non-distorted radio signals emitting from a nearby planet and are moving to investigate.
END.CAPLOG ~~|
|~~ NCECVV.HESIOD: CAPLOG-4
Onasis details landing on a water planet, atop a calcified plant structure, near other structures that resemble organized settlements.
END.CAPLOG ~~|
|~~ NCECVV.HESIOD: CAPLOG-5
The Hesiod was approached by a group of six amphibious organisms, whose appearance and mannerisms are described by Onasis. The crew members can fully understand the creatures, despite a clear difference in languages spoken, much like the Atomicans from Old Earth. The aliens introduced themselves as Aphoticans, and collected basic information about the Atomicans before returning to their settlement.
END.CAPLOG ~~|
|~~ NCECVV.HESIOD: CAPLOG-6
The Aphoticans return, this time on a ferry instead of swimming, inviting the crew to meet with the city's leaders. Onasis and Ambassador Santos join them, while Nav Larsson and Eng Soroko stay with the ship. Onasis comments on the city's culture, and on Ambassador Santos's impressive and sublte flattery of their Aphotican hosts. The city's leaders are their most lauded astronomers ("maybe that's why the streets are so crazy...like Larsson running a sector back home"), and among their chief duties is studying signs of the "Six Prophecy." Onasis summarizes the prophecy, making her skepticism clear but admitting curiosity about the other species. "I wonder if they care about prophecies on their old planet, before Aphotica. I wonder how many haven't come true." Onasis interrupts Ambassador Santos's relentless questions (bothering Santos and the astronomers) and asks where they can find more homeworlds. The Aphoticans only have direct communication with 2 homeworlds: Excavor, which went silent several years ago presumably because of Atomican Transferrence, and Zeal Combata, about which the Aphoticans provide sparing detail. They also discuss the reclusive Rampant, whom they know little about.
END.CAPLOG ~~|
|~~ NCECVV.HESIOD: CAPLOG-7
The crew travels back to Atomica to submit their reports and restock on resources. After Onasis reports their discovery to NCEC, she is told that the Voyager Vessels Copernicus and Sapphire recently embarked on a journey through the other Larsson ring (a name that Onasis suggested replace the term "sky ring"). The directors suggest that the Hesiod rendezvous with the Copernicus on Excavor and proceed through their system's Larsson ring to Rampantium. Eng Soroko will not be joining the rest of the crew, as he intends to aid Katarina's Cyberis program. A Cyberis android joins the crew as their new Engineer, and Luka pacifies Onasis's concerns. The Hesiod departs for Excavor.
END.CAPLOG ~~|
|~~ NCECVV.HESIOD: CAPLOG-8
The Hesiod arrives on Excavor and Onasis compares notes with the Captain of the Copernicus, who comments on Excavorans, their religion, and the mysterious Boiling Sea. Further investigation shows that the occasional "boiling" effect is really caused by bursting Thistle spores on the ocean floor. The Hesiod is hailed by the Sapphire through a Larsson ring, stuck on Rampantium with a defective power supply.
END.CAPLOG ~~|
|~~ NCECVV.HESIOD: CAPLOG-9
The Hesiod travels through another Larsson ring to Rampantium. The Sapphire's star chamber is misaligned, and the repair is too dangerous for the crew's Engineer by herself. The Hesiod's Cyberis android is able to assist. While repairs are being made, the Sapphire's Ambassador relates her conversation with a small group of Rampant outcasts to Onasis and Santos.
END.CAPLOG ~~|