Starmap search

A busy week - there is a strike of the hangar workers and crews in Tanoo, and I was asked to relay their worries to the directorate at LUMEN.

Apart from that, I've been puzzling - trying to decipher the meaning of the numbers on the ten cogwheels. The different numbers link the different cogs, even though they do not seem to fit. They do create a network: assuming the numbers on the edge of the cogs refer to center numbers, I've come up with the following graph:

The wheel labeled nine has a link to a final marking. I have tried to map the nodes on to stellar systems and the links to jump gate connections between them. I have not yet found a correspondance, but this will require more poring over ancient starmaps.

The tenth cogwheel

Only historical documents, which have been released to the public domain, are freely accessible. Even then, the help of an expert in navigating the obscure databases is more than useful. I would not even have been able to navigate the most basic query forms, but Fifth and Sixth knew the acronyms and the jargon and were able to find the record of lord Or'nold from ages ago.

The tenth and final piece of the puzzle was bequeathed to a local museum documenting the history of human settlement on the Jakri system. We also found out that, unfortunately, the museum burned down, and probably the final cogwheel is lost. However, the will was very nicely documented with pictures of all of the items, including the one I was after. The picture is good enough to make out the numbers on the wheel, and although it is not clear what its dimensions are, it is probably the same size as the other nine.

The collection is complete (well, virtually at least).

The Lumen Effect

"Yeah, it's all about one year old, plate armor and battle drones got installed when you lot moved in", the Fifth Assistant to the Scrivener General said, casually, after I remarked the place looked new.

He continued, "Nasreri office was a quiet place before. Stable power structure in the station. No major Holders about to die and have their will be read out. Lady Tigith was the next one we all supposed would pop, but she's probably still decades away."

I asked, "But that didn't change when we moved here, right?"

Sixth answered, "Actually it did. The Imperial Bureau of Statistics has found a significant correlation between the presence of LUMEN headquarters and vicious Holders dropping dead prematurely in the neighborhood."

"Yes, especially Holders that have a... bad reputation about their methods of reclaiming", Fifth explained, "so, when you got here the office was expanded and we installed a special reinforced room where Lord Dalgray's last will and testament could kept safely."

Sixth muttered "You capsuleers really have no idea about the amount of administrative nuisance you bring along, do you?"

Indeed, the Scriveners do make you feel guilty about asking for a favor.

Meeting with the notaries

Among the noble houses, disputes about inheritance can become really vicious. The Amarr civil law notaries (or scriveners as they are known in the Empire) are often the ultimate victims of such fights. I had no idea notaries specializing in inheritance were under such pressure and threat in the Empire. They do set up the final will and oversee its signing, and when family members disagree or want to pick a fight, the notaries are usually blamed for fraud and they or their families are attacked personally.

Probably that is why I was thoroughly searched for weapons, and then led to a place that looked like a blast-proof interrogation room with stun gun turrets. And why I was met by two masked notaries wearing full defensive body armor, and carrying guns. 

They introduced themselves as the Fifth and Sixth Assistants to the Scrivener General, Folders of the Gilded Frock, and Certified Fellows of the Worshipful Guild of Scriveners of Upper Genesis. It's an ancient profession, with ancient titles.

The Sixth Assistant immediately started shouting at me, telling me that I should tell him what the heck my problem is, and I'd better do that right now or he'd beat me to pulp. He was held back by the Fifth assistant who then pulled him back into the hallway out of the interrogation room so Sixth could cool off. The Fifth assistant then told me that his colleague has been under some strain, he lost a family member after a scrivener's error was found, and also he is known to be very aggressive. The Fifth assistant continued by telling me he liked my face ("very Amarrian", he said) and he would help me, but I'd better comply because he didn't know how much longer he could keep Sixth in check.

Clearly, they were playing good notary bad notary with me.

The tension immediately eased when I told them I didn't want to contest any inheritance or will, and agreed to sign a written statement asserting just that. Although they did not completely trust me, they agreed to help.

Appointments via galnet

Scandalous. The bureau for heritage matters can only be reached via a website, and appointments for a face-to-face talk need to be booked via the website too. The earliest appointment is on December 12th! That's partly because you have to make the appointment in the region where your current home station is now and perhaps the Nasreri office is understaffed, seeing that the Holders on station are not about to die and have no heritage feuds amongst their heirs expected in the near future.

On-line complaints desk connected me to some snooty fifty-year old kid in a comms center, who works every day for another corp. Probably he did Quafe complaints desk yesterday and the bureau of heritage matters today. Needless to say he couldn't help me. 

Thank God the Amarr Civil Service is in the same station as SFRIM's current headquarters, so I could march down there. It is a bit shameful that I used my capsuleer credentials to demand to see a bureau manager: I don't see how a commoner would manage and that is plainly wrong. Anyway, I got an appointment with an inheritance notary warden in a couple of days. I was asked to come unarmed, I wonder why.

Movie night

The movie night went well, I think the movie about faith and friendship was generally well received. And it offered our capsuleers some well earned relaxation.

Perhaps I had hoped that the movie would help Haruka Lightrain to realize that her attempts to force a friendship with Praefecta Isimazu are not working out, but she's a hard nut to crack (I mean Haruka). 

The purposefully confusing title 'Sense of Faith' will work in our favor when trying to supplant the heretic movie of similar name in the most used search engines. A large sum of money was paid to these search engines to make it so...  

It also helps that Nugoeihuvi corporation agreed (again, ISK flowed) to help on the distribution of the movie. They were also kind enough to provide comfortable armchairs to turn our multipurpose room in a movie theatre for the evening.

Invasion

The war zone agreements, known under the ugly acronym CEMWPA, were concluded in order to contain war and prevent an all-out offensive between the four core powers. Unfortunately, they are now breached by all empires except Amarr. Yesterday, most blatantly of all, the Federation launched a well-prepared full-scale invasion of the Placid region, occupying war zone systems with a view of taking them out of the war zone for good. Our friends in the State are understandably furious about this.

The Equilibrium of Mankind heretics would be very happy with this evolution towards all-out war... I do hope our blessed Empress Catiz can follow Heideran the Good's example in keeping peace between the core powers, and find a way to renew the war zone agreements. 

Search for the final piece

The trip to Oris was fruitful, I was able to study the five cogwheels present at the Arjam library and museum and create replicas. 

There is only one of these objects missing to complete the picture. To locate it, I studied the (known) history of the artefacts, from the records of the Arjam library. It was part of a cache retrieved by an archeological expedition on Jakri IV, stayed for a long time in the collections of House Or'nold, and was bequeathed to PIE after the last lord from that house died without heirs. 

Next step in this research is perhaps not a visit to the Jakri system, but a visit to the Amarr Civil Service administration bureaus for heritage matters. I'll try to find out if the other pieces of this locking mechanism were in lord Or'nold's will, given to other parties.

Trip to Oris

I'm following up on the lead I got from Boulette about a possible Takmahl vault. The Arjam library on Oris has in its collections five of the cogwheels of the vault's unlocking mechanism. 

Rather than stealing them, as the rascal wants, I can just go over and study these artefacts. Lord Lok'ri was kind enough some time ago to give me access to the Arjam museum and its research facilities, so I can have the items scanned to make copies. Also, I can use the library's data repository to find out more about the origin of these artefacts.

Boulette will not know that I give him copies. He thinks he can use me for his purposes but it is I who will use him, and extract as much knowledge as I can from this common thief.

Blood raider praise

Turnur is still burning. 

Meanwhile, the behavior of the Amarr militia capsuleers are increasingly under scrunity. Their attacks on the neutral observers of the cataclysm, and the ensuing all-out brawl has been applauded by the blood raider's leader Omir Sarikusa, calling our militia Amarr capsuleers 'faithful to the great truth'. Whatever that means, it's bad.

The Empire has been purging heresy in its ranks after the Equilibrium of Mankind cult caused a disaster on Kahah last year. I think it is now about to do the same with its capsuleers - the order of St. Tetrimon and the Ministry of Internal Order are already dividing up the tasks and responsibilities.

I think that thusfar, the blood raider elements in the militia have been tolerated due to the military success of the capsuleer militia. But with the fall of Egmar and Vard, the patience of whomever is protecting them may be running thin.

The aftermath

It is over. Turnur's star is still there - no doubt thanks to the courageous men and women who stayed on the transmuter till the last minute. It did however release a massive burst of hard X-ray radiation, followed by a explosive coronal mass ejection. Everything up to seventy million kilometers out was vaporized, including the transmuter and Upwell stations. After the burst, the star appears to have stabilized again.

Turnur I is left a burning ember. The superluminal energy burst ignited its atmosphere, and turned the surface into molten magma. Only in the deepest caves, on the planet's night-side, could anything have survived. Matter ejected from the planet is forming a red glowing ring around it. The Republic station in orbit is badly damaged, its external structures detonated and it is venting gases. The highly protected core of the station is still functional. God also spared the other planets from this type of destruction.

With the twisted psychology that promised immortality entails, capsuleers flocked to the system to observe the event, indifferent about losing their ship and their clone. Everyone and their sister came to watch. And inevitably this same psychology of indifference to death led to an orgy of killing, a capsuleer against capsuleer massacre the likes of which no factional warfare could ever bring to Turnur. There could not have been a starker contrast between the Empyrean irreverence of death and the suffering of millions in the system. God will strike the capsuleer class down for this blind mockery... Open your eyes, faithful, at the revelation of God's absolute might that was witnessed tonight!

Before the cataclysm

The discontent and rebellious atmosphere that I noted yesterday amongst our own capsuleers appears more widespread than I thought. There have been protests at Hedion university. And the Royal Houses take different - but not incompatible - stances. 

Houses Kor-Azor and Ardishapur advocate free evacuation, which some interpret as a thinly veiled criticism with the Throne, given that it must have been the Empress who gave the go-ahead to test the Stellar Transmuter technology.

The good news that our scientists have been able to collect all the stellar observation data that they needed is offset by the fact that they are unable to reverse the instability of Turnur's star. There's other good news: the evacuations have been mostly completed - save perhaps for these strange tribes that want to stay on Turnur I.

Capsuleer discontent

The vigil went well, and I am glad we got to send out our prayer to the wider capsuleer community.

Baseliners dare not speak out as strongly as the capsuleers, but they are downright scared. There's end-of-the-world talk and all sorts of ridiculous rumors, from the second coming of Jamyl to giant space squids engulfing Turnur I.

As for capsuleers, I am worried about the reaction to what is happening in Turnur. In LUMEN's ranks, there is a lot of discontent, and even outright anger at how the Empire handles the situation. Some even want to attack the stellar transmuter, regardless of our scientists there who try day and night to get it under control. I have never experienced such a rebellious atmosphere before. I tried to instill some calm and serenity, and bolster confidence in the Empress and the Privy Council among our capsuleer members.

Aria tried to channel that discontent and propose people help ARC in their evacuation effort - but the demands for that fleet, covert cyno or blockade runner, are for the more experienced ones only. Also, I hope ARC doesn't get into a fight with the navy or with Amarr militia...

Prayer vigils for Turnur

The news coming from Turnur is very unsettling... Amarr Certified News seems to confirm that the star has become unstable and is heading for an unknown catastrophy three days from now.

There's a lot of anxiety and unrest right now, not only with capsuleers but also with the baseliners. Some fear for a clusterwide catastropy, God wiping the slate clean after an excess of sins also by his chosen people. Other point the finger of blame to marshall Sirdan Xer Qosh, or even the royal Sarum heir. Still others are confident that all is still running according to how the Empress has planned it and that there will be no catastrophy, but instead new jump gate routes will open, perhaps between Arshat and Turnur, or towards the Triglavian-held systems. There are even rumors that some spread about this event as hailing the coming of the 'true emperor' of sedevacantism...

To allay the fears, and put to rest all kinds of unsubstantiated rumors, I am holding prayer vigils for Turnur and its inhabitants in the Chapel. We will pray to God to forgive us for our sins and to have mercy on us and especially on the people of Turnur, while acknowledging that it is not our will that prevails but God's will.

Today the vigils will be for baseliners mostly. Tomorrow, after the Syndicate week is over, I think I will also set aside some time for a prayer vigil for capsuleers. They are just as troubled about what is happening, even though they pretend they have everything under control.

The cogwheels at Arjam

Crazy man, this mr. Boulette, but he has intriguing information about a Takmahl secret vault. These vaults do exist, I have seen some of them, and in the latter part of their empire they were indeed used to hide away valuable items. So, I am intrigued and would like to follow this lead, as his description fits historical examples and the examples I have seen with my own eyes.

Now, he wants me to break into the Arjam library on Oris - in the PIE compound - and steel five of these cogwheels. As I said: crazy.

Especially since lord Lok'ri a while ago gave me scholarly access to the library and its collections, so I can just go there and have a look at these items. Boulette thinks there is something supernatural about them, more than the mere brass they are made of, and we need the originals to open the vault. But personally, I think this is just silly. 

I did agree to go and have a look, but urgent news from Turnur is delaying my trip...

Treasure hunt

I met mr. Boulette in his kitschy restaurant. We were seated in a private room. The see-through floor to Oursulaert III was off-putting. We were served oysters fried in the fat of some nearly extinct cetacean, topped with kaviar from some fish that actually is extinct in the wild. The drink was some extremely expensive wine, I already forgot the story behind it, I didn't drink it.

After some preliminary chit-chat, he came to the point. According to Boulette, the brass cogwheel is part of a mechanism that can unlock some sort of vault. There are ten such gears, and he has already collected four. Well, three, now that I have one.

He got all excited trying to rope me in for his treasure hunt. He explained that this secret vault holds the gold of the Takmahl empire. It was built just before it's fall. The gold was stowed away by their Emperor at the last moment before the Imperial family was caught and murdered by a revolutionary mob. The gears combine into some sort of combination lock which has to be dialed in, in just the right way, to open the doors to halls of gold.

I've never heard of this nonsense, nor have I ever encountered anything like it in the academic literature.

But Boulette was adamant. He wants my help to get the other cogwheels, and "then we'll split the gold". 

He's figured out where they are.

Five of the remaining six cogwheels are in the Arjam library at the PIE chapter house on the Lok'ri estates in Oris.

Le Phat's at Oursulaert III

I looked up Le Phat's on Galnet. Last time I planned a meeting with mr. Boulette I ended up dead, which is a most unpleasant experience. Especially when you have to identify your own corpse in a mortuary of the local law enforcement. So, I wanted to see what to expect, this time.

Le Phat's looked like a place designed by someone obsessed with appearing rich but lacking any sense of esthetics or good taste. 

Marble, gold, expensive decorations. No unifying theme: it was a mixed bag of kitsch objects that poor serfs in feverish dreams may associate with richness. Statues in gilded plastic, bad reproductions of famous paintings, gemstone studded leather seating, inlaid stone tabletops,... a cacaphony of styles and fakeness. A see-through floor from which Oursulaert III was visible, on which antique tables in Heideran III style are placed. A champagne pool and fountain with a lightshow. A grand piano combined with exotic dancers. 

The good news is that it is located in a busy and well policed part of the station, with no criminality to note. It is safe to go for the body, although it will be an assault on the senses.

Dinner Invitation

In the list of objects given to us by Boulette's lawyer, the large brass cogwheel is not listed separately, it appears to fall under what he listed as "farming equipment parts, miscellaneous". That in itself makes it instantaneously suspect to me: it's not from farming equipment. That would not require such a nice brass alloy with sculpted numbers on it. And it doesn't explain why it is packed separately.

As soon as I inquired about that specific piece through my lawyer mr. Van Geneughten, I got a message from Boulette, not his lawyer but the man himself. He's inviting me to Oursulaert, in the Federation, for dinner and a chat, in restaurant "Le Phat" in the station orbiting Oursulaert III. 

I'm not very familiar with Gallente food, and although it's supposed to be good I prefer good old traditional meals over fancy exotic stuff. I hope they don't serve food too spicy, I'll take some stomach pills with me just in case.

Rummaging through the rubble

I've been going through the crates that Boulette so desperately wants back. There's nothing in there that could possibly have sentimental value for him. At least, that I can imagine - it's mostly broken parts, space rubble with little value. There's a strongly damaged pearl necklace that could still have some value, perhaps, to a museum. 

The most valuable item of the lot is implant circuitry. I analyzed it but it does not contain any data that could be retrieved. It looks like a standard part of a not very unusual implant.

One thing in the rubble caught my attention because it was carefully packaged inside its own box. But it turned out to be more rubble: a rather large polished brass cogwheel with some numbers on it, perhaps once part of an ancient decorative clock. I checked that it does not have circuitry in it. It looks remarkably well preserved with little trace of dezincification or oxidation so it looks much younger than isotope analysis has revealed it to be.

There must be something about either the implant circuitry or the brass cogwheel that I still haven't figured out.

Items of sentimental value

I sat together with my lawyer to discuss mr. Boulette's proposal, to end the impasse over the relics and artefacts that I retrieved from his criminal hands. He's willing to let go of most of his ownership claim, save a few boxes of sentimental value, for which he's even willing to pay me. Hah! That level of groveling probably means I am set to win this claim in court anyway. 

Mr. Van Geneughten said agreeing would save time and money, but he's also suspicious. Or he wants more billable hours from his capsuleer client. Anyway, he's right that I should check the contents of the crate and that we should request a detailed list of these "personal items".