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Captain’s Log – Apr 19, 2158 – Theta Crateris – Yellow Alert
We made it to Theta Crateris without running into any hostiles, but as we approached our designated star, it would seem that we’ve already aroused the curiosity of the locals, but we should be able to move from here to the next system without reverting back to the point where we first entered this region of space.
However, I’ve already placed a portal point for this position of system entry, well… considering:

The Theta Crateris System is a red dwarf star with 4 planets, all within the cold zone:
Planet 1 – Medium Purple (1 Ur-Quan)
Planet 2 – Medium Green (3 Ur-Quan)
Planet 3 – Small Orange (3 Ur-Quan)
Planet 4 – Green Gas Giant (1 Ur-Quan)
Yikes! With every planet containing at least one set of Dreadnoughts in far orbit, this isn’t exactly going to be a picnic! Fortunately, we’re much better equipped to take on lots of Dreadnoughts if we have to (especially with the might and muster of the Vindicator) and it looks as if we’ll probably have to… so we’ll proceed accordingly, but we’ll do so by at least luring them towards us and letting them follow, so at least that way we can be a little more selective in our engagements, (which are usually unavoidable as we depart from a planet) and we’ll also learn if there are more Ur-Quan vessels nearer to the planets out of sensor range, since they’ll undoubtedly give chase as well.
On our journey to this system, I had a little bit of time to read up on the Crater Constellation. ‘Crater’ is a Latin word that means ‘cup’, ironically, and its story comes a story in Greek mythology in which Apollo had a pet crow that he sent to go get him a drink of water because after all we all want our pets to get us our drinks (like the time I tried to teach my dog to bring me a beer) but after the bird gets the water he spilled it because, well, it’s kind of tough to carry a whole cup of water with just your beak! Anyway, he found a snake instead and his little bird-brain thought, “Snake? Water? Is there really that much of a difference?” so Apollo goes, “What’s this you’ve brought me?” and the crow replies, “Uh… a cup of water?” so Apollo got pissed and threw the crow, the cup and the snake into the sky, where they got stuck or something. History lesson over.
There is no indication of the Sa-Matra on sensors, but we can’t assume it isn’t here until we explore the entire system. We have added a planetary exploration path: 3-1-2-4
We will set course for the 3rd planet, or more precisely, we’ll set course to pass close by the planet to coax the Ur-Quan into pursuing us… which shouldn’t be too difficult, but the difficulty will be to keep them at a “safe” distance once they become aware of our presence. Zelnick out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 19, 2158 – Near Theta Crateris IV – Yellow Alert
I need to make an addendum to my previous log entry, because as we continued monitoring the Ur-Quan’s movements, it became apparent that there were 4, not 3, Dreadnoughts in far orbit around the 2nd planet, leaving the 4th planet completely open… or so it appeared at that time, so we switched targets and altered course for the 4th planet, but as we’ve neared it, short-range sensors have revealed 4 Dreadnought patrols orbiting the gas giant, with a 5th warship group peeling off to move to another location.
However, they are still unaware of us, so perhaps we can at least explore the ice giant’s moons without Ur-Quan intervention. For all we know, the Sa-Matra could be in orbit right under our nose, and these Dreadnoughts are in orbit to aide in guarding it, but we can’t know for certain until we find it. We have added an exploration path: m4-m2-m1-m3-P
We will set course for the 4th moon. Captain out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 19, 2158 – Theta Crateris IV-d – Yellow Alert
We have entered orbit of a Purple World with class 4 tectonics and 2 base metals, but no Sa-Matra, so we’ll be moving on.
We have set course for the 2nd moon. Zelnick out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 19, 2158 – Theta Crateris IV-b – Red Alert
Well, that didn’t take very long. After we had finished up around the 4th moon, we set course and moved towards the 2nd moon, but our proximity to the nearby Dreadnoughts has alerted them to our presence and they’ve moved to intercept. Fortunately, we made it to the 2nd moon and have entered orbit on the far side, temporarily eluding the Ur-Quan’s sensors… at least until we decide to leave orbit.
The moon itself is only an Azure World with class 4 tectonics and 8 base metals, so it looks like we can’t put off any further a possible confrontation with the Ur-Quan, but I’m still thinking we can avoid direct contact… for now… maybe.
We will set course for the 1st moon. Captain out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 19, 2158 – Theta Crateris IV-a – Red Alert
We barely made it to the 1st moon with loads of Ur-Quan right behind us! Confrontation with Dreadnoughts seems inevitable at this point, but for the meantime, we slipped into orbit just before they could power up their weapons, and we’ve scanned the moon; an Azure World like the previous, but this one has class 6 tectonics and 5 base metals.
We will set course for the 3rd moon. Zelnick out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 19, 2158 – Theta Crateris IV-c – Red Alert
We got lucky again! We barely managed to kick the Vindicator into high gear in time to avoid the Ur-Quan, which are now visible in range of our short-range sensors as they come from the rest of the system from all directions.
We circled around the system and zeroed in on the 3rd moon when we had the chance, which now puts us in orbit of a Pellucid World, which is rather unremarkable except for a single unit of exotic minerals. I guess we have just enough time to send down a shuttle to take a look before the Ur-Quan arrive.
We will send down the Lander shortly. Captain out.
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Captain’s Log – Summary:
We scooped up 5 Tzo Crystals, but we’d better depart soon; sensors are showing large amounts of Dreadnoughts coming into view! Let’s get out of here!
We will set course for the gas planet. Zelnick out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 20, 2158 – Theta Crateris IV – Red Alert
Our good fortune has continued to shine, but I think our luck is about to run out. We’ve checked out the planet, just in case we might find the Sa-Matra, but it’s pretty par for the course in the gaseous planets realm, and Sa-Matra-free, so we’ll be moving on.
We will set course for the 2nd planet. Captain out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 21, 2158 – Theta Crateris II – Red Alert
The planetary escape maneuver worked! We lassoed those poor Ur-Quan around like a cattle rustler by moving our ship to the top section beyond the gas planet and then circled back under half impulse speed and continued our course and allowed for our momentum to bring us beyond planetary range.
Usually, any ship following would catch up as we fired up the main impulse engines, but the distance we put between ourselves and the Dreadnoughts allowed us to gain enough speed before the Ur-Quan had left planetary range into system-wide view, and we proceeded to the 2nd planet -- an Iodine World with class 5 tectonics and 5 base metals. No Sa-Matra though, so we’ll be moving on.
We will set course for the 1st planet. Zelnick out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 22, 2158 – Theta Crateris I – Red Alert
This technique is working very well, If I do say so myself! We left the 1st planet as the evil horde of Quans was just beginning to arrive, so we gave them the slip again!
We made it to the 1st planet, which is a Vinylogous World with 3 common minerals and 8 base metals, but nothing else of interest, like a big huge battleship or something, so we’ll continue onwards.
We shall set course for the 3rd planet. Captain out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 22, 2158 – Theta Crateris I – Red Alert: Battle Stations
Ok, so I maybe I spoke too soon. We, I mean I, didn’t take into account that the Ur-Quan heading towards the planet were still lagging behind, but as it turns out, by us departing so early after our arrival to the innermost planet that it gave just enough time for the Dreadnoughts to catch up on the outside of the planet, surprising us with an ambush in the process!
Not that it really mattered all that much; the Vindicator handled up on the four Dreadnoughts with surprising ease with the powerful Hellbore Cannons, especially considering how the Ur-Quan are unable to deploy their fighters with our Point-Defense Laser in place, so there was no need to bring in any of our escort fleet for assistance, since we made need every able-bodied crew members when we starting tangling with the Kohr-Ah… or perhaps the Sa-Matra itself!
We will continue towards the 3rd planet. Zelnick out.
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Captain’s Log – Apr 22, 2158 – Theta Crateris III – Red Alert
We have just entered orbit of a Metal World with class 4 tectonics, 3 corrosives, 7 base metals, 4 precious metals and 4 radioactives.
Well, I guess it’s pretty safe to say that the Sa-Matra is not in this system, so we can officially mark this one off the list, so… it’s on to the next one!
We will set course for Gamma Crateris, but we may have to blast our way through a few Ur-Quan on our way out of the system. Captain out.
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