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Campaign Logs Adventure 4: Anomalies? Imperial Date: 155-70 REPORT ON THE ISV CALLONA’S SEARCH AND IDENTIFY MISSION IN THE ISFAHAN SYSTEM Report logged by Rebble Kharn Mission Aim: Search the Isfahan System for any signs of an as yet unknown ship or armed force. The ISV Callona made a stealthy entrance into the Isfahan System by jumping in approximately three days from the gas giant and two days from the nearest moon. Upon entering the system Anex began passive scanning with all ancillary system shut down so as to maintain a low scan signature and avoid detection. Following a brief discussion, it was decided to head to the nearest moon while continuing to scan the system. Our intended course of action was to make slow, steady progress to the moon and only as close as to allow the passive scans to pick up any power sources, if any. We spent a day or so checking out barren rock balls and volcanic hellholes before we spotted what we thought was a neutrino blip. Further scans revealed that it was coming from the seventh moon from the gas giant and that it was a very large power source. Anex felt that a drifting course, bringing us a little closer to the moon whilst maintaining low power readout would be advisable. The rest of the crew agreed this course of action and I made my way to a weapon turret on standby in the event of a contact with another ship. A few hours later, the source of the energy reading came into view. All that we could ascertain was that it was coming from inside a crater, which was shielding a lot of the emissions. After a crew decision, and Alan reluctantly agreeing, Bractor landed the Callona in a nearby crater. I geared up in my vac suit and armed myself with a laser rifle. Anex scanned the moon for more accurate readings and was able to determine that there were five different neutrino sources. One was around 1000MW (similar to our ships power source), two at 190MW and one at 3000MW and one at 4000MW. The crater opening was about 2 miles across and could easily accommodate several ships. I set out on the airraft along with Anex to get a closer look at the power sources. After making our way to the edge of the crater we disembarked the airraft. We proceeded on foot to the craters edge and using binoculars were able to tell that the crater was shallow and had collapsed in on itself at one end. Under the collapse, blended in with the surroundings was some kind of facility. A fairly large facility. Outside the facility, but still under the overhang of the craters edge was two ships sitting on a landing pad. The facility was approximately 1 mile away. What I could make out was that one ship was of a similar size to our own, but a lot boxier in shape. It carried the same emblem as the ship which we saw in the Heuen system. The second ship was a lot larger and appeared to be some kind of transport in excess of 1000 displacement tons. The facility had several airlocks spread around it and even some in the wall of the crater itself. Anex and I decided to try and get closer to the facility and proceeded to make our way around the rim of the crater. We managed to get within 300 meters from the overhang when a piece of rock on the ground in front of us disintegrates, then another. As we proceed to move back and take cover, Anex’s suit gets hit. Although the shot did not injure Anex, he was losing oxygen fast. I calmly took control of the situation and calmed Anex by talking to him and pointing out that I had experience at this sort of thing. I quickly patched the suit before too much oxygen had escaped and therefore ensuring that Anex was fit to continue. As Anex returned the airraft, I peeked over the rim to see who or what was shooting at us. Another rock disintegrated in front of me for my troubles. I was able to see that three dark suited figures were crouched behind some rocks away from the complex with weapons pointed in our direction. They must have come from an unnoticed entrance. I noticed a flash of to my left and upon further examination I noticed it to be a small vessel of some kind. It went straight up from the overhang, twists, turns, levels off and then heads straight towards us very quickly. I called to Bractor and Alan to get on the turrets as we were under attack from a ship of some sort. I could see Anex was still heading to the airraft and I proceeded to follow him, jinking as I went to make it harder for the pilot of the small vessel to hit me. Bractor manned a turret as Alan was attempting to reach us in the Callona. Anex had by now reached the airraft and was making his way towards me. At this point we received a radio communication stating, “This is a government installation. You are trespassing on government property. You will stop and await our teams to question you.” The smaller vessel appeared to be 15 displacement tons or there abouts, compared to the Callona’s 200 displacement tons. I contacted Alan on the communicator and suggest that we identify our selves as a rescue squad and see what happens, to which he agreed. After identifying ourselves to the ‘government’ the response we received was “This moon is the property of the government of the Navan Federation. We will use deadly force if necessary.” Bractor responded to this communication by advising them that we had never heard of them but will leave the moon immediately, and I responded by saying that was a member of a rescue squad from the Imperial Scout Service on a rescue mission. The response received was “Your organisation is not recognised by us. You will await capture and interrogation under the orders of the Ard-Chonseil.” Bractor replied to their threat with confirmation that we will defend ourselves if necessary, but will leave peacefully if allowed to do so. Anex had collected me in the airraft and I was piloting us back to the Callona. I confirmed over the radio that I was a member of a rescue squad sent to rescue two downed pilots. The next contact from them stated, “You cannot be allowed to leave this place. This is a top-secret government installation and you may not leave. Power down your weapons and prepare for questioning.” Anex and I continued to make our way back to the ship as quickly and safely as possible. Someone on board the Callona returned fire at the fighter, but missed! The fighter circled round for another attack. We again fired at the fighter and again missed, while the fighter hits the ground close to the Callona. Alan took off, in the Callona, and headed in the direction of Alan and myself aboard the airraft thus closing the distance rapidly and providing cover for us from the fighter. Alan hovered a short distance from us and I calmly placed the airraft into the moving cargo hold of the Callona. As soon as we were aboard the cargo doors were closed, and Alan proceeded to exit the atmosphere while Bractor returned fire towards the fighter – both the fighter and ourselves missing the target. Anex made his way to the second turret as soon as the airraft had docked. No sooner had he entered the turret then we noticed that a second fighter had launched from the facility and was making towards us at high speed. Bractor fired at the first fighter scoring a hit and sending it spiralling back down in the direction it had come from. The second fighter scored a hit with its first shot hitting Anex’s turret, and causing Anex to be thrown out of the turret, in the resulting explosion, and into the ships gangway. As the iris seals were closing due to the hull breach Anex managed to dive through and avoid being trapped on the exposed side. In the split seconds after the explosion, Alan scanned the fighter and the complex recording all findings for later reference, Bractor exited the turret to treat Anex for any injuries he might have sustained and I entered the turret Bractor had vacated and continued to provide a distraction to the fighter allowing our exit from the system. We were only 70 diameters out from the gas giant, but risked the jump out of the system. The rest of the crew co-ordinated the jump details and I fired a parting shot at the fighter, and then we entered jumpspace