The Shadows In The Dark

Chapter Three

Walking around his new lab, Domin read the various monitors he had set up to record information gathered by Talon Outpost's sensors. Several probes surrounded the large base, and were placed as far as hundreds of miles away. 

The base itself was an old ONI research center and emergency bunker, built into a large asteroid in a belt found in the Outer Colonies. It was one of multiple outposts designed to specifically house certain ONI scientists and VIPs in case of a crises. Each of the stations was built in a remote location and assigned to their individual caretakers, researcher Domin Khai being one of those selected. He was given authority over the base six years prior, and after slightly modifying and customizing the outpost, had headed off to continue his research.

Until this point, he had only stopped by the base twice, once to perform Project: Moon's Reflection, and the second time to restock its supplies, as well as upgrade some of its facilities. The base included basic facilities, such as; a hangar, food courts, living quarters, a detainment center, a medical bay, a cargo bay, a sensor suite, a command bunker, a comm-center, and a self sustaining garden, as well as advanced facilities such as his personal research center and 2 nuclear reactors that powered the base. The base was protected by the natural asteroid belt surrounding it, as well as 8 MAC arrays, a triple mine layer, and energy shielding. Only the Dawnbreaker and its accompanying ships had the codes that would temporarily deactivate the mines surrounding the base, allowing them through. All other vehicles would be picked up by the sensors, and would be obliterated as they entered the mine field.

The station was equipped with several vehicles (both space-faring and land-roaming) and a surplus of handheld weapons. Tor'Valens and Freyas earlier sweeps assured them that nothing had been removed or disrupted inside the base, and all of its facilities were running at peak condition. 

Freya had left on her mission to scout the nearest planet hours ago, and many of the Dawnbreakers personnel and equipment had been transferred to the station. Apollo had hooked himself up to the stations main security and sensor channels, working with several of the security staff to assure that they were indeed safe and alone.

Domin moved from studying the sensor monitors to the projects that he had brought with him from the ship. He had to admit, Talons research labs were much larger and more sophisticated than his makeshift lab on the Dawnbreaker. They allowed him to study several different things at once, and sped up all of the processes involved. 

After several hours of working on his experiments, he received a message from one of the security personnel. He pulled up the text, reading at a fast pace. 'Captain, we've been digging through all of the sensor recordings from the past 6 years, and it appears that 4 years ago something entered the asteroid field in sector Epsilon-5. Sensors show that it was some sort of ship, though the report indicates that it was severely damaged, and is unsure of its origins. Its course shows that it's been drifting ever since it arrived, and no power surges have been recorded. About a year ago it exited the sensors range, but it's unknown whether it's still in the asteroid field. Should we send out a survey team to investigate it and attempt to find the ship?'

Domin scratched his stubbled chin, thinking it over for a few seconds. He sent back a response, saying, 'No, I'll organize a team. Please send me the recordings of its power signatures as well as its course trajectory.'

He was quickly sent the requested information. He forwarded it to Tor'Valen, along with a message for the Sangheili officer. 'Tor'Valen, I'd like you to take the Phantom and a group of Banshees to investigate the appearance and disappearance of a ship spotted a few years ago. It's power readings and known course are attached. Keep me up-to-date on whatever you find.'

He soon received a confirmation from the Sangheili, and watched through several cameras on the stations exterior as the Phantom and three Banshees headed towards the mystery ships last known coordinates.