New Lafayette

May 5

I sent Consulari Raghilda a private message:

*** Consulari. What do you know about the Jade Revolution? ***

She replied:

*** Secured Encrypted Channel ***

USD citizen and officer Ito Naminosaki witnessed a desert robed albino by the name of "Jade Died For Our Sins". Another witness spotted a more casually garbed albino named "Jade Died for Your Sins" A person wearing a bunny mask was witnessed by several people including LilyBell Snoodle.

Soon thereafter, I received a threatening note. Apparently Serendipity Undercroft and Doctor Issacs received one also.

*** End transmission ***

-----

May 9 - New Lafayette

The Consulari was kind enough to forward me the original of the letter she had received. I decided to intercept the item on my way to Araxes. One call and it was waiting for me in a sealed evidence bag at the UAP District Office on New Lafayette. 



New Lafayette was one of the three moons orbiting the planet Three Hills in the Georgia system. Of Border world moons, it was a pearl.



The architecture breathed style and wealth. Buildings boasted a blend of French and Spanish colonial styles. Flat tile roofs and stucco walls. Cast iron galleries and walled, shaded courtyards. Fashionable houses that lined narrow, flagstone streets.


 

Like its fellow moon, Conrad, New Lafayette was a favorite vacation spot for travellers from across the Verse, largely due to its pleasant climate, a wealth of lush green islands and clear waters.

 

If Ceasar and I ever get a chance for a holiday, I will suggest we spend it here on a riverboat on the Vermilion River.


-----

To the Consulari Jai Raghilda Lordhunter, nee Oyl.

There is a time for action and a time for words. You have shown aptitude for neither.
Like the Companion, Calina, you have betrayed the Albino Messiah and sit in the Government of the Unholy Sovereign, a poodle of the blasphemous Magistrate.

Do you not remember the days on Eavesdown Docks when you would collect your gowns from the dress-shop? So difficult to find your size. Calina and Sweet Jade would work for hours to tailor for you.
Always red for the Consulari. Was there any other colour? No greens or blues or yellows for the Consulari.

Only red.
The colour of blood.
A colour so befitting of you.

Do you rest easily Consulari knowing you let the investigation into your friend evaporate into the moist desert air?

You have the opportunity of salvation. We offer it to you now.

Know then, that choosing to go against us will lead to question the value of your life. We, the Jade Revolution, will not rest until the Messiah is avenged. She would not spill water so she would not spill blood.

We are not so forgiving.

We will be in touch.

----The Jade Revolution

The Second Letter

May 4



It was more of a private club than a public gathering place.

A heavy wooden bar to one side as you walked in. Well-stocked with expensive spirits and brandies. Decorated with marzipan and delicate pastries. A dining area and cuisine to satiate the appetites of the most jaded epicurean.

To the immediate right, a small comfortable lounge was situated. It was here I came to meet the Companion, Calina Tereshchenko.



"Ms. Tereshchenko," I greeted her with a smile.

Calina twisted around, "Major! A pleasure to see you again. How are you?"

"I am well thank you."

"Please join me," she invited, "Would you like a drink?"

"Yes please," I said as I settled into the chair across from her, "a coffee would be fine."

From where I sat, I had a good view of the door and a commanding view of the room itself. The window was wide and I could see the approach from the street. In the event of emergency, the room at the back of the establishment was lit only with candles. The darkness and shadow would provide temporary cover.

"A delightful place this," I remarked.



The Companion leaned over the arm of the chair and called out an order for a coffee and another glass of wine in a mix of Chinese and Russian. "Yes, it is," she replied as she turned her attention back to our table.

"I must say I was not surprised when you contacted me..." I began and produced the communique I had received from the Jade Revolution. I reached across the table and passed it to Calina.

Our drinks arrived promptly.

Calina nodded to the barkeep as he brought a tray. "Spasiba," she said, handing him a few credits with a look letting him know that privacy is to be expected. She then skimmed the communique. "Your letter is nicer than the one I received," she remarked. "I almost threw the rabbit across the room. Not very Companion-like of me."

In turn, Calina handed me a note of her own.



----

Dearest Calina,

Do you remember the days of Eavesdown Docks? A little dress-shop, yes?
Do you remember the chickens?
The cats?
Ishkin?
Lynx?
The golden buddha?
The innocent albino girl who came to you with a note she couldn't read?
The Doctor who wanted to harvest her organs?
You took her in.
You worked together for so many happy hours, you and that young albino woman.
You were like sisters.
How you must have grieved when she left that on that fateful day.
   
Tell me, dearest Calina, how do you sleep at night?

The Laandsrat is tainted by evil. Sweet Jade knew this to be true.
The Blood Cure was evil. Sweet Jade knew this to be true.
Her death would be to their advantage. Sweet Jade knew this to be true.

Tell me, dearest Calina, how does your conscience feel sitting alongside those people?

The time has come for your salvation, dearest Calina. I know the guilt must sit heavily upon your heart. You have the chance to put right your sins and be a beacon of the new dawn. I believe you will help us.  To believe you would betray the memory of your dearest friend - I can not think it of you.

I have left a small token. [a small jade rabbit]

The choice rests in your hands, dearest Calina.
To contact us : leave a message in the Rabbit and place it in the alcove to the right of the bridge facing entrance.

----The Jade Revolution

-----



I centered on one fact. "You have a way to contact these people...."

"Yes," replied Calina, "it would seem that I do. I have not contacted them yet because every time I start to write, only anger and hurt spills onto the page."

I nodded slowly.

The Companion picked up her wine glass, "Jade's gangster handler visited me the week before she was killed."

"Do you think there is a connection?" I asked.

"He was sitting in the tea room like he owned it," she said, "That... hwun dan. Somehow, yes. But, I don't think he killed her. He seemed to genuinely care for her. Not just seeing her as an organ incubator."

I looked at Calina's note again. The wheels began to turn...

She continued speaking, "It's been so long, I don't remember the whole conversation I had with him. He spoke of making sure she was safe. But, then again, she being the stubborn good-hearted girl she was, he could have killed or had someone else do it because she would have been bad for his illegal activities. But to the Jadists, I don't know what they are planning. For the Magistrate to call them terrorists is antithetical to everything Jade believed in. That girl wouldn't have hurt a fly."

"The writer of this note," I observed, "despite signing it 'The Jade Revolution'... writes in first person."



"A movement of one," remarked the Companion.

"Or the leader of a movement," I suggested. "Whoever he or she is... the writer knows details."

Calina nodded. "It would have to be someone Jade confided in." She chuckled, "Which would have been nearly everyone she met."

I inclined my head acknowledging the point, then frowned. "Leave a message in the Rabbit and place it in the alcove to the right of the bridge facing entrance.... which bridge?"

"I believe they are referring to an alcove," she replied, "near the Shanjian Manor."

"On Araxes."

Calina continued, "It is the last house before the bridge to the Magistrate's Keep. Yes, on Araxes."

I nodded, "Do you intend to contact this person?"



"When I can write without wanting to shatter things, yes," she replied.

I turned my attention to the note I had received. Written using the plural, except for one instance:

Tell me Ms. Major: who looks after the little chicks now?

A rhetorical question perhaps, but I had to ask. "What did happen to Jade's chickens?"

"She sold them all. Used the credits to buy a kitten once she got on Araxes. I think she missed the chickens, though." Calina leaned back "I'm not entirely sure what to draw out of the Jade Revolution."

"Perhaps they intend to continue her work," I offered, "Perhaps it is something more. Both our letter speak of us finding salvation. Mine goes further... identifying the Consulari as The Betrayer."

A religious reference?

Calina raised an eyebrow and then grinned, "She did put you in red."

I smiled, "Yes, I remember it well"

She continued, "And given the Consulari's recent behavior with the Dawla and Laandsrat, I am not certain that statement is far from truth. I wouldn't necessarily call it treason but it was certainly a disrespect to the Laandstrat for her to do and end run around and get votes for that legislation in secret."

"Could this comment be a reference to that incident?" I asked.

The Companion replied, "Perhaps the writer knows something we do not. These letters were delivered well before that vote as far as I know. Perhaps the Consulari has other... dealings."

It was possible, of course.



"Or perhaps they are referring to the pledge to protect Jade. In that sense," she added, "all of us betrayed her." Calina continued, "That person has no idea how I grieved... that is what makes me angry."

I turned my attention back to Calina's letter and read, "'You have the chance to put right your sins and be a beacon of the new dawn.'... It sounds like they have plans," I remarked.

She met my gaze and in a moment of uncharacteristic emotion declared, "Part of me died with her. That despite the charges and being arrested, she was like a mei mei to me. This beautiful, sweet girl who saw the good in everything and everyone... who could draw smiley faces on the armor of a soldier and they just stand there. Who was entirely unafraid of the consequences of her actions because - at her core - she still believed her life had no value and was thus free to give. I hate Araxes. I hate being there. Everything there reminds me of her."

I nodded.

Calina continued, "If the 'forms didn't need to be followed' as a condition of my release... that I have to stay on with the Laandstrat, I would leave. Then the Magistrate would probably hunt me down because someone in the 'Verse must know how to get the silverware set up for a banquet."

I smiled.

The Companion sighed, "I apologize, Major. There is just ... really no one else to share this with."

I made a decision. A proto-messianic movement threatening Alliance citizens and promising a glorious future. It was worth a deeper look. Glory never comes without blood.

"If you choose to contact these people, I will offer what assistance I can ...which is considerable. In the meantime, I will contact 'the Betrayer' and see if she knows anything."



Calina chuckled, "Tell her if she doesn't talk, I am going to make her wear yellow."

I grinned. "Why Ms. Tereshchenko... I never realized you had such a mean streak!"

She laughed.

We both stood.



"Be well, Ms. Tereshchenko," I said, "we will see who dares to cast a shadow upon Jade's name."

"Safe travels, Major."

Traitors

April 28 - Paquin



"Given the dimensions of the Keep itself, we are able to estimate the diameter of the craft..."

I listened as the young lieutenant gave her report. Earlier in the month, a large menacing ship had been seen hovering near the residence of the Magistrate of Al Raqis. Analysis placed this event coincidental to a meeting between the local authorities and the Ta Seti.



Usually the intricacies of remote world politics do not actually concern me directly.  However, anything that could remotely impact our reacquisition of Ardra crosses over my desk. Further, I have some familiarity with the planet Araxes, and have been called upon to act as consultant from time to time. As a result, I was kept informed of anything that might have an impact on my analysis.



The ship was of an interesting design. Perhaps we can obtain a sample. Get a closer look...

I will put Soara on the matter.

-----

With the report concluded and the lieutenant dismissed, I turned my attention to a series of items that had arrived.

The first was a message from Ceasar: "Hey, honey. May have a need for your professional side. Three paintings have been stolen from the museum in Spinwheel. The Mona Lisa, La Grande Jatte, and The Scream."



I sent back a response, "Bring the file home. I will look at it after supper."

-----

The next item was from Lynx. He had taken to his diplomatic intern duties quite well: attending meetings, taking notes. He had forwarded a transcript of the April 24 meeting of the Laandsrat, the upper chamber of the local Araxes government.

At a previous session, there had been a call for charges of treason to be leveled against Pro Consul Krakken of the Myrmidon Order. On April 24, LilyBell made an appearance defending the honour of her mate. She used her membership in one of the factions, House Morloch, to claim the right to be heard, and made a fine show reciting the local laws and customs.

"I, LilyBell Snoodle, representing only myself, and not at this time House Morloch, present myself as required having notified local authority and heads of Great Noble Houses that I wish to speak regarding utterances made by representatives of said Great Houses. These utterances is a matter of great disrespect toward my own mate, and thus to me and all of my house....."



"But now, I speak behalf of My Self. Lily. L i l y. And I speak to you. I publicly recognizes presence of Magistrate and absence of the Zenobian house, and in the presence of these, and other witnesses such as choose to hear, I present my request. Again, I wish to restate lest there be any question, this meeting is only to ask for said Noble people to hear me and, thus hearing, be allowed an opportunity to consider and then to make agreement to retract or withdraw you motions for charge of treason against the Myrmidon Pro Consul in reference to matters regarding his statements on Ta Seti on last Landsraat’s meeting. I believe their word is good and being of noble and wise birth, upon hearing my plea, they will realize that in heat of moment they made quick judgment leading to their disrespectful words...."

I can imagine that the database over at Blue Sun must be just humming with all the information Lily has been collecting.

By the end of the session, it was determined that as Pro Consul Krakken had made no oath of fealty, he could not be charged with treason. The accusations were subsequently withdrawn.

Cody was present at the meeting in support of Lily. I wonder how his modified eyes cope with the dry environment of Araxes.

I turned my attention to the final item.

It was a communiqué from deep space. Its source was unknown, the signal unrecognized. And it read like madness but with a detailed knowledge of past events that could not be ignored.



-----

To the Investigator, Ms. Major

We hold you responsible for the lax investigation into the death of Jade Moonkill.

You should have known the Imperial investigation would be swept under the carpet and forgotten.

You have let this happen and we find you guilty of the crime of treason.

Treason of your world, race or military organisation?
No.

Treason of a person who would think of you as a friend. For this we find you guilty and we will punish you accordingly when the time comes. However, we believe you can find salvation and be purged of the sin that lays deep within your soul.

Do you remember the days on Eavesdown Docks? I'm sure you do Ms. Major.

It was such a beautiful dress - the choice between the mermaid hem or the straight line, do you remember it Ms. Major? A gift from....House Zenobia. From the Betrayer, Consulari Raghilda who wears only blood red and falters with the investigation almost as clumsily as you.

Sweet Jade, oh, how she loved those little chicks. Do you remember Ms. Major?  Yes, yes, you do. Tell me Ms. Major: who looks after the little chicks now?

We will tell you. We do. We will look after all the people and all the creatures of the Imperium and beyond. From the littlest chick to the mightiest worm.

We are the Jade Revolution. We are coming. We will be watching you Ms. Major.

----The Jade Revolution

Die Königin der Nacht

April 6 - Paquin

It has been four months since my meeting with Ardra. With the exception of a few short excursions, that time has been spent here on Paquin.



It has been nice to stay in one place for a change. Walking through the same streets every day. Settling into routines. Looking up and seeing the same sky. It couldn't possibly last of course, but it was nice just the same.

-----

Ceasar had to work late again tonight.

Shift work can be hard on a couple. Fortunately, we have an understanding of the demands of each other's job. Also I had a greater flexibility in my hours than he did and could often match my shift to his, or at least overlap things enough that we were not just passing each other in the hallway twice a day.



I actually enjoyed the later hours. They gave me a chance to work uninterrupted.

An empty office. I could dress casually, turn on a little opera and listen to some of my favorite arias while I worked well into the night.

-----

A package had arrived from Section 6. An inscription on an artifact on Araxes needed deciphering.

Since the restoration of the Laandsrat, after the assassination of Jade, the local government of Araxes appeared to be in a weakened state. Militias ruled the desert. Local government officials were either missing or powerless to stop them. The violence culminated with raids on spice mining facilities from a group calling themselves the Ta Seti, and originating from the home system of the Myrmidon Order.



The artifact, located in front of the local Magistrate's keep, was thought to be connected somehow.

I examined the photo and supporting documents. I wrote the sequence of glyphs on my board and stood back to consider them, as the aria began.



Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen,
Tod und Verzweiflung
Tod und Verzweiflung flammet um mich her!

This cluster of symbols would fit the pattern of the name Ta Seti. We will start with that possibility and then match those letters - A E I S T - to the corresponding glyphs in the rest of the inscription.



From there, we can deduce the definite article and that gives us the letter H.

SI is a common reversal and the first T could be missing or damaged. That would mean the first part of the inscription reads: "(T)his is the Ta Seti."



-----

Verstoßen sei auf ewig,
verlassen sei auf ewig,
zertrümmert sei'n auf ewig
alle Bande der Natur

Verstoßen
verlassen
und
zertrümmert
alle Bande der Natur

-----

Now, the two letter words.

One starts with T. It must be followed with O.

Another starts with I. Given that we have assigned S and T that leaves either N or F for its partner. Frequency studies would support letter N.

We now have eight letters.



The sixth and tenth word are the same. They end with E.

I closed my eyes for the second coloratura....

The waves of music washing over me. My blood began to sing.

I opened my eyes. Thrilled by the powerful aria, the letters and glyphs danced for me. Each one stepping forward to reveal their true nature. Each one obediently stepping back as I directed them to a new location.

The double letters in the final word now drew my attention. Frequency again supports FF or LL. Double L would give us "hello". The final W could be a scribal error or a phonetic determinative. If the final word is "hello" then the penultimate word could be "say", giving us the Y.




Hört! Hört! Hört! Rachegötter, hört der Mutter Schwur!

----

The aria was over. Quietness descended upon the room.

I rested for a moment in the silence.



I touched the board erasing the translation, leaving only the original script. Then I read the inscription aloud for no one to hear.

"This is the Ta Seti. We come in peace. We send this out to say hello."

Ardra

"Major, we have an opportunity and a conflict," the Colonel said. "Part of the deal is to deliver the bodies to the Space Nav Guild. It could be an opportunity to seize Ardra, but I think it would risk the deal. We need alternatives."

-----

November 30

Press Release: Inquisition Drops All Charges on Al Raqis Landsraat "Taurean Defendants"

Colonel Aodhfionn MacMoragh of the Union of Allied Planets reached an agreement with the Imperial Inquisitor, His Grace Margrave Princely Count Sardar Kumar Sri Rai Sahib Khanzadeh for the release of the three Al Raqis Landsraat defendants from 34 Tau.

Charges are hereby dropped for Calina Tereschenko of House Shanjian, Zeno Baxton of House Zenobia, and Deren Ireton of House Barca. All travel restrictions and asset controls are hereby lifted effective immediately.

The deal was brokered by the Space Navigator Guild who refused to make comment.

The Imperium expressed appreciation to the Union of Allied Planets and the Space Navigator Guild for their assistance in the pursuit of justice.

The Margrave Inquisitor declined to disclose the nature of the deal other than it was "evidence vital for the furtherance of the pursuit of the Imperium's Justice".

Inquisitor His Grace Margrave Princely Count Sardar Kumar Sri Rai Sahib Khanzadeh commented, "The three Taurean prisoners were very tight-lipped and refused to turn State's Evidence, but they obeyed the forms which is important as per the Great Convention. The forms must be obeyed. Fortunately for them, their home government was resourceful on their behalf and was able to procure their release."

-----

My shuttle sped through the Black.

The space in between. The neither-neither.

I flipped a switch and spoke into the communicator, on a private channel, "Requesting coordinates."

The reply was immediate. ** 190 190 4040 for lower entry. **

"Confirmed," I replied.

The signal continued to broadcast as my ship approached the structure.

** 190 200 4144 for terminus entry. **

** 190 190 8640 for auxiliary entry. **

** Permission for entry is granted. **

** Proceed and land in the lower level. **

** Entry to the loading bay is on the lower west side. **

-----

The shuttle door opened with a hiss.

I was confronted by a cloud of iridescent bubbles, each one roughly a meter or more in diameter. Scintillating colours of red, green, and blue.

"Welcome, Major." It was the voice of Ardra Aurotharius. It was accompanied by an echo:

"You may leave your shuttle," she added. "The bay is pressurized for your convenience."

I stepped out onto the sloping deck. The walls arching upward into the gloom.

The bubbles were warm and soft to the touch. The accompanying noise was chaotic and loud, difficult to define.

"Hello Audrey..." I began.

"I will permit it," she said, on my use of the name. "Tell me, Major, does this errand remind you of anything?"

"The bubbles make me think of New Year's," I replied, "why don't you show yourself?"

She did not reply. Instead, the bubbles gradually subsided revealing her familiar form. The claws were tucked in. The wings pulled back. Spice vented from the top of the framework, where the head should be.

"Thank you," I said, "That's better."

"Tell me of your errand today," she said, "An Alliance Officer brings to the Spacing Guild Corpus a body to secure for some purpose of political necessity."

"I have some dead bodies for the Guild," I agreed, "Something Central Government arranged."

"We will accept them for safekeeping as in the past," she declared. "Twenty years ago, such an errand only merited a lieutenant," she added with a hint of mockery.

She referred to the bones of St. Zenobius housed with the Guild during the war. The same relics she had tried to put on the blackmarket. Her attempt to sell those artifacts had led to her file being sent to my desk over two years ago.

We had indeed come full circle.

"Well," I replied, "we have a connection, you and I."

"I might not have come in person for others," she admitted, "Especially after the recent security breach."

I smiled. "So, how is the Guild treating you?" I asked, as if we were old friends, "Are you happy here?"

"To the extent to which I am capable, yes," she replied. "And I have facilities available to me that I would not otherwise."

"Your research is going well then?"

"Yes it is," she replied, "Your assistance has moved things along well. Have you progressed on my request?"

I answered charitably, "Glad to be able to help. You are aware that we take a great interest in your work..."

"That has never changed," she remarked.

I continued, "... and I do have a preliminary medical report on the twins."

"Have they found the Aleph or the Zahir?" she asked.

I did not answer her question. Instead, I said, "Let me ask you, Audrey, what would it take for you to come back to us...to continue your work in 34 Tauri.... for the Alliance?"

"Tell me if you found the Aleph or the Zahir," she said, "and I will answer you plainly."

"We might have found the Aleph. We are running tests."

As promised, she answered plainly. "If you have indeed found the Aleph, you may have custody of me on June 3rd of the coming year."

"Surely, you would like to be part of the testing procedure," I said, "to verify the find."

"I will be able to verify on June 2nd."

"Why that date, Audrey?" I asked.

Ardra explained, "It is when the Aleph will be activated....and I can return home." She then asked a question. "How is Wylder? You keep him off the grid."

I was not done talking about June 2nd. "Is that the date your consciousness transfers into the Audrey clone?"

"It is not like that," she said.

"What is it like?"

"It is like family," said Ardra. "Being together. Eighteen years has been a long time to wait."

I paused, giving her response the respect it deserved, then I answered her earlier question. "Wylder is fine. A charming man indeed. Would you like to see your father? We can arrange that."

"It will traumatize him," she replied, "You would do well not to tell him about the Aleph. We will be reacquainted after the singularity event. It will be like it was. Have you told him of the Audreys?"

I answered with a question. "Would you rather wait until after the Aleph is activated?"

"It would be best," she replied. "It is Wylder you risk by your rash acts. You awakened him too early," she accused, "Tragedy has made him fragile."

"I am glad to see you are protective of him," I answered, "as a daughter should be."

Ardra continued, "He can maybe forget the tragedy like it was a bad dream, a hibernation nightmare."

"We want you back home, Audrey. You can help him forget... once you are restored."

"We will help him forget," she agreed, "and we can all move on." She then asked, "Did you bring the Centavo?"

I pulled a coin out of my belt pouch and held it up, the strange light of the Guild Terminus reflecting off the metal. It was the 1929 Argentinean 20 centavos given to me by Wylder Aurotharius.

Another cryptic noise came from Ardra:

She had activated sensors.

Still holding the coin, I asked, "What precautions should we be taking, prior to the activation of the Aleph, to ensure a smooth transition?"

"Keep the girls' strength up."

I slipped the coin into the breast pocket of my uniform. "Come and inspect our laboratory before the event," I said.

"I might," answered Ardra, "We will discuss again after you get further confirmation."

"We will keep in touch," I said, "You and I."

"We can," she replied.

-----

Project Aurotharius was an Alliance sponsored think tank funded to research and develop the most experimental technologies.

During the time of the project's existence, Audrey Aurotharius, daughter of lead researcher, Professor Wylder Aurotharius, took gravely ill. Her father used all the resources at his disposal to save her life. His efforts proved fruitless.

Audrey died, still connected to the Auto Regressive Development Research Algorithm, an artificial intelligence that was her playmate in life. The result calls itself/herself Ardra Aurotharius.

Whether Ardra was the data ghost of a dead girl lingering in the microtubules of a quantum computer, or an autonomous artificial intelligence yearning to reunite with her friend, it did not matter in the end. Sometimes experiments are stolen. Other times, they get up and walk away on their own. Either way, it part of my job to find them and bring them back.

And if Ardra/Audrey was a monster, she was our monster. We created her. We had the responsibility to take care of her.

Whatever that might mean.

-----

***** Secured Comms *****

From: Colonel Aodhfionn MacMoragh, UAP Special Projects
To: Major Pepper Siamendes, UAP SIU

I am forwarding to you Mu Draconis Terminus Observational Analysis from Doctor Serendipity.

Report is as follows:

From: Doctor Qui Von Wer Foreman Serendipity, PhD
To: Colonel Aodhfionn MacMoragh, UAP Special Projects

Reference: Mu Draconis Terminus
Subject: Observational Analysis

The scheduled arrival of a member of the Space Navigator Corpus to pick up cargo from Major Siamendes created a unique opportunity to get a better scan of the interior of their local terminus which has replaced the High-Liner and perhaps learn more about their operating mechanisms.

The High-Liner moved twice in the previous year to finally be replaced by this new Terminus Station which is now in the same general location as the original High-Liner.

Attached please find two image files for your reference.

The outer image shows the Terminus Station with what bears a resemblance to a Fermitron, an orbital based particle collider reputedly designed by Enrico Fermi in the mid-twentieth century Old Earth-That-Was. These Fermitrons are not permanently attached to the Terminus, they only seem to be active with the arrival and departure of the Navigator Corpus.

From our previous reconnaissance, we know the approximate dimension of the Fermitron. The two paper thin plasma antenna extend up over 32 kilometers from the base. The particle tube extends 4.5 kilometers from the base. The Collision platform is about 2 kilometers from the base with a containment rotor extending up 100 meters above and below. The Confinement Torus' base is about 400 meters from the base and extends up to 100 meters over the top of the Terminus.

A similar Fermitron extends horizontally 90 degrees from the vertical one. It's dimensions appear the same except that the Confinement Torus is much wider almost a hemisphere 500 meters in diameter.

The Eye of Harmony and the Titan Ignition Matrix is not shown, it is contained within the Terminus itself, we estimate at about 125 meters from the base.

The second image is based on some new imaging technology we are employing which allows us to know some of the gross architecture of the main building.

The Terminus Station is 700 meters high with an perpendicular conduit extending out 2 kilometers. There is some sort of particle tube in the center of the conduit which extends 4.5 kilometers from the Terminus, it appears to function as a beacon of some sort. A similar vertical particle tube at the center of the Terminus also extends 4.5 kilometers from the Terminus.

Eye of Harmony - 4150 estimated
Titan Ignition Matrix - 4125-4175 estimated
Confinement Torus - 4400-4750
Plasma Antenna - 4150-37,000
Collision Platform - 6150
Containment Rotor - 6050-6250
Particle Tube - 4100-8700

4700m Upper Rim
4650m Upper Entry
4600m Upper Staging
4400m Bottom of Confinement Torus
4350m Unknown Function
4300m Unknown Function
4275m Unknown Function
4250m Unknown Function
4225m Unknown Function
4200m Unknown Function
4150m Conduit Access
4100m Console Room
4075m Staging Area
4050m Loading Area
4025m Entry Area

Some areas still remain unknown to us, further study will be required.

We are still constructing models to theorize about the purpose of the purported Fermitrons. Future reports will follow.

Doctor Qui von wer Foreman Serendipity, PhD
Zenobia Institut Polytechnique
Department of Physics

***** End Secured Comms *****