Un-Amarrian

As I continue searching through the mess of salvaged records, I was told by mr. Ivan Firth that a mausoleum to commemorate defeat of the Empire should be considered un-amarrian. So it should not be good to spend too much time here. I objected, pointing out the Elder Memorial in Kor-Azor, and he conceded the point.

Apparently, also the "glacial drift" skin for the Anathema is unamarrian. The original Khanid exterior is more acceptable, and imperial jubilee or celebratory gold would be even better. I told to him that this is camouflage, not only in ice belts but as many planetary rings and debris fields have a lot of ice particles it can also be used there. I'm afraid this rather stretches the truth, it is not how cloaking works, but I did not feel the urge to go into great detail, and mr. Firth seemed content with the answer.

Salvaged records

I returned once again to Anath, and I visited the memorial museum on Anath IV. It tells the tale of the devastating Blood Raider attack that laid the colony on Anath V to waste in YC71, in gruesome detail. It also recounts other raids and attacks. I learned from the exhibits also that LUMEN sent humanitarian aid and first responders following an relatively recent massive attack in YC121.

The exhibition rooms are ordered around a yard, open-air yard with large obsidian monoliths at its center. The names of the dead are carved in gold letters, and those of the missing in silver letters. There is still room on the massive slabs, a token of resignation about the inevitability of future attacks.

Below ground there is a hall with a library, which also holds whatever records could be salvaged from the ruins of the Anath V colony. However, most of it has not yet been catalogued or sorted, it is just stored in countless boxes. Deeds, police reports, marriage certificates, public announcements, news clippings, it is all thrown together, much of it moldy or partly charred, or both. 

The curator was happy that finally a scholar takes interest in this collection, and could help sort it out. He is perhaps the first person I met here who is happy to see a visitor from the core worlds. He allows me to search these records. However, finding information on what professor Bathana was looking for here feels a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The wait

I was getting impatient, but finally the political officer has arrived. 

It took mr. Ivan Firth almost a week to get to us from his previous assignment. He had to have a debriefing, travel, two days of holiday, travel time, a briefing, and then travel time again. Meanwhile, I was not able to undock or continue exploring. 

Together with the crew, I used the spare time to clean up the mess the Ministry made during the search, and do maintenance on the ship. It had been a while since I brought the Indigatrix in for technical control, and the warp drive was already way past the mandatory checkup after every 1000 jumps. I got charged an insane amount (plus a late fee) because the dock-master decided all sorts of parts that I had never heard of had to be replaced. I think he ripped me off and flux capacitors are not real parts of Anathema class ships.

Mr. Firth showed up at the hangar today, dressed immaculately in his uniform, boots and medals polished and shining. He brought several suitcases with books on proper procedure, printed, so they can be followed even if the electronic version cannot be accessed.

Even today, we could not leave again for Aridia, as mr. Firth insisting on interviewing the crew members, and by the time he was finished taking notes, it was already too late to start.

Broken mug

As expected, the Indigatrix was thoroughly searched by the Ministry of Internal Order. Ransacked, one might claim, if one were to be disrespectful to the Ministry. Of course, they were misled by Idesbald's lies, and quite in their right to check things out.

But still. 

During the search, my coffee mug which says "Udder Chaos Milking Corp" got broken. It was not valuable, but it was a souvenir from an agricultural fair on Odra in the Bersyrim system. It is in that city that I got murdered for the very first time. When I went back to identify my corpse, local police told me they found the mug on my body and I got it back eventually. So, naturally, I have some attachment to it. 

Somewhat distraught, I tried to find a complaints form on the Ministry's website. 

Strangely, the Ministry does not appear to have an on-line form for complaints.

Somewhere hidden in the labyrinthine website I did find a physical address where people can go to have their complaints heard, but it is in a penal colony on an ice world rather far away, with only one-way interbus connections, and I do not really want to do the detour with the Indigatrix.

For now, ceramic glue will have to do the trick.

New crew member

I should have thrown Idesbald out of the airlock in stead of banishing him. 

Probably at this very moment he also wishes I had done so. 

The Ministry of Internal Order has captured him - they must have some black ops in the Federation. Upon questioning the traitor accused me of his own crime! He claimed that I was the one peddling capsuleer blood wine on the black market! Reverend Mother Kahoudi was very concerned and payed me a visit in the library. Luckily, Idesbald's lies were rapidly unmasked. Tribunus Colonel Vleckson relayed the true nature of my mission: destroying the blood cellar. The other crew members confirmed my version of the facts. And a search of the Indigatrix revealed no contraband of any sort.

Even though I have been exonerated, the affair still has an unpleasant consequence. The Reverend Mother insisted that for the time being a political officer should join me during my explorations. As if I do not know orthodoxy myself! I wanted to strongly protest, but something in me told me this was probably not the good time to do so.

So, my crew will be joined by mr. Ivan Firth, who will provide us with ideological education and supervision and make sure my missions are in the interest of the Empire and in agreement with Imperial law. 

A new cloak technician would have been more useful.

The Anath colonies

I am continuing my expedition through the Blood Raider space corridor in Aridia, which links the old home worlds of the Takmahl to the current Blood Raider controlled region of Delve. I have gone trough most of the corridor and have reached its outermost endpoint, the Fabai constellation. 

Then I got distracted by the blood cellar hidden in the wreck of a colony ship - I took it upon myself to destroy that horror. That matter is settled now, and I am back to exploring the Anath system. Minus one cloak technician.

Anath has been repeatedly the subject of horrible incursions and massacres by the Blood Raiders, periodically curtailing the growth of the colonies there. The folk there focus on basic survival,  growing their crops and working their industry, while constantly on alert for attacks. These settlers do not have much time to spend on frivolities of high culture, and do not want tourists to come visit them. On the storm world of Anath V the conditions were even harsher than on Anath IV.

Nevertheless, in the main settlement on the temperature world of Anath IV there is a museum devoted to the history of the colonies. Or perhaps it would be more correct to describe it as a memorial to remember the raids and their devastation. It is said to house whatever was left of the historical records of the Anath V colonies, so that looks as good as any place to start my search.

Courtship at Tebu Amkhiman

Back in the days when I was young, boys and girls of important families could mingle only at formal dance events. These were held in large halls, resplendent with golden ornaments. There, the youngsters, dressed impeccably, would be allowed to dance with each other in well choreographed waltzes under the watchful eye of parents and chaperons observing the dance from the balconies while sipping champagne and eating pastries. Only in the fleeting moments that the dance brings lovers cheek to cheek could they whisper words of passion to each other. I believe this tradition is still upheld in Kador.

Things are different nowadays - all the more so for capsuleers. Word has reached me of a capsuleer "speed dating" event in Tebu Amkhiman. In speed dating, one also changes partner according to some choreography. However, there is no dancing, and even less supervision.

Gossip travels faster than light, among baseliners as well as capsuleers, and always reaches the ears of the pastor sooner rather than later. At first, I was surprised to hear of the presence of heretics and enemies of the Empire. I know Tebu Amkhiman is a freeport, but still ... Moreover, it appears there was misbehavior and even open flirtation with the arch-heretic Nauplius! 

The organizers, Maerrin and Haapsalu are not to be blamed, and I think should be lauded. After giving it some thought, I approve of the presence of heathens at this initiative as I believe that the fastest way to reclaim them peacefully is for them to date -and possibly fall in love- with someone of the faith. There are countless historical examples of pagan kings marrying Amarrian princesses and converting.

Nevertheless, I expect the confessional to be very busy in the coming days.

 

((ooc picture attribution : http://www.vienna-waltz-gala.at/))

Banishment

What to do with Idesbald? He tried to steal a bottle of blood with the intent of selling it to Blood Raider collectors. If I turn him in to the Ministry of Internal Order, he will face the cleansing pits for sure. The reverend mother will not take this sin lightly.

Part of me wants him to face punishment. But another part of me understands that if a commoner is faced with an object worth tens of billions of ISK, the temptation might be just too much to resist. On the one hand I think he should get another chance, but on the other hand I do not want the crew to think mutiny is just fine.

After long deliberation I decided to drop him off just beyond the Empire's borders, in Agaullores in Solitude, Federation Space. I will provide him with decent retirement funds. And after that, I will inform the MIO. This amounts to banishment from the Empire, which should be punishment enough I think.

Flush

Soon after the crisis of trust with Idesbald, we warped back to the site, cloaked, at 100 km. To our great satisfaction, we could confirm that the blood cellar has been destroyed in the antimatter blast. Metal shards and a fine mist of organic matter are all that is left from this cursed place.

There was some discussion with the crew on how to dispose of the bottle of Luna blood. Jettisoning is not an option, as it can be picked up by random passer-bys and the Indigatrix has no weapons to destoy it. In the end we decided to empty the bottle in one of the toilets and flush.

Idesbald begged to save the bottle, claiming that the profits from selling it could help us much more in the fight against the Blood Raiders. That is nonsense, of course. If we have to harvest the blood of our members and sell that to the Raiders, we just become part of the covenant even if we use to proceeds to fight them. The crew realized that and followed me. The blood was destroyed as proposed earlier: flushed to the waste container of the Indigatrix, which will be emptied and processed at the first station we dock.

Treason

((continued from Feb 2nd))

We made it back to the Indigatrix in the nick of time, the Bhaalgorn appeared on grid just as we were warping off. That is the advantage of having crew on board even in a frigate, they can warp of way before you are back in your pod.

Not long after we arrived at a safe spot in the system, we registered an antimatter explosion at the site. However, another pressing matter kept us from immediately returning cloaked and checking it out. 

There is also sometimes a disadvantage to taking crew along: they might betray you.

Idesbald refused to hand over the bottle of Luna blood. The fact that this small boxed object was worth billions of ISK had driven him insane with greed. If he could cash in on it -which I doubt- this would indeed make him rich beyond his wildest dreams and able to start a new very comfortable life.

He kept me and the other crew members at bay with his plasma rifle. He claimed loudly that it was his loot, and by the law of outer space now his property. He wanted us to drop him off at a station or somewhere planet-side, he even wanted to use one of the escape pods to get out. 

I tried to tell him this was an sinful and illegal substance, and he was damning himself and his soul. He did not care. I told him both the Blood Raiders and LUMEN would come after him. That got him somewhat worried, but not too much. I asked him how he was going to sell the blood bottle when everyone looks for it? He does not have any contacts for such a sale, so that did get him thinking.

At least it distracted him long enough that other crew members could disarm him and overpower him. I took him personally to our improvised brig - his quarters with a lock. He was still complaining loudly about rights of looting wrecks. After some discussion with the crew we decided not to jettison the bottle as it could be picked up, but to just empty it in the toilet and flush it.

I do not know what to do next with Idesbald, I must pray and think.

Confrontation

((continued from Feb 1st))

The blood sommelier slapped itself and said, "It is my doubleminus fault, sir, so bad, apologies, sir! We doubleplus leapt into the cashless future, sir! It means more efficiency, sir, a decreased risk of theft and more spending. And no hauling large suitcases of cash..." It nodded towards the suitcase, which we have now brought close to the central platform.

Then, things went fast. Idesbald discreetly primed the antimatter bomb. Inside the suitcase, a timer activated. After countdown, it will cut power to the magnetic enclosure suspending the antimatter, causing it to come in contact with regular matter and turn into a blast of pure energy.

Meanwhile, the sommelier continued, still apparently unaware of what was really going on. "We accept credit cards of the four Empires. Sir, do you have HolderCardä ?"

I decided to use the occasion to buy time for our retreat. "That's too bad. I'll need to do it by bank transfer then. I'll just go back to my ship and contact my agent at the Amarr Trade Registry for the transaction. We'll be right back. Keep the Vektor chilled!"

I began to walk back to the airlock at a brisk pace.

The creature was saying something about the suitcase we were leaving behind, when Idesbald aimed his plasma rifle, and shot it point blank in the chest. The thing screamed, and kept screaming, emitting a high-pitched and metallic sound. 

"Run!" Idesbald yelled, shooting the sommelier again as he grabbed the box with the blood bottle and started running himself. From all over the surface of the sphere, spiderbots started to make their way towards us. There must have been hundreds.

I ran as well. Not quite fast enough, I should have kept up training this beep test that Ishta suggested. Luckily I had a bit of a head start. I shouted to Idesbald to drop the cursed bottle. Idesbald, overtaking me while firing at the spiderbots that made it to the walkway in front of us, answered "No way!"

At the airlock, Idesbald turns and for a moment I thought he was going to shoot me as well, but he aimed at the spiderbots, and kept shooting them. As I made it to the airlock, the Indigatrix messages "Bhaalgorn on d-scan, 14 AU and closing in."

((to be continued))

Return to the cellar

Just after the Bhaalgorn warped off for its daily rotation, we went back into the Blood Raider structure. I was as amazed as the first time that I entered the vast spherical space of the blood cellar. The sphere's inner surface is an immense bottle rack with uncountably many bottles of blood in cubbyholes. The inside volume of the sphere is completely empty apart from a central platform, connected by a narrow walkway to the airlock where we entered.

I was equally unsettled by seeing that creature again. The upper half is a human male in a Gallente sommelier attire. Its body ends midway, just about where one expects the navel. That upper body is anchored to a circular plate with five mechanical insect-like legs. It saw me and my crew-member Idesbald, whom I had brought with me again. Idesbald had insisted on bringing his plasma rifle and grenades along. Both of us were carrying the suitcase antimatter bomb, I took the left handle, and he took the right. It's a big heavy thing, we were panting. Idesbald's rifle was slung around his shoulder.

The sommelier's upper body swiveled around on its base plate and greeted me. "What a doubleplus joy, sir, to see you again, sir, allow me the immense honor to fetch your precious purchase!" My deception had been successful, I fooled it into thinking I agreed with a twenty billion isk purchase, just so I could blow up this horrible place. 

It snapped its fingers, and small spider-like creatures, also five-legged, scuttled about on the sphere's surface, far away from us as we were slowly making our way to its center. As they moved around and their legs touched bottles, they made an eerie tinkling sound. At their destination, they grabbed bottles with two of their arthropod limbs, using the other three to make their way back towards us along some sort of spider web threads. A table and chairs appeared at the platform in the center of the sphere.

The spiders laid out two bottles, one containing Luna's blood, and the other I assume was the complimentary bottle of Ishta blood I had been offered. Both bottles were expertly wrapped first in protective material and then in beautiful gift-wrap paper, and then finally they were placed delicately in a wooden box with straw filling. The wooden boxes were carefully sealed, and one was marked "Sanguis Lunarissis. YC 119. Aspenstar Appellation d'Origine Controlée".

The sommelier took a third bottle and uncorked it, pouring two flute glasses of sparkling Vektor, and joyfully dropped a dwarf strawberry and gold flakes in both glasses. Another spider brought a plate of crackers with  human liver paté and blood marmalade, and a small bowl of blood sausages. "Welcome, sir, welcome! And doubleplus congratulations! Such an exquisite choice, sir! Let us celebrate, on the house!"

Only then did the creature seem to notice the suitcase, and it despaired. 

"Oh... sir... what have you done? No!"

It gave me a pained look and said "Sir why carry so much cash or precious metal? I should have told you we are a cash-free shop! Cards and banking apps only."

((to be continued))

Antimatter bombs

I insisted on another stakeout, to see if the Bhaalgorn had changed its routine since we last came. Perhaps our visit raised an alarm and they changed their routine? Or perhaps the Blood Sommelier was laying out a trap - I had to be sure before venturing back into that horrible place. So we kept watch, day and night.

Meanwhile we have a suitcase antimatter bomb with us in the Indigatrix. When antimatter touches regular matter, it recombines with it, annihilating, and releasing all of its mass as pure energy. Detonating an antimatter bomb is easy. Just release the antimatter. The hard part is to prevent it from detonating, and that is what all the machinery in the suitcase is constantly doing, with triple redundancy safeties. Right up to the point where we want it to explode.

One gram of antimatter annihilating one gram of matter equates to forty kilotons of TNT, enough to flatten a medium-sized city. The bomb we carry with us carries a grain of antimatter of twelve and a half grams, suspended in a magnetic bottle and the highest vacuum achievable. Its release will destroy everything inside the blood cellar, ionizing it by the blast and gamma rays, and most likely the entire structure will explode.

Understandably, there is some nervousness among the crew about waiting days with this thing in our cargo hold. However, now after a few days I am happy that the Bhaalgorn's routine hasn't changed, and I could bring them the good news.

We're bringing the bomb in tomorrow.

The art of the deal

I received a mail from "sommelier2120@anonymous.net". I have no idea how that creature found my galnet mail address.

Well, it is listed on the website of our chapel, so it is not particularly difficult to find.

I know it belongs to that weird creature at the blood cellar, I recognize its peculiar way of speaking:

"Dearest sir, this is your sommelier, who had the doubleplus pleasure of meeting your optimal exaltedness recently at our shop!" 

It calls itself a sommelier though wine is not its business. Probably it knows the MIO is scanning these mails, so it is cautious.

"Rumors of your interest in the special vintage" - I was not interested in Luna's blood - "have spread." 

The bloody thing must have spread the rumors itself. 

"Other collectors are scrambling doublespeed, in particular the one from Mekhios. This pushes up the price to higher levels, sadly doubleminus I need to inform your exaltedness that it now sells at 1.3 billion per fluid ounce. And only 3/4 of the bottle is left for sale. Please act with doubleplus haste!!!

Tripleplus devoted to your pleasure, I remain at your service.

PS. Sideplus of whiskey-infused free Maleto vintage still included in offer! Doubleplus pairing with steak tartare!"

My first (self-defense) impulse was to report the mail to the MIO as heretic, abusive, fraudulent, phishing. But after a few seconds thought, I realized this could be exactly the opportunity I was looking for to bring the suitcase antimatter bomb into the blood cellar. I answered:

"Dear Sommelier. With great pleasure I can inform you that I have collected all the necessary funds. Please reserve what is left of the bottle for me. I will be at the shop as soon as I can."

It answered almost immediately.

"Quadrupleplus happy, sir, elated, sir, truly, elated! Sir, your best and most exlusive property ever, sir! For you to enjoy! We will celebrate with some carbonated sparkly Mikal Vektor on the house! I am positively thrilling with doubleplus exciment to see your exaltedness again! Client of the year, already, doubleplus certain!"

Of course it is happy. Half a liter of Luna blood comes at 20 billion. But that actually helps me: so much cash (even in plex) has to be brought in a big suitcase. My suitcase will carry something else.

The Tour

This weekend I am back in Amarr to give a history tour to corp members (and outsiders with good standing) who want to learn more about the Empire. We have enough peregrinans and interested legionnaires. For more experienced members it is a pilgrimage to the holy sites, and it is good to go on this pilgrimage from time to time, to keep in mind both the glorious heights and the despondent depths in our recent history. A story of ingenuity, exploring, but also setbacks and overcoming the evil that we face. 

And for new capsuleers, with the ink still drying on their fresh license, it is also a safe introduction in basic fleet maneuvers and commands. They can make mistakes and correct, there is no rush and no enemy.

I feel I should do the tour more often than once or twice a year, and perhaps advertise it a bit better - for example in career agent systems. It is an excellent way to spread the faith amongst capsuleers, and to tip their interest into joining us. 

As I was thinking about this last night, I had another inspiration to spread the faith. With the excess ISK I make and cannot keep due to my vow of poverty, I can donate simple frigates to Mike Azariah's "magic school bus" project, and make sure every donated ship contains copies of the Pax Amarria. These would be for the Amarr career systems of course. I will contact mr. Azariah to see if he can agree with this.

7th fleet ombudsman

It is outrageous that such an horrid installation as the Blood Cellar can exist in Imperial space with impunity!

I warped straight to the 7th Fleet's local headquarters in Naga. There is a public relations office there on Naga IV. I ignored the obligation to book an appointment months in advance, and stormed in. Capsuleer status helped, and I was able to see the head ombudsman, Tribunus Colonel Vleckson.

I explained to him what we found, and provided coordinates for a 7th fleet strike fleet to destroy the site.

Tribunus Colonel Vleckson sighed. He looked tired, and looked at the window. His eyes expressed an undisguised desire to escape through that window, which he might have done if he had had more time before I barged in, regardless of the fact that we were on the second floor.

"Our focus is on Blood Raider forward operating bases, and on active raiding parties. There are just... so many of them", he said in a depressed voice. "We do not have the means to go after every threat so we have to prioritize to clear and present dangers. A passive site like the blood cellar is not high enough of a priority. Please contact your... contacts to get us better funding for the outer worlds' fleets so we can expand our actions."

This was clearly a longer speech than he had any energy for, so he sat down on his chair.

I insisted. "Surely there is something you can still do? A single Bhaalgorn should not be a problem? Quick ops?"

Vleckson shook his head. "Sorry, no. And don't you go asking the Khanid Royal Navy, either. They patrol here too, from time to time, keeping a claim alive from the Kingdom to take over the Fabai constellation under their protection. But they don't put in the means either, they go after big wins for propaganda. Showing off. Your blood bank thingy won't do it."

After a pause, to get his internal battery back up to 1% charge, he shifted in his seat and added, "but perhaps you capsuleer folks can do it yourself?"

Somewhat offended, I answered "I do not carry offensive weaponry on the Indigatrix, and corp members are busy with other things, fighting the Republic and the Angel Cartel in the warzone! We are not the ones assigned to keep law and order in this sector, Tribunus Colonel!"

After a long, pained moment, Vleckson said "Well, here's what I can do. I can get you a suitcase antimatter bomb. The structure may be shielded from the outside, but if you can get the antimatter bomb into that sphere, and detonate it from the inside, I'm sure that will destroy it. Or at least spoil the blood collection."

Seeing as no fleet was coming to help me, I agreed. Vleckson nodded and said the suitcase antimatter bomb would be delivered to the Indigatrix within the hour. I signed off on some forms in triplicate, and that was it.

Queen bee nectar

The half-man-half-droid creature squints its eyes, and scans me. It is not suspicious, it just wants to find out who its client is. It seems to completely trust the Bhaalgorn patrolling the site to screen any visitors and keep out unwanted persons. 

It says "Oooh, sir, a capsuleer, sir, what an optimal pleasure." The human torso swivels on its five-legged base plate to look at Idesbald. "Please let your slave lower its weapon". I signal Idesbald to lower his plasma rifle and he reluctantly obeys. He shifts his free hand to a grenade, I think he might have primed it as a dead man's switch.

The creature, having completed its scan of me, says "Sir! One from the Societas, sir! Doubleplus honor for me, I did not know they have collectors there. So, so, so pleased to serve and advise you, sir, so pleased, thrilled, absolutely. Begging you, sir, who is your fancy, sir?"

I am somewhat stunned and answer "What do you mean?"

"Do you have someone in particular whose blood you are interested in, sir? We have quite a collection here, tasters are on the house for doubleplus capsuleers as yourself, sir!"

I remain silent, still stunned.

The human torso swivels around again while its base remains stationary. The creature then scuttles around to a terminal. "Oh, sir, I found just the thing for you! We have a Lunarisse Aspenstar of the fall of YC 119, such a good year, sir, so good, optimal doubleplus!" 

A cubbyhole far away to my upper left lights up. A small spiderbot scoots up to the cubbyhole and stands at the ready to retrieve the bottle of blood.

"She was caught by one of our Ashimmu cruisers, while she was mining in Nadohman. Ah, it is so exclusive, truly one of the best bloods you'll find anywhere. Pride of the collection. A collector from Mekhios said they got into a trance by it sir, a doubleplus trance, by just a few drops, he couldn't afford more."

"You see, it is capsuleer blood, like yours, but blood of a leader, and quite a killer herself. Doubleplus killer. Queen bee nectar, truly. That's what makes it so expensive, sir, one of the most expensive bottles we have. Can't give you a taster unfortunately, as it goes at a billion ISK for one fluid ounce. But, sir, well worth the price for a true connoisseur as yourself!"

Idesbald says "Time's up bro T, we need to go." 

A bit less than fifteen minutes already passed since the Bhaalgorn warped off, it will be back soon, so I say to the creature "Eh, I'll be back. Need to check my bank account."

As we make out way out, the creature shouts back "Goodbye sir! Doubleplus happy to meet you sir, hope to see you again soon, the Lunarisse vintage is waiting for you, kept in optimal conditions!" It raises its voice as we make it to the airlock "I'll throw in a bottle of Ishta Maleto blood for free on concluding the sale! It's got a high alcohol percentage Thukker whiskey! Aged on oak barrel! Single malt!"

Inside the wreck

We made our move as soon as the Bhaalgorn warped away today. 

We moved in for a close inspection of the wreck, close enough that we are uncloaked. The only part that may still have any archaeological remains of any value was a steel plated sphere, at least hundred meter in diameter, and nestled in the front part of the wreck. I assumed it would have housed essential systems and perhaps historical records, as it was built to be sturdy, a hard nut buried inside the hull of the colony ship. 

It has a hatch, and we were able to dock with it. It was surprisingly easy to latch on and dock with. In retrospect that should have been a first red flag.

The hatch led to an airlock, manually operated. I entered the airlock, together with my cloak technician (and avid weapons collector) Idesbald, who was armed with a plasma rifle and EMP grenades. After we closed the outer door, the airlock quickly pressurized with a breathable atmosphere, so we could take off our suit helmets. The inner door unlocked. 

Inside was nothing I could have imagined. 

The sphere has been stripped of whatever used to be inside of it, and refurbished with modern technology. The airlock opened to a ledge leading to a platform, suspended in the very center of the sphere. As one moves along the ledge closer to the center, the sides of the sphere recede, and the further along, the deeper the fall to the curved floor. 

The sphere's walls are lined with what appears to be vials of blood, some are the size of a test tube, others the size of a wine bottle. They have worn labels. There must be millions here, each in their own cubbyhole. The temperature is cool, and the air has the moisture of a cave.

On the platform, there is a creature with the upper body of a man, mounted on some sort of base with five mechanical insect legs. It swiveled around and scurried towards us, greeting me in particular: "Welcome collector, to the blood cellar."

Stakeout

I returned to the site where I found the wreck of the colony ship. It is still patrolled by the Bhaalgorn. 

Surely that ship can not stay around in this forlorn deepsafe forever? A Bhaalgorn is too expensive a battleship to use for a tedious patrol duty of a historical site. And even the Blood Raiders must give their crew some shore leave, and send in replacements. 

I decided on a stakeout, to find out if there is a pattern in their patrols.

The crew again grumbles, now about how boring it is to just sit around cloaked and maintain a surveillance. I had to remind them we have plenty of entertainment on board, so those who are not on shift can relax. There's a small ship library with a nearly complete collection of "The Lives of the Saints", and plenty of ACN documentary holoreels to accompany that.

Our patience paid off. Each day right before 11am, the Bhaalgorn warps off, and returns about twenty minutes later. I have no idea where it goes. On some days, there will be a small patrol vessel like a Cruor taking its place, but not always. This does not seem to affect the duration of the Bhaalgorn's absence.

Scanning

I have been going around in the systems around Anath and unfortunately I have not found anything remarkable yet. 

Nullsechnayas and Goonswarm are up and about, but here is a good tip for an explorer: use combat probes instead of scanner probes. They will still allow you to scan down all anomalies just as well if you have a bit of scan skills trained up, but they have the advantage of scaring off everyone else.

Not all ships are quite as good to fit combat probe launchers (the Astero struggles), but the Anathema is wonderfully equipped to do so. 

That being said - there were only relatively new sites on scan, as well as wormholes and gas sites. Perhaps in the next few days, something interesting will come up. Something warranting a strong Society of Conscious Throught presence.