Ironman

In 2531 the galactic survey cruiser Cabot entered CYG 035-4122 on a routine mapping mission. There was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary about the system. CYG 035-4122 was ordinary in all respects with a dwarf star and an average planetary system. It was merely one of thousands charted during the First Galactic Survey. What the Cabot found there would have profound implications for humanity.

The Cabot entered the system and began a routine scan of the single class K4 dwarf star, 6 terresterial planets, 5 gas giants and discovered a mysterious energy reading from one of the six moons around the last gas giant. After charting the system, the Cabot approached the "moon" to get more detailed scans. Even from millions of kilometers away, it was obviously very different from the typical icy, rocky moons usually found around gas giant planets.

On their approach the science officer first noticed the eccentricity of the orbits of the planets six major moons. He ran some calculations on the mechanics of the moons orbits. The sixty kilometer moon was massive and extremely dense effecting not only the orbits of the moons but the planets orbit around its sun.

The Cabot took up a high orbit of the mysterious moon. On the outside it was covered with several meters of hydrogen-methane ices. Just under its icy crust, it was a solid, metallic perfect sphere. It could not be a natural object.

The Cabot stayed on station studying the object for a week. Her crew could find no access or portal into what could only be described as a massive structure. The sphere gave up none of its secrets.

Frustrated by what the crew knew must be a great oppertunity for discovery, they left a long term monitering satellite and continued their survey.

Two standard Later later the sceince ships Niels Bohr arrived at CYG 035-4122 and began a long term study of the object. Eventually a research station was established on one of the other moons of the gas giant.

Papers were written, theories were forwarded but the sphere yielded none of its secrets with the exception of one: from its particle emission profile, it could only have a point singularity power source at its core. The object was a gigantic sleeping titan with a beating heart of raw, unlimited power.

The object made some people very nervous. In all of the millions of charted star systems in man-kinds ever growing databases, nothing had ever been found even remotely like it. Scientests, the military and corperations throughout the galaxy desired its secrets but no one could could unlock the enigma that the military codenamed Ironman.

By 2540 CYG 035-4122 was home to three research stations and was the Galactic Alliance's largest fleet anchorage for 400 light years in any direction. Study of the IronMan became an industry of its own.

After years of fruitless study, Ironman became something of a scientific white elephant. Its study was put on the backburner and all but one of the research stations closed. There was talk of closing IronMan Anchorage but there were those in the Admiralty who made keeping their presence in the system a priority.

Rumors and legends swirled around Ironman. For decades it was a favorite of tabloids and conspiracy theorists. Every decade or so interest in Ironman was revived in popular culture. It was the topic of numerous holo-books and movies and finally a footnote in the history of the fast growing Alliance that was quickly populating the galaxy.