Dr. Armand Kopelman's Journal: Entry 1
by Kevin J. Coleman

I have discovered, analyzed and cataloged over two hundred species, yet, from what I have gathered, nothing is remotely as astounding, fascinating or horrific as these insidious parasites known as Krevlocs. Over a decade ago a Doctor Charles Crain conducted his own, illegal, investigation of the Krevlocs through his own funding. Neither Crain, nor any member of his team were ever seen or heard from again. As I prepare to leave on this expedition into, perhaps, the most dangerous region of known space, I cannot help but ponder the reason for Crain’s ultimate calamity, I can only hope that our investigation will prove to be more prosperous than that of Crain’s...

After years of agonizing, procedural political hearings and dogma, I have finally managed to obtain a level 2-clearance charter enabling my two colleagues, Dr. Henry Morgson and Dr. Richard Salamon, and I to travel to the twin planets of Shash-Gulvanis! These planets have been under strict quarantine by the Seventh Vanguard and traveling in these infested parts is all but impossible. No doubt, my renowned reputation in the field of extraterrestrial biology has granted me the clearance necessary to proceed with this expedition.

I had heard the quarantine process, both for arrival and departure, for Shash-Gulvanis could last for several weeks. Indeed the information I obtained regarding this methodical process was quite right and not as exaggerated as I once believed. It has been six days that my most patient colleagues and I have been forced to wait. This Seventh Vanguard apparently have nothing better to do than detain us for our "own safety", what possibly could we be bringing into Shash-Gulvanis that could make the Krevloc infestation any worst? If I did not know better, I would say that the Vanguard enjoyed delaying us! In fact they were probably grinning at us under those black bio-masks of theirs.

Ah, this is, in fact, the first time I have encountered a member of the Seventh Vanguard. They are indeed a mysterious bunch, and I must say despite my criticisms of them they are a most efficient and professional unit. Their bio-suits seem to be modified armour plating completely sealed, of course, and resembling that of the Mark 3X armour manufactured by the Turvians, which I have seen in the Galactic Museum on Karniak Prime. These bio-suits were still much different; of course, with a built-in air tank attached to the suit, apparently built into the armour itself. This I imagine is only an emergency supply of air, as the front of their helmets have what look to be air-filter vents allowing the Vanguard to breath the air that surrounds them, just filtered through, no doubt, an extensive network of toxin, eubacterial, and protista filters.

Their weapons, on the other hand, are like nothing I have ever encountered. I suppose I could correlate them to a typical ion-rifle, but these weapons of the Seventh Vanguard are much more complicated than that. Apparently there are several settings for the weapon, with at least three settings that enable the weapon to destroy resistant bacteria and chemicals. Unfortunately my attempt to get a closer inspection of the weapon was thwarted, but I cannot blame the guards for denying me a closer look at their weapons, they probably assumed that a brilliant mind like mine might be able to figure out how the rifle works and replicate them. Though of course I have no real interest in such schemes, at least not in this expedition, I am focused only on learning more of these legendary Krevloc parasites.

For two most astonishing days I have been on the planet of Krevic, one of the two twin planets of Shash-Gulvanis. The planet has become akin to a barren wasteland, to the horizon I could see a vast black barrier, which I assume must be a mountainous area. Though to my great pleasure and satisfaction we have come across what looks to be the ruins of a small city.

We ended up spending several hours studying the different architecture and structure of this once grand metropolis. Much of the ruined architecture seemed to be circular-based with a titanium-based alloy. Access points to these bizarre structures may have very well been via protoplasm prints (or simply flesh prints as generally reckoned), as there seemed to be such identification nodes near most razed structures. Fragments of granite and sand lay everywhere now. I imagine this may be a result of the planet's irritability to a grand catastrophic event. If legends are to be believed, this planet may have suffered from the gravitational shock waves caused by the destruction of a neighbouring planet. It should be noted here that this is nothing more than mere speculation and not in any way my official take on the matter.

Dr. Morgson found a strange alcove that harbored the remains of deceased life forms. Several different skeletal frames were found, including a few resembling human remains. Here we stayed a further four hours, at Dr. Salamon's request, and identified all the skeletal structures save two, which Salamon will describe in vast detail and catalog, upon our return.

We believed the city to be completely abandoned, which was a great boon, for we did not want to run into any intelligent indigenous life. The Seventh Vanguard has serious protocols indeed regarding such matters and no life forms (human or not) on the planet would be allowed to leave here, as the Krevloc parasite is difficult to detect in early stages of infection, despite the Vanguard's sophisticated equipment. Only those that come to the planet in bio-suits, like we did, and remained in those bio-suits were allowed to come and go. Such laws could drive any natives here into hostile actions against us, as they see such isolation on this infested world as acts of callous cruelty.

Though I understand their viewpoints, it is simply for the greater good of the rest of the galaxy, allowing one of the locals here to leave the planet could cause a universal epidemic! And we wouldn't want that. Anyway, while in the morgue (as we began to know it), my astute colleague Dr. Morgson detected a high level amenoic radiation which suggested that there was something alive in the razed settlement.

When we are finished investigating this lead, I shall detail a full report of our findings.