Name: Captain Hector Draken, EEF
Entry: #90
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My luck has turned around for the better! As I walked across the sandy beach, Chloe was crafting something, a little souvenir, I assume, for her time spent relaxing on our beautiful home planet. When I walked up to her, she was in a good mood and gave it to me, and said, “I know why you’re here, I know about the dig site and I’m in”.
Chloe took me by surprise, how did she know about my proposal? Who leaked it to an off-worlder? Does she understand the risks we are taking?
I said nothing, not even a sound came out of my mouth. Her first ever message to me swept my train of thought away and I froze. “Shall we negotiate the splits?” She continued. “… uhhh” I replied.
“50% cut to me for providing the equipment, that leaves you 50% to share with your private army and members of your admin team”
“30%, the army and risk don’t come cheap”
“I have to ship the equipment across space, give me some attractive numbers or I’ll gladly sit back and watch you try to find another business partner”
“40% and I’ll issue you secure travel across Loyalist territory for all your transports”
Our bickering soon ended with her pulling out some iced tea from an Asclarias-themed backpack and we cheered to a new partnership.
For the next several hours, we proceeded to discuss what equipment we needed, who she’ll be on-boarding to help out, and assured me that her people can keep their mouths shut.
The entire time we smiled and looked at the other high-rolling tycoons relaxing on Crystal Beach that are missing out on the most profitable opportunity of a lifetime.
It will take us several days to warp equipment over from across space and try to fit it into Orpheus Cave, but I will append a new entry when the time comes to deploy our teams.
Name: Captain Hector Draken, EEF
Entry: #91
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It has been 8 days and so far our setbacks have exceeded any progress we have achieved. Any tasks for an operation of this scale I believe were a logistical nightmare to plan out and it has shown to be true.
These setbacks include:
- Losing an entire convoy to a papoo ambush deep in our territory
- A makeshift war among the papoo in which we somehow got dragged into
- Equipment not able to fit through Orpheus Cave’s entrance
- Haruspex scouts sabotaging our striders
The papoo war was just a case where we ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. I did write once about how the papoo seemed to have territory split up based on their own factions and seems they have fallen into the same predicament we have fallen into, fighting over resources.
This little conflict of theirs does make our supply line at risk of being disrupted but I think we should be able to defend ourselves against small creatures. In fact, we can just kick them over and they’ll probably run away.
Update: one of our drilling technicians kicked over one when it was in the way of the convoy and had we had to call in backup after the papoo’s friends saw and started damaging the drill we were wheeling to the cave
I will have to do more research again on these papoo, since resolving the matter is top priority now that I know our supply routes are not completely safe.
The Expeditionary Force has asked where I’ve been and I haven’t replied. Soon they’ll call back to Paradise Landing if I don’t give any info, but I think I can play off the papoo problem as an excuse to be out on the field and not be investigated by High Command. Do they know what I’m up to with the drilling equipment? No, they are completely in the dark. The areas around the cave are patrolled by Murdoch’s troops and we try to send supplies down at the cover of night, thus limiting any contact we have with any faction. I’m just hoping the papoo don’t start speaking and expose our position.
Name: Captain Hector Draken, EEF
Entry: #92
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We have begun positioning the drilling equipment on the flat plains and are setting up a base of operations. Some locals have started appearing and wondering what we are doing, however, a quick trip on a heli and then dropping them off in the middle of nowhere has proven effective in terms of hiding our position.
I have begun talks with the local government in Thebes to spark a conflict with the cyclops in the area to distract them from our heavy equipment. Our infantry aren’t very effective against the cyclops and heavy artillery is required to scare them off. I’m hoping with a conflict between the locals and the cyclops “clans”, both of them would keep away.
A proposal that was brought up to me from one of Chloe’s researchers was to make our mining area radioactive or release gases which harmed anyone who didn’t get a toxic shot. That was shot down pretty quick since we didn’t want to damage the overall wildlife with an uncontrollable deterrent.
Storage tents have been raised, sentry posts installed, and plans drawn up again for how to safely get the resources we mine out of the area since we want to be discrete.
I proposed we wheel the shipments on carts through the cities and have the ships in Thebes sail them to Orpheus Cave but a bit of planning needs to happen to not raise questions on the source of the resources.
Name: Captain Hector Draken, EEF
Entry: #93
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They are everywhere… I don’t know how… but the Haruspex are everywhere. They are among the locals and they talk of stuff. I was in Thebes when I overheard chatter among the locals about missing people who go journeying out of Thebes lately and the influx of people entering Thebes.
No one goes near Orpheus Cave except Haruspex, living among the ancient Greeks, and they suspect something big going on. Why do I say they’re everywhere? Between my last entry and this one, the Thebes officials have summoned me to discuss some strange activity happening at a precise coordinate that they showed me. No one knows of our activities unless they’ve been following us from Orpheus Cave to the drilling site and only the Haruspex lurk around there.
Eventually I’ll have to bring the Ancient Greeks into the dolls but for now it’s entertaining to see them connect the dots. The officials even asked me about The Gorgon and that confirmed my suspicions that the Haruspex are active too in Ancient Greece. The Haruspex are a mysterious faction that like to alchemy and sorcery. They must be here to choose after The Gorgon’s mystical powers. I’m not overly concerned with it but their presence here is deeper than most think. I respect that, they do well in hiding their activities better than me.
Shortly after walking out of the government building on the hill, a Haruspex, who was leaning on a pillar came and intercepted me.
“We know what you’re doing outside of the city”
“Good for you, why should I care about what you know?”
“I have a deal to cut. Speak of this with any Loyalist and everyone planetside will know of your operation here “
“What do you want me to keep quiet about?”
“Don’t do any more research on the Gorgon. Wipe or restrict data on your logs and we’ll pretend we didn’t even know of your activities here “
I nodded and continued walking back to the port.
We start drilling tomorrow, I will get some sleep in before overseeing the initial digging and then submit a new entry tomorrow.
Name: Captain Hector Draken, EEF
Entry: #94
Data - Encrypted:
The sun shines bright today as we begin our dig. We all gathered at the main tent on the hill to see miners and gatherers begin extracting resources from the land. All was going according to plan, with the Haruspex ensuring no one disturbed us as long as we stuck our noses out of their Gorgon research.
Glasses of fine wine were handed around and a toast was made to the partnership. Soon enough, we had unexpected visitors to the site, representatives from Thebes that came by to congratulate us. Did we want them here? Not really. However, I guess it was time to finally bring them onboard and hopefully secure a smoother plan for logistics.
Meeting with the representatives was not very productive, turns out they were literally only here to send the local government’s regards and we are setting up a separate date for negotiations and discussion.
The rest of the day went as expected, continuous extracting, but I did get some time to slip away and enjoy the scenery around Ancient Greece. It is a shame we can’t seem to reach space while in this strange land but it is what it is.
I took a look over Thebes again, no Haruspex, no Loyalists, no one from my team, just me, feeling a slight breeze and the sun setting over the horizon. The last of our ships sailed for the day to Orpheus Cave so I’m happy.
My next task is to lead on the Expeditionary Force to not enter Ancient Greece or call me back to headquarters, which will prove to be a challenge but I’ll have to think more about how I’ll navigate this deception. But what of my old log entries? Should I wipe them or should I encrypt them? If I do, it’ll raise suspicion and maybe get flagged, but if I don’t, people have something to look into, oh how difficult it is to come up with the best cover up!