Bright Sentinel
The Bright Sentinel is a Wells-class Carrier megaship that is owned and operated by Taurus Mining Ventures. It is currently located in Mbooni. Together with Prospect's Deep, a Taurus Mining Ventures Surface Port in Mbooni, Bright Sentinel is one of only two ports that host a Technology Broker who offers modified versions of the Guardian Gauss Cannon, Guardian Plasma Charger, and Guardian Shard Cannon, but unlike Prospect's Deep, the Bright Sentinel is mobile.
The existence of the Bright Sentinel was first revealed on September 17, 3307, when Salvation asked for help assembling a new anti-xeno superweapon to repel a Thargoid invasion in the Cornsar system. Pilots who participated in this project were directed by Captain Chae-Won Lee of the Heart of Taurus, another Taurus Mining Ventures megaship, to retrieve their rewards in Mbooni. Following a major Thargoid assault on multiple nebulae with human colonies, the Bright Sentinel jumped to Merope at Salvation's request to distribute a new Engineered anti-xeno module, the Modified Plasma Charger, to local pilots battling the invasion. The vessel remained in Merope from October 28 to November 18, 3307, when it returned to Mbooni. The Bright Sentinel is scheduled to depart its home system again for Maia on December 9.
Timeline
28 OCT 3307
- *Pilots Federation ALERT*
Several inhabited systems in the Pleiades and Witch Head Nebulas have come under attack by large numbers of Thargoid ships. An emergency has been declared by the authorities in multiple systems including Asterope, Shenve and Onoros. Thargoid vessels have again targeted starports, with casualties estimated in the many thousands. Increased Thargoid activity has also been reported in the California and Coalsack Nebulas. Independent pilots and anti-xeno squadrons are moving to defend the invaded systems and evacuate survivors from damaged starports. Aegis is not currently able to assist, as the operational shutdown enforced by the public inquiry has led to many ships and pilots being withdrawn from service. Admiral Aden Tanner, chief military liaison to Aegis, commented: "Many of us in Aegis are frustrated that the Baumann Report has tied our hands. I am also convinced that these Thargoids are reacting aggressively to the weapon of mass destruction that Salvation deployed in the Cornsar system. Not only should we be fighting the alien threat, but Salvation must be prevented from escalating the war." The Taurus Mining Ventures megaship Bright Sentinel has moved to the Merope system at Salvation's request. Reports indicate that tech brokers on board are offering a Guardian-hybrid plasma charger as well as material cost discounts to support the anti-xeno effort.[1]
22 SEP 3307
- The anonymous 'man of science' Salvation has claimed responsibility for the Thargoids' unexplained departure from the Cornsar system. Salvation had predicted their attack, but his claim was discounted by Aegis and other authorities. After a few days the Thargoid vessels fled abruptly, leaving behind wreckages across the system. The following message was transmitted on public channels: "This is Salvation. The Thargoid invasion of Cornsar has now been repulsed, thanks to prototype anti-xeno weaponry that I have been developing for some time. I have achieved what Aegis could not – an effective deterrent against the alien threat. Refinement of this weapon is at a critical stage, so I cannot reveal any details. I only regret that my warning was not heeded in time to save everyone on the two starports. This triumph was only possible thanks to those loyal pilots who answered my call. Rewards will shortly be available from the Bright Sentinel megaship in the Mbooni system." Salvation's identity and capabilities remain unknown, but he has established a reputation as a rival to Aegis. He is also knowledgeable about Azimuth Biochemicals, a research company connected to the earliest recorded encounters with Guardian and Thargoid artefacts.[2]