Jump 10
Sector
. A densely populated area of the galaxy, either in terms of people or in terms of planets. Although beacons are common within a sector, they're very rare outside one; so specialised technology tends to be needed to cross the vast gaps between sectors.
We reach the other Federation base in this sector, located around a Long-Range Beacon. Travelling between sectors is very difficult, but there are devices here sufficient to ensure that we can land near enough to a beacon to complete the jump, even given the vast distances that can exist between sectors.
It's a fairly busy place here; the place is inundated with incoming ships, mostly civilian. What was once a military base has pretty much turned into a refugee camp; the beacon here doesn't work quickly, but each time it does, there were hundreds of immigrants who needed taking care of.
We present the information we learned about the Rebels to the base here. They make a record of it, but don't have much in the way of military supplies left, being overwhelmed with their humanitarian mission. They offer to pass it to the next few scout ships that come along, but this information really needs to be sent to the Federation High Command, who might be able to do something about it, so they suggest we send the message ourselves.
They're quite eager to help us plot a route. They bring up a map of possible routes on their computer:
Code: Select all
? ?-?
H< \ / \ >F
/ F-? ? \
X >H< >?-C
\ H-? F /
H< / \ / >?
F H-F
X = we are here
C = Federation High Command
F = area is under the control of the Federation or its allies
H = area is not under Federation control
? = area is uninhabited, or no information available
The information's gathered from unreliable hyperspace relays, so they can't say much more, but many of the refugees are willing to talk about their experiences. Towards the bottom of the map, the adjacent sector is apparently under the control of the Rebels; the refugees are mostly Engi fleeing persecution, with a mix of other races. Towards the top of the map, you hear a number of conflicting stories, but there are allegations of supernatural involvement: demons, perhaps. At any rate, the area is allegedly uninhabitable, and they're fleeing before all signs of life in the sector are snuffed out.
The Rebels have almost caught us, though, so we're going to need to go through one sector or the other. It'll be up to Enter the pilot to decide, but feel free to confer about which way we should go!