Introduction
They never told me what happened in that cave.
When I asked Cara, she said “If you love me, you will never ask us again.” And so I didn’t.We all, of course, found out about Izzy Cordova eventually.
-The Memoirs of “Gentleman” Jack Cartwright
14 January - 17 February, WY603 - Helena
Current Contract: They’re Trying To Make Slaves of Us
The crew decides to brave the storm instead of risk it damaging the shuttle, so Julian pilots the incredibly harrowing trip back to the ship. Once there, they analyze the storm and historical records. It becomes clear that the storm is caused by the extreme gravity perturbations from using the gate. The Demeter storms correlate with the founding of Jericho, which suffers from similar storms as well. No storm of this type has been recorded on Helena, leading the crew to believe they’re the first to activate the gate since colonization. No other inhabited planets in The Reach have recorded similar storms.
Damage from the storm is widespread and causing numerous disruptions to operations on Helena, but by and large the casualty count is extremely low and the damage, while extensive, can be repaired.
The crew perform some gyrations to explain to Swan and others that they’re not going to talk about events in the cave. Calliope asks Dirk some pointed questions, but he evades them.
Moving back to the job at hand, the crew contacts Jeffrey Carter at Anderson Northwinds and arrange a meeting. They shuttle to the surface and meet Carter and Yuri Kochev, the town’s sheriff. Carter reviews Malachai Wheeler’s message in private and returns somewhat pale. He doesn’t discuss its exact contents but confirms with the crew that they intend to take the job to defend the town from AEX.
Over the next several weeks, the crew and their marines work with the town to install the fortifications and emplacements, as well as arming and training all the able-bodied citizens possible. Tomoe and Dirk start a successful media campaign to increase public sympathy for the plight of the colony. On February 2nd, they receive word that AEX has hired The Free Corps to retake the colony. The contract is substantial enough to make the newsfeeds.
Early ship time on February 17th, the first of The Free Corps cruisers surfaces at Helena.
