NDV Marksman

Introduction

The NDV Marksman is the flagship of a NanoTrasen exploratory fleet. Initially dispatched to transport the crew assigned to V3b from their former post to a new, secret location, an unexpected catastrophe rendered their destination uninhabitable. While NanoTrasen works out exactly where to relocate the fleet's population, they have instructed the NDV Marksman and its accompanying vessels to explore the local area of space. Serving now as a short-range scientific mission, the fleet has a standing mandate to explore, collect anomalous items and creatures, and catalogue any scientific discoveries of note.

Current Galactic Position

Although the exact position of the NDV Marskman and its fleet is hotly debated, current estimates place it just south of Orion Confederation space, below the Perseus Arm. Holding in the charted, unincorporated system LTN-6642b (Artemis' Bow), the NDV Marksman has established a strong local fleet presence.

Known Planetary Bodies

Hajjar - Class H (Desert) Planet

Hajjar is a largely arid world in close orbit to LTN-6642b's star (Artemisia), recovering from an extended period of heightened natural greenhouse activity. All natural life, both flora and fauna, was cooked away over the centuries until only the most hardy organisms remained. For some reason - perhaps its secluded orbit and harsh environment - Hajjar is home to several occult temples and mercenary bases. Powerful arachnids common across space may be found even here in darkened, forgotten cave networks. In spite of the dangerous local life, native or not, some unincorporated settlers strike out to construct moisture or solar farms on the frontier.

Ilsos - Class F (Ice) Planet

Ilsos' position just at the fringe of Artemisia's Goldilocks zone has plunged the planet into a perpetual winter. Thick, hardy forests of trees not dissimilar to Earth's evergreen pines blanket large swathes of the tundra. A common landing zone for pirates and smugglers, Ilsos famously bears the remains of a forgotten Scientific research post. The exact nature of the catastrophe which befell this post is hotly contested by all but those who have been down to visit is personally. Archaeological digs to the south have produced strange, arcane artifacts which Central Command has been eager to recover.

Khrysos - Class G (Gaia) Planet

Khrysos is a frequent tourist destination, and the primary draw for traffic entering Artemis' Bow. Managed by a reputable corporation considered neutral by NanoTrasen, visits to Khrysos are encouraged by Central Command in an attempt to keep the morale of the fleet high while they are forced to essentially loiter in local space. The planet's temperate climate, clean, unpolluted beaches, and the small network of of settlements and townships surrounding the resort have created a strong commercial hub which has, in turn, attracted a variety of pirates and bad actors to the sector.

Farigha - Class D (Dead) Planet

Exactly what ill fate befell Farigha is lost to history. Archaeological digs and studies have suggested that during an ancient and forgotten battle, the creatures native to Farigha either slew themselves in a great war, or chose a form of mass suicide in the face of a larger threat. Regardless of why, it is agreed by all that these native creatures intentionally destroyed their planet's atmosphere through some unknown means, stripping it away and leaving the planet airless. Well trained mercenaries have been known to establish fortified bases on Farigha. Considering the strong Xenomorph presence on the airless world, perhaps these fortifications are more necessary than one would first assume.

Local Stations or Celestial Bodies

Nebula Gas Station

The Nebula Gas company is well known across the Frontier as the premier fuel service. Establishing a presence in the system to provide cheap and friendly maintenance and refueling services to tourists and commercial haulers alike, Nebula Gas is treated fairly even by the local pirate and mercenary organizations. This far out on the Frontier, Nebula Gas is one of the only safe and reliable sources of fuel, and crossing even one of their smaller stations will make the offending party Persona Non Grata at all other establishments - the equivalent of a death sentence for small crews. Although logistically independent, Central Command has issued a mandate that the NDV Marksman and the rest of the ships in the fleet may engage in Nebula Gas' services, but they must not antagonize the company. They have promised to treat any breaches in protocol with the smaller corporation as an act of piracy, and will disavow any employees who participate in such a violation.

Outcast Vox Pirate Base

Vox assets embedded in the fleet have been hesitant to explain exactly where these Vox come from, or why they're even in Artemis' Bow to begin with. However, it cannot be denied that the Vox pirate crew operating out of a large asteroid in the local medial belt are well organized, well supplied, and eager to collect loot wherever they can find it. Central Command has confirmed that these pirates possess a source capable of providing them with fissile material, and have repeatedly warned the NDV Marksman that although pre-emptive strikes and repelling of Vox boarders is authorized, the fleet is expected to avoid tampering with nuclear devices currently in the possession of the pirates, and that all Vox bodies are to be left unmolested and as intact as possible for eventual retrieval by the pirates.

Lore
Corporations	NanoTrasen, Frontier Megacorporations, Minor Corporations, The Syndicate
NanoTrasen Specific	NDV Marksman, Paracausal Monitoring Division
Other Organizations	ITV Talon, System Defense Force, The Orion Confederation
Worldbuilding	Extradimensional Mechanics, FTL Travel, Galactic Landmarks, Legends, Mysteries, and Rumors, Metaphysics and Paracausality, Technology of the 2500's, The Timeline
Contribution Data	Lore Submission Templates, Roadmap for Lore Development