A Startling Concern and A Decision Made

Something has happened which has brought a certain level of concern towards not only my safety but that of Miss Ofeq's as well. I did not mention it in the latest three part installment but I feel it is necessary to include it now.

After travelling back down to ground level, Miss Ofeq and I were surveying the area for a suitable campsite. We had moved several yards away and discussing the station above us when, simply by chance, I glanced in the direction of the blue teleport circle and saw the beginning of a rolling series of fiery explosions. I yelled an alarm and for Miss Ofeq to jump clear. My own jump landed me upon the thick grass and carried me by its impetus further down the hill and away from the roaring heat.

Gaining our feet again once it was over, we were both shocked and alarmed by what had happened. There had been no one else around that we could see or detect. For all intensive purposes it was if a bomb had been dropped directly near us! But to what end? After some investigation I found the teleport circle to be completely untouched. I could find no further explanation for what had happened. I slept fitfully that night out of extended nerves and the fear that the explosion had been meant for us. However, to calm my faithful readers, both Miss Ofeq and I have seen Mainlanders toss and ignite explosives for apparently no reason and it was quite possible we had merely been "in the wrong place at the wrong time." Since no other attacks became apparent and neither of us could find or reckon of any motive as to why someone would attack us so, the matter was placed to the side.

I wish I could say that was the end of it.

Over the past few days spent in and around the station I had the good fortune to meet several interesting individuals. I was also able to find out a bit more information concerning the Stargates. While investigating the station's game room, I was able to have a small chat with Mr. Pontchartrain again as well as meeting a rather interesting alien humanoid which identified himself as a Mr. Mitch Griswold of the Asgard High Council.

Mr. Griswold helped me to understand that the stargate I had experienced were only part of a much larger network, this particular one actually being one of three systems total. The names of the systems being Arcturus, Prometheus, and Cleary with each system carrying different destinations. So, if travelling along a string of gates within the Arcturus system and one wanted to get to a destination within a Cleary system, you would have to find an Arcturus gate that would lead you to a destination where you might also find a Cleary stargate. From there, you could use the Cleary gate for your original destination. Also, travel with these devices COULD carry you far away from the Mainland. For instance, explained the small Asgardian, Asgard itself was not to be found on the mainland but only through one of these Stargates. Hearing this I realized that at the beginning of the fourth week, I would be facing a decision. Continue as planned along the shoreline and eventually move inland or explore more of these stargates and take our expedition along the systems mentioned? It was a choice I would mull over for several days.

My discussion with Mr. Griswold was pleasantly interrupted by a message coming in to me from a Miss Beverly S. She had heard of the expedition and wanted to point us in the direction of a place called Sanchon. After discussion over crystal, she found my location and travelled to meet me there within the station itself. A tall woman wearing a one piece brazen white bodysuit and long fire red hair greeted me. What was the most startling, however, was her eyes which burned a kaleidoscopic rainbow of colors. The next to startle me was her size. I am no small man, measuring in at around 20 hands high, but as I greeted her I realized that she must stand nearly 21, if not more. When asked of this she said she was "designed" this way yet when asked if she was some sort of clockwork, she replied that she was not. I came to find out that she was a member of a group of privateers in the area of Sanchon. An area, she said, that she was sure I would enjoy. Her confidence and manner reminded me of several female wayfarers I had encountered in my earlier travels but it was, most certainly, not the type of personality one typically encountered in Caledon.

It was during this meeting that the next matter of great concern transpired. Taking in her breath, Miss S. drew back and pointed to something behind me. Turning, I saw a circular object with the most peculiar features drawn or placed upon it. Due to these features I was unsure exactly what I was dealing with at first but all was brough clear when Miss S. declared it a bomb!

How it arrived so near my person, I am unsure. My eyes had been towards the door most of the time and after the departure of Mr. Griswold and others who had visited, I was sure that no one had placed anything behind me. I do know that there appears to be a technology that allows some to teleport items much like they teleport individuals. I could only imagine that it was this same type of technology which had placed this bomb behind me.

Miss S. named it a "Zeeky H. Bomb" and explained that it would only go off if certain words or phrases were uttered. I was caught a bit off-guard with this and said as much to her. What manner of attacker were I, and possibly, Miss Ofeq dealing with? Someone who obviously enjoyed fire and pyrotechnics but were they also a madman as well? We moved away slowly from the device but it would appear that it was set to go off at the mere mention of its name. Luckily, a speaker or recording of some kind announced its intention to explode seconds before it actually did so. I dove, twice now in the same number of days, over the billards table as the explosion rocked the small game room we had been speaking in.

Little was damaged besides bits of the floor and wall but I am sure it would have been quite different had we not evaded the conflaguration. I was happy to see that Miss S. had been able to leap to safety as well. Drawing my shock baton may have been a bit useless at that point but it did make me feel better. And, again, there was no evidence to help me understand the matter either. Why is it someone would be attempting such things on us? Shortly after that thought my thoughts turned to Miss Ofeq and I was forced to excuse myself from the charmng Miss S. so as to find her and inquire to her safety. I found her safely researching an area of the station and I was greatly relieved.

Neither of us know why this might be happening. Both of us are taking extra precautions from here on out and will be keeping our eyes open for further attacks.

As to the decision of which way to travel, I have decided that we will return to the ground for now. We must stick to the root of our mission which was to explore the Mainland and not be distracted by the Stargates at this time. It appears to be such a large undertaking that, upon the completion of the current expedition, I shall return and begin mapping the gates. We know that the Mr Pontchartrain's station is here and if necessary, we will return to it and reconvene. For now, we will stick to the Mainland and carry onward.

While keeping one eye open for bombs.