[LOG FILE #015 – AGON WASTES, AETHER] Exiting the tunnel I entered an open courtyard area. The wreckage of a downed Space Pirate raiding vessel was here, seemingly re-purposed to serve as protective walls for the building behind it. I had a hunch that this was the Pirates' base of operations.
My hunch was soon confirmed as an alarm started blaring, and a skiff carrying some Pirate Troopers flew into the area. I made quick work of them, my missiles speaking for me. More Pirates came out from the base, two of them on the upper level. They each jumped on a hologram, activating the stationary Vigilance Class Turrets. My Varia Suit sustained some hits as I dispatched the turrets, and by extension the Space Pirates manning them. Once both turrets were destroyed the alarm ceased, and I noticed a laser gate leading to the base deactivate. With no more Pirates in sight, I pressed on.
Entering the base I immediately noticed my path was blocked. The doorway was covered in a shroud of black matter, and a quick scan revealed that its blast shield was only vulnerable to dark energy-based weapons. Looking around the room I saw some weakened floor panels made of Talloric Alloy. Switching into my Morph Ball I activated a bomb to destroy one. This in turn exposed a tunnel leading in the same direction as the dark door, so I rolled deeper into the base.
Once the tunnel ended a few things were noticed by my external sensors, which in turn were relayed to my HUD. The first thing that I saw was the surroundings. The floor I was rolling under was part of a huge chamber, apparently some kind of Space Pirate control center. Data terminals were everywhere, each displaying different information. I would figure out soon enough what I could learn from them.
The next thing I noticed was a humming sound nearby. Rolling a bit further I found another missile expansion. You know what they say: the more, the merrier.
The final thing I noticed was a squad of five or six Space Pirates gathered around a large dark orb. The one in the front, I assume the squad leader, fired a weapon of some kind at the mass, and I was very surprised to see it turn into a dark portal. As they entered the portal I came to the conclusion that they had developed a weapon capable of travel to Dark Aether. I would have to see if I could locate a copy of such weapon for my own use.
Once the portal closed I rolled my way to a nearby alcove and deactivated my Morph Ball. Right in time for another alarm to start blaring...
[END TRANSMISSION_