An Unregistered Comms Beacon can be found in the Velli system, orbiting body 6.
The transmission times of this beacon are believed to be on the hour, every 4 hours, with transmissions reported at: 00:00 / 04:00 / 08:00 / 12:00 / 16:00 / 20:00.
The transmitted message is the following:
5 14 9 7 13 1 19
(repeated four times)
Decodes by letter positions to:
ENIGMAS
This message is the decryption key for an encoded Galnet article in the local Herald:
(Note: this Herald is no longer available – March 3310 / However, an archived image from March 3303 is available – THE VELLI HERALD)
THE VELLI HERALD
25 Oct 3302
***Compromised Carrier Signal***
Victor Alpha Oscar Oscar Charlie – Quebec Charlie
Sierra Foxtrot Tango Alpha Foxtrot Golf Golf Foxtrot
Uniform Oscar Tango Papa Bravo Kilo Alpha Juliet
Alpha Sierra Foxtrot Tango Charlie Papa Bravo –
Quebec Oscar Foxtrot Bravo Alpha Tango 7 – Uniform
Bravo Tango Lima Sierra Alpha Foxtrot Tango Alpha
Bravo Charlie Bravo Delta
The message consists of a series of words that can be interpreted as the NATO phonetic alphabet, yielding the message:
VAOOC-QCSFTAFGGFUOTPBKAJASFTCPB-QOFBAT7-UBTLSAFTABCBD
Applying a Keyed Caesar cipher with the key of ENIGMAS taken from the beacon yielded the message:
VELLI-PIRATEASSAULTONFEDERATION-PLANET7-UNTHREATENING
This leads to a “Pirates Attacking Federation” signal source in the Velli, orbiting body 7. This appears to be a permanent equivalent to the Distress Call (Threat 4) signal source sometimes seen in other systems.
“Pirates Attacking Federation” contains a disabled Federation controlled Farragut Class Battlecruiser “FNV Formidable“, along with a number of pirate ships, the Farragut transmits one of the following messages to all ships in range:
Naval Priority Message… Mayday! We have been sabotaged and find ourselves stranded. We require any navy ships in the area to assist us until our support team arrives.
Encrypted Message…To all pilots in the vicinity, we are in need of assistance. We have taken heavy damage. Please assist us until our support team can arrive.
Naval Priority Message… Support, this is Frigate Omega Four. We are adrift and expelling fuel and oxygen. Please assist, we have hostiles incoming. Repeat we need assistance and have hostiles incoming.
Encrypted Message… Mayday! Mayday! We are under siege and have taken heavy damage. Please assist. Mayday!
Another Farragut Class Battlecruiser will arrive, this one Pirate-controlled, and attack the Federation-controlled one. Should the Pirate-controlled ship be driven-off, Federation support ships will arrive.
