ASTRUM NAUTICA

(text-colour:orange)[K E R I D A R TerminOS ASTRONEER v. 10.2.2 (c) 495 Keridar Corporation. All rights reserved. Connecting to: HARLOWE 1... Connected. Welcome to PCRV Harlowe 1. Access is for authorized personnell only. Please sign in. ENTER USERNAME >tmon ENTER PASSWORD >`********` Welcome, tmon. `----------------------------------------------------`] The ship *shuddered* as it touched down just a little too rough, but my eyes didn't leave the screen as I unbuckled my seat restraints. I noted the time through the smoke of the cigarette between my lips as I navigated to the planet's page in the directory. 19:53 Earth Standard Time. (text-colour:orange)[**PLANETARY DIRECTORY** *Tulmond Prime, Tulmond* Class: Exo Status: Unpopulated Day: 30h Standard Time: 09:39 EST Offset +36 Tulmond is a] I closed the program before it could continue printing, and set my wristwatch to 30-hour mode before synchronizing it to the local standard time. Two sets of pawsteps stomped behind me, one stopping short and the other descending with the hiss of the exit ramp. "Heheh, Teemond on Tulmond, huh?" a familiar voice playfully chirped behind me. I turned my head slowly to catch a glimpse of the [[pankona]], who was far too proud of herself and smiling ear to ear, before returning my gaze to the terminal screen in front of me. (text-colour:orange)[Are you sure you want to log off? ] (text-colour:black)+(bg:orange)[`[Y]`es] (text-colour:orange)[`[N]`o] *Click.* I ascended from my seat, donning the gray hooded cloak which had been hung from the headrest. I turned my body, hunched over, and fixed my gaze at the ground as I walked by the still-grinning pankona. I was pretty sure she was staring at me the entire time I descended from the exit ramp. A cool wind blew the hood of my cloak back and blew the white, curly wool out of my face and eyes. I approached the sandy edge of the cliff we had precariously landed next to, standing next to a grizzly old [[kander]], and peered down into the minty green waters below. I'd seen skyscrapers shorter than this cliff. "That's a little further down than I expected when you said 'beachfront,'" I muttered. "Trust me. At high tide, this is the beach, alright," replied the kander. "These moons make the tide absolutely insane." I looked up to the sky. Despite the daylight, I could see three moons from where I was standing, one of them ringed. "How many did you say there were again?" I asked. "Seven." "Seven moons?" I turned to him with furrowed eyebrows, not that you could see them anyway. "That's just entirely too many." The kander nodded his head curtly. "The nighttime's almost as bright as the day." I turned back to the water and took a drag of my cigarette before flicking it down below. It fell for quite a while. "Cap'n Lorra?" beckoned the voice of the pankoni girl from behind us. The kander turned his head and gave her a nod, wordlessly. "D'you want me to get the ship fixed up first, or set up the camp?" The captain glanced up in thought before turning to me. "You'll need the power shed up before you can start working, right?" he asked me, and then turned back to the pankona before I could even bother to respond. "Get the camp set up, and take out Teemond's rover, will you?" "Yessir!" said the pankona in reply. I could only imagine the cheesy 'salute' she gave him. Captain Lorra stomped out his cigarette in the sand and walked away, presumably towards the ship. The pankona coyishly hopped over to the spot in the sand where Lorra was to pluck out the cigarette butt from the ground. "Taking up the groundskeeper's job?" I jeered. "Heh... Guess so." I turned my head to look at her. She brightened up for a second, but then seemed disappointed. "What?" I grumbled. "Huh? No, nothing, it's just..." "Out with it." "Well... Your hair's out of your face, but I still can't really see your eyes at all... I just wondered what they looked like..." She looked sheepishly at the ground. "They're black," I stated. "They blend in with my face. Bangs or no bangs." What did she expect? "Yeah, I, uh, can see that now..." The wind whistled between us. "Shouldn't you-?" "Yeah! Yeah, you're right, I better go get the camp set up." She turned hastily and bounced away, leaving me with nothing but the waves. Finally, some peace. She's an odd one, that pankona. Overly-sweet. Always chipper, but nervous when she speaks. Always hangs around too long after the conversation is over. Always hangs around too long in your head, too. A bright and cheery girl with a name like bricks: Cinder. I’m not sure what I did to deserve getting stuck here with her. [[< Table of Contents|BENEATH THE SURFACE]](text-colour:orange)[. . . . . . . . . . ][[Next chapter >|danberreCH2]]

(text-colour:orange)[**InfoDex** by Keridar: *Species* `-----------------------------------`] (text-colour:orange)[The **kander** *(Canis adaptivus)* is a species of sapient bipedal mammals with varying fur colors. They share many physical attributes with extinct non-sapient Earthen canines, including *Canis lupis* (wolf) and *Canis familiaris* (domestic dog).] (text-colour:orange)[**Physical Traits:** Medium-large. Digitigrade legs. Fur in varying patterns and lengths. Sharp teeth and jaws. Tails. Large ears. **Demonym:** Kanderan **Derivative:** Canine **Homeworld:** Earth, Solara **Biomes:** Forests, grasslands, tundras. **Diet:** Omnivorous with a strong meat preference. **Communication:** Barks. Howls. Non-verbal cues in the tail and ears. **Social:** Pack bonding. Mate-for-life. **Conflict Style:** Highly territorial. Negotiable within pack. **Strengths:** Adaptive. Strong hearing and smell. Endurance running. **Weaknesses:** Poor low-light sight. Dependent on pack. Prone to overheating.] (link-goto: "Go Back", (history:)'s last)

(text-colour:orange)[**InfoDex** by Keridar: *Species* `-----------------------------------` The **pankona** *(Ailurus arboreus)* is a species of sapient bipedal mammals with rusty-red, white, and black fur. They share many physical characteristics with the extinct non-sapient Earthen species *Ailurus fulgens* (red panda). **Demonym:** Pankoni **Derivative:** Red panda **Homeworld:** Endethea, Bale **Physical Traits:** Small-medium. Stocky build. Rust-colored fur with white and black markings. Semi-retractable claws. Prehensile tail. **Biomes:** Temperate forests, mountainous regions. **Diet:** Herbivorous with a focus on bamboo. Occasionally eats fruits, insects. **Communication:** Chirps, squeaks, and whistles. Occasional tail flicks and body postures. **Social:** Solitary but forms small, tight-knit family units. Short-term mating bonds. **Conflict Style:** Defensive. Avoidant when possible, but fierce when cornered. **Strengths:** Agile climbers. High cold resistance. Sharp claws for gripping. **Weaknesses:** Low stamina. Poor swimmers. Vulnerable to predators in open spaces.] (link-goto: "Go Back", (history:)'s last)

[[ASTRUM NAUTICA|home]] (text-colour:orange)[>] [[BENEATH THE SURFACE]] (text-colour:orange)[> Chapter 2] (text-colour:orange)[`------------------------------------------------------------------`] I glanced at my watch. 25:00, on the dot. A satisfying *clunk* marked the switch of the radio relay switch from OFF to ON. An array of status lights began blinking reds, greens, and ambers through the dim shadows of the antenna mast. *"Harlow 1* to *Lighthouse,* do you read me?" I muttered into the microphone of the headset hanging onto my neck. The harsh static of space was absolutely teeming with interference, but through the noise, I heard a faint reply. "Lighthouse *to* Harl-- ***`[kzzzt]`*** 1, *you're coming in, ah, a li--* ***`[kzzzzzzzt]`*** *our end, how do you read? Over."* Cinder's fingers danced across the knobs and buttons on the control panel to my left. A sweeping, laser-like sound became higher- and higher-pitched, until it seemed to disappear entirely. I planted the side of my thumb against the transmitter button and pushed in. *"Harlowe 1* to *Lighthouse,* radio check." *"Much better,* Harlowe 1," responded the voice on the other side, crisp and clean. "Sitrep," I ordered blankly. *"All green,* Harlowe. *Traffic's light but steady, the last couple of supply ships from Home Base are still going in and out, over."* "Any updates on the TV? Some of my colonists-" I started, shooting Cinder a glance, "-are getting a little antsy. Over." *"We're waiting on one last shipment from our radio ship before we get transmitting. Some sitcom that was all the rage on Mars a couple years ago, over."* "Copy. We'll check in with you at 10:00. *Harlowe 1* out." I pulled the heatset off of my neck and set it on the console in front of me, taking a deep breath. It'd been a long day, and the only slightly dim light of the moons overhead were starting to strain my eyes. I walked away from the radio mast, heading back towards the ship. Our camp was mostly set up, but I'd been too occupied with the rest of the colony to get my own tent in order. So instead, I cralwed back into the bunk I'd been spending the better part of seven months in. The Keridar *Teller* was a fairly standard-issue ship for colonial charter programs. I've seen many of them in my lifetime, but not one with a comfortable bed. Yet somehow, this thin, foamy mattress starts to feel like home the longer you sleep in it. I suppose when you spend enough time in tents on the ground, anything with four walls feels like a luxury. I slipped under the covers and shut my eyes. ... ... ... I checked my watch. 25:02. I shut my eyes. ... I checked my watch. 26:33. I shut my eyes. 27:15. 28:51. 29:10. "Good fucking Goddess," I muttered under my breath as I crawled out of bed. Everything was going fine. The day was a success, the base of operations was nearly ready to go, and the location was the perfect spot for a tourist colony. But I just couldn't shake this feeling that something was off. I found myself back in the common room. I plopped down in front of my terminal and logged in, navigating to the colonial records. (text-colour:orange)[**SOLI ACCORD DEPARMENT OF COLONIAL AFFAIRS** REGISTRATION OF ARTICLE II COLONIAL CHARTER Planet: Tulmond Prime, Tulmond, Esther Sector Lead Expeditionary: HARLOWE 1 Provisional Administrator: TEEMOND FERRIS Charter Type: `[x]` PUBLIC `[ ]` PRIVATE Registrant OR Funding Sponsor (if applicable): ESTHER SECTOR AUTHORITY] There. Funded by Sector Authority. All sorts of government departments sponsor colonial charters. Even ones you'd never think of. I was once assigned to a colony sponsored by the Tax Service. But the *military?* Nothing about Tulmond screamed "strategically important" to me. We were at the outskirts of Soli space, on prime tourism land. It just didn't make sense. I rubbed my temples, but was startled by the sound of pawsteps behind me. I turned to see Lorra behind me. I discreetly closed the copy of the registration. "What's up, Teemond?" prompted Lorra, concern in his voice. "It's nothing. I just couldn't sleep, is all," I shrugged. He inched closer and put a paw on my shoulder. "It's hard work," he started. "I know it's not your first rodeo, but this is your first time starting off as an Administrator. You sure you're not letting the pressure get to you?" "It's not that," I huffed, averting my gaze. "It's just..." ... "Nothing. Don't worry about it. I just need some sleep," I insisted. "Fine," Lorra huffed. "But you know you can come to me if you need it, yeah?" "Obviously," I grunted. "You're practically my brother." He chuckled softly and smiled slightly as he reached out and patted the wool on my head. It made me want to kill him. It felt nice. I slowly ascended from my seat. “Why are *you* up, anyways?” I inquired. “Ah, just jetlag,” he shrugged. “You know I can never get used to new planets for the first week. I’ve been up listening to *Lighthouse*’s radio and doing inventory.” “Hm. Maybe I’ll have to tell *Lighthouse* to start playing lullabies at this hour,” I joked dryly. Lorra chuckled. I started walking away. “Where ya off to now?” he asked. I stopped and turned over my shoulder. “What? I can’t take a piss?” Lorra laughed and waved me away. I made my way to the bathroom in the officer's quarters, flicking on the aging light. In the dim glow of the old bulb, my face looked entirely featureless... but I suppose it looks like that on a normal day, too. A curly white wool fringe, wrapped around the base of my twisted horns, framed my face and obscured my eyes, exacerbating the voidlike appearance of my inky black face. The wool on my head stopped just a few inches below my shoulders, which were draped with a light gray cloak held by gold, horn-shaped pins. I slipped my hoof underneath the cloak. Out came a silvery metal flask. I unscrewed the cap and set it on the sink in front of me, before taking a swig and setting the flask down, too. I produced a cigarette from the pack in my pocket and gave it a light. *Just enough to help me sleep,* I thought. I took another drink. `/ / / / / / / / / /` 09:56. I staggered out of my bed, bumping my head against the bunk above, and grasped onto a nearby table to right myself. I threw on my cloak and stomped out of the ship, head pounding. I think Cinder said "good morning" or something, but I walked by too fast to really hear her. Headphones hung around my neck, I flicked the switch on the radio mast. The harsh noise of outer space was stinging to my already-ringing ears, rattling inside my brain like a bag full of sand with the galaxy's most sensitive microphone buried inside. *"Harlowe 1* to *Lighthouse,* sitrep." "Lighthouse *reporting. All green up here. TV's up and running. Traffic's nil, but our radio courier stopped by with a message for you: Sector Authority's visiting tomorrow."* ".....Copy, *Lighthouse.* Give 'em a warm welcome for us. *Harlowe 1* out. I switched off the transmitter relay and set down my headset. I stared blankly at the console ahead. “…You alright, Teemond?” inquired Cinder’s voice from behind. “Fine,” I grumbled, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “What’s on the agenda today, Engineer? Tents?” “Actually, *Administrator,*” she spoke playfully, mocking my passive-aggressive formality, “We’ve got habitation pods.” I turned around, surprised. “Pods? This early?” I pressed. Cinder shrugged. “Our sponsor’s got us pretty well-funded,” she remarked nonchalantly. But this was anything but nonchalant. Pre-fabricated habitation pods would make the difference between sleeping in tents for two months and having the entire colony *incorporated* in two months. Getting the funding for habitation is usually a long ordeal of saving and staying as cost-efficient as possible… Behind her, a large cargo ramp opened up on the side of the colony ship. Two trucks carrying long, metal-framed structures rolled down the ramp, followed by a small crane. “Al*right!* Let’s do it!” cheered Cinder. My ears rung a little louder. `/ / / / /` 18:27. My pod was meticulously organized and minimally-decorated, just the way I liked it. I sat quietly at my desk, holding a cigarette over a golden ashtray in my left hoof and signing documents with the other. Most administrators make a spectacle out of establishing the colonial government and ratifying the constitution, but I never was one to give speeches. I paused at the ‘Colony Name’ field, resting the top of my pen against my bottom lip in thought. I returned the pen to the paper. ‘Lorra Danberre Oceanview Colony.’ Captain Lorra always wanted a planet named after himself. A colony was a decent enough start, I thought. It had a nice ring to it. Danberre Colony. Cinder barged into the room unannounced, her radio blaring as it swung from her belt. “Turn it off,” I ordered blankly, before she could speak. “What?” “The radio,” I clarified, looking over my shoulder. “Turn. It. Off.” She clicked it off with her left paw, looking somewhat alarmed. “It helps me focus, but, um… sure…” She looked more apprehensive than usual. With her other paw, she produced a small box. “I, um, got that… thing, that you asked for.” I set my cigarette down and spun around in my chair, swiping the box and opening it swiftly. “What, um… *is* it?” she inquired. I pulled out a small statuette, depicting a figure peering up at a field of concrete spikes protruding from the ground in varying directions, each slanted at a 45-degree angle. “It’s a scale model of a Montswenian art piece,” I explained, carefully setting it down on the desk behind me. “One of my favorites.” “It’s scary,” she remarked. “No. Not scary. Brutal,” I said, not turning away from the statuette. “[[Blaethins|blaethin]] like brutal aesthetics. It’s evocative of the holy mountains of Montswen.” In the reflection of the powered-off monitor in front of me, I saw Cinder tilt her head a little, her expression turning from uncomfortable to intrigued. “Brutal, huh…?” she pondered. “Brutal and minimalist,” I added, rolling my chair across the room towards a minifridge. “Like the mountains and the birch forests.” “How pretty…” she said, seemingly lost in thought. I opened the fridge and peered inside. “Did you need something else, Cinder?” I urged. “Oh! Cap’n Lorra wanted to know how the government stuff was coming along.” I prodded at a glass container of grass. It looked soggy. “Fine. Just about done ratifying the constitution. I’m calling us Danberre Colony.” “Ooo, I like it! Does the Cap’n know?” “No,” I stated, plucking out a plastic container of salad and shutting the door. “You can let him know when you get back to him.” “You don’t want to tell him yourself?” she asked, sounding almost worried. “Why? You’re already going to talk to him.” I grabbed a plastic fork off the top of the fridge and set it atop the box. “Alright. I’ll let him know, then.” I rolled back over to my desk and shimmied into place. “Well then, Cinder, unless you’re joining me for dinner, you’re dismissed.” I set the box onto my desk and popped it open. “And no,” I started, swiveling my chair halfway towards her, “You’re not joining me for dinner.” Cinder pouted before rolling her eyes. *”Fiiiiine.* See you tomorrow, Teemond,” she said, walking away and closing the door behind her. Finally, some peace and quiet… [[< Prev. chapter|danberreCH1]] (text-colour:orange)[. . . . . . . . . . ][[Next chapter >|danberreCH3]]

[[ASTRUM NAUTICA|home]] (text-colour:orange)[>] [[BENEATH THE SURFACE]] (text-colour:orange)[> Chapter 3] (text-colour:orange)[`------------------------------------------------------------------`] Morning, the next day. Outside, a ruckus. The unmistakable noise of starship thrusters rumbling against the pavement of the freshly-installed landing pad. Pawsteps pattering towards the landing ship to support its crew. I exited my pod and approached Lorra, who was watching the ship’s loading ramp slowly swivel down. *”Lighthouse* radio’d us. It’s Sector Authority,” he informed me, somewhat nervously. “You seem anxious,” I stated. “Compose yourself for our visitors.” His eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly straightened himself a nodded. I watched his gaze dart to something behind me. I turned around, then slowly tilted my head up. Peering down at me were the wide, green eyes of a particularly tall and silver-furred [[fellestra]], whose lean figure was accentuated by the angular cut of his gray dress uniform. Dotted across his jacket, ornately-stamped and gold-in-color metal buttons; and underneath, a tight-fitting black turtleneck. He looked disappointed about something. "Administrator Ferris, I presume?" said the fellestra, an air of snide superiority in his voice. I nodded cautiously. "I am William Braele, Chief of Esther Sector Authority Station 3. Please to make your acquiantence." He offered his paw. I extended my hoof and gripped it tightly, as did he. A shake, equally matched in firmness, and release. "Say, pardon my ignorance, but I'm not sure I've seen anyone quite like you before. Where are you from?" he inquired. "Montswen. Home of the blaethin," I replied. “And you’re stationed out of Cadence, yes? Long flight?” “Ah, I’ve been spending quite some time at our field office a system or two away. Not far at all.” “Hm,” I grunted. “Well. I suppose you didn’t come for idle chatter.” "Of course. As you know, we at Station 3 oversee the Tulmond System. Sector Authority sent me to check up on their little investment. So then!” he exclaimed, clapping his paws together. “What's your status?" We'd been reporting our progress daily, via radio courier, to Sector Authority since we landed. It seemed clear to me that this was more than just a routine check. "Fine. We're three days in and have formally established our colonial base of operations, as well as the provisional government." I kept my composure and spoke steadily, but rubbed the back of my hoof with my thumb anxiously. "We're focusing our energy and resources into permanent habitation and some phase-one agricultural development." "Excellent!" exclaimed Chief Braele, much in the way that a disinterested teacher tries to hype up a child. "We are excited to see how the colony comes along." "And just why is Sector Authority so interested in a little colony?" I demanded, coldly. Braele's fake smile slowly faded into a knowing smirk, and his perked-up ears swivelled back down to a more natural position. "Why of course, Sector Authority is an integral piece to our community. It is *always* in our interest to support that community. But of course, now that you mention it..." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "Tulmond Prime is of... *particular* interest to us. You may see some unusual shipments going in and out of here. We will, of course, do our best to stay out of your way. But for the sake of cooperation, I *highly-"* he stressed, sounding much more serious in that one word than any other, "-recommend that you pay close attention to whatever my men have to say." I clenched my teeth and furrowed my eyebrows. Whatever he was trying to get out of this colonial project, he wasn't letting on. "As long as they stay out of the way," I grumbled. “As much as we can. I’ll be checking up on you, Administrator. Until next time.” I nodded slowly as he turned and started back towards his ship. He walked up the loading ramp, past a large truck with a half-length shipping container that was rolling down onto the grass. The shipping container appeared to be some sort of mobile communications center, as satellite dishes and antennae adorned the roof and a reinforced door was placed beside a one-way window. I watched incredulously as the truck trampled through the grass, marching off towards the shoreline opposite our campsite. Just what did they think they were doing here? On *my* colony? `/ / / / /` The soft amber glow of my portable computer’s screen gently illuminated my hooves and wool as I remotely commanded my all-terrain rover under the light of the moons. The camera module was broken, so I was relying on the distance sensors to make sense of the environment around it. (text-colour:orange)[`[WARN]` High ping time. Connection unstable.] I maneuvered it around a large rock and had it approach a smaller rock. I shone a laser at it from my position, watching the rover through a monocular mounted to a tripod beside me, and commanded the rover to pick up the marked rock. (text-colour:orange)[`[WARN]` High ping time. Connection unstable.] Success. It lifted it into its small cargo bay and scanned it for its geological makeup, dumping the result into a file. The name didn’t look quite right. Did it get corrupted? I moved the rover forwards, keeping my finger held down on the ‘up’ arrow key. I didn’t let go of the button. The rover stopped moving. I glanced confusedly at my computer and pressed the ‘up’ arrow repeatedly. (text-colour:orange)[`[ERR]` Connection timeout. `[R]`etry or `[Q]`uit?] I peered up from the rover’s position and saw Sector Authority’s communications platform, satellite dish swiveling, and I snarled in frustration before marching towards it. An armed kander greeted me outside and put his hand out, barking “Stop!” with a worried expression on his face. I planted my hooves in the ground and peered up at the figure. I took a deep breath. “Your damn truck is disrupting my rover’s remote connection,” I spoke through gritted teeth. “Well, I’m sorry, uh… sir? We’ve got orders to stay put in this position, so you’ll need to use your rover somewhere else,” he stated. “You call your chief and tell him I need you to *move,”* I demanded. The door popped open and another kander peeked out. “Administrator, can I ask you something?” prompted the second kander, cautiously. I turned to him slowly before nodding. “How old is that rover of yours?” he inquired. “I don’t know. A few years,” I shrugged. “Our equipment is pretty new. The Accord just rolled out a new telecom standard for signal interference tolerances last year. The Chief told me that if you guys needed to buy anything to accommodate us, he’d approve reimbursements for the colony.” I glared at him for a moment, processing the information he just gave me. “So you meant to tell me that instead of just *moving* your truck, you’ll *buy me a new rover?”* I questioned, incredulously. “That… would be my understanding, yes,” said the kander in the doorway. “…You Sector Authority people are *unbearable,*” I snapped, before turning about face and marching off. I approached my rover and unlocked the wheels, allowing them to spin free, so I could push it with me back to the garage outside my pod. Then, I approached the radio mast, flicking on the relay. ”Danberre Colony to *Lighthouse.”* *”Send traffic, Danberre.”* “Send me a [[stowdock]] first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll be outbound to Adoras Station. Over.” *”Copy Danberre. We’ll have you ready to go in the morning.”* “Good. Danberre out.” The headset clattered on the console as I turned away and went back to my pod. I couldn’t get what Chief Braele had said earlier out of my head. We’re on the outskirts of Soli space, so *where* does Sector Authority have a *field office?* It had occurred to me that on our way to Tulmond, we passed through another system with an unsuitable but well-oxygenated exoplanet. I sat at my terminal desk and booted up InfoDex, trying to find the [[superlane|Superspace]] that Tulmond was set on in order to find the system ‘behind’ us. Tulmond wasn’t coming up under “Soli Accord” territories. No matter. This was an old copy of InfoDex, so Tulmond most likely hadn’t been acquired by the Accord yet. I switched to map view and found the other system on the superlane: Qailindara. (text-colour:orange)[**InfoDex** by Keridar: *Atlas* *Unaffiliated Systems > Far-Side Esther Region > Qailindara* **Qailindara** Status: Populated, Independent republic (indigenous) Planets: - Karlas (Exoplanet) Equanas (Moon) - Tentas - Lexas - Ocras] There it is. Apparently it's populated. I guess they joined the Accord sometime in the last seven years. I clicked on Karlas. (text-colour:orange)[**Karlas** Type: Oceanic (whole-world) Condition: Habitable Status: Populated, Independent republic (indigenous) Diameter: 14,093km Gravity: 11.2m/s2 Day: 15.37hr Moons: 1 (Equanas) < `[P]`rev . . . . . . . . . . `[N]`ext >] Just about nothing. InfoDex was certainly much better for navigation than for information. But with the name, I was able to search it on this year’s Soli Directory of Systems. (text-colour:orange)[**PLANETARY DIRECTORY** *Karlas, Qailindara, Esther* Class: Exo Status: Unpopulated Day: 15hr Standard Time: 14:47 Karlas is an oceanic planet in the Qailindara system. Its sole moon, Equanas, is the site of a mining colony operated by Esther Sector Authority.] … Wait. (text-colour:orange)[Status: Unpopulated] What? That couldn’t be right. I loaded last year’s Directory to see if it had anything more. (text-colour:orange)[**PLANETARY DIRECTORY SEARCH** Enter a name, class, or status. > Karlas, Qailindara, Esther Error: Planet not found.] ...This colony was already being planned last year. It should be here. Did I mispell it? (text-colour:orange)[> Karlas, Qailindara, Esther Error: Planet not found.] What? (text-colour:orange)[> Qailindara, Esther Error: System not found. > Qailindara Error: Planet or system not found > Karlas Error: Planet or system not found. > Tulmond Error: Planet or system not found.] My eyes raced back and forth across the screen as I furiously re-typed, re-ordered, and re-worded each search term. I scrambled through older and older Directories. Two years ago. Three years ago. Four. Five. Six. Seven. In all of them, there was no Qailindara. There was no Tulmond. I closed the terminal and rushed to pull a suitcase from underneath my bed. I stuffed it with a few days’ worth of clothes and some toiletries before zipping it up and grabbing my portable computer. I raced to the radio mast. “Danberre to *Lighthouse,”* I demanded. *”Send traffic, Danberre,”* replied *Lighthouse,* sounding puzzled. “Cancel last. Send stowdock immediately,” I ordered. *”Uh… Copy Danberre, stow’s comin’ down ASAP. ETA’s, uh… twenty mikes. Over.”* “Copy. Out.” I flicked off the radio transmitter and jogged to Lorra’s pod, tapping my hoof against the door. After a few moments, it opened. “Teemon—?” “Lorra. I’m headed out to the Adoras system. Sector Authority’s comms truck is messing with my rover and I need to get another one.” “I… What? Couldn’t that wait til the morn—?” “You’re in charge while I’m gone. I shouldn’t be more than a few days.” “Teemond, wait up a seco—” *”You* are this colonys *namesake!”* I shouted. “Show me you deserve it!” He was absolutely startled, eyes wide and face full of concern. “…I’m sorry,” I mumbled in guilt. “There’s something there I need to find out, and it can’t wait. Just take care of things for me, will you? We’ll talk when I get back.” Lorra’s expression shifted to a somber, worried look of understanding. The kind that says *‘I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, but I trust you and I hope it’ll be ok. You're still kind of an asshole for yelling at me, though.’* “Aye, aye, Administrator. I’ll be sure to get in SecAuth's way for you,” he chuckled quietly. I smiled briefly before turning towards the landing pad, approaching it and peering up at the stars expectantly. Seven years ago, Qailindara was a free republic. Last year, it didn’t exist. This year, it was completely unpopulated. Nothing more than a Sector Authority mining colony. Sector Authority… And now they’re on Tulmond, too. What could it *possibly* mean? [[< Prev. chapter|danberreCH2]] (text-colour:orange)[. . . . . . . . . . Chapter 4: Coming Soon!] [[Back to home >|home]]

(text-colour:orange)[**InfoDex** by Keridar: *Species* `-----------------------------------`] (text-colour:orange)[The **fellestra** *(Felis agilis)* are a sapient species of mammals with varying fur colors and patterns. They share many physical characteristics with the extinct non-sapient Earthen species *Felis catus* (housecat), *Leopardus pardalis* (ocelot), and *Lynx rufus* (bobcat). **Demonym:** Fellestran **Derivative:** Feline **Homeworld:** Earth, Solara **Physical Traits:** Small-medium. Lean, muscular build. Short to medium fur. Vertical-slit pupils. Sharp retractable claws. **Biomes:** Urban, savannas, forests. **Diet:** Obligate carnivore with occasional scavenging. **Communication:** Low-pitched vocalizations (growls, purrs, meows). Expressive facial and tail movements. **Social:** Semi-solitary. Loose social groups with selective bonds. Independent mating. **Conflict Style:** Ambush predators. Prefers stealth over direct confrontation. **Strengths:** Exceptional agility. Night vision. Silent movement. **Weaknesses:** Low endurance. Territorial disputes common. Sensitive to cold.] (link-goto: "Go Back", (history:)'s last)

(text-colour:orange)[**InfoDex** by Keridar: *Species* `-----------------------------------`] (text-colour:orange)[The **blaethin** *(Ovis montanus)* is a species of sapient bipedal mammals with thick, white wool and seemingly featureless black faces. They share many physical characteristics with the extinct non-sapient Earthen *Valais blacknose sheep,* a breed of *Ovis aries* (domestic sheep). **Demonym:** Baelithian **Derivative:** Valais blacknose sheep **Homeworld:** Monstwen, Altend **Physical Traits:** Small-medium. Sturdy build. Thick, woolly fur in white with black face and extremities. Cloven hooves. Spiral horns. Drooping ears. **Biomes:** Mountainous regions, temperate meadows. **Diet:** Herbivorous. Grasses, shrubs, and lichens. **Communication:** Low, resonant bleats. Head and horn gestures. Occasional stomping. **Social:** Herd-based. Strong communal bonds. Seasonal mating habits. **Conflict Style:** Defensive. Rams charge aggressively when provoked. **Strengths:** High cold resistance. Strong sense of balance. Durable against predators. **Weaknesses:** Slow runners. Dependent on herd for safety. Vulnerable to heat.] (link-goto: "Go Back", (history:)'s last)

(text-colour:orange)[>tel connect astrumnautica.neocities.org Connecting to astrumnautica.neocities.org... Connected.] <img src="https://file.garden/ZcF_NDRVyFfOaNhI/Screenshot%202024-12-12%20at%2018.32.27.png" width=800 title="ASTRUM NAUTICA"></img> (text-colour: orange)[Welcome, **user.** Please make a selection.] [[! News]] *(updated 2024/12/15)* [[? About]] <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/astrumnautica" target="_blank">+ Tumblr</a> [[$ Support]] (text-colour:orange)[`[--------STORIES--------]`] [[BENEATH THE SURFACE]] *(updated 2024/12/15)* <details> <summary>(text-colour:grey)[*Content Warnings*]</summary> Violence. Substance use. Sexual themes. </details>

[[ASTRUM NAUTICA|home]] (text-colour:orange)[> ? About] (text-colour:orange)[`-----------------------------------------------`] (text-colour:orange)[`//` hi, i'm bee (it/its). *astrum nautica* is my brainchild, the culmination of many years of worldbuilding and writing lore without ever really writing a story. i got tired of hiding it away in my files, though. book-writing is out of reach for me, both in terms of skill level and publishing money. so, i built this website using a choose-your-own-adventure game engine called] <a href="https://twinery.org" target='_blank'>twine,</a>(text-colour:orange)[even though i'm telling linear stories for now. now you're here! i hope you like it. consider leaving me a nice comment if you do. for business inquiries (or random questions, or kind letters,) mail to **contact@astrumnautica.com**] copyright 2024 astrumnautica.com, all rights reserved. [[< Go back|home]]

[[ASTRUM NAUTICA|home]](text-colour:orange)[ > BENEATH THE SURFACE] (text-colour:orange)[`-----------------------------------------------`] (text-colour:orange)[ ## BENEATH THE SURFACE A seasoned colonial officer's first time as an administrator becomes terribly complicated when it starts asking too many questions. **Table of Contents**] [[Chapter 1|danberreCH1]] [[Chapter 2|danberreCH2]] [[Chapter 3|danberreCH3]] *NEW!* *Last updated 2024/12/15.* [[Back home|home]]

(text-colour:orange)[**InfoDex** by Keridar: *Space Travel* `-----------------------------------`] The term **“superspace”** describes the fourth and fifth dimensions of space. In these dimensions, the speed of light is exponentially higher than in regular space, and the efficiency of kinetic energy is far greater. By moving through superspace, a starship is able to move light-years of distance in an unthinkably short period of time compared to three-dimensional space. The act of moving from space to superspace or vice-versa is called **supershifting,** but is colloquially known as **warping.** Warping is achieved by use of a **warp engine,** which describes any derivative of the original Lennox-Taln Superspace Vectoring Engine. This kind of engine turns electricity (usually provided from its own nuclear reactor in larger ships) into kinetic energy along the fourth and fifth dimensions. In order to successfully move from one star to another, in the most efficient way possible, it is considered necessary to travel along **superlanes,** which are gravitational folds linking the areas of superspace which sit “above” the three dimensions of a star system. These folds are like guardrails, allowing a ship to move with great freedom without fear of losing course. Traveling through superspace without using superlanes is possible, but is extremely dangerous and usually far less efficient. The potential to run off course is great, as is the potential for collision with superspace objects. This method of warping, commonly called **”freewarping,”** is usually reserved for military purposes. Warping requires careful plotting and intense astronomical calculation. Modern starships are equipped with specialized computers solely to run these calculations. When a ship begins the warp process, it still exists in 3D space. The breakdown of 5-dimensional kinetic energy produces bursts of energy in 3D space called **Taln radiation (TR),** better known as **”warp-up.”** This energy is highly volatile and harmful to living matter. The hull of a starship or space station deflects warp-up, preventing damage to internal systems and living creatures, but the intensity of these warp-up bursts causes damage to a ship over time as it warps. Smaller ships can usually go quite a few warp cycles before requiring service, while larger ships need immediate maintenance after every warp. Due to the potential damage and harm to life, space stations typically have a “minimum warp distance,” where no warping is permitted. (link-goto: "Go Back", (history:)'s last)

[[ASTRUM NAUTICA|home]] (text-colour:orange)[>] [[BENEATH THE SURFACE]] (text-colour:orange)[> Chapter 4] (text-colour:orange)[`------------------------------------------------------------------`]

[[ASTRUM NAUTICA|home]] (text-colour:orange)[> ! News] (text-colour:orange)[`-----------------------------------------------`] (text-colour:orange)[*2024/12/15>* **aaaand we're live!** wowie! i never thought *astrum nautica* would ever see the light of day. if you're here, thank you for checking out my silly little project! i hope you like it. <3 - bee]

[[ASTRUM NAUTICA|home]] (text-colour:orange)[> $ Support] (text-colour:orange)[`-----------------------------------------------`] you're not... *actually* going to send me money, are you? <a href="https://ko-fi.com/stumblebee" target="_blank">click me for my ko-fi</a>

(text-colour:orange)[**InfoDex** by Keridar: *Space Travel* `-----------------------------------`] An **SSTO and Dock** (or **stowdock)** is a starship system comprised of two parts: a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO, or “stow”) starship and a spacefaring dock, usually containing a [[superspace drive.|Superspace]] This system is used to allow for more efficient planetside travel while still allowing the operator to enjoy interstellar travel. The dock can range anywhere from a small cargo expansion bay to a significant portion of the ship, featuring extra thrusters, habitation areas, and weaponry. Stowdocks are favored by those who live in their starships, as it grants the flexibility of a stow with the comforts of a larger ship. (link-goto: "Go Back", (history:)'s last)