Best Of

Haven't been uploading art for so long! These two are to celebrate the official release of this game . Thanks to all the developers whom have spent son much time making this game that has made my life special.

I think I have been quoted as saying
"If you want multiplayer program it yourself"

And you did just that

Chapter 42: Three's a Pattern

Nate sat at his cubicle at Alterra HQ. He was one of a whole room filled of coms officers. Their jobs ranged from assisting vessels with directions, to dealing with distress signals. While most of his comrades were busy informing other ships about a planet's weather or walking them through the proper airlock cycling procedure, Nate sat staring at his computer screen. On the screen was a starmap zoomed in on planet 4546B.

"Coms completely silent for months now... If there were any survivors, shouldn't there have been some communication attempt by now?
Surely some one survived who could build a two-way strong enough to reach us..."

He worked his jaw continuing to ponder the situation.

"That's two ships that have gone missing in orbit around 4546B. First that Mongolian ship, now the Aurora...

"Here's your usual," said a voice behind him. It was Brent, a good friend of his holding out a sandwich in a wraper.

"Oh thanks," He said taking it and setting it on his desk.

"Just got a new report in," Brent began as he leaned against the wall of Nate's cubicle. "A bulldog class merchant ship called the Sunbeam on the outskirts of planet 4546B's system reported receiving the Aurora's distress signal and went in to investigate. After entering the atmosphere, the coms went to static and then completely cut out. Ship's signal completely disappeared. Not even any black box data or distress call and no indication that the lifepod was jettisoned in the minute of static before complete loss of contact."

"What?! That's the third ship in a row that has gone missing in orbit around 4546B!" Nate said in half anger half sorrow.

"Yeah, rumors are going around that something 'fishy' is happening on that ocean planet," Brent said with a chuckle.

"Well one's an accident. Two's a coincidence. Three's a pattern. Something is definitely going on there. We still haven't received a single signal from the Aurora since a few hours after planet fall. Not a com link and not even a lifepod distress signal. The planet's been dead silent for the last four months... Who'd we lose on the Sunbeam?"

Brent switched a bag of sandwiches he was carrying from his right to his left hand and pulled out his PDA with this right, "Cpt. Avery Quinn 45, Co-Pilot Derek Lanston 22, Pilot Westly Tamar 27, Nav. Officer Carson Rainer 25, and Engineer Jerret Valis 34."

"God save their souls... Uhhg, It's not looking good. The Sunbeam was the only ship close enough to investigate at the time and now their disappearance makes it even less likely there'll be any survivors for the Everest to pick up. I'm not going to give up on the Aurora though. The automated distress signal was still going even a few days after planet fall, and the data in the signal indicated 26 lifepods successfully jettisoned. That's a minimum of 26 survivors out there some where. Why they haven't tried to contact us or why we've not picked up their distress signals, I don't know, but they're out there... When was the last communication with the Everest?"

Brent took a bite from his sandwich and tried to scarf it down so he could answer.

"This morning. They called in to report their position. They're one month from the rendezvous point with any survivors from the Aurora. Once there, they'll be in range to do a detailed scan for survivors on the planet or in space. If no one is detected, they're prepared to investigate the planet themselves."

"Wait they're planning to go in if no one shows up at the rendezvous? Have you warned them that a third vessel has been lost indicating a dangerous pattern?"

"Was getting ready to after I delivered everyone's lunch orders. I'm going to advise 'em to stay out of 4546B's orbit and to send in some recon drones."

"Okay good. The last thing we need is to lose a military vessel. Not only would it be more expensive, but that thing is five times bigger than the Aurora. The loss of life would be horrific if it became the fourth loss."

"Yeah we're not going to lose another ship, don't you worry. It's slow and methodical from this point on and 'sides, its an Assault Frigate."

"Are they prepared to get into combat if we find out there's some criminal organization operating from there?"

"Oh yeah, you bet your buttons they are. Five long range ventral mass drivers, twenty dorsal close range mass drivers, and plenty of anti fighter turrets."

"I sure hope so..."

"Alright, I gotta deliver the rest of these sandwiches so I can get back to work and call the Everest, see ya buddy," Brent said with a pat on the shoulder.

Nate turned around in his chair back toward the monitor. The planet was still silent. He zoomed all the way out until the solar system 4546B was in was reduced to a spec. Until the FMS Everest's symbol was visible.

"I hope there's some one for you to pick up... Some one to tell us what the heck is going on down there..."

It's been an entire SIX AND A HALF MINUTES and i am internally screaming