The discovery of Agate

[tha_rami]

The following plays approximately around the discovery of the Riftspace system in Evochron Renegades.

Through the intercom system sounded a conversation, similar to conversations heard so often in a fully manned spacecraft during explorative travel.

"Long range scanners report nothing."
"Copy that. Engineering?"
"Everything running at optimal levels. Ready for next jump in 40."
"Good. Anything to report, Navigation?"
"Nothing really, cockpit. All craft still in formation."

From the cockpit, however, the view was anything but a void. Beautiful nebulae and endless stars filled the cockpit with a reddish glow. The journey had been a success, with the discovery of a single, inhabitable planet. A large part of the expedition had halted at that newly discovered planet, which they had named Opal in the long-lasting tradition of naming potentially important systems after gemstones. Opal was a rogue planet, but seemed extremely inhabitable and already had quite good atmospheric readouts. A few months of terraforming by the Alliance would probably turn the planet to an Earth-like state, but sadly, being simple mercenaries, the planet would probably be colonized by use of inhabitable cityscapes.

The journey had begun two days ago, at Sierra port, from which they had ventured towards the Vonarion system in the hope of finding unexplored territory to claim and eventually pillage or sell for colonisation. Opal had been a great find, and they had contacted the Guilds to send for carriers for the construction of a Fulcrum Gate. With the Sierran Guilds owing the group a few favors and support from the Alliance in finding new outposts near Vonarian space, the recent travels had been lucrative to say the least.

"Cockpit, jump ready."
"Copy that. Preparing Fulcrum Drive. Set coordinates CX, CY, MZ."
"Increasing Z coordinate to maximum. Retaining current X and Y coordinates. Ready."
"Science Ops, radio in the others. Coordinates CX, CY, MZ."
"Done."
"Engaging Fulcrum Drive."

The Fulcrum Drive revved up, and within seconds the speed of their ship had increased five-fold. The familiar sound of the Fulcrum Drive taking the ship to Fulcrum Warp, the blue glow through the ship and then...

Before even the sound of the engines powering down had began to take volumes that would not permanently damage ones ears without protection, the intercom system started buzzing with activity. As other ships arrived at the location in blue flashes and in exact formation, several reports had come in.

"Planet located, passing on coordinates now. Radar interference imply possible Nebulae or star. Also located several asteroid fields and several caves."
While his eyes panned around space for a star, the tone his reply was not completely clear of enthusiasm, "Got that, Science. Try getting more on the reading from the nebula. If it really is a star, we might've hit a big one here."
"Right away."

A solar system would be an amazing find, especially if it really were as versatile in environments as initial reports had led him to believe.

"Nav, what's news down there?"
"It's busy on the lines, eh. Everyone reporting findings of a few planets and asteroid systems."
"A few planets?"
"Yes, I understand we've found at least two or three planets. We should get a visual as we pass by the dark nebula ahead during the next jump."
"No star?"
"Not reported yet."
"Science Ops?"
"Still trying to isolate the few signals that poke through the dark nebula ahead, sorry."
"Take your time."
"Engineering?"
"60 seconds."
"Set the coordinates to what Science just sent me."
"Right away."
"Nav, check what Science sets as new destination and distribute those coordinates to the others."
"Of course. Done and... done."

The engines once again roared as the Fulcrum Drive warped the ship through space. The sound, the flash - he tried to recover his vision as fast as possible after the blinding flash that indicated the exact moment of the Fulcrum Jump.

The only thing he could say as soon as he could see more than a blurry white glow was a short "Ah - ", as his heart skipped a beat. Science Ops confirmation was unnecessary this time.
"Cockpit, it's a star! We have a Yellow Dwarf here! Class G2, I'm collecting details on habitability of nearby planets now. Damn! It had been hidden behind a dark nebula all the time."

All he did was smile, as more and more positive reports came in. Three planets, numerous asteroid caves and fields with high amounts of platinum, diamonds, metals and precious ores.

The journey home began. Only a month later, the resources of the young system of Agate, with its three planets Agate, Orius and Maroon, after fierce bidding from both Rebel, Guild and Energy factions, had been sold to a new division of the Sierra Energy Guild promptly named Orius Energy. Although this left the Guilds feeling betrayed after their earlier assistance to the group, their presence in the system has not been disruptive so far.

The Alliance was allowed to locate the Phantom-class carrier Verity in Agate after some negotiation, and as a result of these talks, the Alliance turned Opal into a gateway to Agate, allowing Sierran travellers to reach the new system through flying through no more than two Fulcrum Gates.

Orius Energy quickly continued to terraform the planets, and selling residence to colonists. According to early plans, a decade would be required to construct the required space stations and structures for proficient energy gathering.

However, the explorers settled on Agate, and continue to live there in wealth.

Agate will be available as a playable system in Evochron Legends.

[Edited on 20-1-2009 by tha_rami]

[verbosity]

Cool story dude!

[49rTbird]

I'll have to go back as I missed a lot (lol)

[BraveHart]

Pretty Cool indeed Rami

[tha_rami]

All of the things mentioned in the story are available in the actual system in Evochron Legends.

You'll also learn that Rebel and Guild disruption has been a minimum due to an interesting find which you, as player, can take advantage of - especially if you're a bit like me.