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Aura
Aura.
The Vincent Aurellius aka Aura sits on the far fringes of our galaxy – ostensibly a deep space research platform designed to listen and record quasar bursts, neutrino passage, x-ray and gamma ray emissions from outside our galaxy. Its sensors sit with their backs to both its parent star and the galaxy to minimise background noise using the planet it orbits - Vela - as a shield of sorts. It sits in perpetual gloom, with only the dim halo from Vela as a light source.
Vela is a super-massive gas giant, many times the mass of Jupiter – bordering on brown dwarf. It is surrounded by a flat disk of material from the break-up of its moons millions of years ago. This disk is coalescing to form rings but at present only extend to 70% around the vast planet creating an unusual “three quarter hoop” feature. Within the gap, in geosynchronous orbit sits Aura like a diamond on a ring.
The on-board research team change shifts every 5 years. At this time the station is also resupplied. The Station Chief, Dr Willard Fielding, is close to completing his third straight shift. The lone maintenance man, Raoul “Cable” Conroy, has chosen the lonely place as his home and never leaves – this suits him just fine.
Alongside its research requirement it also functions as an outpost – almost at the end of space. Visitors are infrequent. Room is available to rest, recuperate and ships can recharge/refuel here. There is hardly any passing trade of this sort because there isn’t much past Aura.
Aura was designed with grander plans in mind back when the budget and enthusiasm to expand into every corner of space was readily available. Originally seen as a gateway to the LMC (Large Magellanic Cloud) and beyond - its purpose has been pared down significantly over its half century of service. Its hull is an enormous cigar shape with over 200 decks, incorporating living space, hydroponics, recreational spaces, docks, fuel tanks, reactors and the sensitive instruments required for research. These days less than 1% of the space is utilised - the rest left in low or zero power state to slowly degrade in the freezing temperatures of deep space.
The internal space of Aura is cavernous but barren. It is a cold hard place but the corner in which the scientists call home is a more inviting space. Despite being forgotten by pretty much everyone, funding remains available from The Company to keep the station staffed and listening.
USCSS Grimulcan
Grimulcan is a middle-of-the-road military frigate. Lightly armed and armoured, it is functional deep space vessel with few comforts. The spacecraft contains a contingent of fourteen Colonial Marines – more specifically known as REEPS – or Rim swEEPS – these soldiers are tasked with patrolling the Outer Rim and investigating anything unusual or suspicious. In this role they range for months beyond the Outer Markers in what is considered the least favourable role in the Core.
A singular task takes precedence for the REEPS in this corner of deep space; enormous derelict ships are known to drift through the fringes – apparently remnants of a war that occurred millennia ago by species unknown. The REEPS’ job is to tag, board, and sweep each of these vessels for anything of use, value or knowledge. In over 120 recorded instances of these derelicts being located and searched nothing of any worth nor any clue as to their origin has ever been found. While the first instance was lauded as an incredible discovery the intervening decades have made this become yet another rote and mundane chore among many in the Rim. Given the nature and auspiciousness of the Grimulcan’s task, unsurprisingly it doesn’t attract the best and brightest of the USCSS have to offer.
The crew of the Grimulcan are returning home from a two-year Outer Rim range.
Aura is their first stop.
It could be their last.
The Vincent Aurellius aka Aura sits on the far fringes of our galaxy – ostensibly a deep space research platform designed to listen and record quasar bursts, neutrino passage, x-ray and gamma ray emissions from outside our galaxy. Its sensors sit with their backs to both its parent star and the galaxy to minimise background noise using the planet it orbits - Vela - as a shield of sorts. It sits in perpetual gloom, with only the dim halo from Vela as a light source.
Vela is a super-massive gas giant, many times the mass of Jupiter – bordering on brown dwarf. It is surrounded by a flat disk of material from the break-up of its moons millions of years ago. This disk is coalescing to form rings but at present only extend to 70% around the vast planet creating an unusual “three quarter hoop” feature. Within the gap, in geosynchronous orbit sits Aura like a diamond on a ring.
The on-board research team change shifts every 5 years. At this time the station is also resupplied. The Station Chief, Dr Willard Fielding, is close to completing his third straight shift. The lone maintenance man, Raoul “Cable” Conroy, has chosen the lonely place as his home and never leaves – this suits him just fine.
Alongside its research requirement it also functions as an outpost – almost at the end of space. Visitors are infrequent. Room is available to rest, recuperate and ships can recharge/refuel here. There is hardly any passing trade of this sort because there isn’t much past Aura.
Aura was designed with grander plans in mind back when the budget and enthusiasm to expand into every corner of space was readily available. Originally seen as a gateway to the LMC (Large Magellanic Cloud) and beyond - its purpose has been pared down significantly over its half century of service. Its hull is an enormous cigar shape with over 200 decks, incorporating living space, hydroponics, recreational spaces, docks, fuel tanks, reactors and the sensitive instruments required for research. These days less than 1% of the space is utilised - the rest left in low or zero power state to slowly degrade in the freezing temperatures of deep space.
The internal space of Aura is cavernous but barren. It is a cold hard place but the corner in which the scientists call home is a more inviting space. Despite being forgotten by pretty much everyone, funding remains available from The Company to keep the station staffed and listening.
USCSS Grimulcan
Grimulcan is a middle-of-the-road military frigate. Lightly armed and armoured, it is functional deep space vessel with few comforts. The spacecraft contains a contingent of fourteen Colonial Marines – more specifically known as REEPS – or Rim swEEPS – these soldiers are tasked with patrolling the Outer Rim and investigating anything unusual or suspicious. In this role they range for months beyond the Outer Markers in what is considered the least favourable role in the Core.
A singular task takes precedence for the REEPS in this corner of deep space; enormous derelict ships are known to drift through the fringes – apparently remnants of a war that occurred millennia ago by species unknown. The REEPS’ job is to tag, board, and sweep each of these vessels for anything of use, value or knowledge. In over 120 recorded instances of these derelicts being located and searched nothing of any worth nor any clue as to their origin has ever been found. While the first instance was lauded as an incredible discovery the intervening decades have made this become yet another rote and mundane chore among many in the Rim. Given the nature and auspiciousness of the Grimulcan’s task, unsurprisingly it doesn’t attract the best and brightest of the USCSS have to offer.
The crew of the Grimulcan are returning home from a two-year Outer Rim range.
Aura is their first stop.
It could be their last.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2018
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