An Unregistered Comms Beacon can be found in the Plaa Aec XZ-Z b41-0 system, orbiting body 1.
The transmission times of this beacon are on the hour, every hour.
The transmitted message is the following:
DYJEPQY UWLUDCQCKJ XUEOKJ
DJPQY P6 UNL001
NEHHY LKCJQ 2
BEVGCJP AEL
LHEE EUO WZZ X41 0
IKDUPQEJDXY
(repeated two times)
Applying a Keyed Caesar cipher with the key of EXODUS yields the message:
DYNASTY EXPEDITION BEACON
DNSTY S6 ERP001
RALLY POINT 2
HAWKINS GAP
PLAA AEC XZZ B41 0
MODESTANDBY
An abandoned settlement can be found within the same system on body 2, at -21.1968, -149.6210 (in Live/4.0) or at 36.3801, -12.7082 (in Legacy/3.8).
Within the settlement there is a Data Point which may be scanned for an Intel Package, and for Engineer Data.
Around the settlement there are four Settlement Comms Log Uplink points, scanning them gives background to the reason for its abandonment:
Logs
HAWKIN’S GAP BETA MISSION 1/4
Expedition Log: 30/08/3270
“Strange mission this, though the pay is good. Nobody seems to know who’s footing the bill, but Sirius Corp is favourite. Whatever this trip is, it’s expensive. It’s also hush hush. Even the captain doesn’t know what we’re carrying and he’s not happy about it.”
HAWKIN’S GAP BETA MISSION 2/4
Expedition Log: 12/09/3270
“Big bust up today. Apparently this ship is flying without shields and without guns! We had an escort for the first few hundred light years, but then they peeled off and we’re on our own out here in the void! If we do come across anything nasty we’re going to have to hope we can run…”
HAWKIN’S GAP BETA MISSION 3/4
Expedition Log: 18/09/3270
“Not a happy ship. Crew is grumbling. Captain hasn’t been seen for weeks. Cargo bay is guarded by these very unfriendly types. Don’t know what they’re protecting, but it’s enough to get a man killed over, that’s for sure.”
HAWKIN’S GAP BETA MISSION 4/4
Expedition Log: 1/10/3270
“Cargo dropped. Turned about and on our way back to civilisation. What it was, nobody knows and nobody is asking. It’s a bit more relaxed now, whatever that cargo was it was something important. Can’t see what use it would be this far out, but maybe someone knows something we don’t…”
