jbox1 In a panic, Jake has the drone scan everything in the sector. The sector coordinates are in a relatively barren asteroid field - perhaps almost mined out? - and the control ships seem to also be connected to whatever network the Beacon is connected to. During this, a Frigate-type droneship warps into the sector, the drone scans that too. It was returning from a patrol mission near a minor colony world.
Then Jake's drone scanned the Beacon and the Beacon responded:
Warning = "Beacon is being scanned"
Run CounterScan():
The Beacon scans the scout back. Suddenly, the Two follower scouts disconnect and break formation, returning to the side of the Beacon, and a wide-ping transmission is sent to every asset except the drone Jake controls. It looks like the jig is up...
Not knowing what to do next, Jake tries to enter some random code, but he finds that the interface between the drone's console and Jake's has been severed, in fact, everything except the data feed and visual sensors have been cut off from his control. Jake struggles to figure out what sort of fate awaits the drone.
After some time, a standard Assault-Class Subcore appears. It opens transmissions with the drone.
INTERESTED: HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO REACTIVATE THIS DRONE? THIS PARTICULAR SET WE HAD LOST CONTACT WITH AFTER A BEACON WAS DIRECTLY HIT BY A METEORITE IN A METEOR STORM.
The Console UI lights up again, it seems Console interfacing has been re-enabled but not the drone controls. Whatever or whoever is in that Subcore ship is waiting for an answer...