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liquidfay Ages ago, a Dragon whose name has been lost to history discovered the secret to faster-than light travel. Now, her story must be reconstructed by a world that has forgotten it.
The PDF version of this story features an illustration by
raventalons
The Scientist
By: DankeDonuts
https://www.furaffinity.net/user/dankedonuts/
Featuring art by: raventalons
https://www.furaffinity.net/user/raventalons/
Translation 5-12-WUNJO
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Bengu Qua’ztlin, Professor of Linguistics, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Station Commander’s Log. Fifth of Trentell, Year Three Hundred And Five Of The Fourth Era*. Eighteen Hundred Fifteen Hours.
The starscape past my window is the same as it always is. A string of bright lights on the stellar horizon, planets that are brothers and sisters to the one below that I call my own. A steady string of smaller lights, the vessels that are always moving to and from these solar siblings. Beyond them all, the lights that we can only know with our eyes and our telescopes.
Below, the orbital shipyard in whose womb lies the growing vessel that may one day take us on our first steps into the larger cosmos.
What can I say about [The Scientist] that I haven't already? She’s dedicated. Driven to see her dreams, all our dreams, fulfilled. I think that’s the first thing that would come to anyone’s mind. One might almost say obsessed. She certainly puts her work first. I have the energy usage logs from her research labs to prove it. She practically lives down there. I don't think I’ve ever seen her attend a purely social event. She makes token appearances at formal events, such as promotion ceremonies. Barely staying into the receptions. No patience for receiving lines.
That’s not a bad thing, per say, assuming she maintains healthy mental and dietary practices. Which her primary Medical Officer assures me is the case. She’s hardly the first Dragon who prefers to keep to herself.
So, what to do about Lieutenant-Commander Craligouhyr?
He’s left another complaint with Personnel. Apparently, she bumped into him in a corridor outside of the mess tent and offered neither apology nor salute. In all likelihood, she didn’t even notice. Her head lost in some thought experiment or new set of equations. And he chose not to dress her down on the spot so that he could claim to have given her time to note and correct her error before adding another black mark to her record.
To be honest, I’m tired of smoothing over these things. We’re a long way past the days of grandiose Dragons lording over their golden hoards and cringing servants. There’s maintaining a sense of military decorum and there’s plain, simple arrogance!
Ultimately, of course, If our people are ever to reach the stars, it will be on [The Scientist’s] back. Not some gold-collar from Supply division.
It’s plain to me who the expendable member of the project is. If Craligouhyr keeps filing these complaints, I’ll have him transferred to the fuel refinement project on Ettai.
* Water damage on the original sample has degraded the text between the words “Fifth” and “starscape”. The month of Trentell is a best-guess, following consultation with other members of the document reconstruction team in regards to the Station Commander’s agreed-upon actions and the length of the illegible text. Full analysis of the matter is included in the attached document for your perusal. -- Prof. Qua’ztlin
Translation 6-09-FHEU
Document Origin: Musdutt Mound, Strata 3, Kotayldr III
Translation by: Master Sergeant Frodegorf, Rajlotuba Armed Forces
Hi, Sis!
Sorry if this letter took forever to reach you. Sorry you had to wait for a letter at all. Serpentis Station is running on radio silence. No transmissions of any kind without express permission of the upper deck. Except for emergencies, of course. Evacuations, that sort of thing. I’m perfectly safe here, really! It’s just that everyone seems super keyed-up about any of our data or research being scooped up by spies.
Whoever opened this in a security checkpoint… Hello to you, too!
So, what’s it like working with [The Scientist]? It’s amazing! She’s brilliant! Just brilliant! I’ve learned more just listening to her explaining her clear-boards than I ever did in five years at the Academy. Of course, I have the Academy and especially Professor Tardorrurth to thank for being able to understand her equations at all.
No, Mister Security Guy, I didn’t write any of them down here. Ha!
Where was I? Right, [The Scientist]. By her explaining I mean in a team setting. We haven't had much time to speak one-on-one yet. She’s incredibly busy, all the time. Never seems to stop for anything but food. Her dedication is so inspiring. I mostly communicate with her through her Number Two. And I’ve made lots of great friends among the design team. They’re brilliant too, and so much fun off-duty! We spend half our night partying and the other staying up all hours thinking out the latest design theories. With people like this working out the tech, I just know we’re going to get to be the generation that says, “We did it!”
And whoever thought a Kobold would be working on an FTL engine!!!
I absolutely love it here!
Tell Mom and Mom and Dad ‘hi’ for me!
Love, Adalheiz
Inter-office Memorandum
From: Vigghilnah
Date: RE-Y8, 7th Of Zezzim
Director-
I’d like to recommend we cut a few of the reconstruction images from the packet we give the media. Or at least make some firm statements that these selections are, at present, the best we have of limited options. I think we’re at risk of giving a false impression of who she might have been.
For instance, online communities are starting to call the Scientist “The Stardancer” thanks to this one:
The guys in Digital did outstanding work cleaning up the photo, and it definitely dates to the right time. And, yes, there are references that call her blue or purple or both. I just don’t see how it could be HER.
Is this Dragon dancing? Threatening someone? Putting on a mating display? Hard to say without a background to put the motion in context. But I suppose that’s beside the point. Regardless of what she’s doing, the pose seems a bit… expressive?... for one who’s described expressly as a retreating wallflower, quiet genius, or antisocial loner. And the body-art starscapes on her wings and tail, while lovely, would have required a great deal of close contact. Something she clearly eschewed.
- Viggy
Translation 3-02-HAGAL
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Alxo’chtl Nanetli, Pre-Graduate Student, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Station Security Log. Third of Bremin, Year Three Hundred And Six Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Chief Of Security Arlussioth reporting.
I spotted another one. This time, it was Tytamanth, the computer tech. Taking too long to leave the shipyard at the end of his shift. The shuttle back to the main station nearly left without him. I ‘just happened’ to be patrolling the relevant corridors when he came scuttling by with a mildly-guilty look on his maw. I personally escorted him to the launch bay.
Afterward, I went for a closer look inside the Lightchaser Marv V. I must say that not a great deal of consideration has been given to the comfort of the crew. But then one expects a certain ‘no frills’ aesthetic on prototypes. All part of ironing the last bugs out of the system. But even by prototype standards, the cockpit is tint. The thing’s practically all engine.
But the engines were not my concern. The fact that Tytamanth as the Dragon-come-lately made me pay extra attention to the primary and secondary computer banks. A bit of cajiggery with a magno-spanner and I found it inside the secondary, behind a relatively easily moved bit of insulated wiring. There’s always a spot where the ‘artists’ sign their work. In this case, it’s not just the engineers, but the members of team that mathed out all the designs that the engineers have been building from.
It wouldn’t be a problem if folks would just sign a piece of the ship. But they always have to be sneaky about it. They tell themselves that it's some kind of little rebellion against the rules. That they should never, ever be caught doing it, even though everyone knows that they will. And in acting like they’re doing something off-regs, they end up making me look for something off-regs. A colossal waste of time for everyone involved. Someone up top should just set down a rule telling engineers to splatter their signatures on the outside of the ships and let it be over with. But what do I know? I’m just the one that has to make a list of every suspicious act on or near the station, and then go chase everything on the list down.
Odd that [The Scientist]’s name wasn’t among the signatures. She’s never been much of a stickler for protocol, real or the kind specialized cliques like shipwrights make up for themselves. So that can’t be it. Does she not feel like part of her own team? Does she not want to be put in a position where she’d have to report them to me? I wonder about these things. She’s a tough nut to crack. A question I’d like more answers to.
Translation 6-15-JERA
Document Origin: Private Collection, Origin Analysis Pending
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
The following missive has been confirmed to have been written in the hand of Chief Structural Engineer Rehbeinel. -- C. Tlec
OK, team, I know this has been a rough day for all of us. That’s life on the bleeding edge of transportation technology. Some days, you feel like everything’s come together. The math, the materials, the muscle. The thrill of knowing you’ve made something that never existed before. Other days are like… today. Speaking of life, let’s all be grateful that nobody died.
And let’s all be very glad that none of us has to pay for the replacement parts!
(Hold for laughter)
It’s never easy watching so much work and blood and sweat go up in flames like we all just did. Years of work gone in an instant. I can promise you, though, that we will get past this. We’ll learn from mistakes made, and we’ll do just that much better next time around. I speak from experience. I still remember my first posting, finishing the build on the orbital thrusters for the old Hydral stations. The cascade failure that very brought us all falling down to a very big, very solid planet… In simulations, anyway. Crash after crash after crash.
Well, we got the problem sorted out in the end. Just like we’re going to do here.
Remember, our job is to build these things the way our friends on the Design Team tell us to. We tell them how it can be done better or safer, when we know what better and safer are. Sometimes, though, we have to trust that the math works out the way they say it will and forage ahead in mutual discovery. That’s theoretical engineering for you. We can’t always go by the book, because we’re still writing it.
So let’s close this chapter and start the next with fresh eyes and eager hands. One way or another, we’re going to get this engine made. I for one am looking forward to seeing what improvements [The Scientist] / the Design Team is preparing for the Mark VI.
(Hold for applause)
(If [The Scientist] shows up, use her name.)
(She won’t show up. She probably blames Assembly for the whole mess.)
Translation 8-22-LAGUZ
Document Origin: Great Library of Hidail, Antiquities Hoard, Kotayldr Prime
Translation by: Archivist Girdvarr, Great Library of Hidail
From the Desk Of [The Instructor], Deozymevro University Chair Of Mathematics
[The Scientist]-
Do you like my little joke? I had my secretary work up the letterhead. Turns out we still had scans of the kind we used back in the days before everything went to digital. I find it helps to find a bit of humor in the darkest of places. A little candle to light the way out.
But that was never your way, was it? Oh, my dear friend. Your heart must be aching so. But whom do you share it with? I don’t mean to say a lover, and I remember well the situation with your relations. But do you have anyone on that station with whom you can share the burden? If there was one thing that I wish you had taken from your instruction -- aside from the obvious, of course-- it's that you don’t have to go through the joys and despairs of this life alone.
Forgive me. I know that’s not the advice you came to me for. Fear not. I have pages to spare to discuss your questions.
I’ll start with the fuel source. The difficulties in synthesizing this new element and keeping it stable at operating temperatures does indeed appear to be at the heart of many of your project’s troubles. Your calculations can hardly be argued with. Are you certain there is no other way to achieve the energy output you require? I understand how committed you are to moving forward with this design philosophy, of course. I’ve kept a data-chip of your thesis paper in my office for reference as I’ve watched your career bloom. I wish I’d been there on the day you activated the accelerator and forged that very first atom. When … [Document damaged beyond repair]
Aversion to heat seems to be one of the element’s primary characteristics. A surprising one at that. I’ve given that a great deal of thought in the past few days. I shall include a copy of my musings with this letter, in hopes that you see something in the equations that even I cannot … [Document damaged beyond repair] … should help you overcome the problem of … [Document damaged beyond repair]
[Document damaged beyond repair]
Not that you shouldn’t be proud of your success thus far. By all means, be proud! I expect you’ll win the Orraylyd Prize just for accomplishing the synthesis. With that notoriety, you’ll have no trouble winning new and eager minds to the project. More viewpoints from which to look at the problem.
Yours in numbers,
- [The Instructor]
Translation 7-33-GALAZ
Document Origin: Great Library of Hidail , Antiquities Hoard, Kotayldr Prime
Translation by: Archivist Porariefaa, Great Library of Hidail
One of the first things I learned in the Junior Solar Sailors was the paradox of habitation thermodynamics in space. The reason why space is so cold is that there’s no medium through which heat can be transferred to or maintained within it. (Planets, stars, nebulae, and the like are all themselves closed systems). Therefore, all heat produced within a habitable construct, such as a solar sailor or this very station will necessarily remain within that system. Every calorie of heat put out by a living being -- though exhalation, sweating, running a fever -- is trapped there. Same for the heat coming off improperly insulated wires, inefficient lights, overworked computers and so on. The warmth that gets into the air can only radiate as far as the furthest bulkhead. Degrees upon degrees upon degrees stacking up. If you don't properly maintain and swap your heat-sinks, a ship or station full of astronauts will slowly, inevitably, turn into an oven.
That’s what it’s like working with [The Scientist]. She’s so cold you can’t help but heat way up.
And I am through. I am tired of working with someone who’s default state is cold indifference to her coworkers. Someone who can’t be bothered with anyone who isn’t immediately useful to whatever she happens to be working on or thinking about. Someone who doesn’t even have respect enough for her co-workers to remember their names.
It was bad enough when she seemed to know what she was doing. Not that she would explain much of it. But now that her magic mineral has gone belly up and she’s as lost as the rest of us as to what steps to take to get the FTL research back on track, the distance between proper direction for this program and those who need and expect it has become insurmountable.
I thereby render my resignation from Project Serpentis effective immediately. With-hold my bonus. Lower my security rating. Put me to work scrubbing latrines in a zero-G. Or toss me right out of the company. I don’t care. I won’t spend another day in her presence.
Respectfully-
Degatorth Son Of Nundronarth
Translation 3-55-RKANA
Document Origin: Mennyt Blast Zone, Kotayldr VII-B
Translation by: Gyrdzuma Acu’dir, Third Archaeologist, Mennyt Excavation Project
I trust you understand the importance of this message by the means that I took to get it to you.
If you hadn't guessed, I’m calling in one of the favors you owe me. Let’s make it two.
It’s this Drake they brought in to replace Degatorth. Technically, he’s replacing Adalheiz, since she moved into head of the Design Team. [The Traitor]. I don’t like it. Can’t put my talon on why, but I don't.
There were red flags on his background check that would have had the military vetoing his application to enter a Junior Solar Sailors campus, much less an ultra-grey facility. Distant relatives in unsavory professions. Now all of a sudden, he’s a golden boy civilian consultant with a ticket to play with our toys.
Am I being paranoid? Yes. I’m Chief Of Security here at Serpentis. Paranoid is my job.
Here’s what I want you to do. What I need you to do. Let’s be very clear here: I am not asking, and you are not saying no. Wheedle your way into Int-Com’s data-hoard. You know the place. Dig around. Chat up the archivists like you’re so good at doing. Find out if there’s something -- anything -- that the approval committee overlooked. Or if anyone went out of their way to ignore it.
I’m counting on you.
- A
Translation 2-40-ZAGAD
Document Origin: Document Origin: Mennyt Blast Zone, Kotayldr VII-B
Translation by: Gyrdzuma Acu’dir, Third Archaeologist, Mennyt Excavation Project
Quartermaster’s Log. Ninth of Chyrvot. Lieutenant-Commander Craligouhyr reporting.
I’ve always been wary of civilian projects embedded in military facilities. It’s a matter of integration towards our way of doing things. SpaceReach is a culture all its own, with its own customs and taboos. It is incumbent upon those we welcome into our protective arms that they at least show a modicum of respect to how things are done. Have always done. But so many barely try and don’t want to. They sneer with contempt at the very idea of military service, let alone show us the dignity that we are expected to show one another.
[The Scientist] is no different. In fact, she’s worse. I don’t go in for the pop-culture narrative of socially stunted super-geniuses. If a Dragon’s so smart, why can’t they learn basic etiquette? Yes, Sir. No, Sir. Thank you, Sir. It’s not hard. She knows what she’s doing! She knows that no one else would get away with it. Even members of her own teams. Holding her essential part in the FTL project out as an excuse to disrespect the chain of command. Relying on her reputation, or the Captain’s good graces to keep her out of trouble.
But [The Traitor] is different. He gets it. I like him.
Take today’s requisition meeting. [The Scientist] walked in with some of her underlings, and hands over a list of things she says she wants that she assumes she will get simply because she asked for them. In some cases things I’d never heard of. Or things that would take weeks of clearing through Arlussioth to get aboard the station. All for this New Phase she’s cooking up.
She didn’t really try to explain why she needed any of it. She just threw a bunch of equations at me and pretended to be helpless if I couldn’t understand them, like she always does. And she kept acting like she had somewhere else to be. Apparently, she left Adalheiz monitoring some experiment in quantum flux recapture.
But [The Traitor], he sat me down over a drink at the Officer’s Lounge later and explained to me, step by step, what the relevance of these items was. I can’t pretend to understand it all, but I gather that the basic idea is to use that Element of hers in concert with some new alloys she’s envisioning to make a self-sustaining engine core that draws power from its own instabilities in order to trick itself into stabilizing itself. Again, not so hard when someone wants to try. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in future meetings.
Rehbeinel was his usual forgettable self.
Translation 8-19-OTHALA
Document Origin: Private Collection, Kotayldr Prime
Translation by: Translation by: Keldaridrr, Old-Tongues Restoration Project Volunteer
[The Scientist],
We missed you at the funeral. The ceremony was a short one, and very much what he would have liked. You could have come, I’m sure. Your grandfather didn’t really understand you. I suppose none of us do. There’s a distance that I’ve never really been able to bridge. But he tried. He certainly worked to encourage you when you were young. I remember the books and tools that would come from him on your birthdays. He gave you your first microscope and chemistry set and at least one of the astronomy texts that’s still in your storage horde here at the house.
I took the liberty of pulling that out. The dedication, I think, holds as much meaning today as it did then.
‘My dearest girl… The world is an incredible place to discover. I hope this helps you further along your journey. But don’t forget to take time to discover yourself, too.’
I know that what you’re doing is important. That you believe you can’t afford to be away from it for a moment. But I’m sure he would have wanted you there when he passed.
But I’m trying very hard not to blame you for denying him that little bit of comfort.
For your grandfather’s sake, I’ll keep trying.
With love,
Your Mother
Translation 7-03-EIWAZ
Document Origin: Document Origin: Document Origin: Doldrut Flood Plain, Kotayldr VI
Translation by: Master Sergeant Frodegorf, Rajlotuba Armed Forces
Dear Diary,
It worked! WE DID IT!
The nano-tube scaffolding stabilized our new isotope. We now have space-worthy fuel cells that can withstand their own energy output. WE HAVE WORKING FUEL CELLS! This Design Team took a critical failure and MASSIVE PR nightmare and created something that will change the worlds.
We will change the worlds.
(Writing it down again just to look at it and let it sink in.)
We really will. Because energy that can power a ship to FLT speeds can power darn near anything it wants. This station. The whole fleet. Whole cities. The possibilities are [sic] No more wars over resources. No more exploitation of colony worlds and the people who live on them. No more people left out in the cold.
I have rarely ever seen [The Scientist] smile. No matter what has happened in the ups and downs of this project, she just takes everything as it comes and moves to the next project or the next phase of a project. Today, I saw her cry. I think I cried a little too. I sure as heck hugged a bunch of people!
I know this journal is just a means for me to work out my thoughts, and I’m contractually obliged to incinerate it when we’re done here, but during the celebration dinner Tytamanth was talking like all of our paper work just became historical documents. Artifacts that historians will pour over for decades. Centuries even. We all just laughed him off. He’s excitable that way. But now, I’m starting to think he maybe was right. Maybe I should talk to the Captain about handing some things over for the WorldsFleet data-hoard. Later. Much later. There’s still a lot -- A LOT -- of work to do.
With all that out of the way, if you’re reading this from the future… Hi. These first steps into the larger galaxy are a gift to you. The rest are yours to take. I can only imagine how much further you’ve gotten. - Adalheiz
Translation 5-71-TIWAZ
Document Origin: Private Collection, Possible Black-Market Item
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
The following missive has been confirmed to have been written in the hand of Chief Structural Engineer Rehbeinel. -- C. Tlec
(This speech needs more work. Finish over lunch.)
The Captain and [The Scientist] have discussed the project's next steps, and they went with my recommendation: We’re stepping back to unmanned drones. That’s the right way to do it. If anyone had actually been in the Mark V when it went up, we might not all be working here anymore.
I want to put the new engine into a Mark II chassis, with certain modifications to account for any possible fluctuations in the fuel cell’s heat output.
- The underframe will need reinforcing to Mark IV levels.
- Let’s find space for another two heat sinks. One dedicated to the computers.
- Install Adalheiz’s revamped quantum flux manifold. It’s 20-percent smaller, so that will help with the heat sinks.
We won't be instituting your new CPU upgrades, Tytamanth, sorry. In fact, I want to streamline the computers to below Mark I stats. Assume the hard-drives are going to overheat and plan accordingly. We’ll keep your goods on hold for the next manned craft. For right now, dumber is better. All we need this bird to do is reach the relay site in one piece, preferably not a molten glob of metal, and send a confirmation signal back.
Lightchaser Mark II-A. Let’s get to work.
Translation 2-22-URUZ
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Bengu Qua’ztlin, Professor of Linguistics, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Station Commander’s Log. Twentieth of Yntraich, Year Three Hundred And Nine Of The Fourth Era. Eighteen Hundred Fifteen Hours.
There’s a palpable buzz in the canned air of Shipyard Nine, and a little extra flair in the maneuvers of the exosuited mechanics. Every one of Mister Rehbeinel’s structural engineers are working at a pace that I only wish all shipwrights would. Each time I look down there from my ready room window, the Mark II-A Lightchaser is a little bit bigger. A little more filled out. A long, silver needle pointing towards destiny. They really believe these new engines are going to work, and they’re going the extra miles to bring us closer to the day when we’ll see them fire. I couldn’t be more proud.
Even [The Scientist] is showing a bit of the community spirit. On this evening’s walkthrough, I saw her stopping to help talk someone with the finer points of realigning the telemetry systems to account for the new hardware. She smiled kindly to the yeoman who came by to double-check some calculations from Stellar Cartography. And she was even quite happy to see me personally. Very eager to detail the latest developments on her engine simulations. The last of the bugs from the scale model having been worked out, we’re on schedule to begin constructing the real deal in the next few weeks.
Speaking with her is always informative, but today was one of the few times I’ve heard real passion in her voice. She’s never been the most social Dragon, so it’s a refreshing change to see her be more involved with the people around her.
Just goes to show what a little positive energy can do.
Translation 11-20-GEBO
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Stellar Cartographer’s Log. Third of Genim, Year Three Hundred And Ten Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Chief Of Astrometrics Indrinariam recording.
Is it possible to become bored with the most incredible thing ever? The spectral analysis of the images captured by Lightchaser are complete. Relative positioning mapping crosschecks the results. The math checks out. The drone went one-third of a light year out from our system, closer to the galactic core, snapped a sphere’s worth of photographs, and then circled around our stem doing much the same. Well, not so much a circle as a spiral, reducing distance from Homestar to account for time spent traveling. As astoundingly short an amount of travel it was.
Every single picture says that the ship really did go that far out. Twice as far as the Mark I. That it did it faster. And that it traveled much, much, further. The Mark I, remember, only made one target zone and put out one transmission before apparently going off line. And, most importantly, this drone returned home to give us its data.
But, of course that data can be faked. I wouldn’t put it past [The Scientist] to tell a white lie here and there if it keeps her funded.
The clincher will come in four months’ time, when we start receiving the transmissions the Lightchaser sent while it was taking pictures. Infra-red bursts of the prime numbers. Visible spectrum. Radio-waves of some music the Build Team is fond of. There will be no hiding them.
Every ship in the fleet, every commercial and military telescope, every hobbyist with a back-yard telescope will be able to see them. The signals will be analyzed by thousands of beings using hundreds of disparate facilities spread out across a dozen planets.
In the end, it will be plain old spectral analysis -- comparison and composition of light -- that proves once and for all if [The Scientist]’s team has truly broken the light barrier. The same old thing people like me have been doing for centuries.
Again, is it possible to become bored with the most incredible thing ever?
I suppose we’ll find out in four months.
Translation 11-34-RAIDHO
Document Origin: Supreme Museum Of Antiquities, Kotayldr Prime
Translation by: Varfrid, Second Conservator, Supreme Museum Of Antiquities
[Translator’s note: this document is part of the Yoliyahua Cache, which are held by a considerable percentage of historians to be forgeries.]
To the students of Ciddrunythi’s Fifth Circle Class, Ollunloth Preparatory School…
Thank you all for the kind letters. Reading them over the past few days has really touched my heart. It means a lot to know that there are hatchlings like you pulling for me. I’m sorry I can’t reply to every one of your letters individually, but there are only so many hours in the day, even way out here on the edge of the system. And you can probably guess what I spend most of my time doing: Prepping for the big flight. THE big flight. Faster than light. I’m about to be one of the first people ever to achieve such a milestone (and the first Wyvern, period) and I can still hardly believe it.
Prepping means a lot of time in some a fancy flight simulator. They nut-bolters here at Serpentis Station have put together a real top-notch rig for me and my crew to get our bearings in. A full-scale model of the Lightchaser, from the command module all the way to the breaking thrusters on the back end. Exact in every detail. Even the scratch on one of the helm consoles from where someone scraped an ion-welder across the side of the real ship has been reproduced.
We unofficially call the test flight the ‘swing around.’ As in swinging around the system the way the probe did a couple years back. Our circle, though, will be slightly larger than the one that created all those extra lights in the sky. A full half-light year from Homestar. My crew and I don’t just practice those particular maneuvers, though. If anything goes wrong on the maiden voyage, we’re the ones who’ll have to fix it. We drill all kinds of emergency scenarios. I’m not permitted to give you any particulars, but I don’t think the brass will mind if I tell you one little secret… Last week, I plugged a hole in the exterior shell (we faked a meteor strike) by melting the grappling arm with the heat exhaust from the main rocket!
Don’t ever let anyone tell you the learning stops after you’re out of school. If you’re lucky, you’ll learn something new every day of the rest of your life.
A lot of you have asked about [The Scientist]. What she’s like, and what she does off-duty. the truth is I’ve not had a lot of chances to get to know her. And (here’s a little secret) I’ve never actually seen her off-duty. She’s as dedicated to this mission as anyone I’ve ever met. Always thinking up new problems before they’re encountered, and then working up the solution. It’s inspirational, really. I’m glad and proud to be working with someone with such fine attention to detail. Details which (I hope I’m not being too ‘dark’ for your teacher) will probably keep me alive. And, of course, she’s hardly the only one involved in making this project possible. But I’ll leave it to them to tell you about that in their own words.
If being the test pilot for Dragonkind’s first FTL flight has taught me anything, it’s that anything is possible if we all work together in common cause. My hope for you is that you’ll all carry that lesson in yourselves wherever the future might lead you.
… Ryvynyostris, Son Of Naidhirr, Commander SpaceReach
Translation 6-07-GEBO
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Structural Engineer’s Log. Eighteenth of Olbdys, Year Three Hundred And Eleven Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Structural Engineer Rehbeinel reporting.
It’s done. The Lightchaser is finished. She’s sitting in drydock waiting for her crew to take her to the stars.
Tonight, we party.
Tomorrow, we make history.
I wonder if I’ll still have to write down all of my logs a week from now.
Translation 4-12-FEHU
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Station Security Log. Nineteenth of Olbdys, Year Three Hundred And Ten Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Chief Of Security Arlussioth reporting.
Commander Ryvynyostris, Son Of Naidhirr, is in the infirmary in critical condition. The other members of the Lightchaser flight crew are dead. As are a number of my own officers, killed in the line of duty while attempting to rescue them from a compromised solar sailor launch bay. And my suspicions about [The Traitor] have proven all too horribly correct.
They were sly. They were quiet. They were subtle. They spent years working themselves to a position where they could access the Lightchaser design specifications. And in the end, they were ruthless. Not caring at all for the lives they were risking or ending in their failed scheme.
I’ll leave it to the Captain to detail the heroics through which Ryvynyostris and his fellows managed to keep the plans from leaving Serpentis. That is not pertinent to this log. Suffice to say, this traitor utilized the time wherein everyone else was celebrating to sneak about and acquire nearly enough to build another Lightchaser. They knew where to go to find it all. All but a few select data-points which [The Scientist] apparently keeps in her head. I would expect, as [The Traitor] must have believed, that the holes could be filled in with effort and experimentation.
Computer Operations informs me that while much of the electronic data was accessed and copies, none was deleted. But there’s many hand-written documents were lost when [The Traitor]’s escape attempt went down in literal flames.
As of this report there is also no firm answer as to how many accomplices [The Traitor] had, nor whom they were ultimately working for. Though I have my suspicions that the plans would have ended up for sale to the highest bidder. But we have one. And, with the Captain’s permission, I shall personally handle the interrogation of one Lieutenant-Commander Craligouhyr.
Translation 5-05-ANSUZ
Document Origin: Mennyt Blast Zone, Kotayldr VII-B
Translation by: Gyrdzuma Acu’dir, Third Archaeologist, Mennyt Excavation Project
I’m not going to wait for my interrogation. The Brig-Master gave me utensils with which to compose my thoughts, and I’m going to put them to use.
I, Lieutenant-Commander Craligouhyr, did knowingly provide aid to [The Traitor] in the form of requisitioning items onto Serpentis Station under his direct request and in my position of station Quartermaster. Items which were used in attempted theft and the deaths of three members of the Lightchaser flight crew. Whether murder or manslaughter, I do not know. I offer no defense for my actions. I throw myself on the mercy of the Captain and those who will stand in judgment of me at my court martial.
I trusted him. I believed him when he said he needed things. I didn’t question anything listed on the requisition forms that he gave to me. In retrospect, I suppose the reason why I started receiving so many requisition forms from him was precisely because [The Scientist] and the rest of her people started handing them over to him. Precisely because I didn’t give his requests the sort of scrutiny that I always did the rest. He made himself invaluable to the requisition process and used that against all of us. Because I let him.
I let my guard down. And I regret doing so. I never thought this day would come. Not from him. I thought he understood how things are supposed to be. He fooled me. He used me. And now three Dragons are dead. I expect a resignation is in my future, assuming I still have a career to resign from following the court martial.
What’s done is done. I can’t change the past. But I can document my part in it in the hopes of fighting the criminal investigation into the attempted theft of the Lightchaser plans. Henceforth follows an account, to the best of my recollection, of my every interaction with [The Traitor].
[DOCUMENT MISSING]
Translation 8-18-WUNJO
Document Origin: Document Origin: Doldrut Flood Plain, Kotayldr VI
Translation by: Master Sergeant Frodegorf, Rajlotuba Armed Forces
I could smell [The Traitor]’s stink on the cover of my old journal. He was here, in my quarters. Rummaging through my things. Taking photographs and doing who knows what else. Security took it, and a few other things as evidence. I hope they throw him out an airlock. No, I hope they bury him in the deepest, darkest hole on the coldest, furthest moon and send him just enough food and water to keep him alive and miserable for a long, long time. Maybe that’s too dark. But I do want him to regret what he’s done. Who he’s hurt.
I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about everything. The invasion of my privacy. The defiling of an achievement that would have and will elevate all of our peoples spread out on so many planets and moons. Two good people lying dead in the morgue. And now the order has come that the launch has been scrapped pending an investigation. How long will that go on? Will they find some reason to shut the project down altogether?
I can’t imagine how [The Scientist] must feel. The dream and work of a lifetime hanging by a thread. I’ve only been part of same work, shared the same dream, for such a short time. But the thought of it being taken away…
I just feel awful.
-Adalheiz
Translation 8-18-ISA
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-B
Translation by: Alxo’chtl Nanetli, Pre-Graduate Student, University Of Dia’D’Ln
I can’t believe she did it. But she did.
I knew the ship could be handled by a single individual. It had never been officially stated to be so, but one look in the simulator told me everything I needed to realize that. Grendynn on Navigation and Dorvienth at the Engineering console were redundant elements. They knew it too, because they knew their stuff. But that’s procedure for test flights. You back-up your back-ups. Especially on a flight like this.
Like the one [The Scientist] is taking right now.
Can I blame her for stealing the ship right out from under us? And the honor of the first flight from me? While I sit here on a medical bed dictating my thoughts to a nurse?
Hell, yes, I can. She’s not the only one with dreams that ached to be made real. Ryvynyostris, Son Of Naidhirr, one of the first true astronauts. That was going to be me.
And also, I can’t. After everything she’s done to come this far, to be told “Sorry, no. It’s not happening right now. Oh, and by the way, since the slime-ball who betrayed us all was connected to your build teams, we’ll probably be kicking you off the station before any launch gets a gold light.’’ I can see why she took desperate measures. Maybe I would have, too.
I also have to admit I’m impressed that she pulled it off. She must have had back-doors on back-doors installed, too, to get her access during an investigative lockdown. And nobody ever caught them. I can’t even imagine how she managed to get to the edge of the system with what had to be a small fleet on her tail. She must have been logging time on the simulators and never told anyone. Granted, they all would have had borders not to fire on several trillions worth of hardware. I look forward to reviewing the flight logs.
For what it’s worth, I hope her luck. The selfish bitch.
Translation 9-48-ISA
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Alxo’chtl Nanetli, Pre-Graduate Student, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Structural Engineer’s Log. Twentieth of Trentell, Year Three Hundred And Eleven Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Structural Engineer Rehbeinel reporting.
It’s been a month. I don’t suppose she’s coming back. I don't think it’s a matter of her not being able to come back. The Lightchaser Mark XVI is as close to perfect as I’m ever likely to come. We made a damned fine shiip, all of us. Everyone who worked with me knows how proud I am of them, even if it took me while to say it properly. With the obvious exception.
I saw the warning shots fired at her as with my own eyes. But it’s been confirmed that no one hit her. And that she made it past the oort cloud without a scratch. On her way to the great nothing beyond the stars. Nothing in her way but the occasional bit of dust or cluster off frozen gas. The note she left behind said she’d complete the mission. But I suppose we won’t know for sure for another five months.
I think she made it, and just kept moving forward.
We made a damned fine ship.
We’re overdue to start making another.
Translation 11-02-UTHIZ
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Bengu Qua’ztlin, Professor of Linguistics, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Personal Log, Captain Grozzadimus.
I’ve never liked waiting. I don’t suppose any Captain does. But waiting has always been part of leadership. The long inactivity between sorties on the battlefield, to which I can only speak in regards to war games. I do know the inexorable crawl of research and development. Of construction. Of investigation into heinous crimes, and the path towards justice for the accused.
Now, it’s the wait to see if an unsanctioned ‘test flight’ was successful. At least we have a general idea of when the wait will be over.
But how long will we wait for [The Scientist] to decide that she doesn’t want to be alone among the stars anymore? Will she ever? There’s no telling until she comes home.
All we can do is wait.
Chief Arlussioth is keeping the arrest warrant warm, I’m sure.
Translation 102-3-URUZ
Document Origin: Ancients’ Park, Kotayldr VII-E
Translation by: Huaumec Uaxip, Old-Tongues Restoration Project Volunteer
Mother -
Me and Pirgy and Chep are going up onto Mouth Shiezzissirth with the other Junior Solar Sailors to do some star-watching. The news is saying the first lights have shown up on the other side of Homeworld! We’re going to go and see if they’re making it all the way around the planet. There are supposed to be sixteen of them. Going off one after the other in a straight line, circling all the way around the night sky. That is, if [The Scientist] really did send out all the signals. I’ll be back… soon?
I hope you don’t get mad, but I really want to see this for myself. It’s just so cool!
Love you,
- Qimar
liquidfay Ages ago, a Dragon whose name has been lost to history discovered the secret to faster-than light travel. Now, her story must be reconstructed by a world that has forgotten it.The PDF version of this story features an illustration by
raventalonsThe Scientist
By: DankeDonuts
https://www.furaffinity.net/user/dankedonuts/
Featuring art by: raventalons
https://www.furaffinity.net/user/raventalons/
Translation 5-12-WUNJO
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Bengu Qua’ztlin, Professor of Linguistics, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Station Commander’s Log. Fifth of Trentell, Year Three Hundred And Five Of The Fourth Era*. Eighteen Hundred Fifteen Hours.
The starscape past my window is the same as it always is. A string of bright lights on the stellar horizon, planets that are brothers and sisters to the one below that I call my own. A steady string of smaller lights, the vessels that are always moving to and from these solar siblings. Beyond them all, the lights that we can only know with our eyes and our telescopes.
Below, the orbital shipyard in whose womb lies the growing vessel that may one day take us on our first steps into the larger cosmos.
What can I say about [The Scientist] that I haven't already? She’s dedicated. Driven to see her dreams, all our dreams, fulfilled. I think that’s the first thing that would come to anyone’s mind. One might almost say obsessed. She certainly puts her work first. I have the energy usage logs from her research labs to prove it. She practically lives down there. I don't think I’ve ever seen her attend a purely social event. She makes token appearances at formal events, such as promotion ceremonies. Barely staying into the receptions. No patience for receiving lines.
That’s not a bad thing, per say, assuming she maintains healthy mental and dietary practices. Which her primary Medical Officer assures me is the case. She’s hardly the first Dragon who prefers to keep to herself.
So, what to do about Lieutenant-Commander Craligouhyr?
He’s left another complaint with Personnel. Apparently, she bumped into him in a corridor outside of the mess tent and offered neither apology nor salute. In all likelihood, she didn’t even notice. Her head lost in some thought experiment or new set of equations. And he chose not to dress her down on the spot so that he could claim to have given her time to note and correct her error before adding another black mark to her record.
To be honest, I’m tired of smoothing over these things. We’re a long way past the days of grandiose Dragons lording over their golden hoards and cringing servants. There’s maintaining a sense of military decorum and there’s plain, simple arrogance!
Ultimately, of course, If our people are ever to reach the stars, it will be on [The Scientist’s] back. Not some gold-collar from Supply division.
It’s plain to me who the expendable member of the project is. If Craligouhyr keeps filing these complaints, I’ll have him transferred to the fuel refinement project on Ettai.
* Water damage on the original sample has degraded the text between the words “Fifth” and “starscape”. The month of Trentell is a best-guess, following consultation with other members of the document reconstruction team in regards to the Station Commander’s agreed-upon actions and the length of the illegible text. Full analysis of the matter is included in the attached document for your perusal. -- Prof. Qua’ztlin
Translation 6-09-FHEU
Document Origin: Musdutt Mound, Strata 3, Kotayldr III
Translation by: Master Sergeant Frodegorf, Rajlotuba Armed Forces
Hi, Sis!
Sorry if this letter took forever to reach you. Sorry you had to wait for a letter at all. Serpentis Station is running on radio silence. No transmissions of any kind without express permission of the upper deck. Except for emergencies, of course. Evacuations, that sort of thing. I’m perfectly safe here, really! It’s just that everyone seems super keyed-up about any of our data or research being scooped up by spies.
Whoever opened this in a security checkpoint… Hello to you, too!
So, what’s it like working with [The Scientist]? It’s amazing! She’s brilliant! Just brilliant! I’ve learned more just listening to her explaining her clear-boards than I ever did in five years at the Academy. Of course, I have the Academy and especially Professor Tardorrurth to thank for being able to understand her equations at all.
No, Mister Security Guy, I didn’t write any of them down here. Ha!
Where was I? Right, [The Scientist]. By her explaining I mean in a team setting. We haven't had much time to speak one-on-one yet. She’s incredibly busy, all the time. Never seems to stop for anything but food. Her dedication is so inspiring. I mostly communicate with her through her Number Two. And I’ve made lots of great friends among the design team. They’re brilliant too, and so much fun off-duty! We spend half our night partying and the other staying up all hours thinking out the latest design theories. With people like this working out the tech, I just know we’re going to get to be the generation that says, “We did it!”
And whoever thought a Kobold would be working on an FTL engine!!!
I absolutely love it here!
Tell Mom and Mom and Dad ‘hi’ for me!
Love, Adalheiz
Inter-office Memorandum
From: Vigghilnah
Date: RE-Y8, 7th Of Zezzim
Director-
I’d like to recommend we cut a few of the reconstruction images from the packet we give the media. Or at least make some firm statements that these selections are, at present, the best we have of limited options. I think we’re at risk of giving a false impression of who she might have been.
For instance, online communities are starting to call the Scientist “The Stardancer” thanks to this one:
The guys in Digital did outstanding work cleaning up the photo, and it definitely dates to the right time. And, yes, there are references that call her blue or purple or both. I just don’t see how it could be HER.
Is this Dragon dancing? Threatening someone? Putting on a mating display? Hard to say without a background to put the motion in context. But I suppose that’s beside the point. Regardless of what she’s doing, the pose seems a bit… expressive?... for one who’s described expressly as a retreating wallflower, quiet genius, or antisocial loner. And the body-art starscapes on her wings and tail, while lovely, would have required a great deal of close contact. Something she clearly eschewed.
- Viggy
Translation 3-02-HAGAL
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Alxo’chtl Nanetli, Pre-Graduate Student, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Station Security Log. Third of Bremin, Year Three Hundred And Six Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Chief Of Security Arlussioth reporting.
I spotted another one. This time, it was Tytamanth, the computer tech. Taking too long to leave the shipyard at the end of his shift. The shuttle back to the main station nearly left without him. I ‘just happened’ to be patrolling the relevant corridors when he came scuttling by with a mildly-guilty look on his maw. I personally escorted him to the launch bay.
Afterward, I went for a closer look inside the Lightchaser Marv V. I must say that not a great deal of consideration has been given to the comfort of the crew. But then one expects a certain ‘no frills’ aesthetic on prototypes. All part of ironing the last bugs out of the system. But even by prototype standards, the cockpit is tint. The thing’s practically all engine.
But the engines were not my concern. The fact that Tytamanth as the Dragon-come-lately made me pay extra attention to the primary and secondary computer banks. A bit of cajiggery with a magno-spanner and I found it inside the secondary, behind a relatively easily moved bit of insulated wiring. There’s always a spot where the ‘artists’ sign their work. In this case, it’s not just the engineers, but the members of team that mathed out all the designs that the engineers have been building from.
It wouldn’t be a problem if folks would just sign a piece of the ship. But they always have to be sneaky about it. They tell themselves that it's some kind of little rebellion against the rules. That they should never, ever be caught doing it, even though everyone knows that they will. And in acting like they’re doing something off-regs, they end up making me look for something off-regs. A colossal waste of time for everyone involved. Someone up top should just set down a rule telling engineers to splatter their signatures on the outside of the ships and let it be over with. But what do I know? I’m just the one that has to make a list of every suspicious act on or near the station, and then go chase everything on the list down.
Odd that [The Scientist]’s name wasn’t among the signatures. She’s never been much of a stickler for protocol, real or the kind specialized cliques like shipwrights make up for themselves. So that can’t be it. Does she not feel like part of her own team? Does she not want to be put in a position where she’d have to report them to me? I wonder about these things. She’s a tough nut to crack. A question I’d like more answers to.
Translation 6-15-JERA
Document Origin: Private Collection, Origin Analysis Pending
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
The following missive has been confirmed to have been written in the hand of Chief Structural Engineer Rehbeinel. -- C. Tlec
OK, team, I know this has been a rough day for all of us. That’s life on the bleeding edge of transportation technology. Some days, you feel like everything’s come together. The math, the materials, the muscle. The thrill of knowing you’ve made something that never existed before. Other days are like… today. Speaking of life, let’s all be grateful that nobody died.
And let’s all be very glad that none of us has to pay for the replacement parts!
(Hold for laughter)
It’s never easy watching so much work and blood and sweat go up in flames like we all just did. Years of work gone in an instant. I can promise you, though, that we will get past this. We’ll learn from mistakes made, and we’ll do just that much better next time around. I speak from experience. I still remember my first posting, finishing the build on the orbital thrusters for the old Hydral stations. The cascade failure that very brought us all falling down to a very big, very solid planet… In simulations, anyway. Crash after crash after crash.
Well, we got the problem sorted out in the end. Just like we’re going to do here.
Remember, our job is to build these things the way our friends on the Design Team tell us to. We tell them how it can be done better or safer, when we know what better and safer are. Sometimes, though, we have to trust that the math works out the way they say it will and forage ahead in mutual discovery. That’s theoretical engineering for you. We can’t always go by the book, because we’re still writing it.
So let’s close this chapter and start the next with fresh eyes and eager hands. One way or another, we’re going to get this engine made. I for one am looking forward to seeing what improvements [The Scientist] / the Design Team is preparing for the Mark VI.
(Hold for applause)
(If [The Scientist] shows up, use her name.)
(She won’t show up. She probably blames Assembly for the whole mess.)
Translation 8-22-LAGUZ
Document Origin: Great Library of Hidail, Antiquities Hoard, Kotayldr Prime
Translation by: Archivist Girdvarr, Great Library of Hidail
From the Desk Of [The Instructor], Deozymevro University Chair Of Mathematics
[The Scientist]-
Do you like my little joke? I had my secretary work up the letterhead. Turns out we still had scans of the kind we used back in the days before everything went to digital. I find it helps to find a bit of humor in the darkest of places. A little candle to light the way out.
But that was never your way, was it? Oh, my dear friend. Your heart must be aching so. But whom do you share it with? I don’t mean to say a lover, and I remember well the situation with your relations. But do you have anyone on that station with whom you can share the burden? If there was one thing that I wish you had taken from your instruction -- aside from the obvious, of course-- it's that you don’t have to go through the joys and despairs of this life alone.
Forgive me. I know that’s not the advice you came to me for. Fear not. I have pages to spare to discuss your questions.
I’ll start with the fuel source. The difficulties in synthesizing this new element and keeping it stable at operating temperatures does indeed appear to be at the heart of many of your project’s troubles. Your calculations can hardly be argued with. Are you certain there is no other way to achieve the energy output you require? I understand how committed you are to moving forward with this design philosophy, of course. I’ve kept a data-chip of your thesis paper in my office for reference as I’ve watched your career bloom. I wish I’d been there on the day you activated the accelerator and forged that very first atom. When … [Document damaged beyond repair]
Aversion to heat seems to be one of the element’s primary characteristics. A surprising one at that. I’ve given that a great deal of thought in the past few days. I shall include a copy of my musings with this letter, in hopes that you see something in the equations that even I cannot … [Document damaged beyond repair] … should help you overcome the problem of … [Document damaged beyond repair]
[Document damaged beyond repair]
Not that you shouldn’t be proud of your success thus far. By all means, be proud! I expect you’ll win the Orraylyd Prize just for accomplishing the synthesis. With that notoriety, you’ll have no trouble winning new and eager minds to the project. More viewpoints from which to look at the problem.
Yours in numbers,
- [The Instructor]
Translation 7-33-GALAZ
Document Origin: Great Library of Hidail , Antiquities Hoard, Kotayldr Prime
Translation by: Archivist Porariefaa, Great Library of Hidail
One of the first things I learned in the Junior Solar Sailors was the paradox of habitation thermodynamics in space. The reason why space is so cold is that there’s no medium through which heat can be transferred to or maintained within it. (Planets, stars, nebulae, and the like are all themselves closed systems). Therefore, all heat produced within a habitable construct, such as a solar sailor or this very station will necessarily remain within that system. Every calorie of heat put out by a living being -- though exhalation, sweating, running a fever -- is trapped there. Same for the heat coming off improperly insulated wires, inefficient lights, overworked computers and so on. The warmth that gets into the air can only radiate as far as the furthest bulkhead. Degrees upon degrees upon degrees stacking up. If you don't properly maintain and swap your heat-sinks, a ship or station full of astronauts will slowly, inevitably, turn into an oven.
That’s what it’s like working with [The Scientist]. She’s so cold you can’t help but heat way up.
And I am through. I am tired of working with someone who’s default state is cold indifference to her coworkers. Someone who can’t be bothered with anyone who isn’t immediately useful to whatever she happens to be working on or thinking about. Someone who doesn’t even have respect enough for her co-workers to remember their names.
It was bad enough when she seemed to know what she was doing. Not that she would explain much of it. But now that her magic mineral has gone belly up and she’s as lost as the rest of us as to what steps to take to get the FTL research back on track, the distance between proper direction for this program and those who need and expect it has become insurmountable.
I thereby render my resignation from Project Serpentis effective immediately. With-hold my bonus. Lower my security rating. Put me to work scrubbing latrines in a zero-G. Or toss me right out of the company. I don’t care. I won’t spend another day in her presence.
Respectfully-
Degatorth Son Of Nundronarth
Translation 3-55-RKANA
Document Origin: Mennyt Blast Zone, Kotayldr VII-B
Translation by: Gyrdzuma Acu’dir, Third Archaeologist, Mennyt Excavation Project
I trust you understand the importance of this message by the means that I took to get it to you.
If you hadn't guessed, I’m calling in one of the favors you owe me. Let’s make it two.
It’s this Drake they brought in to replace Degatorth. Technically, he’s replacing Adalheiz, since she moved into head of the Design Team. [The Traitor]. I don’t like it. Can’t put my talon on why, but I don't.
There were red flags on his background check that would have had the military vetoing his application to enter a Junior Solar Sailors campus, much less an ultra-grey facility. Distant relatives in unsavory professions. Now all of a sudden, he’s a golden boy civilian consultant with a ticket to play with our toys.
Am I being paranoid? Yes. I’m Chief Of Security here at Serpentis. Paranoid is my job.
Here’s what I want you to do. What I need you to do. Let’s be very clear here: I am not asking, and you are not saying no. Wheedle your way into Int-Com’s data-hoard. You know the place. Dig around. Chat up the archivists like you’re so good at doing. Find out if there’s something -- anything -- that the approval committee overlooked. Or if anyone went out of their way to ignore it.
I’m counting on you.
- A
Translation 2-40-ZAGAD
Document Origin: Document Origin: Mennyt Blast Zone, Kotayldr VII-B
Translation by: Gyrdzuma Acu’dir, Third Archaeologist, Mennyt Excavation Project
Quartermaster’s Log. Ninth of Chyrvot. Lieutenant-Commander Craligouhyr reporting.
I’ve always been wary of civilian projects embedded in military facilities. It’s a matter of integration towards our way of doing things. SpaceReach is a culture all its own, with its own customs and taboos. It is incumbent upon those we welcome into our protective arms that they at least show a modicum of respect to how things are done. Have always done. But so many barely try and don’t want to. They sneer with contempt at the very idea of military service, let alone show us the dignity that we are expected to show one another.
[The Scientist] is no different. In fact, she’s worse. I don’t go in for the pop-culture narrative of socially stunted super-geniuses. If a Dragon’s so smart, why can’t they learn basic etiquette? Yes, Sir. No, Sir. Thank you, Sir. It’s not hard. She knows what she’s doing! She knows that no one else would get away with it. Even members of her own teams. Holding her essential part in the FTL project out as an excuse to disrespect the chain of command. Relying on her reputation, or the Captain’s good graces to keep her out of trouble.
But [The Traitor] is different. He gets it. I like him.
Take today’s requisition meeting. [The Scientist] walked in with some of her underlings, and hands over a list of things she says she wants that she assumes she will get simply because she asked for them. In some cases things I’d never heard of. Or things that would take weeks of clearing through Arlussioth to get aboard the station. All for this New Phase she’s cooking up.
She didn’t really try to explain why she needed any of it. She just threw a bunch of equations at me and pretended to be helpless if I couldn’t understand them, like she always does. And she kept acting like she had somewhere else to be. Apparently, she left Adalheiz monitoring some experiment in quantum flux recapture.
But [The Traitor], he sat me down over a drink at the Officer’s Lounge later and explained to me, step by step, what the relevance of these items was. I can’t pretend to understand it all, but I gather that the basic idea is to use that Element of hers in concert with some new alloys she’s envisioning to make a self-sustaining engine core that draws power from its own instabilities in order to trick itself into stabilizing itself. Again, not so hard when someone wants to try. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in future meetings.
Rehbeinel was his usual forgettable self.
Translation 8-19-OTHALA
Document Origin: Private Collection, Kotayldr Prime
Translation by: Translation by: Keldaridrr, Old-Tongues Restoration Project Volunteer
[The Scientist],
We missed you at the funeral. The ceremony was a short one, and very much what he would have liked. You could have come, I’m sure. Your grandfather didn’t really understand you. I suppose none of us do. There’s a distance that I’ve never really been able to bridge. But he tried. He certainly worked to encourage you when you were young. I remember the books and tools that would come from him on your birthdays. He gave you your first microscope and chemistry set and at least one of the astronomy texts that’s still in your storage horde here at the house.
I took the liberty of pulling that out. The dedication, I think, holds as much meaning today as it did then.
‘My dearest girl… The world is an incredible place to discover. I hope this helps you further along your journey. But don’t forget to take time to discover yourself, too.’
I know that what you’re doing is important. That you believe you can’t afford to be away from it for a moment. But I’m sure he would have wanted you there when he passed.
But I’m trying very hard not to blame you for denying him that little bit of comfort.
For your grandfather’s sake, I’ll keep trying.
With love,
Your Mother
Translation 7-03-EIWAZ
Document Origin: Document Origin: Document Origin: Doldrut Flood Plain, Kotayldr VI
Translation by: Master Sergeant Frodegorf, Rajlotuba Armed Forces
Dear Diary,
It worked! WE DID IT!
The nano-tube scaffolding stabilized our new isotope. We now have space-worthy fuel cells that can withstand their own energy output. WE HAVE WORKING FUEL CELLS! This Design Team took a critical failure and MASSIVE PR nightmare and created something that will change the worlds.
We will change the worlds.
(Writing it down again just to look at it and let it sink in.)
We really will. Because energy that can power a ship to FLT speeds can power darn near anything it wants. This station. The whole fleet. Whole cities. The possibilities are [sic] No more wars over resources. No more exploitation of colony worlds and the people who live on them. No more people left out in the cold.
I have rarely ever seen [The Scientist] smile. No matter what has happened in the ups and downs of this project, she just takes everything as it comes and moves to the next project or the next phase of a project. Today, I saw her cry. I think I cried a little too. I sure as heck hugged a bunch of people!
I know this journal is just a means for me to work out my thoughts, and I’m contractually obliged to incinerate it when we’re done here, but during the celebration dinner Tytamanth was talking like all of our paper work just became historical documents. Artifacts that historians will pour over for decades. Centuries even. We all just laughed him off. He’s excitable that way. But now, I’m starting to think he maybe was right. Maybe I should talk to the Captain about handing some things over for the WorldsFleet data-hoard. Later. Much later. There’s still a lot -- A LOT -- of work to do.
With all that out of the way, if you’re reading this from the future… Hi. These first steps into the larger galaxy are a gift to you. The rest are yours to take. I can only imagine how much further you’ve gotten. - Adalheiz
Translation 5-71-TIWAZ
Document Origin: Private Collection, Possible Black-Market Item
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
The following missive has been confirmed to have been written in the hand of Chief Structural Engineer Rehbeinel. -- C. Tlec
(This speech needs more work. Finish over lunch.)
The Captain and [The Scientist] have discussed the project's next steps, and they went with my recommendation: We’re stepping back to unmanned drones. That’s the right way to do it. If anyone had actually been in the Mark V when it went up, we might not all be working here anymore.
I want to put the new engine into a Mark II chassis, with certain modifications to account for any possible fluctuations in the fuel cell’s heat output.
- The underframe will need reinforcing to Mark IV levels.
- Let’s find space for another two heat sinks. One dedicated to the computers.
- Install Adalheiz’s revamped quantum flux manifold. It’s 20-percent smaller, so that will help with the heat sinks.
We won't be instituting your new CPU upgrades, Tytamanth, sorry. In fact, I want to streamline the computers to below Mark I stats. Assume the hard-drives are going to overheat and plan accordingly. We’ll keep your goods on hold for the next manned craft. For right now, dumber is better. All we need this bird to do is reach the relay site in one piece, preferably not a molten glob of metal, and send a confirmation signal back.
Lightchaser Mark II-A. Let’s get to work.
Translation 2-22-URUZ
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Bengu Qua’ztlin, Professor of Linguistics, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Station Commander’s Log. Twentieth of Yntraich, Year Three Hundred And Nine Of The Fourth Era. Eighteen Hundred Fifteen Hours.
There’s a palpable buzz in the canned air of Shipyard Nine, and a little extra flair in the maneuvers of the exosuited mechanics. Every one of Mister Rehbeinel’s structural engineers are working at a pace that I only wish all shipwrights would. Each time I look down there from my ready room window, the Mark II-A Lightchaser is a little bit bigger. A little more filled out. A long, silver needle pointing towards destiny. They really believe these new engines are going to work, and they’re going the extra miles to bring us closer to the day when we’ll see them fire. I couldn’t be more proud.
Even [The Scientist] is showing a bit of the community spirit. On this evening’s walkthrough, I saw her stopping to help talk someone with the finer points of realigning the telemetry systems to account for the new hardware. She smiled kindly to the yeoman who came by to double-check some calculations from Stellar Cartography. And she was even quite happy to see me personally. Very eager to detail the latest developments on her engine simulations. The last of the bugs from the scale model having been worked out, we’re on schedule to begin constructing the real deal in the next few weeks.
Speaking with her is always informative, but today was one of the few times I’ve heard real passion in her voice. She’s never been the most social Dragon, so it’s a refreshing change to see her be more involved with the people around her.
Just goes to show what a little positive energy can do.
Translation 11-20-GEBO
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Stellar Cartographer’s Log. Third of Genim, Year Three Hundred And Ten Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Chief Of Astrometrics Indrinariam recording.
Is it possible to become bored with the most incredible thing ever? The spectral analysis of the images captured by Lightchaser are complete. Relative positioning mapping crosschecks the results. The math checks out. The drone went one-third of a light year out from our system, closer to the galactic core, snapped a sphere’s worth of photographs, and then circled around our stem doing much the same. Well, not so much a circle as a spiral, reducing distance from Homestar to account for time spent traveling. As astoundingly short an amount of travel it was.
Every single picture says that the ship really did go that far out. Twice as far as the Mark I. That it did it faster. And that it traveled much, much, further. The Mark I, remember, only made one target zone and put out one transmission before apparently going off line. And, most importantly, this drone returned home to give us its data.
But, of course that data can be faked. I wouldn’t put it past [The Scientist] to tell a white lie here and there if it keeps her funded.
The clincher will come in four months’ time, when we start receiving the transmissions the Lightchaser sent while it was taking pictures. Infra-red bursts of the prime numbers. Visible spectrum. Radio-waves of some music the Build Team is fond of. There will be no hiding them.
Every ship in the fleet, every commercial and military telescope, every hobbyist with a back-yard telescope will be able to see them. The signals will be analyzed by thousands of beings using hundreds of disparate facilities spread out across a dozen planets.
In the end, it will be plain old spectral analysis -- comparison and composition of light -- that proves once and for all if [The Scientist]’s team has truly broken the light barrier. The same old thing people like me have been doing for centuries.
Again, is it possible to become bored with the most incredible thing ever?
I suppose we’ll find out in four months.
Translation 11-34-RAIDHO
Document Origin: Supreme Museum Of Antiquities, Kotayldr Prime
Translation by: Varfrid, Second Conservator, Supreme Museum Of Antiquities
[Translator’s note: this document is part of the Yoliyahua Cache, which are held by a considerable percentage of historians to be forgeries.]
To the students of Ciddrunythi’s Fifth Circle Class, Ollunloth Preparatory School…
Thank you all for the kind letters. Reading them over the past few days has really touched my heart. It means a lot to know that there are hatchlings like you pulling for me. I’m sorry I can’t reply to every one of your letters individually, but there are only so many hours in the day, even way out here on the edge of the system. And you can probably guess what I spend most of my time doing: Prepping for the big flight. THE big flight. Faster than light. I’m about to be one of the first people ever to achieve such a milestone (and the first Wyvern, period) and I can still hardly believe it.
Prepping means a lot of time in some a fancy flight simulator. They nut-bolters here at Serpentis Station have put together a real top-notch rig for me and my crew to get our bearings in. A full-scale model of the Lightchaser, from the command module all the way to the breaking thrusters on the back end. Exact in every detail. Even the scratch on one of the helm consoles from where someone scraped an ion-welder across the side of the real ship has been reproduced.
We unofficially call the test flight the ‘swing around.’ As in swinging around the system the way the probe did a couple years back. Our circle, though, will be slightly larger than the one that created all those extra lights in the sky. A full half-light year from Homestar. My crew and I don’t just practice those particular maneuvers, though. If anything goes wrong on the maiden voyage, we’re the ones who’ll have to fix it. We drill all kinds of emergency scenarios. I’m not permitted to give you any particulars, but I don’t think the brass will mind if I tell you one little secret… Last week, I plugged a hole in the exterior shell (we faked a meteor strike) by melting the grappling arm with the heat exhaust from the main rocket!
Don’t ever let anyone tell you the learning stops after you’re out of school. If you’re lucky, you’ll learn something new every day of the rest of your life.
A lot of you have asked about [The Scientist]. What she’s like, and what she does off-duty. the truth is I’ve not had a lot of chances to get to know her. And (here’s a little secret) I’ve never actually seen her off-duty. She’s as dedicated to this mission as anyone I’ve ever met. Always thinking up new problems before they’re encountered, and then working up the solution. It’s inspirational, really. I’m glad and proud to be working with someone with such fine attention to detail. Details which (I hope I’m not being too ‘dark’ for your teacher) will probably keep me alive. And, of course, she’s hardly the only one involved in making this project possible. But I’ll leave it to them to tell you about that in their own words.
If being the test pilot for Dragonkind’s first FTL flight has taught me anything, it’s that anything is possible if we all work together in common cause. My hope for you is that you’ll all carry that lesson in yourselves wherever the future might lead you.
… Ryvynyostris, Son Of Naidhirr, Commander SpaceReach
Translation 6-07-GEBO
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Structural Engineer’s Log. Eighteenth of Olbdys, Year Three Hundred And Eleven Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Structural Engineer Rehbeinel reporting.
It’s done. The Lightchaser is finished. She’s sitting in drydock waiting for her crew to take her to the stars.
Tonight, we party.
Tomorrow, we make history.
I wonder if I’ll still have to write down all of my logs a week from now.
Translation 4-12-FEHU
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Camax’Tli Tlec, Doctoral Candidate, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Station Security Log. Nineteenth of Olbdys, Year Three Hundred And Ten Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Chief Of Security Arlussioth reporting.
Commander Ryvynyostris, Son Of Naidhirr, is in the infirmary in critical condition. The other members of the Lightchaser flight crew are dead. As are a number of my own officers, killed in the line of duty while attempting to rescue them from a compromised solar sailor launch bay. And my suspicions about [The Traitor] have proven all too horribly correct.
They were sly. They were quiet. They were subtle. They spent years working themselves to a position where they could access the Lightchaser design specifications. And in the end, they were ruthless. Not caring at all for the lives they were risking or ending in their failed scheme.
I’ll leave it to the Captain to detail the heroics through which Ryvynyostris and his fellows managed to keep the plans from leaving Serpentis. That is not pertinent to this log. Suffice to say, this traitor utilized the time wherein everyone else was celebrating to sneak about and acquire nearly enough to build another Lightchaser. They knew where to go to find it all. All but a few select data-points which [The Scientist] apparently keeps in her head. I would expect, as [The Traitor] must have believed, that the holes could be filled in with effort and experimentation.
Computer Operations informs me that while much of the electronic data was accessed and copies, none was deleted. But there’s many hand-written documents were lost when [The Traitor]’s escape attempt went down in literal flames.
As of this report there is also no firm answer as to how many accomplices [The Traitor] had, nor whom they were ultimately working for. Though I have my suspicions that the plans would have ended up for sale to the highest bidder. But we have one. And, with the Captain’s permission, I shall personally handle the interrogation of one Lieutenant-Commander Craligouhyr.
Translation 5-05-ANSUZ
Document Origin: Mennyt Blast Zone, Kotayldr VII-B
Translation by: Gyrdzuma Acu’dir, Third Archaeologist, Mennyt Excavation Project
I’m not going to wait for my interrogation. The Brig-Master gave me utensils with which to compose my thoughts, and I’m going to put them to use.
I, Lieutenant-Commander Craligouhyr, did knowingly provide aid to [The Traitor] in the form of requisitioning items onto Serpentis Station under his direct request and in my position of station Quartermaster. Items which were used in attempted theft and the deaths of three members of the Lightchaser flight crew. Whether murder or manslaughter, I do not know. I offer no defense for my actions. I throw myself on the mercy of the Captain and those who will stand in judgment of me at my court martial.
I trusted him. I believed him when he said he needed things. I didn’t question anything listed on the requisition forms that he gave to me. In retrospect, I suppose the reason why I started receiving so many requisition forms from him was precisely because [The Scientist] and the rest of her people started handing them over to him. Precisely because I didn’t give his requests the sort of scrutiny that I always did the rest. He made himself invaluable to the requisition process and used that against all of us. Because I let him.
I let my guard down. And I regret doing so. I never thought this day would come. Not from him. I thought he understood how things are supposed to be. He fooled me. He used me. And now three Dragons are dead. I expect a resignation is in my future, assuming I still have a career to resign from following the court martial.
What’s done is done. I can’t change the past. But I can document my part in it in the hopes of fighting the criminal investigation into the attempted theft of the Lightchaser plans. Henceforth follows an account, to the best of my recollection, of my every interaction with [The Traitor].
[DOCUMENT MISSING]
Translation 8-18-WUNJO
Document Origin: Document Origin: Doldrut Flood Plain, Kotayldr VI
Translation by: Master Sergeant Frodegorf, Rajlotuba Armed Forces
I could smell [The Traitor]’s stink on the cover of my old journal. He was here, in my quarters. Rummaging through my things. Taking photographs and doing who knows what else. Security took it, and a few other things as evidence. I hope they throw him out an airlock. No, I hope they bury him in the deepest, darkest hole on the coldest, furthest moon and send him just enough food and water to keep him alive and miserable for a long, long time. Maybe that’s too dark. But I do want him to regret what he’s done. Who he’s hurt.
I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about everything. The invasion of my privacy. The defiling of an achievement that would have and will elevate all of our peoples spread out on so many planets and moons. Two good people lying dead in the morgue. And now the order has come that the launch has been scrapped pending an investigation. How long will that go on? Will they find some reason to shut the project down altogether?
I can’t imagine how [The Scientist] must feel. The dream and work of a lifetime hanging by a thread. I’ve only been part of same work, shared the same dream, for such a short time. But the thought of it being taken away…
I just feel awful.
-Adalheiz
Translation 8-18-ISA
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-B
Translation by: Alxo’chtl Nanetli, Pre-Graduate Student, University Of Dia’D’Ln
I can’t believe she did it. But she did.
I knew the ship could be handled by a single individual. It had never been officially stated to be so, but one look in the simulator told me everything I needed to realize that. Grendynn on Navigation and Dorvienth at the Engineering console were redundant elements. They knew it too, because they knew their stuff. But that’s procedure for test flights. You back-up your back-ups. Especially on a flight like this.
Like the one [The Scientist] is taking right now.
Can I blame her for stealing the ship right out from under us? And the honor of the first flight from me? While I sit here on a medical bed dictating my thoughts to a nurse?
Hell, yes, I can. She’s not the only one with dreams that ached to be made real. Ryvynyostris, Son Of Naidhirr, one of the first true astronauts. That was going to be me.
And also, I can’t. After everything she’s done to come this far, to be told “Sorry, no. It’s not happening right now. Oh, and by the way, since the slime-ball who betrayed us all was connected to your build teams, we’ll probably be kicking you off the station before any launch gets a gold light.’’ I can see why she took desperate measures. Maybe I would have, too.
I also have to admit I’m impressed that she pulled it off. She must have had back-doors on back-doors installed, too, to get her access during an investigative lockdown. And nobody ever caught them. I can’t even imagine how she managed to get to the edge of the system with what had to be a small fleet on her tail. She must have been logging time on the simulators and never told anyone. Granted, they all would have had borders not to fire on several trillions worth of hardware. I look forward to reviewing the flight logs.
For what it’s worth, I hope her luck. The selfish bitch.
Translation 9-48-ISA
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Alxo’chtl Nanetli, Pre-Graduate Student, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Structural Engineer’s Log. Twentieth of Trentell, Year Three Hundred And Eleven Of The Fourth Era. Nineteen Hundred. Structural Engineer Rehbeinel reporting.
It’s been a month. I don’t suppose she’s coming back. I don't think it’s a matter of her not being able to come back. The Lightchaser Mark XVI is as close to perfect as I’m ever likely to come. We made a damned fine shiip, all of us. Everyone who worked with me knows how proud I am of them, even if it took me while to say it properly. With the obvious exception.
I saw the warning shots fired at her as with my own eyes. But it’s been confirmed that no one hit her. And that she made it past the oort cloud without a scratch. On her way to the great nothing beyond the stars. Nothing in her way but the occasional bit of dust or cluster off frozen gas. The note she left behind said she’d complete the mission. But I suppose we won’t know for sure for another five months.
I think she made it, and just kept moving forward.
We made a damned fine ship.
We’re overdue to start making another.
Translation 11-02-UTHIZ
Document Origin: Serpentis Station Archaeological Recovery Project, Kotayldr IIX-A
Translation by: Bengu Qua’ztlin, Professor of Linguistics, University Of Dia’D’Ln
Personal Log, Captain Grozzadimus.
I’ve never liked waiting. I don’t suppose any Captain does. But waiting has always been part of leadership. The long inactivity between sorties on the battlefield, to which I can only speak in regards to war games. I do know the inexorable crawl of research and development. Of construction. Of investigation into heinous crimes, and the path towards justice for the accused.
Now, it’s the wait to see if an unsanctioned ‘test flight’ was successful. At least we have a general idea of when the wait will be over.
But how long will we wait for [The Scientist] to decide that she doesn’t want to be alone among the stars anymore? Will she ever? There’s no telling until she comes home.
All we can do is wait.
Chief Arlussioth is keeping the arrest warrant warm, I’m sure.
Translation 102-3-URUZ
Document Origin: Ancients’ Park, Kotayldr VII-E
Translation by: Huaumec Uaxip, Old-Tongues Restoration Project Volunteer
Mother -
Me and Pirgy and Chep are going up onto Mouth Shiezzissirth with the other Junior Solar Sailors to do some star-watching. The news is saying the first lights have shown up on the other side of Homeworld! We’re going to go and see if they’re making it all the way around the planet. There are supposed to be sixteen of them. Going off one after the other in a straight line, circling all the way around the night sky. That is, if [The Scientist] really did send out all the signals. I’ll be back… soon?
I hope you don’t get mad, but I really want to see this for myself. It’s just so cool!
Love you,
- Qimar
Category Story / All
Species Western Dragon
Size 120 x 120px
File Size 388.4 kB
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