"Variance Control, this is Research Team Alpha," Dr. Aris muttered into the comms, a hint of trepidation in his voice as the docking clamps engaged with the Satellite. "We're secure. Initial atmospheric readings inside the craft are nominal, but we're detecting some peculiar energy fluctuations we can't quite identify." Not overly shocking, it's an offspring of the Variance, Dr. Aris thought.
On the other end, Commander Valerius's voice crackled back, "Understood, Aris. Proceed with caution. Maintain a tight comms link. We're seeing those same energy spikes from our end, and they're similar to what we see coming off of the Variance itself, but something about the reading does seem off, so be careful."
The other researchers exchanged nervous glances, their initial excitement now tinged with a palpable sense of unease as they prepared to open the hatch. Here we go, thought Dr. Aris, the first time the Variance had ever extended its exterior. The scientific find of the era. What could go wrong, he thought, as the hatch hissed and began to screech open.— Excerpt from the Docking of the Research Team to the Satellite
What is the Satellite?
The Satellite is seemingly the offspring of the Variance space station, and an odd statement for certain unless you are familiar with the station itself. The Variance is an ever-changing space station, its interior constantly expanding and shifting. Though for the entire time it's been inhabited, several thousand years, the exterior has never changed; only its interior has.
Recently, the expulsion of a small satellite-like craft was seen coming off the Variance. This Satellite, as it is simply known as, is the first known change in the exterior of the station.
Shortly after it was expelled, the authorities of the Variance quarantined the area around the Satellite. Cautiously, they approached the craft, slowly entering its space to ensure it wouldn’t react in any unexpected or violent way. After some test prodding, a team of researchers specializing in Variance technology was sent to dock with the Satellite. Which, strangely, had a port available for docking a ship.
The researchers were able to dock and enter the Satellite safely, and what they found was indeed shocking. The Satellite seems to be a miniature version of the Variance, functioning similarly. The researchers found, with some testing, that every time someone new steps onto the Satellite, a new room is added as if from nowhere, though on a much smaller scale than the Variance.
At the moment, however, it doesn’t seem to have an equivalent to The Halls, nor does it have a full-size dock like the Variance. Instead, there is only enough space to dock on the outer shell of the satellite via one port. Though in time, perhaps these features will develop, no one is certain.
The real question is: Will the Satellite eventually grow to the same size and function as the Variance? Beckoning a second coming of the Variance space station, an offspring of sorts. The Variance, while it hasn’t grown on the outside, has continually grown and shifted throughout its existence to accommodate its ballooning population. Perhaps, it was only a matter of time before it hit its interior limit and the Variance simply decided to duplicate itself. Alleviate the stress of its expansion outwardly for a change.
The Variance Space Station, progenitor of the Satellite
Sudden Movement
The Satellite has been active for a few months now and has been closely monitored throughout this time. However, a few days ago, the Satellite’s thrusters activated, and it began to move. Slowly at first, merely drifting away meter by meter from its parental station of origin. But, it is gaining speed, slowly but surely moving farther and farther away from the Variance.
The Variance authority has tried to scuttle it numerous times, but has failed each time, with the Satellite easily outmaneuvering them. Despite this, the Variance authorities are doing their best to closely follow it as it moves east out of Variance territory towards eastern O.Sec F.
This sudden movement is causing concern for a variety of reasons. The first is because a group of six researchers, who were investigating the Satellite when it began to move, are still on board. They had no knowledge of the craft’s sudden thruster activation and were not able to depart quickly enough. Their current status is unknown, as short-range communications seem to have been blocked by the satellite.
The other, and likely more dangerous in its ramifications, is the concern that the Satellite will start a war of ownership once it enters eastern O.Sec F. See, the Variance, holds a small territory in central Delta Space, and while it does not hold a powerful political presence in the Delta Space, its territory is greatly protected. The Variance itself does not allow for violence in its small space. If any ship were to open fire in its vicinity, the station would immediately shoot it down in retaliation.
The Satellite is of great interest to the other Territorial Governances, and the lure of a station with even half the ability of the Variance space station would likely be too hard to pass up. So, once the Satellite enters the independent space of O.Sec F, a territory that is not widely protected, the fear is that all the surrounding Territorial Governances with firepower at their disposal will immediately gather and likely start a war over the Satellite. Wars have been fought over Abnormality Objects numerous times, and the Satellite represents one of the strongest seen.
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