Ghosts of War Arc

{| id="mp-eventarc" style="width:65%; background:#430045; text-align:center; border:4px solid #ccc; margin:0 auto; width:950px" GHOSTS OF WAR
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This is the overview and timeline page for the Ghosts of War which began on October 10, 2021 and pertains largely to Tajaran lore The story is centered around a string of murders supposedly committed by the mythical Bayonet Hand. The crew later discovers that the events are linked to something bigger and sinister. Below is a summary of the arc's events, applicable news articles, and additions. =Mysterious Murder Shocks Imperial Plaza= News Article

Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES

Writer : ALBERYK

10/10/2463

The first Bayonet Hand murders take place in Little Adhomai.

''Mendell City has awoken today to the scene of a mysterious crime: Rrhazumar Krasnov, a Democratic People's Republic migrant living in District Six since 2462, was found dead in his apartment. The body was discovered when a neighbor entered the flat after Rrhazumar did not answer a request to borrow some sugar. Krasnov's body was found lying on a puddle of blood on the living room's floor. Mendell City's police were called by the building manager.''

''When the officers arrived at the apartment, they found a large crowd gathering before it. A symbol found inside the apartment was the cause of the commotion. Despite the agitation, the crime scene was undisturbed; there were no signs of a break-in and nothing was stolen. The neighbors claimed to have not heard anything strange. The victim was known to lead a secluded life and had no friends in the area. The locals claimed that the murder was carried out by the Bayonet Hand, a mythological killer who hunts down those who left Adhomai to escape the law.''

''Coroners confirmed that the cause of the death was bleeding caused by a cut throat. The attack was likely carried out with a blade. Toxicology tests revealed that the victim consumed alcohol before his murder. Information on Rrhazumar Krasnov's origins and life was sparse; the Tajara arrived in Biesel as a migrant in 2462 and has been living in the same apartment since then. He held no formal employment and likely worked in odd jobs across the district. Rrhazumar has no family in the system. ''

''Mendell City police department is currently working to uncover the mystery behind this crime. The murder has quickly captured the attention of the extranet because of its unexplained events and connection to urban legends. Law enforcement representatives explained that criminals commonly make use of local superstition to scare the population; they cited the event of last year as an example. The Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai's embassy promised to collaborate in the investigation.''

=Imperial Plaza Celebrates the Dholma Festival= News Article

Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES

Writer : ALBERYK

16/10/2463

Little Adhomai celebrates the Dholma Festival. Extra security forces are deployed at District Six.

''As part of its diverse heritage, Imperial Plaza prepares to celebrate the Dholma Festival. The Dholma Festival is a week-long Adhomian holiday honoring the harvest. During this celebration, the Tajara participates in feasts, food fairs, and alcohol festivals. Enjoying the fruits of one's labor and preparing for the next winter are its main themes. Thanks to its large Tajaran community, Little Adhomai will host the event for one whole week. Entire streets will be dedicated to the festival; the people of Mendell City will be able to enjoy a large array of Adhomian food, drinks, and attractions. The festivities will happen alongside the Tribuisti de Colonis.''

''Despite the current climate caused by the still-unsolved murder, the Dholma Festival will still be held normally. Mendell City police department has promised to deploy extra officers in District Six to guarantee everyone's safety. Because of the district's history with law enforcement, this announcement was met with mixed feelings by the locals. Some claim that the agents have foolishly dismissed the existence of the Bayonet Hand as nothing but another urban legend. Others believe that this gesture is necessary to begin repairing the community's relationship with the city's police.''

'' Celebrations will also be held in the NTCC Odin and SCC's stations. ''

=First Episode: Carnival of Souls= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

16/10/2463

A delegation from the Mendell City Museum of Immigration comes to celebrate the Dholma festival with the crew.

''After partying and engaging in traditional activities with the crew. One of the delegation's members is found dead at the surface. Bayonet hand's sigil and a photography of the victims are found on the site. The Mendell City police department and other mysterious forces begin to recruit crewmembers to help their causes.''

=Murder at SCC Station; Little Adhomai Killer Makes Another Victim=

News Article

Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES

Writer : ALBERYK

17/10/2463

The news reports on the murder committed aboard the NSS Aurora.

''The killer terrorizing District Six has struck where law enforcement less expected: aboard a Stellar Corporate Conglomerate space station. Yesterday, The NSS Aurora was visited by a cultural delegation from the Museum of Immigration with the intent of celebrating the Dholma Festival. After the feast, a fierce drinking contest, and an auction bidding for rare Adhomian objects, one of the delegation's members, Gennady Maduev, was found dead at the surface level of the station. The victim has been living in Tau Ceti since 2462 and worked as a musician; Maduev played the P'rrama in local establishments and at the Museum of Immigration. The Tajara had no living relatives in the system, but he frequently sent money back to his family in Shungsta.''

''The security department aboard the NSS Aurora quickly investigated the murder scene; they discovered a mark similar to the one found in Rrhazumar Krasnov's apartment. Autopsy on-site uncovered that the victim was killed with a bladed weapon. The forensics department was able to isolate fingerprints likely belonging to the criminal - however, no match was found in the Biesellite databases. The SCC promised to collaborate with Mendell City's Police department to find the killer. Law agents have been granted permission to visit corporate space stations and the NTCC Odin to search for clues.''

''Mendell City's police has released an image of the supposed Bayonet Hand sigil. Law agencies are now offering a bounty of six thousand credits to anyone who provides information regarding the killer's identity. ''

=Second Episode: A Stranger in the Station= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

23/10/2463

A ship carrying refugees dock with the station. The vessel also has a sinister cargo.

''A ship carrying wounded and hungry refugees dock at the NSS Aurora. The crew discovers that the pilot was killed and that the vessel was carrying chemical barrels. One of the refugees returns to the ship and arms himself with an acid weapon. He is killed by the Bayonet Hand with acid; his body dissolves into a pile of goo.''

=Contraband Seized Aboard an SCC Space Station=

News Article

Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES

Writer : ALBERYK

24/10/2463

The contraband present at the refugee ship is seized by the Republic of Mendell. More clues come to light.

''Tau Ceti law enforcement has confirmed the seizure of a large contraband shipment yesterday aboard a corporate space station. The cargo came into the possession of the station's crew after the ship, a small civilian corvette, carrying it had to dock with the facility because of an emergency. A group of wounded and hungry refugees from the wildlands was present in the crew's compartment. The contraband was discovered after engineers were dispatched to repair the ship.''

''Guns, nuclear waste containers, and barrels containing an unidentified acid were found in the ship's engine room. The origin and purpose of the shipment are currently unknown. The identification of the chemical was hindered because of heat damage caused by a fuel leak. However, specialists confirmed that the compound is some kind of industrial-grade acid. The nuclear waste that was found was likely the byproduct of a rustic nuclear fission technique.''

''The pilot of the ship was found dead inside the locked cockpit. While the body had clear bullet wounds, coroners were unable to identify the cause of death due to the extensive damage caused by the fuel fire. Another passenger died in an unrelated chemical incident. The remaining survivors have been already interrogated and were given asylum by the government. Authorities are still searching for the ship's registry; they suspect that the smugglers likely registered it in the frontier.''

''While extranet crime forums claim that the incident was linked to the Bayonet Hand's killings, Tau Ceti law agencies dismissed this hypothesis. Smuggling is becoming increasingly common in the wildlands and the reconstruction zone. Stellar Conglomerate's liaisons promised to continue working with the government to solve this security crisis. ''

=Final Episode: The Station That Dreaded Sundown= Server Event

Host : ALBERYK

30/10/2463

The NSS Aurora crew is invited to spend an afternoon in the Grand Romanovich Casino. The situation turns violent as Bayonet Hand appears at the casino.

''The crew is invited to enjoy the facilities in the Grand Romanovich Casino by the SCC. The visit turns out to be a plot to lure Bayonet Hand into a final showdown with the crew. After several deaths, the killer is killed with the help of the Republic of Biesel's law forces. The crew discovers evidence of a planned terrorist attack in Mendell. One of the masterminds behind the murders is also killed in a confrontation with the agents.''

=Mendell City Police Prevents Terrorist Attack in District Eight=

News Article

Publisher : TAU CETI TIMES

Writer : ALBERYK

30/10/2463

A plot to carry out a terrorist attack in Mendell City is stopped.

''Thanks to information provided by an anonymous source, the Mendell City Police department was able to foil a terrorist attack planned against District Eight. Law agents discovered several explosives hidden inside the foundation of buildings and in the streets of the Starlight Zone. The charges were a mixture of chemical and plastique devices using rustic radio detonators; all bombs were successfully disarmed. Most of the target structures were apartments on the Lekan Village's shore.''

''Upon further investigation, law agents discovered a net of tunnels under the Lekan village area. The passages were recently built; specialists suspect that they were excavated in the past month. Further exploration led the agents to a wide underground system below District Six and Seven. Mendell City police suspect that the perpetrators were using the underground as a hiding spot to avoid any detection. No suspects were found on site. The point of origin of the tunnels could not be located due to what agents believe to be manmade cave-ins. District Eight's Neightboor Watches are on high alert for any future disturbance.''

''Mendell City's police department has mobilized its agents to comb the rest of the city in search of the terrorists and any remaining explosives. Residents of the Starlight Zone thanked the law agencies for their quick response. No group has claimed any responsibility for the attempt yet. Investigators suspect that criminal groups in Little Adhomai might be involved. The Jargon Federation diplomatic mission did not comment on the matter. ''