[i]<<Understood, Outrider, Pandora copies. Tactical update was not planned. Word upstairs is we triggered some sort of data dump, it altered tactical data downstream.>>[/i] The Chief paused on the other end with what sounded suspiciously like a muffled curse. [i]<<No sign of network compromise, otherwise, but Novikova is going over it with a fine toothed comb. Eggheads are gonna have a field day.>>

<<Acknowledge Oscar Mike in five, Castle. You are all urged to expedite. There won’t be enough time for a full brief once you’re on board so I’m starting it now. Relevant data will be transmitted as it is finalized. That update appears to have contained, among other things, an IFF modifier that renders us friendly to whoever used to live here. More than that, whoever they used to be they’ve still got a lot of signals left active. Oberths die slow and sensor data shows that Orbital you dug up sure ran on one.>>[/i] True to her word data began to flow, in dribs and drabs, to the pilots below. Sensor data from the [i]Pandora[/i], specifically showing the point sources in orbit above the planet. One particular source, more along the lines of two overlapping points of origin, flashed on their display. [i]<<Novikova says this is where the dump originated. We’re not picking up any readings beyond the transponders, and their radar and lidar returns are so low we’d never have found them if we didn’t know where to look. Not a fan of that, between you lot, me, and the fence post.>>[/i]

[i]<<But we’ve got enough of a return to indicate that it looks like we’re dealing with a small space station and a ship that was docked to it. We won’t get a better idea until we’re close enough to use the Mark One Eyeball, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is where you come in.>> [/i]The Chief actually laughed, which was a much less comforting sound than it might have been from someone else. [i]<<For your sins, folks, you’re our tech savviest advance scouts. A Hawk will be doing a preliminary flyby on your way back. After your Orbitals are docked for repairs you all get to suit up.>>[/i]

<<Hope you all remember how to seal your spacesuits.>>

[hr]

[i]<<Copy, Starstrike.>>[/i] Artemie said as the signal came through. [i]<<Update tripped a lot of security measures. I read you, and we’re all fine. We’re supposed to return to hangar ASAP.>>[/i]

[i]<<Voyager is undamaged, Castle. Starstrike’s out the network but alive and well. Hallim, sound off if you can. Volana? Can Aurora reconnect your boosters with that shoulder, or do you need a lift?>>[/i]

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