A Fateful Decision

Daily Mission Briefing

Sensors have finally located the Ventar. It is beyond the slip-fields, far out of our reach. The onxicant is already at full power, and by my calculations, it is not possible to approach the Ventar without suffering a complete system failure.

Mission Dialog:

VARA: Sensor data is sparse, but I am still able to identify its location.
Can we contact the Ventar ?

VARA: Yes, but due to the disruptions, it will have to be audio only.
Open a comm.

Captain Delris: This is Captain Delris of the Ventar. Our ship is critically damaged. Are you able to assist?
We'll do what we can captain. How did you ship end up deep within the expanse ?

Captain Delris: We saw an opportunity to test a top-secret device we'd been developing. The window was short.
You were not authorized to skip your rendezvous. We've come to find you at great expense.

Captain Delris: This could not wait. Our research suggests that the expanse's fluctuations have a pattern. In a short time, there will be a major peak conjunction within this pattern, giving us a unique opportunity.
Opportunity for what ?

Captain Delris: To collapse the expanse... forever.
What ?

Captain Delris: That was our mission, after all. We were tasked with researching new ways to navigate through the expanse.
Collapsing it seems a bit severe.

Captain Delris: Perhaps, but we will only get one chance to do so.
The Uldrinan reside here. They are adapted to these conditions.

Captain Delris: And they can adapt again. This space is unstable, we are simply trying to fix it.
This would be an act of war against them. We cannot make that call. We must return to base first.

Captain Delris: We can't. Our ship's engines are gone, and our hull is on the verge of implosion. The only way we could leave here intact is by collapsing the expanse from around us.
VARA, are you absolutely sure that we can not reach the Ventar ?

VARA: I am certain that we cannot, commander. It is too deep past the slip-fields.
Delris ... If you collapse the expanse, there will be severe consequences for all of us.

Captain Delris: But if I do not, my ship and crew, as well as our experimental equipment and research, will be lost.
VARA, how is our comm ? Can we reach back to base ?

VARA: Negative. Our systems have sustained too much damage from our descent. I cannot connect through the spacial markers at the moment.
Captain, I'm afraid there's no way for us to reach your ship.

Captain Delris: Then our decision is simple. We will collapse the expanse.
You must hold your actions until we have heard from command.

Captain Delris: There's no time. We have mere hours until the conjuction. I'm sorry that you could not be of assistance to us.

Ventar out.
...

VARA: Commander, our primary mission is to return the Ventar safely, but collapsing the expanse would be a mistake.
Can we prevent the Ventar from initiating the procedure ?

VARA: Given their ship's fragile state, a massive energy pulse wave directed at the ship could disrupt the process.
Can we do that .. through the expanse ?

VARA: Yes, but we would need to modify some equipment to channel the energy wave over such a great distance. To ensure success, we would need to release multiple charges.
I haven't yet made my decision, VARA, but let's prepare the equipment just in case.

VARA: I will remind you that if we stop the Ventar from collapsing the expanse, it will be destroyed.
I understand. I will weigh my decision carefully.

VARA: Very good. I will proceed on your orders.

End Transmission.

Notes: When this mission was released as a bi-weekly in September 2013, the Galaxy Legion player base was asked to vote on whether to "Prevent the collapse and allow the Uldri to live, at the expense of unknown high-tech research? Or Allow the collapse, saving the Ventar and its research, at the expense of an entire race?"

"The fate of the Ventar, and the Uldri Expanse, is put up to vote..."

The archived mission chain reflects the result of the vote to prevent the collapse.

Requirements: 100 Energy, 1 Quantum Flare
Rewards: 190 XP
XP Return Ratio: 1.9

Requirements: 4,500 Energy, 45 Quantum Flares
Rewards: 8,550 XP, 1 Uldri Wave Ejector

Requirements: 49,500 Energy, 495 Quantum Flares
Rewards: 94,050 XP, 11 Uldri Wave Ejector
This mission can only be completed once per day.