HidHop-0-1

==Prologue 1 – Revelation==
Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
===Deep Space Investigation===
----
06/17/3050 | Location: Epsilon Pegasus - Zenith, Coreward Periphery
Microwaves crackled outward from the emergence waves of four Dante frigates and an accompanying pair of Carrack armored transports. ‘Precentor’ Commodore Alain Beresick sat behind his red lit console as the CS Virgil’s vast sensor suite and supercomputers cooled by their cryogenic fuel digested large fractions of the electromagnetic spectrum to project a holographic hyperspectral ‘situation’ sphere from the central emitter within the CIC. The lighting in the room was such that nothing was shadowed, and the Captain or Commodore could monitor or take control of their subordinate’s consoles if needed.
“No sign of enemy activity Commodore. Cancelling battle alert.”
The ship’s alert faded away and white light returned to the sleek CIC with its curved consoles and brilliant tapestry of telltales. Alain spun and looked at the virtual diagram on his own console. The ‘Precentor’ Captain sat opposite him with the projected volume of space between them. “No sign of Explorer Corps’ activity either Captain. There are no broadcasts from any of the occupied planets or orbitals, even the nav buoys are silent.”
“Should we drop off another buoy, sir?”
“We’ll do it on our way out.” The Commodore switched to the local battlenet which included their flotilla of twelve carrier and assault dropships in addition to the Warship squadron, “Task Force, our principal objective remains to investigate why Columbus is silent. Set courses and match velocity to Virgil.”
While mostly automated humans still controlled the Dante’s helm and other vital systems. The Delta Adept operating as Helmsmen plotted a track to the Epsilon Pegasus IV known as Columbus. “Aye, Aye sir.”
----
===The Mystery Deepens===
06/25/3050
From the orbital drydock built into Columbus’ captured asteroid moon Amor it was evident that the installation was intact, but vacant. CSC Espatiers investigated but found the cageworks built onto the moon, a facility as large as a Faslane, empty and quiet as well. 
Alain and the Captain, a graceful woman with short braided blonde hair, stood on the observation deck as more solar panels turned toward the Sol-like primary Epsilon Pegasus as their backup of the facility’s software reassured control.
“I’m getting an eerie feeling about this, Commodore.”
“As am I Captain Kareis. This is however not the first time we have encountered a vacant compound in the Deep Black.”
“I know but up until four months ago this wasn’t vacant. It was the largest facility of its type in the Explorer Corps. Now its empty. What happened to the satellites? The people? Why does the main facility seem intact? 
Surely if it was enemy action, they would have destroyed it, or at least damaged it, in addition to looting the cargo stores which they apparently did according to the Espatiers.”
“I don’t have an answer at this moment Jacoba, but we will thoroughly investigate until we find one.”
“Do you think it could have been the Combine like the Primus believes?”
Alain, a native of Dieron prior to joining the Order during its frenzied recruitment during the early 3030s, relaxed his shoulders and drifted slightly back from the viewscreen. “As much as Coordinator Kurita may feel ill intent toward the order, he is in no position to challenge us presently. 
Now it could have been a false flag but the final transmissions from this HPG were talking about a large fleet of ships approaching. 
The FSN doesn’t have that many ships and everyone else is on the other side of the Sphere or Combine.”
“Could they have been decoys?They have been working with the Dragoons around Galax. Perhaps the AMC was involved?”“We would have noticed their departure.”“The Jarnfolk? We are near their space.”“Don’t make me laugh. They are barely a Confederation and far too few. Give it some time before you continue your conjecture Captain and get some rest.”
Bone white power armor descended on their jump jets detaching the drag chute before landing on the desolate ferrocrete that was once Columbus’ Starport. Their Mausers were raised as they approached the hanger passing no dropships standing erect like great towers or laying on the baking ground like lizards as they strode by. Their myomer enhanced strength was insufficient to pry open the thick doors and the Mausers melted when put into continuous mode to attempt to burn through.
The flying wing of a Riever appeared overhead like a predatory manta circling above before touching down with a rooster tail of smoke. It was soon joined by other fighters and shuttles which disembarked platoons of light gray XCT soldiers equipped with the deadly Mauser 960 laser rifle and for hazardous environments in service to the Explorer Corps. A 36-man platoon of XCT stacked up behind a six-man fireteam of Tornado PA(L)s as a CSC Transit taxied into position in front of Hanger 12, the one closest to the crucial power station and command core.
“Breach it!”
Its Tomodzuru roared in the familiar way of any Mechwarrior that had faced a Hunchback before rocking the fighter backward across the pavement even though the pilot feathered his thrusters. Each shell rang against the ground as it was ejected before the hanger door. It took five minutes before the door was ravaged enough to fit Tornados through the breach.
Commodore Beresick walked through an hour later if it was confirmed that the facility was free of any contaminants or enemies. CSC Personnel lined the walls as he passed before continuing with their business of investigating just what occurred with constant updates being fed to the Beta and Omicron Adepts that followed the Commodore wherever he went. Temporary lighting hung from the corridors although everyone had lights on their POV cameras. Alain leaned over his left shoulder toward the Beta Branch Analyst. “So, Donovan you are telling me that just like Amor, the databanks were wiped but there is no sign of struggle, bodies, and everything has been looted?”
“I’m afraid so, sir. It seems whoever took control of the facility could access the central core and gave our robots enough time to correct anything that occurred before they wiped it.”“How could someone hack our security protocols? We have the best in the Inner Sphere.” Came over his right shoulder from Omicron Adept IV Cassius assigned to ROM counterintelligence.
“Perhaps they asked?”
“Only four people would have known that code.”
“A Mole is always a possibility Cassius.”
“All four would have been thoroughly screened and conditioned before being entrusted with such a secret.”
“And yet we almost had a Primus that was an Pillarine Mole. Nothing is out of the question.”
Cassius sighed as they continued through the empty, stale corridors seemingly without anchor to anywhere in particular within the chaotic hodgepodge of a facility with such layers of history. The Omicron Adept’s robes rustled as he paused. “Why are we going to the library Commodore?”
“I can’t do anything until Alpha gets that HPG back online and Psi completes their work to reactivate the command center. We can set up a command post in the library until then and it won’t interfere with anyone else’s work.”
Great stacks of books stood idle, the move assist feature inactive due to a lack of power. Alain and company set up their noteputers and a lantern upon one of the dull metal tables and unwrapped their rations for the day. Something caught the Commodore’s attention; a book lay open on the table. He walked over to it and wiped away the dust on the table. “This has been this way for months.”
Donovan and Cassius left their stews and stood beside him. The Analyst wiped his finger across the table as well. “The robots don’t put back books or dust tables with books upon them, Tau Adepts build huge stacks of them and don’t like it when they are disturbed as they might lose their pages.”
The ROM Adept picked up the book to examine it closer, careful not to disturb the ribbon bookmark “The Prophecies of Saint Adrienne Sims, unabridged edition.”
“What passage its it set to Cassius?”
“Chapter Seventy-Eight: 
From beyond the darkness a hoard of beasts bearing a crimson Star will appear. 
A head of six faces but one voice that will fill the heart with dread.
Its limbs shall shake the very pillars of heaven itself in Judgement. 
Only the Faithful and steadfast shall prevail to the End where only One shall remain.”
-----
Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
0-1