For those of you following the series of vignettes introducing the Blue Planet RPG, here is another. Enjoy . . . _____________________________________ Senior Controller's Log, GEO ONE - 23 April, 2199 1945 - Wormhole Controller reports entry of small object into Tau Ceti system. Object dimensions and timing are consistent with cargo package A1138. Approach Controller alerted. 1947 - Approach Controller alerts tug Shannon Marie of probable arrival of package A1138. 1951 - Tug Shannon Marie reports powering up for intercept. Requests vector to package A1138. 1952 - Approach Controller relays Shannon Marie vector to package A1138. Indicates direction +32°15" x, -05°00" y, absolute, delta vee 65 meters per second. 1953 - Shannon Marie acknowledges vector and reports under way. 2001 - Shannon Marie reports mid-sized object in vicinity. Projected course track does not cross course of package A1138. 2001 - Approach Controller acknowledges object in vicinity. 2002 - Approach Controller inquires about possibility object is asteroidal or cometary in nature. 2007 - GEO-1 Harbormaster reports no asteroids or comets logged in approach corridor. 2009 - Shannon Marie reports radar scan indicates object is tumbling and measures approximately 72 cubic meters. Radar reflective index is consistent with metallic ore. 2020 - Shannon Marie reports package A1138 on course and following approach corridor. 2030 - Shannon Marie reports package A1138 on course and following approach corridor. Range to package now 39,000 meters. Delta vee now 21 meters per second 2035 - Shannon Marie reports possible target aspect change of unidentified body. Delta vee package A1138 now 18 meters per second. 2045 - Shannon Marie confirms target aspect change and reports target now under acceleration. 2046 - Approach Controller reports object now visible on Control radar. Range from object to tug now 57,000 meters. Range from object to package A1138 now 21,000 meters. 2051 - GEO-1 Harbormaster reports no private craft with flight plans in vicinity of approach corridor. 2057 - GEO-1 Harbormaster reports no military craft operating in area. 2100 - Approach Controller reports object range to package now 17,000 meters and closing. Object is still under acceleration. 2101 - Approach Controller recommends Shannon Marie break off intercept of cargo package A1138. No acknowledgment from tug Shannon Marie. 2103 - Shannon Marie reports object radar signature now diverging into secondary contact. Secondary, smaller contact now under heavy acceleration. Shannon Marie indicates that primary target size and volume consistent with modified orbital transport. Smaller contact unidentified. 2205 - Unidentified transport hailed by Approach Controller. No acknowledgment. 2123 - Approach Controller reports range from transport to package now 11,000 meters. Range from small targets to Shannon Marie now 9,500 meters and closing. 2125 - Approach Controller hails unidentified transport. No acknowledgment. Approach Controller hails Shannon Marie. 2130 - Shannon Marie reports range to incoming targets now 8,000 meters. 2130 - Approach Controller reports range from transport to package now 9,000 meters. 2141 - Approach Controller hails Shannon Marie. No acknowledgment. 2145 - GEO-1 Harbormaster reports GEO cutter preparing for launch to intercept transport. 2150 - Approach Controller reports range from transport to package now 4,500 meters. 2152 - Approach Controller hails Shannon Marie. No acknowledgment. Shannon Marie no longer under acceleration. 2155 - Approach Controller hails Shannon Marie. No acknowledgment. 2200 - Approach Controller hails Shannon Marie. No acknowledgment. 2201 - Approach controller reports range from transport to package A1138 now 900 meters. 2205 - Approach Controller hails Shannon Marie. No acknowledgment. GEO-1 Harbormaster reports cutter launch. 2222 - Approach Controller reports transport intercept of package A1138. Transport now under heavy acceleration. Senior Controller reports loss of incoming cargo package A1138 to GEO-1 Harbormaster. 2245 - Transport approaching edge of Approach Control radar range. Range to cutter now 110,300 meters. Cutter redirected to tug Shannon Marie. 2321 - Cutter reports intercept of Shannon Marie. Visual inspection indicates heavy damage. 2358 - Cutter reports 0 survivors rescued from Shannon Marie, salvage marker deployed. copyright 1996, Jason Werner.