(2024-04-05) Niksi's Log: The Salty Heron Expedition

Details

Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	Niksi's record of her expedition to locate the remains of the missing ship, The Salty Heron.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Before the Cataclysm

Arc: The Missing Heron

03.07.28

I met with Vice Admiral Fallon today about the matter of locating the wreckage of the Salty Heron. Not only is he agreeable, he nearly lost a sprocket when I told him about the D.R.U.N.K. It seems he shares my interest in deep sea exploration, and especially salvage. He has ambitions to locate the rest of the Lost Fleet. I cannot say I'm not interested. It would be quite a find.

But first, I must focus on the Heron, especially given the sheer amount of munitions that might still be out there. The thought of the Horde locating them and using them against us sends a chill up my spine.

Glub responded no differently to the Vice Admiral than he has to any other biped. Though I did notice he seemed to levitate approximately 0.127 centimeters higher from the floor than usual while we were in the Purple Parlor. I might have attributed it to thinner air, but Dalaran's magic maintains its atmosphere at typical levels. So, it may have been a slight variation due to minimally lower gravity. However, I have not yet had the time to perform proper observations and measurements to confirm or falsify the notion.

03.18.28

The expedition in Northrend is officially on hiatus. I packed up the last of my findings from the south Dragonblight coast, and I'll be personally overseeing the shipment to the Hall of Explorers.

Glub continues to tolerate temperatures far lower than I ever expected. But I am loath to allow his aquasphere to freeze entirely, having no idea if would be capable of surviving cryostasis.

03.23.28

I wish the Explorers' League would show more enthusiasm for my findings. If it isn't some sunken Titan ruin, they just don't seem to get excited. What isn't exciting about a potential new variation of deep sea monsterbelly?

Glub is flitting more freely within his aquasphere. He seems more comfortable in warmer weather. I stand by my decision not to freeze him.

03.26.28

The Salty Heron's figurehead was right where Fallon's records said it would be. It seems the local Wetlands murlocs have defaced it somewhat. Do murlocs do graffiti? It looks like random scratches and bite marks, but some of it seems oddly deliberate.

I will leave such ponderings to another time. I am here to locate the rest of the ship, and I don't think the murlocs are going to be cooperative in assisting me.

Fortunately, bathymetric maps of this region are fairly extensive, given the amount of maritime travel through the area. Tracking the currents that likely brought the figurehead to this particular stretch of shore will be child's play.

Glub does not care for these murlocs any more than those of Stranglethorn Vale.

03.29.28

Today I had a lucky find. The remains of a single crate stamped as cargo of the Salty Heron, wedged into the sea floor rather forcefully. My guess is it contained food, and some very hungry sea creature tore it apart. Unfortunately, they probably also carried it a significant distance away from the wreckage. Still, it's within my search radius, which gives me some hope.

As usual, Glub is getting grumpy when he's cooped up in the D.R.U.N.K. He likes to roam. I try to let him out into the ocean when it's safe, but the deeper and farther asea we go, the more he'll be little more than a morsel to some larger fish.

04.02.28

Land is no longer in sight. If I am to stay out here for more than two or three more days, I'll need to return ashore and charter a proper boat to ferry us around.

Glub likes boats, especially larger ships. I think it makes him feel like he's swimming faster than he ever could on his own.

04.04.28

I am running afoul of abnormal currents, enough to force me to recalculate my course. I surfaced to examine the storm, but I was surprised to find no weather patterns that would be affecting the ocean this way.

Even stranger, I ran across a large school of longtail krill, and even a ghost-eye snailfish! Neither of these species belong anywhere near the shores of the Eastern Kingdoms. Both are native to the depths of the Great Sea. Something seems to be driving them away from their natural habitats.

Glub is concerned. So am I. We'll give it another day out here before we head back.

04.05.28

I was 109 seconds from turning back to land when I spotted it. A broken mast below me! I put the D.R.U.N.K. into a dive, descending to 458.1288 meters, where I got a clear view. Perched on a shelf was the remains of a ship, and a recent sink judging by the lack of significant floral growth. The bow was missing, possibly fallen deeper into the trench below. There were clear signs of damage from cannonfire. Best of all, the stern was intact. I had to squeeze the submersible against the shelf wall to clearly see the designation: the Salty Heron.

There wasn't much left in the way of cargo. A massive breach had opened directly into the cargo hold. Very likely much of it is still down in the trench with the bow, but the unusually strong currents were certainly capable of carrying much of it farther asea.

As much as I would like to remain here and explore further, my supplies are running low. This is going to require a much larger salvage operation. I'm sure the Vice Admiral will be happy to provide the necessary vessel and equipment.

Glub is as excited as I am!