Background
The Terran Alliance was formed shortly after the confirmation of intelligent life in the galaxy following a probe from a mysterious alien civilization known as the Arcean Empire. This contact soon resulted in the development of FTL travel which quickly spread throughout this area of the known galaxy which inevitably led to an encounter with the quadrant’s most powerful civilization, the Drengin Empire.
The saga of the various conflicts between the Drengin and the coalition of civilizations put together by the Terran Alliance is told elsewhere. Ultimately, the Drengin Empire was defeated and for a time thought permanently restrained.
However, the Drengin continued their ambitions which ultimately led to them discovery the Navigators, a species from well outside the known area of space. These creatures had discovered a series of constructs built, we presume, by the Precursors that crisscross the entire Milky Way galaxy. These constructs, called Subspace streams, opened vast areas of the galaxy to the attention of the Drengin who quickly explored and settled in new areas covertly.
Now, a decade later, the Drengin have regained much of their former might and the Terran Alliance is now frequently engaged in far flung skirmishes with the Drengin in sectors far from home. This After Action Report covers one such skirmish in the Atheris Sector.
Beginnings
Commander Voss has operational authority for the entire sector. Her command post is on planet Aetheris Prime, a promising Terrestrial world.
Voss also has a small contingent of Navigator advisors who have provided some additional technology. They also have agreed to build boreholes on the world that their teams will make use of.
The sector has two clumps of stars in them:
Subspace sensors have indicated that there is definitely another hyperspace using entity somewhere in this sector. But we do not know where yet.
Exploration
The TAS Excursion has found an abandoned Precursor world which we have called Tabit III.
The hyperstorms on the planet make it fairly unpleasant to live but it has a Durantium deposit that may prove invaluable. Nevertheless, not exactly a vacation destination.
A starbase is hastily sent out to Tabit III to help begin processing the ore. It quickly becomes known as “Tom’s Mine” named in honor of Ensign Thomas Yule who, sadly, perished during the setting up of the starbase.
Operational Report: 90 days
Commander Voss’s 90 day report provides many insights on the unusaul sector. It is a very resource rich sector and multiple high quality colonization targets found. No sign of hostile activity yet.
In addition, the Navigators present a new device known as a Hyperlane detector. These are similar to subspace streams except they exist within a sector. It shows that that this sector even has one:
Which spans the gap between the two clumps.
The only negative in the report is that Xia Isoda and her team were forced to relocate to Tabit III since no one would go voluntarily.
Ringworld
This sector also contains a ruined Ringworld.
This could be very interesting later. The ringworld, ironically, was discovered by miners from Tom’s Mine. Naturally, it has been called Tom’s Ringworld.
Contact: Drengin Outpost
After traveling to the other clump of stars, our probe discover the Drengin Empire. They have not, as of yet, noticed us yet. But they are here.
Voss orders the construction of a military starbase to monitor them.
Voss also orders the design of a new Frigate class ship.
Drengin Travelers
The Drengin end up noticing our presence due to one of their Gladiator explorers (i.e. a spy) making their way to Aetheris.
Needless to say, we have no intention of releasing their murderous spy back to them.
Artifacts
The TAS Hobbes has, in its various adventures in this sector, recovered a number of Precursor devices. The most impressive so far is the Gift of the Mithrilar which is a device that when activated on a planet uses some sort of nano devices, operated by a Yor (not the sentient Yor we know today) that increase the intelligence of our citizens. Voss orders it deployed on Aetheris Prime. Hopefully this doesn’t become a decision to regret later.
Drengin Expansion
The Drengin have clearly been operating in this sector for some time. Voss orders additional research into military hardware to deploy in this sector.
To be continued. . .