Posted by Gamemaster CockRoach (Gamemaster) in Main Sim - Bridge - Unknown System Arrival!

[snip]

=/\= Hmm, an old nebular? One moment let me check with one of our stellar scientists, she would likely, know more then I..=/\= He said turning to walk off screen. That said more tinfoil like hat crew behind where Dol had sat in a chair were still busy working away at little consoles of lights, buttons, and small levers. Again showing the level of quite primitive technology that Dol’s people had at hand in general use.

Glen decided that this technology looked very primitive. He would ask for the thoughts of Joe and William on this once the Com call had ended, but he was sure they would agree. This was a civilisation that was punching way above its weight class, and he could see now that it wouldn’t be a candidate to join the Federation.

After a moment Dol returned, with a female of his species. This one was about the same height as Dol, but was a bit slimmer. Her dress was also more like a tight fitting robe, topped with the common place tin foil like hats. =/\= Hello. I am Stellar Scientist Chief Sal. Habitat Master Dol here informed me you had a question about a nearby old nebular? =/\= she inquired for confirmation.

=/\= Yes, Chief Sal, that’s correct. I was enquiring about that nebular as it appeared to be recent to us, dissipating with in the next 17 years or so.”

She nodded a bit flipping a large paper bound book up for reference, =/\= Ah hmm....let me see here. Ah! We call that ‘Old Gassy’. It’s a common term used too by many other races we met in this region. From what we have been told, given in scans, and our own observations, since it was first recorded over 600 some local years ago here. There is no record of it having exploded in that time, so if an explosion did cause it, it happened long before we became aware of it or anyone else who gave us information on it. Though you are right it has degraded ever since we first came to know of it. I would hazard your calculations are correct on its time frame until it vanishes. Sad really, something so old and wondrous to be forever gone from sight! =/\= She sighed wistfully. =/\= But it is what it is I guess. One can not control the fabric of nature or the cosmos. Anyhow I hope that somewhat answered your question? =/\= She finished up with inquiring.

Glen was convinced that Sal wasn’t telling the truth, but he’d need William to make more detailed scans to be sure. It was the first time he had got this impression from Sal or Dol, and that was strange. Why lie about something as inconsequential as a fading nebula, unless it was evidence of something else they wanted to hide? thought Glen. Was it an inter-planetary war? Glen wouldn’t call her out. Best to keep up the pretense that everything was going swell.

OOC: So forgive me Dave, just curious on your above reply here, what makes you/Glen think Sal or Dol were lying? I had not meant to portray that so if I did I apologize and I don’t necessarily wish for you or the ship to go down the wrong beaten path unless you got a good reason based on what I said. So if you could please clarify you/Glen felt that way I would appreciate thanks!

OOC: I misunderstood you then, sorry. I got the impression from the earlier post that the nebula was recent and dissipating in 17 more years. So, it couldn’t be 600 years old. Sal didn’t seem very convincing or genuine (sorry because that might be just your writing). Also, Dr Cross seems convinced it’s a conspiracy, and I think you sometimes throw Miriam titbits of information on Discord.

It isn’t a big problem. Glen is only human and can get decisions wrong. If we make better scans of the nebula then they should tally with what Sal said and Glen will have to admit he was wrong.

Oh! and I still don’t know what to do next. I thought my crew might help me with that?

-Dave

=Yes, that potted history of ‘old gassy’ helps enormously. Thank you. =/\=

Glen found that he really didn’t have very much more to say. Dol was going to ask him what would happen next, and Glen really hadn’t given thought to that. He had never considered the idea that they wouldn’t be capable of Warp speed travel, given that they already had stasis technology. He needed an update on the investigations into the child and the silver spheres before making any decisions, but he needed some way of stalling for more time. The other concern was this threat of a destructive broadcast signal being made to a hidden series of large scale explosive space-based dumps. If this discussion didn’t go well, they might have to deal with those, and that nebula might be the remains of the last ship that visited. He really needed some reason to postpone the conversation, but he was all out of ideas.

-Glen, CO

GM CockRoach