Tale:Operation Lyria/Documentation

Kachiro

---

Index / Lexica / Timeline

"A Boundless Constellation Lays in Wait..."

---

Return...

Operation Lyria

Author: S. ErdClearance: V-03

Introduction - Lyria:

Lyria is a terrestrial planet covered by a global ocean of water that is at least 225 kilometers deep. A dense cloud cover regularly shrouds most of the planet's oceans. The planet's diameter is 9,704 kilometers, and its gravity is 0.78 G. Temperatures on Lyria can reach upwards of 76.2 °C on the equator.

Lyria is located in the Sev sector in the Seraph's Frontier region of Midonia, 92,405 light-years from the galactic core. The planet orbits a B8.4 V main-sequence star at a distance of 9.02 astronomical units. No confirmed moons orbit Lyria.

Introduction - Endriel:

Endriel was an exploration ship that had operated for 6 months and 8 days prior to its arrival at Lyria. It had spent the last three days traveling solely by its Seraph drive in order to reach Lyria, as the closest entryway to the star system was a distant black hole.

Around 18 minutes after achieving a stable low-altitude orbit, unusual electromagnetic activity was detected on Lyria. 9 seconds later, a fire was detected in the engineering sub-deck 5. 8 seconds later, the ship started losing altitude. Endriel suffered major damage in the unusually fast atmospheric entry. The logs show an automated distress call being sent to available frequencies. Subsequent analysis revealed that it never reached beyond the ship.

A log was recovered from Endriel's navigator, Kyes Vel. Though unconfirmed, it is believed that he was the only member of the crew who had survived the descent into Lyria's ocean. The methods by which he survived are similarly unconfirmed. As the navigator mentioned, the ship should have been crushed by the immense pressure on the seafloor. He has since been presumed deceased.

Operation - Synopsis:

Endriel's crash landing on Lyria was an unusual event. The logs show no recorded faults in the ship's systems. The sudden descent happened at speeds the ship's thrusters are incapable of reaching in such a short timeframe. It is likely that an external force on Lyria has influenced or even caused the crash. Deep analysis of local astrographical data shows no prior mentions of the planet, nor the star and its adjacent black hole.

The purpose of Operation Lyria is to uncover the cause of the crash. The operation is separated into several phases. They are used to establish a connection to Lyria's star and to determine whether the crash landing of Endriel was a unique or a repeatable event. The end goal is to, over the course of several weeks, map the seafloor of the planet in its entirety and dispatch unmanned probes to investigate any anomalies up close.

Operation - Phases:

The first phase of Operation Lyria involves establishing a direct connection to the star. A remotely-operated beacon is sent through a rift to the adjacent black hole. There, it will spend seven days traveling to the star. Upon arrival, the onboard program automatically positions it into a stable prograde orbit around the star at a distance of 9.12 AU.

In the second phase of Operation Lyria, a manned command ship is sent to orbit Lyria's star. Six unmanned craft of varying sizes are then sent into several orbits around the planet. The goal is to figure out whether the crash of Endriel was an unique phenomenon, or something that can be reproduced.

If the second phase of Operation Lyria proves to be successful, mapping probes are sent into a safe orbit around Lyria. Their goal is to map the entirety of the planet's seabed. The deep ocean and likely the distant orbit required will turn the third phase into a weeks or months-long endeavor.

In phase four, remotely operated probes are sent deep into Lyria's ocean in order to closely examine the anomalies and irregularities, if any are detected. The findings are logged into the database. If the danger proves to be too great, any knowledge of Lyria and its related bodies is to be erased from the public, and their locations erased on any available starcharts.

The contents of this document are classified. Anyone caught copying or distributing the contents of this document without permission will be persecuted to the highest extent of the law.