Atka Research Station

CLASS: Tyrell

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 200

The Atka Research Center was constructed by Cryer Pharmaceuticals to study the Alien Organisms commonly found in the Edge clouds. Cryer is intensely interested in the commercial applications of these Organisms because they have proven useful in several phases of terraforming. Cryer imports substantial quantities from the nearby Samura operation on Kurile.

 Atka recently achieved a major breakthrough in ongoing research into Cardamine addiction. A synthetic version of the drug, dubbed Stabiline, proved to keep Cardamine addicts alive even when no longer taking the orange drug itself. The long term effects of Stabiline are as of yet not known, but that hasn't prevented Cryer from marketing the drug to police forces and clinics throughout Sirius. It comes as no surprise that many of the Cardamine-dependent criminal factions, most notably the Outcasts, have begun targeting Cryer with greater frequency.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Samura Industries
* Zoners
* Bounty Hunters Guild

## News

However, with the recent Farmers Alliance bombing on Roppongi seemingly linked to the sudden increase in Cardamine use among Kusari's businessmen, New Tokyo's residents have expressed sympathy towards the perpetrators, speculating that the Alliance's blatant admission to such a vicious act is not to be taken as a boast or a threat, but as a sign that they will not allow their friends and families to be preyed upon by the greed of corporations that, "do not belong anywhere near our home", said Katsuyori Ichihara, Samura Industries financial consultant, and survivor of the Roppongi attack. "I don't blame them", Mr. Ichihara continued, "that vile drug destroys families."
Due to recent events, Samura Industries has taken it upon itself to act as a substitute for Interspace Commerce within the insurance market and many citizens have already expressed gratitude to Samura and their willingness to provide more financially preferable contracts than what the old management offered.

Ageira disputed this finding in their own press release, calling EFL 'fantasists' and countering that their own scientists had narrowed the cause to a rare 'hypernova' stellar event that originated outside the Sirius sector. Both corporations claim that network-wide hardware safeguards have been implemented that would prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Independent researchers have sharply criticized the corporate announcements, accusing both of self-interested misdirection.
Professor Sophia Nagel from Heisenberg Research Station called EFL's accusation 'incoherent' and the hypernova explanation 'nonsense' that did not explain the characteristics of the 'Blackout Pulse'. Despite multiple different Pulse recordings being widely disseminated across the neural net, public efforts have so far failed to triangulate its source.

## Rumors

* Test Subject 04227986 escaped from her containment area a few nights ago. She managed to kill several guards between the subject area and the communications center. Once inside the communications area she continued her slaughter. She wasn't discovered for twelve minutes. We were able to recapture her alive, though she injured three more of us in the process. I'm told her wounds have already healed. Remarkable regenerative capabilities, which might be another Cardamine side effect.

* Cryer established this base here in Sigma-17 because of its close proximity to planet Kurile and the Alien Organisms found there, which are the subject of our research. We know that there is a link between the Alien Organisms and Cardamine, because they both affect RNA and DNA molecules in the same way. Most likely the Cardamine plants were mutated when Alien Organisms came in contact with them - a process similar to what happens when Cardamine comes in contact with human DNA.

* The Robert Fitzgerald was attacked by Outcasts shortly after it left Kurile with a load of Alien Organisms. A distress signal was picked up by the Atka base, but by the time fighters could scramble, distressed ship had vanished into the mists of the Kunashir Cloud. As far as we can tell, it never came out.

* The Corsairs do not attack us very often, but the Outcasts are always running raids against this base. They seem determined to destroy us, which is very disconcerting. I am just a biochemist; I don't want to be caught in the middle of a war. If it weren't for the fact that exobiochemistry in practise is only done at a very select few locations in Sirius, I'd not have come here.

* Cardamine affects human beings in many ways. Aside from the narcotic powers of the drug, we believe that it also has anti-aging benefits. We are trying to develop a product that would increase the human lifespan two-fold. If we could do that, Cryer would multiply its profits overnight. A longevity drug has been a human dream since before our ancestors fled Sol. And we're on the verge of cracking it, I just know it.

* We often buy Organisms that the Zoners collect. They find them in Omicron Theta, and Omicron Beta. Most of them are the standard types, but you never know when a new strain will come along. Theta and Beta are controlled by the Corsairs and Outcasts respectively, so there's no way we'll be able to go there ourselves.

* The test subject who escaped from her cell several nights ago has been haunting my dreams. She slaughtered everyone that he came across, and when they dragged her back to her cell she was laughing and screaming the most horrible things, over and over she cried; "Santiago is coming!" Our communications officer tells us that the chance any messages she sent got through were very slim, but I still can't help worrying about who Santiago is.

* Alien Organisms are flown here by our pilots from Kurile, since we are always in need of more test subjects. It is usually an easy flight unless you are unlucky enough to stumble across the Outcasts or Corsairs in this system. The Corsairs will usually try to take valuable cargo if you have it. The Outcasts will kill you outright.

* During the Freeport 7 attack, a brief communication was received on Freeport 9 from a Bounty Hunter named Jim Adams. He had managed to make it into the Kunashir Cloud, but still had hostiles in hot pursuit. Most people figure he was trying to make it to the Jump Hole to Omicron Theta. He never made it here.

* The Outcasts have been exposed to Cardamine for centuries. They are the key to understanding how the drug affects human beings. If we could understand that better, we could make a less dangerous Cardamine that wouldn't interfere with worker productivity. We could then legally distribute it to the Sirius population. Problem is, the Outcasts know that would put them out of business. The Cardamine trade is their means of survival in more than one way. That is why they are hitting this base so hard.

* This system is the border between the Sigma region and the deep Omicrons. Compared to the Omicrons, this is still civilised space. All you find out there are Hispanics, Zoners and worse. Us Hunters sometimes go there "on business", especially when there's bounties on specific Outcast or Corsair targets, but that's no cakewalk.

* I was able to capture an Outcast in Omicron Beta a few months ago. First, I disabled his ship and hit it with an electro-pulse to knock out the people inside. It's an old Bounty Hunter weapon that's available to Guild members only - kind of an EMP on steroids. I'm told it zaps both computers and nerves. Once he was unconscious I suited up and went space walking. Nastiest bit was figuring out how that breathing gear of theirs could be pried from the cockpit. Those sniffers don't survive long without their portable cloud.

* This place kind of freaks me out. I'm looking forward to getting out of this test tube. You wouldn't believe me, but I could have sworn I've heard screaming here late at night. Don't tell the scientists I told you that, it wouldn't be good for business. Still, are these eggheads testing on humans now? Can they even do that?

* We bring these guys Alien Organisms from Freeport 9 in Omicron Theta. We also bring them other basic supplies. When I head back to "the Nine" I'm usually hauling Pharmaceuticals bound for Crete. That's why the Corsairs don't kick them out of here tomorrow. That, and they see that the Outcasts have it in for these guys.

*NOTE: Page generated on the 28/10/2023 at 17:59:45 UTC*