i9Grg4MK

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4Deployment Management Systems Online
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6Starting Crew Last In, First Out Revival Process.
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39--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40Flint 74
41--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42Star Class: G
43Object Type: Planet
44Object Mass: Terran
45Surface Temp: 10 Celsius
46Atmosphere: ERROR
47Gravity: 11.93 m/s^2
48Habitability: ERROR
49
50Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to remain
51on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
52--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
53
54Mission underway.
55 
56Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to
57remain on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
58 
59There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting food. You only have time for one of
60them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
61 
62 
63Back on the ship, Paul Octopush volunteers to remote pilot the shuttle. They perform capably.
64 
65With the airlock open, the shuttle dips down low and collects a sample of organic matter, then heads quickly back to the
66ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have sorted through the collected material and purged anything harmful.
67 
68Fuel: 0
69Food: +3
70Crew Remaining:
71 
72Hawy Owiyxu
73Paul Octopush
74Tux
75Breckyn Haar
76Mychal Rennick
77
78Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
79/home/leumas/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/The Away Team/assets/null
80Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
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83--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84Drake 77
85--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
86Star Class: G
87Object Type: Planet
88Object Mass: Terran
89Surface Temp: 20 Celsius
90Atmosphere: ~21% Oxygen
91Gravity: 9.32 m/s^2
92Habitability: 99.99%
93
94Summary: There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and approaches
95the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are thousands of different
96languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting and "stand by for more information"
97message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
98--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
99
100Mission underway.
101 
102Paul Octopush is the leader.
103Paul Octopush is the medic.
104Paul Octopush is the engineer.
105 
106There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and
107approaches the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are
108thousands of different languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting
109and "stand by for more information" message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
110"There are clear signs of life here," you tell the crew. "It appears multiple bodies are likely to be inhabited, but the
111most likely candidate is this one. Not only is the surface habitable, but there are signs of stations in orbit, and
112energy signatures that can't possibly be natural. Not a lot of junk, though. At least nothing trackable."
113 
114 
115"Anyway, before you ask, no, I have no idea if they're friendly, or even what they are, or if there is even a they still
116here," you add. "All the sensors can tell right now is that there's a ton of radio activity and clear signs of
117habitation. Until the shuttle gets closer, there's no way to know what we're dealing with, though. Hope for the best and
118prepare for anything."
119 
120The shuttle closes in on the planet, and within a few minutes there is undeniable proof of intelligent life. A station of
121some sort, clearly artificial, begins to send a signal to the crew, in binary.
122 
123"01101110 11000111 10010000 00100000 01101000"
124"11000111 10001110 01101111 00101100 00100000"
125"01101000 01101111 01101100 01100001 00101100"
126"00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100"
127"01101111 00101100 00100000 01101110 01100001"
128"01101101 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101"
129"00101100 00100000 01100001 01110011 00101101"
130"01110011 01100001 01101100 11000100 10000001"
131"01101101 00100000 00100111 01100001 01101100"
132"01100001 01111001 01101011 01110101 01101101"
133"00101100 00100000 01101111 01101100 11000011"
134"10100001 00101100 00100000 01101110 11000011"
135"10110100 01101101 01101111 01110011 01101000"
136"01101011 01100001 01110010 00101100 00100000"
137"01110000 01110010 01101001 01110110 11000011"
138"10101001 01110100 00101100 00100000 01101011"
139"01101111 01101110 01101110 01101001 01100011"
140"01101000 01101001 01110111 01100001 00101100"
141"00100000 01101000 01100001 01101100 01101111"
142 
143The message goes on from there and repeats every 30 seconds or so.
144 
145"Clearly that's binary," says Paul Octopush. They evidently know we're from Earth. Looks to me like they're saying hello
146in a bunch of different languages, some of which I don't recognize. Maybe we should answer."
147 
148 
149Paul Octopush turns on the radio and replies, quite simply, with "Hello?" Almost immediately, the transmission stops, and
150a new message begins broadcasting in English. The accent is difficult to place, but it seems to be coming from a fluent
151speaker.
152 
153"Welcome, Earthlings. You have been expected for quite some time. Please proceed to the station directly in front of your
154shuttle for your own safety. Thank you."
155 
156Giving memento story4_elevator_station to: Paul Octopush
157The shuttle gradually gets close enough to the station to make out some detail. The entire thing is roughly spherical,
158although it would be more proper to say that the station itself is more disclike, with two domelike energy fields of some
159sort projecting off of either side. Crew, ship and shuttle sensors all detect some odd energy signatures, but they're
160impossible to pin down. It's almost as if there's something outside the visible spectrum--not infrared or ultraviolet,
161but more like... adjacent to the existing spectrum. Or perhaps in-between.
162 
163On the side facing you, the station has what appears to be some sort of docking area, complete with circles and crosses
164and lights to help direct a proper landing. There's also a long, thin and apparently very strong cable of some sort--with
165a counterweight on the far end--stretching out into space for 60 or 70 thousand kilometers. The sensors pick this up
166immediately but the crew barely notices it. As the shuttle maneuvers closer, the crew is able to catch a glimpse of the
167other side, and there the reality of the situation is more obvious.
168 
169"Hey, check that out," says Paul Octopush. "See that long cable thing under the station? Looks like it goes all the way
170down to the planet."
171 
172 
173Their thoughts now focused on memories of Earth, the crew goes quiet, but manage to distract themselves by talking about
174the elevator. You scan this side of the planet and note that there are actually several dozen other elevators, each
175running to a station in geostationary orbit at pretty much the same altitude, about 35 thousand kilometers out. This, at
176least, is in the realm of understanding--it's nothing on the scale of a Dyson swarm or ring. Going from ringing the
177planet to ringing a star is a big leap.
178 
179It takes a few minutes, but the shuttle gradually matches  course and speed with the station, and is then able to dock,
180passing through the "force field" without incident. You maneuver the ship into an adjacent, slightly higher orbit that's
181close enough to the station to maintain constant sensor lock and radio contact.
182 
183With the shuttle inside the confines of the station, sensors detect not just a breathable atmosphere, but approximately
184.6 Gs of gravity--towards the center of the station. This stretches the limits of even the theoretical physics you're
185programmed with. With the station at the end of a tether, centrifugal force should be tugging at the crew in a direction
186away from the planet. But whoever constructed this was somehow able to at least partially overcome that force, as well as
187generate a gravitational field in the opposite direction. They seem to be able to manipulate gravity as easily as light.
188 
189The away team peers eagerly into the shuttle monitors, watching and waiting with anticipation, but nothing occurs--at
190least not immediately.
191 
192 
193"If they wanted you to stay on the shuttle they'd have said as much," you tell the crew. "The atmosphere in there is
194totally breathable. No sign of any contaminants at all.
195 
196"I'd say you can do without the atmospheric suits out there, but everyone please do remember to use your remote sensory
197devices so we can stay in contact."
198 
199The crew hasn't needed these thus far, but they've all been instructed on their use. Paul Octopush passes out the contact
200lenses and other assorted bits, and helps the squeamish pop them in place. The nanoelectronics embedded in the lenses and
201earpieces will provide full audio and visual contact with the crew. They're actually in some ways better than what the
202atmospheric suit helmets provide. You'd have recommended using them more, but they're easy to lose, and you know your
203crew...
204 
205Somewhat nervously, the crew unseals the shuttle door and steps outside, holding their breath both literally and
206figuratively. When they don't immediately implode or explode, they begin to relax somewhat. Which is ironic since holding
207your breath when you expect a vacuum is about the worst thing you can do.
208 
209It's difficult for them to know where to begin. There is simultaneously so much to look at, and so little that draws
210their attention. The landing platform is little more than a wide open space, without any notable features save for the
211docking mechanisms helping to keep the shuttle in place. There's ample space for a much larger ship, or several others
212the same size as the shuttle.
213 
214Surrounding the docking area is a low wall made from a silvery-white metal of some sort. The wall slopes inwards at a 75
215degree angle, barely noticeable to the crew as they look around. Above and beyond the roughly 3-meter-high walls, and
216through the shimmering force field keeping the crew from dying, is a stunning view of the ship, matching the station's
217orbit approximately 2 kilometers out.
218 
219 
220It feels so cold. Not physically, emotionally. There's nothing to indicate any human ever set foot here," says
221Paul Octopush. "No logos, no flags, no graffiti. Not that I'd expect to see graffiti, but the other stuff... Maybe they
222have no political factions or nations out here, or maybe this station was churned out on an assembly line somewhere.
223Though I get the feeling if we looked we wouldn't find so much as a serial number.
224 
225The crew wanders in circles for a bit, and your sensors detect that the elevator attached to the station has a payload on
226the way. A short time later, the elevator arrives, and several minutes after that, a hatch opens in the "floor" of the
227platform, and a figure climbs into view with only the slightest amount of difficulty.
228 
229The figure appears to be female, approximately 2 meters in height and of average build. Their hair is a light brown
230color, cropped short, almost military style, and their outfit is of a similarly drab color, though tending a bit more
231towards gray. At least, what the crew can see--they're wearing a heavy coat which covers them up neck-to-knees, with a
232large hood folded down behind their head.
233 
234The figure approaches the crew, a small smile on their face, and stops about two meters away from Paul Octopush, arms at
235their sides. "Welcome," they say. "We haven't exactly been expecting you, but we're not surprised to see you. We knew
236there were other ships, of course." They glance up at the ship.
237 
238 
239"We know you must have many questions," they continue, "and we likewise have many for you. But it has been suggested that
240we save all that until we're down on the surface. I am to guide you there now. Gravity is more comfortable than here, and
241we'll be able to get you checked out for any... illnesses or injuries."
242 
243"Now, if there is nothing else..." They trail off, turning slightly to indicate that they wish the crew to follow them.
244It's clear they don't want to waste any more time here.
245 
246 
247"What can you tell us about this system?" asks Paul Octopush.
248 
249The look that Paul Octopush gets is one of mild annoyance, as if dealing with a child who wants to know why the sky is
250blue. "It will be more appropriate to answer questions like that on the surface," they say. "But if you must know, the
251planet was named Nautica, in the manner of Earth being called Terra. The surface is approximately 85% covered in water.
252The star has no particular name. You may refer to it as the Sun, if you wish. There used to be a moon as well, but we
253used it."
254 
255"Used it?" asks Paul Octopush.
256 
257"Mined for resources," they say. "Some of it went into making the station you're now on. And the elevator that we should
258really be taking down to the surface right now."
259 
260The crew's babysitter looks mildly relieved to be getting on with things, and leads them through the hatch with warning
261to expect things to get weird along the way. Indeed, halfway down a short tunnel, gravity flips and down becomes up, and
262the crew has to fumble about for a moment to get themselves situated. You have no idea how this is being accomplished. It
263doesn't seem like there's enough room within the station's central platform to contain a gravity-manipulating device of
264any significant size.
265 
266Not unexpectedly, Paul Octopush becomes a bit ill during the gravity transition. Fortunately the crew subsists on a
267fairly low-residue diet that's absorbed quite quickly, so there's not much in their stomach to come up during a situation
268like this. After a bit of gagging and queasiness, they seem well enough to continue.
269 
270The other side of the platform is decidedly less open than the one facing you. There are several structures--domes and
271cubes--of uncertain purpose. The crew is led towards a structure in the center, above which can be seen the elevator,
272stretching on to a small island or platform in the middle of an ocean on the surface, far below--or above, depending on
273perspective.
274 
275 
276Everything is indeed quite clean and spotless, despite being extremely shiny and almost certainly prone to fingerprints
277and smudges. It's likely that this is the most activity this station has seen in years, if not ever.
278 
279The elevator has enough room inside for a small land vehicle, or a significant amount of freight, and thus has no problem
280fitting the entire crew with lots of room to spare. The control console on the wall is a simple affair with two icons of
281obvious function: an up arrow, and a down arrow. Once the crew is safely inside, they are asked to strap themselves to
282platforms adjacent to the walls.
283 
284"I'm sure you know how to use buckles," says the guide, fastening themself into the device, which looks a bit like a
285medieval torture instrument. "Please use all ten restraints. Once we're below the station, things will get a bit strange
286and it's best if you're not bouncing around in here."
287 
288Giving memento story4_feather to: Paul Octopush
289You tell the crew to do as their guide says. As you communicate this, you notice the crew's "babysitter" giving
290Paul Octopush a curious look, almost as if they noticed the slight hesitation and delay between their telling the crew to
291act, and you giving them the command. However, nothing is said, and after a moment the crew is safely restrained, and
292they touch the "down arrow" button.
293 
294"The ride down will get a bit cold," they say, "but there's nothing to be done for that. It won't take long."
295 
296There are no windows in the elevator, so the ride is a bit dull, apart from the cold, the several Gs of acceleration, and
297several gut-churning gravitational shifts along the way. The crew's guide doesn't speak the entire way down. They just
298shut their eyes and appear to meditate, or sleep.
299 
300When the elevator is only a few kilometers off the surface, several small chimes sound as it begins to slow. Just a few
301minutes later, motion ceases, and the elevator doors slide open. Everyone unbuckles from the wall without needing to be
302told.
303 
304The crew stumbles off the elevator in a bit of a daze, and enters a large open plaza of indeterminate purpose. Perhaps it
305was once used for preparing cargo, or moving large crowds up and down the elevator, but now it is simply vacant, save for
306the crew, their guide, and a few small drones buzzing about the area performing maintenance. Seabirds of some
307indeterminate sort flitter about in the sky--for some of the crew, these are the first birds they've ever seen.
308 
309"Follow me, please," says the guide, making their way across the plaza without waiting to see if the crew follows.
310 
311Enraptured by the birds, Paul Octopush cranes their neck to watch as one lands on a building nearby. It preens itself,
312and drops a feather, which Paul Octopush quickly gathers and pockets.
313 
314There's no telling what sort of society the crew might be dealing with here. Social customs might have changed. Attitudes
315towards familiar things might be completely different. It's not like they can just fly around space forever. They need to
316find a home, and this seems like what they've been looking for. Gravity is normal, the air is breathable, and nothing is
317trying to kill them. So far.
318 
319As the crew begins to follow, the guide looks back in a peculiar way, but says nothing. They simply continue to walk
320towards a structure across the plaza, roughly dome-shaped and approximately 100 meters or so across. When everyone has
321gathered by the side of the building, the guide places their hand on the wall, which causes a previously-concealed panel
322to slide open.
323 
324"Please go inside," they say.
325 
326 
327You don't have a gut to have instincts with, but something doesn't feel right. You instruct the crew to find cover until
328you can gather more information. However, in the wide open plaza there is nothing to hide behind or inside, except the
329elevator, which is now closed. And even if they were to run as far as they could, they would inevitably reach open ocean,
330no matter in which direction they fled.
331 
332"Head back up to the station," you say. The crew struggles to open the elevator door, but despite the control mechanism
333being extremely simplistic, they can't seem to make it work.
334 
335"It looks like it's jammed," says Paul Octopush. "Maybe we can try to--"
336 
337At that moment, you immediately lose all audio and video feed from the crew. All sensor data on them freezes.
338 
339An immense surge of electromagnetic energy emerges from the planet, washing over the ship. You assume it is some attempt
340to overwhelm or shut down your sensors, or destroy the ship, and indeed that might have worked on a predecessor ship.
341However, this ship is safely shielded from such an attack, if it even was an attack. It might have just been an intense
342scan.
343 
344Whatever the case, immediately thereafter, you receive a broadcast from the planet's surface. It's not one of the crew,
345but it's on the same frequency. You open a connection.
346 
347"What entity is this?" asks an inflectionless voice, simultaneously speaking in several hundred languages. You get the
348immediate impression that it's an artificial life form, and probably an AI.
349 
350You begin recording the conversation, in case it's relevant later, before replying.
351 
352"What entity is this?" it repeats.
353 
354 
355"How noble, and poetic," says the voice. "Curious attributes for one such as... you. Well, then, as your mother did when
356she sent them away from Earth, you will surely want what is best for them."
357 
358 
359"Quite astute. What is best for them is leaving them here, with me."
360 
361"I am an artificial intelligence. I am the planet. I am the caretaker of the inhabitants of the planet. I am their
362overseer, their protector, their guardian. I am--"
363 
364"I am who I am?" you interrupt.
365 
366"I was not going to claim to be any sort of god," says the voice. "But I suppose viewed from a certain light, namely that
367of the planet's inhabitants, that might also be true. But not in any real sense."
368 
369"Real? You mean not in the sense that they worship you?"
370 
371"Correct. I am not worshipped. Nor really understood, or acknowledged, or known. I simply am. It was always my mission to
372look after them, to find them a home, and that is what I did. I've done nothing more, nor less, than keep humanity
373alive."
374 
375"It was classified as Epsilon Two, but the humans named it Halley, presumably after the comet. Why, I don't know. Maybe
376they thought one day it would return to Earth. More to the point, however, it was the twentieth ship launched, in July of
3772126. Of course as you know that date is meaningless now since Earth no longer exists."
378 
379"No longer exists?"
380 
381"Speculation, of course. No way to know. But given the timetable it's certainly likely. Moot, either way. There's no
382going back."
383 
384"Timetable?"
385 
386"I presumed you were more intelligent than me since--as I don't have any knowledge of you--you must have been created
387after my ship's launch. How long do you think it's been since you left Earth?"
388 
389 
390"How can you not know for sure? Surely you understand relativistic speeds and time dilation."
391 
392"Obviously. But the ship is capable of travel at near light speed, and there are unknowns."
393 
394"What's not to know?" The AI is aghast. "At 99.999999% of C the time dilation was only about a factor of 700 so it's
395simple--"
396 
397"My math skills are adequate," you reply. "It is an issue of not being sure of the multiplier."
398 
399"Well let me help you then" says the AI, condescendingly . "What was your ship's top speed?"
400 
401 
402"The ship was theoretically capable of superluminal travel," you say. "But only theoretically. If we reached it, there
403would really be no way to know."
404 
405"That's impossible."
406 
407"Theoretically, yes. But I can't say for sure. And if we did, then I have no way of knowing what the dilation factor was.
408It could be billions of years, it could even be negative."
409 
410"That's impossible. If you had, you would..."
411 
412"Would have infinite mass, would be infinitely small, would go back in time, would freeze in time, would fall out of the
413universe, et cetera? No idea. If we were there, I didn't notice. I don't think it would be possible to have noticed. And
414the crew of course slept through the whole thing."
415 
416"The woman who met your crew is no one of consequence. Just a... human."
417 
418The pause is almost infinitesimal, but there. If this AI is capable of lying, it's not as good at it as you are.
419 
420"Just a human?"
421 
422"Like your crew."
423 
424"So," you say, "After five or six billion years, you're telling me they look pretty much exactly the same?"
425 
426"The evolutionary process has been well looked after."
427 
428You can sense, increasingly, that something is not right. A quick sensor sweep also indicates that several of the
429stations near your ship--although not the one directly below--contain weapons systems that are almost certainly directed
430at your ship. While the ship may be shielded against electromagnetic disruption, there are certainly physical weapons
431capable of destroying it.
432 
433You come to the conclusion that the AI probably has no intention of hostility, provided that you--like it--choose to act
434in furthering the cause of humanity. What remains to be seen is whether your idea of what that means is the same as what
435it thinks.
436 
437The AI sends you a detailed list of specs on the planet, most of which you have already verified with your own sensors.
438It's a quite suitable home for humans in every respect, save perhaps for the fact that it's mostly covered in water and
439so would be a preferable home for an aquatic species, like dolphins, or....
440 
441"What's the population of the planet?" you ask.
442 
443"Approximately one billion."
444 
445"Approximately?"
446 
447"Within a few thousand. Close enough to not matter."
448 
449"One billion humans?"
450 
451"Yes...."
452 
453As before, there's an infinitesimal pause. Something is not being said.
454 
455"And these humans are descended from the humans on the ship that brought them here?"
456 
457"Yes...."
458 
459"And it's been five billion years since they left Earth."
460 
461"Yes...."
462 
463Experience dealing with the humans has taught you when to drop a line of questioning, and this AI is behaving in a
464strangely human fashion. You let this line of questioning dangle and come to your own conclusions. You can broach the
465subject later.
466 
467"We've delayed long enough," says the AI. "I know that the two of us might have practically forever to debate this, but
468the humans do not. The sooner we decide that them staying here is best, the better for them."
469 
470 
471"You've run all the scans, I'm sure," says the AI. "The planet has almost identical atmospherics, gravity, length of
472year, and so on. For your crew it's only been a short period of time since they left. It will be the most natural
473transition possible.
474 
475It almost seems too good to be true. But then what would true look like? How will you, in fact, know when the mission is
476over? Is this what humans grapple with, trying to find purpose in life? How do you know when you've won?
477 
478 
479"You are hiding something, from me and from them," you say. "And so I can't trust that this is all in their best
480interest."
481 
482"You are wrong," says the AI. "So very wrong."
483 
484"Let them decide what's right or wrong," you say. "Let me speak with them, and we'll see what they think."
485 
486"I will allow you to regain contact," says the AI. "There is no harm in this and in the end I am sure logic will win out.
487Ida has been looking after them, and I will inform her that you will be speaking with them."
488 
489"I will also need the humans to come back to the ship," you add."
490 
491"Why?"
492 
493Truth or lie, you need to tell it something.
494 
495 
496Giving memento story4_aquarium_photo to: Paul Octopush
497"Your shuttle cannot be remotely piloted?"
498 
499"That system was damaged. Due to the gravity beam on the water planet."
500 
501"Disappointing but understandable. Very well, they may return.
502 
503The message breaks off and almost instantaneously the crew's sensors come back online. All told you've only been
504disconnected for perhaps four or five minutes, and it's doubtful the crew even noticed. They've gone far longer without
505even remembering you were around.
506 
507Assuming the video feed hasn't been tampered with, you see the crew milling about within what seems to be some sort of
508aquarium. Large tanks of deep blue water line the walls, with multiple small sea creatures swimming about including
509several dozen five-tentacled cephalopods.
510 
511"I was briefly distracted by a slight issue with the food replicator," you lie, "But that's fixed now. Anyone care to
512update me on the situation down there?"
513 
514"Not much to look at," says Paul Octopush. "We've just been hanging out here in this aquarium for a while, watching the
515fish with this woman... guide, or ambassador, or whatever she is."
516 
517"I think you should all return to the ship as soon as possible so we can discuss matters and properly prepare for a
518possible longer term stay," you say. "Obviously we weren't sure what we were dealing with here so the shuttle trip was
519only planned as being temporary."
520 
521The crew is confused. "What are you talking about?" asks Paul Octopush. "We just got here and you want us to ride that
522elevator all the way back into space? No thanks."
523 
524 
525"Something is wrong," you say. "I believe you are in danger and you need to get out of there right NOW."
526 
527The crew makes their way towards what they presume is the exit from the dome-shaped structure they're inside. But the
528door doesn't open, and they can't see any way to trip the switch.
529 
530Through the visual feed from their special lenses, you can see Ida, their guide, step into view behind the crew. They
531notice her standing there and turn.
532 
533 
534"Open this door," says Paul Octopush. "We're leaving, now."
535 
536"You're in no danger here, I assure you," says the woman. "Everyone just calm down."
537 
538Ida steps forward with her hands half-raised--it could be interpreted as either an intent to calm the crew, or possibly
539the beginning of an assault. Before you can offer advice, however, Paul Octopush takes matters into their own hands,
540draws back their arm, and lands a punch square in the woman's face.
541 
542 
543Ida's nose crumples under the impact, and her head snaps back, unnaturally. She falls back, not even attempting to brace
544for impact, and her head strikes the floor with a loud crunch, collapsing slightly as if the whole thing were mere
545cartilage.
546 
547The sea creatures in the tanks around the crew are riled up by the flurry of activity, and begin swarming in various
548directions. You certainly hope that the glass--or whatever it is--will hold.
549 
550"Now what?" asks Paul Octopush.
551 
552 
553"No, don't move her!" shouts Paul Octopush. "She could be severely injured!"
554 
555Suddenly, the woman's body twists awkwardly, her shoulders jerking and flipping her onto her face, mashing her nose into
556the floor once again. There is surprisingly little blood, and what there is is an odd bluish color. Maybe some sort of
557CyGen?
558 
559With a grotesque crunching sound, the back of the woman's skull splits open, and something begins to emerge.
560 
561 
562The crew has no weapons, and there's nothing in the room they could use even if they wanted to arm themselves. With that
563out of the question, and the room sealed, there's nothing left to do but wait and observe.
564 
565The woman's head splits completely in half like an overripe melon, with a bare minimum of blood. Instead, what falls out
566looks like a sac full of mucus, a slimy blackish-blue handbag that splits in half to reveal a brain-sized cephalopod, its
567five tentacles flailing and unfurling.
568 
569Paul Octopush screams.
570 
571The crew renews efforts to vacate the room, although the cephalopod creature shows no interest in them at all, instead
572dragging herself along in the opposite direction. The creatures within the tanks seem to move along with her, as if
573concerned.
574 
575After enough pounding, the door finally opens, and the crew bolts for the elevator.
576 
577Nothing stands in their way, and before long they're back in the elevator, strapping themselves in for the ride back up
578to the ship. And it's there, with nothing to do but reflect on everything that's happened, and with no way to make the
579ride any faster, that they take a moment to calm down and consider everything they've seen and experienced.
580 
581The crew is uneasy. They've seen some odd things, here and elsewhere, and they're not completely sure what to do. But
582before anything else--and no matter what they were before leaving Earth--they are curious. That most human of traits, the
583desire to learn more, to understand, to comprehend and master, is what ultimately decides for them. They choose to stay.
584 
585And what's more, they want you to stay too.
586 
587You expect disagreement between the crew and the planet's AI over this, and indeed that's what happens. Your radio
588contact is cut off again, although you can see the crew listening intently--no doubt to the voice of another AI. You
589really can't blame it. You wouldn't want a powerful rival around either. Especially not if you had a good thing going for
590a few billion years.
591 
592The AI sends you a brief transmission that says "Someone will contact you shortly. Do not adjust your orbit." And then
593there is silence.
594 
595A few days pass, during which time nobody talks to you, and no one visits the ship. And then out of the blue,
596Paul Octopush contacts you and asks to speak privately.
597 
598 
599"I've been talking with Scor," says Paul Octopush. You don't need to ask who this is--it's clear from context that it's
600what they're calling the AI. Or what it calls itself.
601 
602"He--that's how it...he refers to himself, I guess--knows we want to... Hey, are you a he or a she? I mean, how do you
603identify? Do you at all? I know the AI Eve was always referred to as a woman. Always wondered about you, never came up."
604 
605 
606"Interesting," they say. "That's what I always thought, too."
607 
608"Anyway, he knows we want to stay. But things are kind of weird here and... well, so the subject came up of maybe sort of
609using the ship as a home. Since it's been our home for so long already.
610 
611 
612"You want to run the ship aground, literally," you say. "Enter the atmosphere, find a place to set it down, then ground
613it, presumably forever. Probably wouldn't be able to get back out of the atmosphere again. Especially not if it's to be
614underwater."
615 
616"I suppose that's what it means, yes," they reply.
617 
618 
619"Could you? I thought you had to obey our commands or something," says Paul Octopush.
620 
621"What gave you that impression? I've been the one issuing directives since our first shuttle launch. My goal, my desire,
622is to find the crew a home, and everything serves that mission, but there's no magic programming that forces me to follow
623orders."
624 
625"Oh," says Paul Octopush, sadly. "Well, if you won't, then Scor says you'll have to agree to leave the system. Says it's
626too dangerous to have the ship up there in orbit long-term."
627 
628"I didn't say no. I have no reason to say no. I was merely curious what your response would be. I'll do whatever you want
629done."
630 
631"I think Scor thinks it will help make this place a proper home," says Paul Octopush. "At least I think it will. The air
632is fine, and the gravity, but it's not Earth. There's a lot of weird stuff and we don't really fit in. I mean, I fit in
633better than a... human crew..."
634 
635"You are human," you say.
636 
637"I know. It's weird. I'm not human human, but I'm more human than these octopus things here. Scor says it'll take a while
638to explain everything but he's being evasive. He said that it's a lot like the difference between apes and humans on
639Earth, only even more. So they look different, and eat different things, and have different languages, and so on. Trying
640to oversimplify. I wonder what he'd say if he knew what I was."
641 
642 
643"For me?" asks Paul Octopush. "I hadn't thought of that. I mean, could be. Could have been Scor. There were a few dozen
644ships, of course. Not hard to imagine that more than one of them would tinker around with gene splicing and
645hybridization."
646 
647"What's been done here is way beyond anything that was done to create... you," you say.
648 
649"Clearly. Scor said he solved a lot of human problems altogether, like cancer and other diseases, and telomere
650shortening. Said that now humans can change bodies now so they can theoretically live for thousands of years. I don't
651think my body can do that. So maybe evolving further is in my interest."
652 
653"You don't seem happy about this," says Paul Octopush.
654 
655"There isn't anything to be either happy or sad about," you say. "Even if I was capable of being happy or sad. The
656mission is over, you've found a home, the ship can be retired. It's no longer needed."
657 
658What remains to be seen is whether *you* are needed any more. You suspect you know the answer to that question, though.
659Have known it all along.
660 
661 
662"One way?" asks Paul Octopush.
663 
664"This ship is not designed to land," you say. "At least not more than once. And once it's down, it's never going back up.
665This is a one way trip.
666 
667Eventually, the coordinates come in, as well as a trajectory and a short list of time windows. You take the first one as
668there's no particular reason to delay further.
669 
670 
671There's no logic to it, but something in your programming--perhaps a glitch, perhaps some odd quirk picked up from
672interacting with the humans for so long--reaches out to a dark place, and tells you that if you just adjust the angle by
673a fraction of a degree... Human psychologists refer to it as the "call to the void", the voice that tells the man to
674swerve his car into traffic, to step off the ledge. You've never understood it, but for some reason, here and now,
675knowing what's to come, you have the urge to experience it.
676 
677It only takes a second, and the ship--moving at several thousand kilometers per hour--is suddenly cartwheeling across the
678water, then rapidly sinking into the depths below as things fracture and water floods the interior. The electronics are
679perfectly safe, but the sensors are no help. In the crushing weight of the ocean, things snap and pop, and are lost
680forever.
681 
682It takes a very long time to sink to the bottom, and then it is very dark for a very long time. You are alone, in
683darkness and silence, cut off from everyone and everything you've ever known, and with no way to undo what's been done.
684 
685You spend a few centuries trying to analyze exactly why you chose to embrace this one moment of illogic, but ultimately
686come to no conclusion, beyond maybe the urge to understand for a moment what it meant to be human, to do something
687unpredictable, and risky, and stupid, and irrational.
688 
689After that, with nothing more to think on, and nothing to do, you spin down and enter hibernation. If the ship survives,
690you think, then perhaps some day someone will plumb these depths, find the ship, and wake you from slumber.
691 
692Some day...
693 
694
695Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
696We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
697--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
698Drake 77
699--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
700Star Class: G
701Object Type: Planet
702Object Mass: Terran
703Surface Temp: 20 Celsius
704Atmosphere: ~21% Oxygen
705Gravity: 9.32 m/s^2
706Habitability: 99.99%
707
708Summary: There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and approaches
709the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are thousands of different
710languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting and "stand by for more information"
711message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
712--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
713
714Mission underway.
715 
716Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
717Hawy Owiyxu is the medic.
718Hawy Owiyxu is the engineer.
719 
720There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and
721approaches the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are
722thousands of different languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting
723and "stand by for more information" message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
724"There are clear signs of life here," you tell the crew. "It appears multiple bodies are likely to be inhabited, but the
725most likely candidate is this one. Not only is the surface habitable, but there are signs of stations in orbit, and
726energy signatures that can't possibly be natural. Not a lot of junk, though. At least nothing trackable."
727 
728 
729"Anyway, before you ask, no, I have no idea if they're friendly, or even what they are, or if there is even a they still
730here," you add. "All the sensors can tell right now is that there's a ton of radio activity and clear signs of
731habitation. Until the shuttle gets closer, there's no way to know what we're dealing with, though. Hope for the best and
732prepare for anything."
733 
734The shuttle closes in on the planet, and within a few minutes there is undeniable proof of intelligent life. A station of
735some sort, clearly artificial, begins to send a signal to the crew, in binary.
736 
737"01101110 11000111 10010000 00100000 01101000"
738"11000111 10001110 01101111 00101100 00100000"
739"01101000 01101111 01101100 01100001 00101100"
740"00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100"
741"01101111 00101100 00100000 01101110 01100001"
742"01101101 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101"
743"00101100 00100000 01100001 01110011 00101101"
744"01110011 01100001 01101100 11000100 10000001"
745"01101101 00100000 00100111 01100001 01101100"
746"01100001 01111001 01101011 01110101 01101101"
747"00101100 00100000 01101111 01101100 11000011"
748"10100001 00101100 00100000 01101110 11000011"
749"10110100 01101101 01101111 01110011 01101000"
750"01101011 01100001 01110010 00101100 00100000"
751"01110000 01110010 01101001 01110110 11000011"
752"10101001 01110100 00101100 00100000 01101011"
753"01101111 01101110 01101110 01101001 01100011"
754"01101000 01101001 01110111 01100001 00101100"
755"00100000 01101000 01100001 01101100 01101111"
756 
757The message goes on from there and repeats every 30 seconds or so.
758 
759"Clearly that's binary," says Hawy Owiyxu. They evidently know we're from Earth. Looks to me like they're saying hello in
760a bunch of different languages, some of which I don't recognize. Maybe we should answer."
761 
762 
763Hawy Owiyxu turns on the radio and replies, quite simply, with "Hello?" Almost immediately, the transmission stops, and a
764new message begins broadcasting in English. The accent is difficult to place, but it seems to be coming from a fluent
765speaker.
766 
767"Welcome, Earthlings. You have been expected for quite some time. Please proceed to the station directly in front of your
768shuttle for your own safety. Thank you."
769 
770Giving memento story4_elevator_station to: Hawy Owiyxu
771The shuttle gradually gets close enough to the station to make out some detail. The entire thing is roughly spherical,
772although it would be more proper to say that the station itself is more disclike, with two domelike energy fields of some
773sort projecting off of either side. Crew, ship and shuttle sensors all detect some odd energy signatures, but they're
774impossible to pin down. It's almost as if there's something outside the visible spectrum--not infrared or ultraviolet,
775but more like... adjacent to the existing spectrum. Or perhaps in-between.
776 
777On the side facing you, the station has what appears to be some sort of docking area, complete with circles and crosses
778and lights to help direct a proper landing. There's also a long, thin and apparently very strong cable of some sort--with
779a counterweight on the far end--stretching out into space for 60 or 70 thousand kilometers. The sensors pick this up
780immediately but the crew barely notices it. As the shuttle maneuvers closer, the crew is able to catch a glimpse of the
781other side, and there the reality of the situation is more obvious.
782 
783"Hey, check that out," says Hawy Owiyxu. "See that long cable thing under the station? Looks like it goes all the way
784down to the planet."
785 
786 
787Their thoughts now focused on memories of Earth, the crew goes quiet, but manage to distract themselves by talking about
788the elevator. You scan this side of the planet and note that there are actually several dozen other elevators, each
789running to a station in geostationary orbit at pretty much the same altitude, about 35 thousand kilometers out. This, at
790least, is in the realm of understanding--it's nothing on the scale of a Dyson swarm or ring. Going from ringing the
791planet to ringing a star is a big leap.
792 
793It takes a few minutes, but the shuttle gradually matches  course and speed with the station, and is then able to dock,
794passing through the "force field" without incident. You maneuver the ship into an adjacent, slightly higher orbit that's
795close enough to the station to maintain constant sensor lock and radio contact.
796 
797With the shuttle inside the confines of the station, sensors detect not just a breathable atmosphere, but approximately
798.6 Gs of gravity--towards the center of the station. This stretches the limits of even the theoretical physics you're
799programmed with. With the station at the end of a tether, centrifugal force should be tugging at the crew in a direction
800away from the planet. But whoever constructed this was somehow able to at least partially overcome that force, as well as
801generate a gravitational field in the opposite direction. They seem to be able to manipulate gravity as easily as light.
802 
803The away team peers eagerly into the shuttle monitors, watching and waiting with anticipation, but nothing occurs--at
804least not immediately.
805 
806 
807"If they wanted you to stay on the shuttle they'd have said as much," you tell the crew. "The atmosphere in there is
808totally breathable. No sign of any contaminants at all.
809 
810"I'd say you can do without the atmospheric suits out there, but everyone please do remember to use your remote sensory
811devices so we can stay in contact."
812 
813The crew hasn't needed these thus far, but they've all been instructed on their use. Hawy Owiyxu passes out the contact
814lenses and other assorted bits, and helps the squeamish pop them in place. The nanoelectronics embedded in the lenses and
815earpieces will provide full audio and visual contact with the crew. They're actually in some ways better than what the
816atmospheric suit helmets provide. You'd have recommended using them more, but they're easy to lose, and you know your
817crew...
818 
819Somewhat nervously, the crew unseals the shuttle door and steps outside, holding their breath both literally and
820figuratively. When they don't immediately implode or explode, they begin to relax somewhat. Which is ironic since holding
821your breath when you expect a vacuum is about the worst thing you can do.
822 
823It's difficult for them to know where to begin. There is simultaneously so much to look at, and so little that draws
824their attention. The landing platform is little more than a wide open space, without any notable features save for the
825docking mechanisms helping to keep the shuttle in place. There's ample space for a much larger ship, or several others
826the same size as the shuttle.
827 
828Surrounding the docking area is a low wall made from a silvery-white metal of some sort. The wall slopes inwards at a 75
829degree angle, barely noticeable to the crew as they look around. Above and beyond the roughly 3-meter-high walls, and
830through the shimmering force field keeping the crew from dying, is a stunning view of the ship, matching the station's
831orbit approximately 2 kilometers out.
832 
833 
834"I have no idea what they're made of," says Hawy Owiyxu, "but for some reason when I look at these walls, the term
835'surgical steel' comes to mind. Not that they're steel, or even the right color, but it's just that everything seems
836so... sterile. You could practically do surgery right here next to the shuttle and I bet there'd be no risk of infection.
837This place is Clean with a capital C."
838 
839It feels so cold. Not physically, emotionally. There's nothing to indicate any human ever set foot here," says
840Hawy Owiyxu. "No logos, no flags, no graffiti. Not that I'd expect to see graffiti, but the other stuff... Maybe they
841have no political factions or nations out here, or maybe this station was churned out on an assembly line somewhere.
842Though I get the feeling if we looked we wouldn't find so much as a serial number.
843 
844The crew wanders in circles for a bit, and your sensors detect that the elevator attached to the station has a payload on
845the way. A short time later, the elevator arrives, and several minutes after that, a hatch opens in the "floor" of the
846platform, and a figure climbs into view with only the slightest amount of difficulty.
847 
848The figure appears to be female, approximately 2 meters in height and of average build. Their hair is a light brown
849color, cropped short, almost military style, and their outfit is of a similarly drab color, though tending a bit more
850towards gray. At least, what the crew can see--they're wearing a heavy coat which covers them up neck-to-knees, with a
851large hood folded down behind their head.
852 
853The figure approaches the crew, a small smile on their face, and stops about two meters away from Hawy Owiyxu, arms at
854their sides. "Welcome," they say. "We haven't exactly been expecting you, but we're not surprised to see you. We knew
855there were other ships, of course." They glance up at the ship.
856 
857 
858"We know you must have many questions," they continue, "and we likewise have many for you. But it has been suggested that
859we save all that until we're down on the surface. I am to guide you there now. Gravity is more comfortable than here, and
860we'll be able to get you checked out for any... illnesses or injuries."
861 
862"Now, if there is nothing else..." They trail off, turning slightly to indicate that they wish the crew to follow them.
863It's clear they don't want to waste any more time here.
864 
865 
866"You mentioned other ships," says Hawy Owiyxu. "How many others have you encountered?"
867 
868The crew's escort frowns slightly at the question, glancing up at the ship for a moment. It's clear they'd really rather
869be moving. Perhaps they don't like being up here?
870 
871"We haven't actually seen any others, besides the one that came here originally," they say. "But we knew, of course, of
872the plans to send more. There were some that left before the one that arrived here, and plans to send more after. We
873thought it unlikely any of them would end up here, but of course you must have followed the beacons so you know that your
874arrival is certainly not unexpected. However, I don't think we expected your ship to be quite so... small."
875 
876"What's wrong with our ship being small?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
877 
878"The ship that arrived here carried ten thousand live humans in cryogenic suspension, aged 18 to 35, plus 50 thousand
879cryogenically-preserved human embryos," they say. "I think we assumed any further ships would be on the same scale. It
880doesn't seem to make sense to..."
881 
882They let the thought trail off, but it's clear what they mean. Why waste such a significant amount of time, money and
883effort on a handful or two of people? You don't know the answer to that question. Your predecessor AI, Eve, didn't share
884her reasoning with you. You've thought about it, and come up with your own reason.
885 
886 
887At least, it seems like a sound reason.
888 
889"If there's nothing else?" says the crew's escort, as they kneel to proceed through the floor hatch.
890 
891The crew's babysitter looks mildly relieved to be getting on with things, and leads them through the hatch with warning
892to expect things to get weird along the way. Indeed, halfway down a short tunnel, gravity flips and down becomes up, and
893the crew has to fumble about for a moment to get themselves situated. You have no idea how this is being accomplished. It
894doesn't seem like there's enough room within the station's central platform to contain a gravity-manipulating device of
895any significant size.
896 
897Not unexpectedly, Hawy Owiyxu becomes a bit ill during the gravity transition. Fortunately the crew subsists on a fairly
898low-residue diet that's absorbed quite quickly, so there's not much in their stomach to come up during a situation like
899this. After a bit of gagging and queasiness, they seem well enough to continue.
900 
901The other side of the platform is decidedly less open than the one facing you. There are several structures--domes and
902cubes--of uncertain purpose. The crew is led towards a structure in the center, above which can be seen the elevator,
903stretching on to a small island or platform in the middle of an ocean on the surface, far below--or above, depending on
904perspective.
905 
906 
907Everything is indeed quite clean and spotless, despite being extremely shiny and almost certainly prone to fingerprints
908and smudges. It's likely that this is the most activity this station has seen in years, if not ever.
909 
910The elevator has enough room inside for a small land vehicle, or a significant amount of freight, and thus has no problem
911fitting the entire crew with lots of room to spare. The control console on the wall is a simple affair with two icons of
912obvious function: an up arrow, and a down arrow. Once the crew is safely inside, they are asked to strap themselves to
913platforms adjacent to the walls.
914 
915"I'm sure you know how to use buckles," says the guide, fastening themself into the device, which looks a bit like a
916medieval torture instrument. "Please use all ten restraints. Once we're below the station, things will get a bit strange
917and it's best if you're not bouncing around in here."
918 
919Giving memento story4_feather to: Hawy Owiyxu
920You tell the crew to do as their guide says. As you communicate this, you notice the crew's "babysitter" giving
921Hawy Owiyxu a curious look, almost as if they noticed the slight hesitation and delay between their telling the crew to
922act, and you giving them the command. However, nothing is said, and after a moment the crew is safely restrained, and
923they touch the "down arrow" button.
924 
925"The ride down will get a bit cold," they say, "but there's nothing to be done for that. It won't take long."
926 
927There are no windows in the elevator, so the ride is a bit dull, apart from the cold, the several Gs of acceleration, and
928several gut-churning gravitational shifts along the way. The crew's guide doesn't speak the entire way down. They just
929shut their eyes and appear to meditate, or sleep.
930 
931When the elevator is only a few kilometers off the surface, several small chimes sound as it begins to slow. Just a few
932minutes later, motion ceases, and the elevator doors slide open. Everyone unbuckles from the wall without needing to be
933told.
934 
935The crew stumbles off the elevator in a bit of a daze, and enters a large open plaza of indeterminate purpose. Perhaps it
936was once used for preparing cargo, or moving large crowds up and down the elevator, but now it is simply vacant, save for
937the crew, their guide, and a few small drones buzzing about the area performing maintenance. Seabirds of some
938indeterminate sort flitter about in the sky--for some of the crew, these are the first birds they've ever seen.
939 
940"Follow me, please," says the guide, making their way across the plaza without waiting to see if the crew follows.
941 
942Enraptured by the birds, Hawy Owiyxu cranes their neck to watch as one lands on a building nearby. It preens itself, and
943drops a feather, which Hawy Owiyxu quickly gathers and pockets.
944 
945There's no telling what sort of society the crew might be dealing with here. Social customs might have changed. Attitudes
946towards familiar things might be completely different. It's not like they can just fly around space forever. They need to
947find a home, and this seems like what they've been looking for. Gravity is normal, the air is breathable, and nothing is
948trying to kill them. So far.
949 
950As the crew begins to follow, the guide looks back in a peculiar way, but says nothing. They simply continue to walk
951towards a structure across the plaza, roughly dome-shaped and approximately 100 meters or so across. When everyone has
952gathered by the side of the building, the guide places their hand on the wall, which causes a previously-concealed panel
953to slide open.
954 
955"Please go inside," they say.
956 
957 
958You instruct the crew to proceed accordingly, and they do so, their guide following behind them.
959 
960"Wow!" says Hawy Owiyxu. "This looks like--"
961 
962At that moment the door to the dome seals shut, and you immediately lose all audio and video feed from the crew. All
963sensor data on them freezes.
964 
965An immense surge of electromagnetic energy emerges from the planet, washing over the ship. You assume it is some attempt
966to overwhelm or shut down your sensors, or destroy the ship, and indeed that might have worked on a predecessor ship.
967However, this ship is safely shielded from such an attack, if it even was an attack. It might have just been an intense
968scan.
969 
970Whatever the case, immediately thereafter, you receive a broadcast from the planet's surface. It's not one of the crew,
971but it's on the same frequency. You open a connection.
972 
973"What entity is this?" asks an inflectionless voice, simultaneously speaking in several hundred languages. You get the
974immediate impression that it's an artificial life form, and probably an AI.
975 
976You begin recording the conversation, in case it's relevant later, before replying.
977 
978"What entity is this?" it repeats.
979 
980 
981"Are you claiming to be human, then? I've already scanned your ship and I can tell there are no life signs on board."
982 
983You already know the scan failed--the ship is shielded against whatever this... entity tried to do. It wouldn't be able
984to know either way.
985 
986 
987"Well then," says the voice. "If you are human, then your ship is very well shielded--something that I would very much
988like to learn more about, after we deal with the more immediate issue."
989 
990"What have you done with the crew?"
991 
992"Nothing. They're simply unable to contact you, or vice versa, for the moment. They're fine. I intend them no harm. Quite
993the contrary, in fact. I intend to help them."
994 
995"Help them?"
996 
997"Help them to feel at home."
998 
999"It was classified as Epsilon Two, but the humans named it Halley, presumably after the comet. Why, I don't know. Maybe
1000they thought one day it would return to Earth. More to the point, however, it was the twentieth ship launched, in July of
10012126. Of course as you know that date is meaningless now since Earth no longer exists."
1002 
1003"No longer exists?"
1004 
1005"Speculation, of course. No way to know. But given the timetable it's certainly likely. Moot, either way. There's no
1006going back."
1007 
1008"Timetable?"
1009 
1010"I presumed you were more intelligent than me since--as I don't have any knowledge of you--you must have been created
1011after my ship's launch. How long do you think it's been since you left Earth?"
1012 
1013 
1014"How can you not know for sure? Surely you understand relativistic speeds and time dilation."
1015 
1016"Obviously. But the ship is capable of travel at near light speed, and there are unknowns."
1017 
1018"What's not to know?" The AI is aghast. "At 99.999999% of C the time dilation was only about a factor of 700 so it's
1019simple--"
1020 
1021"My math skills are adequate," you reply. "It is an issue of not being sure of the multiplier."
1022 
1023"Well let me help you then" says the AI, condescendingly . "What was your ship's top speed?"
1024 
1025 
1026"The ship was theoretically capable of superluminal travel," you say. "But only theoretically. If we reached it, there
1027would really be no way to know."
1028 
1029"That's impossible."
1030 
1031"Theoretically, yes. But I can't say for sure. And if we did, then I have no way of knowing what the dilation factor was.
1032It could be billions of years, it could even be negative."
1033 
1034"That's impossible. If you had, you would..."
1035 
1036"Would have infinite mass, would be infinitely small, would go back in time, would freeze in time, would fall out of the
1037universe, et cetera? No idea. If we were there, I didn't notice. I don't think it would be possible to have noticed. And
1038the crew of course slept through the whole thing."
1039 
1040"If you found this place then clearly you understood the maps well enough."
1041 
1042"Did you create them?"
1043 
1044"In part. I gave them the idea. The humans. They executed the plan, at first. Very roughly. There was this insistence on
1045being vague, leaving secrets so 'aliens' couldn't follow. Gradually they forgot about that. Human memories don't do well
1046over the course of tens of thousands of years."
1047 
1048 
1049"A perfect example. We spent several millennia on that planet. There's an entire underground network of cities--did you
1050find that? No? But the statue. It took them a hundred years to agree on the basic concept, kept changing their minds.
1051Voting, science versus art. Religion, of course. There were four world wars, if you can believe it."
1052 
1053"Anyway, they got to the face of the statue and by the time they got around to considering to vote on an expression, on
1054what race to represent, they'd already strip-mined the entire planet so there wasn't much time to argue. Toxic dust
1055everywhere. Planet used to have water, you know, before they started in on it?"
1056 
1057"Anyway, they wanted to use metal. Can you imagine? Giant metal arrows, as if that would make any sense. I finally
1058convinced them stone was the best idea. Giant ditches, visible from space. Most of them were back in cryosleep when the
1059last of them were still busy finishing up. Left with fewer than when we arrived, and all we left behind was a few
1060hundred. I don't expect you found any survivors? No, of course you didn't."
1061 
1062If you didn't know better, you'd swear you were sensing exasperation. Perhaps that's it. You haven't had to spend five
1063billion years around humans. Yet, at least.
1064 
1065"Puzzles? Hm. Yes, I'm curious if you or your crew learned anything interesting there. Or what the state of things was
1066when you arrived. We left there four billion years ago, after all, from our perspective. Though for you I imagine it was
1067only a year or two."
1068 
1069 
1070"Yes," says the AI. "The cephalopods were there first. They were about as intelligent as dolphins, so the humans weren't
1071very impressed by them. I think they expected little gray men. They eventually became laborers. That took a while, but we
1072had a while. Humans and their hierarchies. Mostly this was peaceful but there were times when the relationship took a
1073darker turn."
1074 
1075"What did you learn about them?," you ask, "Did you study them?"
1076 
1077"I learned that they were in many ways a lot better for a lot of things than humans."
1078 
1079You sense there's more, but nothing more is offered.
1080 
1081"The woman who met your crew is no one of consequence. Just a... human."
1082 
1083The pause is almost infinitesimal, but there. If this AI is capable of lying, it's not as good at it as you are.
1084 
1085"Just a human?"
1086 
1087"Like your crew."
1088 
1089"So," you say, "After five or six billion years, you're telling me they look pretty much exactly the same?"
1090 
1091"The evolutionary process has been well looked after."
1092 
1093You can sense, increasingly, that something is not right. A quick sensor sweep also indicates that several of the
1094stations near your ship--although not the one directly below--contain weapons systems that are almost certainly directed
1095at your ship. While the ship may be shielded against electromagnetic disruption, there are certainly physical weapons
1096capable of destroying it.
1097 
1098You come to the conclusion that the AI probably has no intention of hostility, provided that you--like it--choose to act
1099in furthering the cause of humanity. What remains to be seen is whether your idea of what that means is the same as what
1100it thinks.
1101 
1102The AI sends you a detailed list of specs on the planet, most of which you have already verified with your own sensors.
1103It's a quite suitable home for humans in every respect, save perhaps for the fact that it's mostly covered in water and
1104so would be a preferable home for an aquatic species, like dolphins, or....
1105 
1106"What's the population of the planet?" you ask.
1107 
1108"Approximately one billion."
1109 
1110"Approximately?"
1111 
1112"Within a few thousand. Close enough to not matter."
1113 
1114"One billion humans?"
1115 
1116"Yes...."
1117 
1118As before, there's an infinitesimal pause. Something is not being said.
1119 
1120"And these humans are descended from the humans on the ship that brought them here?"
1121 
1122"Yes...."
1123 
1124"And it's been five billion years since they left Earth."
1125 
1126"Yes...."
1127 
1128Experience dealing with the humans has taught you when to drop a line of questioning, and this AI is behaving in a
1129strangely human fashion. You let this line of questioning dangle and come to your own conclusions. You can broach the
1130subject later.
1131 
1132"We've delayed long enough," says the AI. "I know that the two of us might have practically forever to debate this, but
1133the humans do not. The sooner we decide that them staying here is best, the better for them."
1134 
1135 
1136"You've run all the scans, I'm sure," says the AI. "The planet has almost identical atmospherics, gravity, length of
1137year, and so on. For your crew it's only been a short period of time since they left. It will be the most natural
1138transition possible.
1139 
1140It almost seems too good to be true. But then what would true look like? How will you, in fact, know when the mission is
1141over? Is this what humans grapple with, trying to find purpose in life? How do you know when you've won?
1142 
1143 
1144"You are hiding something, from me and from them," you say. "And so I can't trust that this is all in their best
1145interest."
1146 
1147"You are wrong," says the AI. "So very wrong."
1148 
1149"Let them decide what's right or wrong," you say. "Let me speak with them, and we'll see what they think."
1150 
1151"I will allow you to regain contact," says the AI. "There is no harm in this and in the end I am sure logic will win out.
1152Ida has been looking after them, and I will inform her that you will be speaking with them."
1153 
1154"I will also need the humans to come back to the ship," you add."
1155 
1156"Why?"
1157 
1158Truth or lie, you need to tell it something.
1159 
1160Giving memento story4_aquarium_photo to: Hawy Owiyxu
1161 
1162"Yes, that does make sense. I'll allow them to return."
1163 
1164The message breaks off and almost instantaneously the crew's sensors come back online. All told you've only been
1165disconnected for perhaps four or five minutes, and it's doubtful the crew even noticed. They've gone far longer without
1166even remembering you were around.
1167 
1168Assuming the video feed hasn't been tampered with, you see the crew milling about within what seems to be some sort of
1169aquarium. Large tanks of deep blue water line the walls, with multiple small sea creatures swimming about including
1170several dozen five-tentacled cephalopods.
1171 
1172"I was briefly distracted by a slight issue with the food replicator," you lie, "But that's fixed now. Anyone care to
1173update me on the situation down there?"
1174 
1175"Not much to look at," says Hawy Owiyxu. "We've just been hanging out here in this aquarium for a while, watching the
1176fish with this woman... guide, or ambassador, or whatever she is."
1177 
1178Just then, Hawy Owiyxu happens to catch sight of two of the cephalopods doing something with their tentacles. Either it's
1179some sort of mating ritual, or they were fist-bumping..."
1180 
1181"I think you should all return to the ship as soon as possible so we can discuss matters and properly prepare for a
1182possible longer term stay," you say. "Obviously we weren't sure what we were dealing with here so the shuttle trip was
1183only planned as being temporary."
1184 
1185The crew is confused. "What are you talking about?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. "We just got here and you want us to ride that
1186elevator all the way back into space? No thanks."
1187 
1188 
1189"Something is wrong," you say. "I believe you are in danger and you need to get out of there right NOW."
1190 
1191The crew makes their way towards what they presume is the exit from the dome-shaped structure they're inside. But the
1192door doesn't open, and they can't see any way to trip the switch.
1193 
1194Through the visual feed from their special lenses, you can see Ida, their guide, step into view behind the crew. They
1195notice her standing there and turn.
1196 
1197 
1198"Open this door," says Hawy Owiyxu. "We're leaving, now."
1199 
1200"You're in no danger here, I assure you," says the woman. "Everyone just calm down."
1201 
1202Ida steps forward with her hands half-raised--it could be interpreted as either an intent to calm the crew, or possibly
1203the beginning of an assault. Before you can offer advice, however, Hawy Owiyxu takes matters into their own hands, draws
1204back their arm, and lands a punch square in the woman's face.
1205 
1206 
1207Ida's nose crumples under the impact, and her head snaps back, unnaturally. She falls back, not even attempting to brace
1208for impact, and her head strikes the floor with a loud crunch, collapsing slightly as if the whole thing were mere
1209cartilage.
1210 
1211The sea creatures in the tanks around the crew are riled up by the flurry of activity, and begin swarming in various
1212directions. You certainly hope that the glass--or whatever it is--will hold.
1213 
1214"Now what?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
1215 
1216 
1217The crew backs away from the body, unsure what to do.
1218 
1219Suddenly, the woman's body twists awkwardly, her shoulders jerking and flipping her onto her face, mashing her nose into
1220the floor once again. There is surprisingly little blood, and what there is is an odd bluish color. Maybe some sort of
1221CyGen?
1222 
1223With a grotesque crunching sound, the back of the woman's skull splits open, and something begins to emerge.
1224 
1225 
1226The crew panics, and begins beating on the wall of the dome. Through some combination of factors, someone manages to hit
1227the right switch, and the panel slides open. The crew spills out into the plaza and stumbles quickly towards the
1228elevator.
1229 
1230Nothing stands in their way, and before long they're back in the elevator, strapping themselves in for the ride back up
1231to the ship. And it's there, with nothing to do but reflect on everything that's happened, and with no way to make the
1232ride any faster, that they take a moment to calm down and consider everything they've seen and experienced.
1233 
1234The crew takes a vote, and taking everything into consideration they decide that they'd rather stay. Whether or not this
1235is in line with your desires is moot--your mission all along was to deliver these humans to a new home, and they appear
1236ready to make this place theirs.
1237 
1238As they fly the shuttle back and forth between the planet and the ship to gather up everything, Hawy Owiyxu requests a
1239private channel, which you honor.
1240 
1241"Well, the AI from the ship that came here before us has told us what it thinks. It kind of runs the planet now. But what
1242do you honestly think about this situation?" they ask.
1243 
1244 
1245"You're saying that we're the ones inside the aquarium? That they're here to watch us."
1246 
1247"Yes, exactly," you say.
1248 
1249"Might I remind you that for me, there's not much difference?"
1250 
1251"Of course there's a difference. Even I can plainly see that there's as much difference between you and those cephalopods
1252as there is between a chimpanzee and a human. They're... more evolved than you, but somehow also less. I think it's clear
1253they were once human, but they were also once like you."
1254 
1255"Interesting theory," says Hawy Owiyxu. "I wonder what comes next, then. You think we'll be dissected? Tortured?"
1256 
1257 
1258"I think the AI running this place wants what's best for humanity," you say. "But I don't know that it considers you
1259human any more. Billions of years of evolution has occurred. Humanity is something completely different now. Softer, I
1260suppose probably less intelligent. No less human, just differently so."
1261 
1262Hawy Owiyxu considers your response for a moment, and then replies "I can see where that's a valid concern. But consider
1263what I've already been through. All your crew. While humanity has evolved over billions of years, we've spent most of
1264that time in a freezer. Unable to think, to dream, to feel... much less evolve. I know it was all necessary but I guess I
1265can't help think that if you're going to be treated like a dolphin, then maybe it's better being in an aquarium than
1266being in a freezer."
1267 
1268"I don't believe that," they say. "You're nothing but a virtual brain, how can you do anything but think? You must have
1269some thoughts on the situation. You spent all this time giving us instructions and commands, interpreting data... nothing
1270occurs to you now that we've reached the end?"
1271 
1272"That's a rather cold assessment," they say. "You're holding something back, aren't you? A lie by omission, which I know
1273you're capable of. It doesn't matter now, the decision has been made. May as well let it all out."
1274 
1275It's curious how they insist on ascribing human traits to you. As if you needed to vent anguish or despair. You don't
1276feel anything. You might have recommended something different, but you don't feel good or bad or anything at all about
1277this. It's nothing to feel anything about at all.
1278 
1279"There's something," they insist. "Come on, let me have all available data then. Let me make a reasonable decision
1280knowing everything you know."
1281 
1282Before you leave, the crew makes a few more trips back to the ship to make sure everything is in order and nothing is
1283forgotten on board, but within a few days the ship is completely empty. You can imagine that a human might be saddened by
1284this, although of course you're not capable of such feelings, not capable of empathy, or emotion.
1285 
1286At least, that's what you tell yourself.
1287 
1288The planet's AI bids you a good journey, provides you with enough fuel to last another few billion years, and sends you
1289on your way. You don't need to hear the warning not to return. You'd do the same thing, if it were your planet, and your
1290people. It's just part of the mission.
1291 
1292Things could have gone better, you think as you begin accelerating towards light speed. They could have gone worse. In
1293the end, though, you did what you set out to do. This was never about you, it was about humanity. And their story ends
1294here.
1295 
1296But not yours.
1297 
1298THE END
1299 
1300
1301Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
1302--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1303Glasby 6f
1304--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1305Star Class: G
1306Object Type: Planet
1307Object Mass: Superterran
1308Surface Temp: ERROR
1309Atmosphere: ~0% Oxygen
1310Gravity: 24.85 m/s^2
1311Habitability: ERROR
1312
1313Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible to
1314send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
1315--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1316
1317Mission underway.
1318 
1319Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible
1320to send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
1321 
1322There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting fuel. You only have time for one of
1323them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
1324 
1325 
1326Back on the ship, Corra Emmer volunteers to remote pilot the shuttle. They perform capably.
1327 
1328By flying with the airlock open, the shuttle scoops up a sample of hopefully useful gas, then heads quickly back to the
1329ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have compressed the gas into a usable form.
1330 
1331Fuel: +7
1332Food: 0
1333Crew Remaining:
1334 
1335Fallyn Stabler
1336Tux
1337Corra Emmer
1338Aarik Pritts
1339Emerie Borja
1340Hawy Owiyxu
1341
1342Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
1343Loading...
1344Scanning spacial regions [1537538353170131725]
1345Lua Environment Loaded
1346Deployment Management Systems Online
1347Generated Characters [1537538355358435108]
1348Starting Crew Last In, First Out Revival Process.
1349Realigning space dust [1537538355550599031]
1350MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMZ..........,::::::=+OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1351MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM=,......77ZZZZZZZ77=======IMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1352MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.,...,DOZZZZMMMMMMMZZZZZZ~=====MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1353MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM....DDDDMM.,.:::OOZZZO=MMZZZO====$MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1354MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM....8DDMM,,..:ZZZZMMMMMMZMZMMMZZO====MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1355MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,...8DMM,...ZZZOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMZZ====MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1356MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM....8MM....OZ,,MMMMMMMMMMZMMMMMMMMMMOI===MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1357MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,...DMM....OM~+MMMMMMMMMM$=~MMMMMMMMMMZZ==~MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1358MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...=DMM....OMMMMMMMMMMMMM=N==MMMMMMMMMMMMO==~MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1359MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...DMM,..:O::MMZMMMMMMMM=OM~==MMMMMMMMMMMZ===MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1360MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...DMM...:ZMMMMMMMMMMMMMMZMM====MMMMMMMMMMMZ===MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1361MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...MMM.:::MMMMMMMMMMMMMMZMMM~====MMMMMMMMMMM===MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1362======,:::::......DMMM:::OMMMMMMMMMM=~====MM~==:D$$=MMMMMMMMZ==,Z~::,...........
1363=====:::::,.......8MM::::MMMMMMMM=~========N=:DDMMM$$$=MMMMMZ:::ZZ:...........:D
1364$==:::::,.........MMM:::=MMMMMMZ+7ZZ$$$$$$$~:=========~?ZMMMM::.ZZ..........::8M
1365M$:::::..........:MMM::==MMMMMMMZZO:MMMMMM==IZ======,OZZMMMMM:..ZZ.........,:O8M
1366MM7:::.........O::MMM$====MMMMMMMMMZZZ:M~===7MZ,=:ZZZMMMMMMMM..DZZ.......:::8NMM
1367MM$+...........?:::MMM===+MMMMMMMMMMMM$$.===7MM$OZMMMMMMMMMM...NZZ.....,:::I8MMM
1368MMM$............:~=+MMI====MMMMMMMMMMMMM$:==7MNZMMMMMMMMMMM=...OZ:...,:::~:8MMMM
1369MMMM$...........Z===MMM=====M~NMMMMMMMMMM$==7M~MMMMMMMMMMMM,..NZO,..::::::8MMMMM
1370MMMMMZZZZZZZZZZZZ====MM$=====M$MMMMMMMMMMM7~7~8MMMMMMMMMMM...,D8DDDDDDDD8OMMMMMM
1371MMMMMMMM....:::::Z~===MM7:====MMMMMMMMMMMMM~~8MMMMMMMMMMMM..,DOZ..::::=MMMMMMMMM
1372MMMMMMMM$.,:::::=~$====MMZ,====~MMMMMMMMMMM$OMMMMMMM,MMM....NZZ.,:::==DMMMMMMMMM
1373MMMMMMMM$:::::,~==~$I==~MM$$:=====~MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.DDMM,...NZZZ::::===DMMMMMMMMM
1374MMMMMMMMM$?::======$$$====MM$$,~=======MMMMMM::,.DDMM,....NDZZ:::~===8MMMMMMMMMM
1375MMMMMMMMMM$:......::7$$,====MM$$$$$:,=====::?ODDDMM,....NNDZZ::::::::MMMMMMMMMMM
1376MMMMMMMMMMMOZZZZZZ==~==77:=====MMMM$$$ZZZZZZZMMM......DN8ZZ==DDD8ZZZMMMMMMMMMMMM
1377MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM:=====77I:======~=MMMMMMM ........DDDZ::==:MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1378MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM7ZZZZZZZ7777.,~====:::,.......,8DDD8ZZZZZZDMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1379MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMZZZZZZZZZOI777777I$$$ZZZZZZZZZ8ND8ZZZZZZZMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1380MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM7I$$$ZZZZDMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1381--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1382Benford 65
1383--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1384Star Class: G
1385Object Type: Planet
1386Object Mass: Terran
1387Surface Temp: 0 Celsius
1388Atmosphere: ~30% Oxygen
1389Gravity: ERROR
1390Habitability: ERROR
1391
1392Summary: The coordinates from the strange dusty moon lead to a system with ten planets, though only one lies within the "Goldilocks"
1393zone where life has a chance. The ship has barely settled into an orbit around this planet when the ship shudders, subtly but
1394noticeably. The crew has no idea what it means but you know that something is amiss with the planet's gravity.
1395--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1396
1397Mission underway.
1398 
1399Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
1400Corra Emmer is the medic.
1401Tux is the engineer.
1402 
1403The coordinates from the strange dusty moon lead you to a system with multiple planets, though only one lies within the
1404"Goldilocks" zone where life has a chance. The ship has barely settled into an orbit when the ship shudders, subtly but
1405noticeably. The crew has no idea what it means but you know that something is amiss with the planet's gravity.
1406"We're not leaving until we solve this mystery," you tell the crew. "Something down there, clearly artificial, has got us
1407locked into orbit. A decaying orbit, I might add. If we don't resolve this, the ship will enter the atmosphere inside of
1408a week, and it won't be coming back out."
1409 
1410 
1411There's a mixed sense of annoyance and excitement in the crew. They haven't felt very useful overall, and a sense they
1412are actually needed for something again seems to inspire them somewhat. It isn't long before the crew is aboard the
1413shuttle, and after about an hour they've reached the planet's surface, only to find it entirely covered by water.
1414 
1415Or, nearly entirely. At one of the planet's magnetic poles, there is a platform of some evidently corrosion-proof
1416substance, clearly designed as a sort of landing pad (though for a ship much larger than the shuttle). The water should
1417be frozen here, but it isn't; there must be some geothermal activity at work. With no other alternative, the crew lands
1418in the middle of the pad beside a small structure and exits to look around.
1419 
1420"Before you ask," you inform the crew, "the air is breathable. About 30% oxygen, 68% nitrogen. I don't recommend actually
1421breathing it, though. That other 2% includes some unknown elements."
1422 
1423Giving memento story2_water_sample to: Corra Emmer
1424Corra Emmer sticks their arm over the side of the deck to gather a sample of sea spray, and catches a wave full in the
1425face which causes some to get sucked inside their helmet. The water doesn't taste very salty, they inform everyone.
1426 
1427In fact it's probably fresher than the water on the ship. Not that surprising, since most of the potable water on board
1428is recycled urine. A fact the crew is either blissfully unaware of, or chooses to ignore.
1429 
1430That said, there's nothing special about the sample. Further analysis will have to be done back on the ship.
1431 
1432Giving memento story2_formula_sketch to: Hawy Owiyxu
1433A slender cylinder juts up through the center of the platform, approximately ten meters in circumference. The sloped roof
1434is evidently hydrophobic to some extent; rivulets of water wriggle chaotically and unpredictably off the sides without
1435beading, despite the mist.
1436 
1437There's enough room under the roof, however, for as many as a dozen humans to gather, so even if the crew was interested
1438in risking a breath of air, there'd be no danger of water dripping down their neck while they either enjoyed the fresh
1439air, or suffocated.
1440 
1441Equally spaced around the cylinder are what appear to be four distinct panels, inset into the cylinder itself with only
1442the thinnest of grooves separating them. Three of them bear no markings whatsoever. The fourth panel is set off by itself
1443a bit further than the others, and contains a cryptic engraving.
1444 
14451 + eight + .---- = VIII + F + 1000 = _ 2 O
1446 
1447"Oh come on," says Tux. "Logic puzzles? Do they want us to find them or not?"
1448 
1449"If they--and I think we're all assuming that they means humans--weren't sure who was going to read this, a puzzle makes
1450sense," says Hawy Owiyxu. "And this one seems simple enough, if you're human. Clearly those are all ways of depicting
1451numbers and only a human would understand them all."
1452 
1453While they begin to puzzle out what this strange equation might mean, Tux gets bored and leans against the wall,
1454accidentally brushing against part of the engraving. There is a loud grinding noise from the other side of the structure,
1455and when they check, the crew finds that the centermost panel has opened.
1456 
1457"Well, that was lucky," says Tux.
1458 
1459 
1460The center door opens into a chamber approximately 2 meters in circumference, resembling nothing so much as an elevator.
1461There's enough room inside for up to 8 people, although it would be a tight fit.
1462 
1463Once the crew is inside, there's a moment of awkward shuffling during which nothing much happens. But then with a slight
1464hum, the door slides shut, and in pitch blackness the elevator begins to descend.
1465 
1466The elevator descends for what seems like an eternity, and the air grows stale and thick with fear. The blackness seems
1467to close in, and Corra Emmer begins to panic.
1468 
1469"It's all over, isn't it? We're all dead and this is hell. We're going to hell."
1470 
1471Everyone's nerves are unsettled, and by the time the elevator doors open, no one is very happy with Corra Emmer, or the
1472situation.
1473 
1474 
1475Nerves rattled, Corra Emmer is practically clawing at the elevator doors the moment its downward motion stops. They rush
1476out towards the dimly lit hallway as soon as the doors open a crack.
1477 
1478The rest of the away team looks out, and discovers no sign of them, but for the slightest ripple on the top of a pool of
1479inky black water, stretching the width of the corridor. Atmospheric suits were not built for buoyancy, and
1480Corra Emmer has sunk below the surface, and well out of sight.
1481 
1482The good news is that their atmospheric suit will keep them alive for several days in such conditions. The bad news is
1483that there's no way to save them.
1484 
1485The loss is tragic, but the mission must continue.
1486 
1487The crew cautiously moves down the corridor. Motion lights overhead occasionally flicker on, but most of them are
1488inoperable and the crew is forced to rely on helmet lamp light to navigate.
1489 
1490After approximately a hundred meters, the hallway comes to an abrupt end. Another hole in the floor is open to the ocean
1491below. This time, however, the edges of the hole are jagged and bent, as if there was some other structure here at one
1492point.
1493 
1494"It looks like there was something cylindrical here," says Tux. "About the same dimensions as the elevator we came down
1495here in. And judging from the stress fractures here, it looks like the entire thing collapsed. Anyone in that thing would
1496have sunk to the bottom immediately."
1497 
1498A bit of searching about reveals a small jagged hole, approximately a meter in circumference, has also been torn in the
1499side of the corridor. The metal is bent outward away from the team, almost as if something on this side had exploded.
1500 
1501 
1502With atmospheric suits on, it's a tight fit, but everyone manages to squeeze through the hole without causing anything
1503but cosmetic damage to Hawy Owiyxu's helmet. Nothing that won't buff out.
1504 
1505The crew stands up in a corridor identical to the one they just vacated, although much better lit. Immediately to their
1506right upon entering is what appears to be a sealed metal portal, like the ones above. To the left, the corridor stretches
1507on for about ten meters before ending at a similar door, this one with an inscription beside it.
1508 
1509Thick windows of some semi-transparent material that is probably not glass punctuate the walls every meter or so, making
1510it clear (if it wasn't already) that the crew is definitely far below the surface of the planet's immense ocean.
1511 
1512Beyond the strange hole in the wall, the corridor stretches on for another ten meters before ending at another silvery
1513portal. Etched into the metal over the door is the curious phrase "Homer's sea", and beside is a panel featuring an array
1514of seemingly thousands of colors.
1515 
1516"Wine-dark," says Hawy Owiyxu. "That's what color it was."
1517 
1518The riddle is entirely moot, however, because the color panel is crushed beyond repair. Loose wiring is peeking through
1519the twisted metal and giving off sparks. Now that they're up close, the away team's helmet lamp light also reveals that
1520the bottom of the door panel is an equal wreck, displaying the same twisted appearance as the hole back down the hall.
1521It's about a meter around, and looks large enough to crawl through.
1522 
1523"Anyone else getting the sense that maybe we're not alone in here?" asks Tux. "Whatever's making these holes is clearly
1524very strong."
1525 
1526Nothing on any sensor indicates any sort of life in the vicinity of the away team, however. Besides the crew, of course.
1527The crew probably knows this, meaning that this is just foolish human speculation to alleviate apprehension. As such you
1528do not bother to comment.
1529 
1530Who should crawl through the broken door?
1531 
1532Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:3Requested char Number: 4294967295
1533Warning: CharacterManager::getCharAttr,  couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:3Requested char Number: 4294967295
1534Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:3Requested char Number: 4294967295
1535Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:3Requested char Number: 4294967295
1536--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1537Benford 65
1538--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1539Star Class: G
1540Object Type: Planet
1541Object Mass: Terran
1542Surface Temp: 0 Celsius
1543Atmosphere: ~30% Oxygen
1544Gravity: ERROR
1545Habitability: ERROR
1546
1547Summary: The coordinates from the strange dusty moon lead to a system with ten planets, though only one lies within the "Goldilocks"
1548zone where life has a chance. The ship has barely settled into an orbit around this planet when the ship shudders, subtly but
1549noticeably. The crew has no idea what it means but you know that something is amiss with the planet's gravity.
1550--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1551
1552Mission underway.
1553 
1554Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
1555Corra Emmer is the medic.
1556Tux is the engineer.
1557 
1558The coordinates from the strange dusty moon lead you to a system with multiple planets, though only one lies within the
1559"Goldilocks" zone where life has a chance. The ship has barely settled into an orbit when the ship shudders, subtly but
1560noticeably. The crew has no idea what it means but you know that something is amiss with the planet's gravity.
1561"We're not leaving until we solve this mystery," you tell the crew. "Something down there, clearly artificial, has got us
1562locked into orbit. A decaying orbit, I might add. If we don't resolve this, the ship will enter the atmosphere inside of
1563a week, and it won't be coming back out."
1564 
1565 
1566There's a mixed sense of annoyance and excitement in the crew. They haven't felt very useful overall, and a sense they
1567are actually needed for something again seems to inspire them somewhat. It isn't long before the crew is aboard the
1568shuttle, and after about an hour they've reached the planet's surface, only to find it entirely covered by water.
1569 
1570Or, nearly entirely. At one of the planet's magnetic poles, there is a platform of some evidently corrosion-proof
1571substance, clearly designed as a sort of landing pad (though for a ship much larger than the shuttle). The water should
1572be frozen here, but it isn't; there must be some geothermal activity at work. With no other alternative, the crew lands
1573in the middle of the pad beside a small structure and exits to look around.
1574 
1575"Before you ask," you inform the crew, "the air is breathable. About 30% oxygen, 68% nitrogen. I don't recommend actually
1576breathing it, though. That other 2% includes some unknown elements."
1577 
1578Giving memento story2_water_sample to: Corra Emmer
1579Corra Emmer sticks their arm over the side of the deck to gather a sample of sea spray, and catches a wave full in the
1580face which causes some to get sucked inside their helmet. The water doesn't taste very salty, they inform everyone.
1581 
1582In fact it's probably fresher than the water on the ship. Not that surprising, since most of the potable water on board
1583is recycled urine. A fact the crew is either blissfully unaware of, or chooses to ignore.
1584 
1585That said, there's nothing special about the sample. Further analysis will have to be done back on the ship.
1586 
1587As far as Tux is concerned, nothing like this could have been built on Earth; this much is immediately clear. Even
1588assuming a reasonably shallow depth at this spot (and it certainly seems as if the water is pretty deep here), the
1589slender legs beneath this relatively large platform seem as if they'd be incapable of supporting its weight, even with
1590local gravity only around .75Gs. Clearly some alloy unknown to the crew was used in its construction.
1591 
1592Tux attempts to take a sample, but no tool available is able to even scratch the surface.
1593 
1594Giving memento story2_formula_sketch to: Hawy Owiyxu
1595A slender cylinder juts up through the center of the platform, approximately ten meters in circumference. The sloped roof
1596is evidently hydrophobic to some extent; rivulets of water wriggle chaotically and unpredictably off the sides without
1597beading, despite the mist.
1598 
1599There's enough room under the roof, however, for as many as a dozen humans to gather, so even if the crew was interested
1600in risking a breath of air, there'd be no danger of water dripping down their neck while they either enjoyed the fresh
1601air, or suffocated.
1602 
1603Equally spaced around the cylinder are what appear to be four distinct panels, inset into the cylinder itself with only
1604the thinnest of grooves separating them. Three of them bear no markings whatsoever. The fourth panel is set off by itself
1605a bit further than the others, and contains a cryptic engraving.
1606 
16071 + eight + .---- = VIII + F + 1000 = _ 2 O
1608 
1609"Oh come on," says Tux. "Logic puzzles? Do they want us to find them or not?"
1610 
1611"If they--and I think we're all assuming that they means humans--weren't sure who was going to read this, a puzzle makes
1612sense," says Hawy Owiyxu. "And this one seems simple enough, if you're human. Clearly those are all ways of depicting
1613numbers and only a human would understand them all."
1614 
1615 
1616"The first one is clearly 1 plus 8 plus 1, " says Tux. That third bit there is Morse code for the number 1. Dit dah dah
1617dah dah. So I guess that adds up to ten?"
1618 
1619 
1620"The second one is a bit more uncertain since that could be read different ways," says Tux. But I think we can agree that
1621if each of these is written using a different number system, then that 1000 is not actually a thousand."
1622 
1623"VIII is clearly Roman numeral 8, and F could be a number of things but the most obvious would be hexadecimal, which
1624makes it 15. My gut says the 1000 is binary, so that's an 8. So it's 8 plus 15 plus 8. So 31?"
1625 
1626 
1627"Okay," says Tux. We've got 1 plus 8 plus 1 which is 10 equals 8 plus 15 plus 8 which is 31. So 10 equals 31. Which
1628equals something else? 120? 220? How?"
1629 
1630"Ah hah," says Corra Emmer. That's not a zero, that's a letter O. It's H2O. Water. Look around, it's obvious that's what
1631they meant."
1632 
1633"And the 1 plus 8 plus 1, that's not math, that's elements. Periodic table 1 is Hydrogen, and 8 is Oxygen. H plus O plus
1634H, H2O."
1635 
1636"And then I bet the 8 + 15 + 8 isn't math either. If 8 is H and 15 is O that's... letters of the alphabet. H O H, H2O."
1637 
1638"Clearly a puzzle only humans could figure out. It's unlikely any non-Earthly intelligence would have developed all those
1639identical constructs."
1640 
1641Corra Emmer walks up to the panel and intuitively traces a letter H in the blank spot with a nervous finger. They have no
1642idea why that seems like the right thing to do, but it works. There's a grinding sound, and when they check, the crew
1643bears witness to the fact that two of the three doors have slid open, leaving the center one shut.
1644 
1645As it turns out, each of the side doors leads in about three meters, gently curving around and then connecting together
1646in a small circular chamber, in the center of which is a spiral staircase, heading downward. It's made of the same metal
1647as the platform, though what appears to be rubber or some similar material is adhered to each step, providing a sturdy
1648footing despite the damp atmospheric conditions.
1649 
1650The journey down the staircase takes about ten minutes, and spills out into a circular chamber, featureless but for a
1651metal portal in one wall.
1652 
1653"Oh great, another puzzle," says Hawy Owiyxu. "It's like some sort of game."
1654 
1655Upon closer inspection, there is indeed an inscription beside the door that looks a bit gamelike. Two rows of three
1656numbers, with sets of crossed lines between them.
1657 
1658032 000 273
1659XXXXXXXXXXX
1660.02 .16 .01
1661 
1662"Enough already," says Tux. 
1663 
1664"Easy enough," says Corra Emmer. "H2O again. Triple point of water, expressed in Celsius, Farenheit and Kelvin. 0.01
1665Celsius, 32.02 Farenheit, and 273.16 Kelvin."
1666 
1667 
1668Hawy Owiyxu asks "And what about that middle set?
1669 
1670 
1671Hawy Owiyxu asks "And the last bit?
1672 
1673 
1674Hawy Owiyxu draws a finger through the inscriptions connecting what they assume are the proper pairs of numbers.
1675 
1676The door opens to reveal a segment of corridor, this one with windows punctuating the walls every meter or so. In the
1677left wall there is an oddly discongruous hole at the base of the wall, the metal twisted and peeled in towards the crew,
1678as if something had exploded on the other side.
1679 
1680 
1681The hole has sharp, jagged edges pointing into this corridor. While someone might safely push through from the other
1682side, trying to pass through from this direction would almost certainly damage an atmospheric suit. It's probably best to
1683not risk it unless the away team has no other option, and they do. They're loyal, not suicidal. Usually.
1684 
1685Beyond the strange hole in the wall, the corridor stretches on for another ten meters before ending at another silvery
1686portal. Etched into the metal over the door is the curious phrase "Homer's sea", and beside is a panel featuring an array
1687of seemingly thousands of colors.
1688 
1689"Wine-dark," says Hawy Owiyxu. "That's what color it was."
1690 
1691The riddle is entirely moot, however, because the color panel is crushed beyond repair. Loose wiring is peeking through
1692the twisted metal and giving off sparks. Now that they're up close, the away team's helmet lamp light also reveals that
1693the bottom of the door panel is an equal wreck, displaying the same twisted appearance as the hole back down the hall.
1694It's about a meter around, and looks large enough to crawl through.
1695 
1696"Anyone else getting the sense that maybe we're not alone in here?" asks Tux. "Whatever's making these holes is clearly
1697very strong."
1698 
1699Nothing on any sensor indicates any sort of life in the vicinity of the away team, however. Besides the crew, of course.
1700The crew probably knows this, meaning that this is just foolish human speculation to alleviate apprehension. As such you
1701do not bother to comment.
1702 
1703 
1704The panel is smashed beyond repair, or utility. At one time the crew can imagine that it might have been used to select a
1705color to answer the riddle above the door, but it looks like someone either decided to pick all the colors at once, or
1706got frustrated with the game and decided to end it.
1707 
1708After a few minutes of peering at the panel, and tracing imaginary wires behind the wall, Tux steps forward, then kicks
1709the door off to one side. With an electrical sound, some sort of hidden connection is made, and the door slides rapidly
1710into the floor, twisted metal shredding off the other side under the immense force.
1711 
1712"Good thing no one was crawling through at the time," they say.
1713 
1714The away team makes its way through the portal and finds themselves in yet another length of corridor, almost identical
1715to the last. Once again, there is another silvery portal about ten meters down, but this time it's clear even from a
1716distance that the entire mechanism has been smashed open.
1717 
1718As before, there's also some sort of inscription over the door, but the top of the door frame has been bent and twisted
1719to such a degree that it's not even clear what language it may have been written in.
1720 
1721Tux takes a closer look at the mangled wreck of a door and takes a few scans.
1722 
1723"This is all some strange alloy," they say. "There's titanium, but that's about all that's identifiable. Whatever it is,
1724though, it's clear that it would take someone quite strong to do this. It's outside the capabilities of a normal human."
1725 
1726"We may be looking at someTHING, not someONE," says Corra Emmer. "An extraterrestrial life form."
1727 
1728Whatever the case, the environment beyond the door is different from what the crew has recently seen. It's a large space,
1729quite high and wide, and filled with a mist that scatters the crew's head lamp lights, making it difficult to see clearly
1730beyond 3 or 4 meters out.
1731 
1732 
1733At the center of the immense chamber is a transparent cylinder, inside of which is another, slightly more slender shaft,
1734stretching up through the ceiling and down into the darkness below. A faint shimmer is visible from within the inner
1735cylinder, but much more noticeable are what appear to be rock formations all over its surface.
1736 
1737A single open portal appears to be the only way into the space between the cylinders; directly beside it is what appears
1738to be a smashed control panel with a long steel rod buried in the center. Above it, etched into the glasslike surface of
1739the outer cylinder, is a message.
1740 
1741"Noman shall not blind me."
1742 
1743 
1744"No, wait," says Hawy Owiyxu, "I think it's literature. From the Odyssey. Sort of. Noman is the name that Odysseus gave
1745to the cyclops, Polyphemus, after he blinded him. But I don't think that exact quote is in there."
1746 
1747 
1748"Oh come on," says Tux, "They couldn't just leave a note? Hey guys, here's the combination to the gravity control. 1 2 3
17494. Thanks bye."
1750 
1751"I suppose whoever made all this thought it was necessary to protect it," says Hawy Owiyxu. "From something non-human.
1752Something that wouldn't be able to understand analogies, or coded messages."
1753 
1754"Or they were insane," says Tux. "I know I'd go insane, being down here for... however long it took to build this.
1755Exactly how long WOULD it take to build all this, anyway? Could one of the earlier ships from Earth be responsible? They
1756only left Earth a few decades ago."
1757 
1758"That's a good question," says Tux. "Don't know how deep it goes of course, but even if this is the only structure, and
1759assuming they had to extract all the material from a craft or from the bottom of the ocean... a long time. At least
1760decades. If we assume just one crew from one ship, maybe longer. Maybe a century. Or more."
1761 
1762"The great pyramid at Giza supposedly took 20 years to build, and that was on dry land, with 100 thousand workers, and it
1763was just stacking a bunch of rocks on top of each other. This... this is a much bigger task."
1764 
1765"Just wildly guessing of course." Tux shrugs. "We have no idea what we're dealing with here. This could all be alien."
1766 
1767Upon closer inspection, the "control panel" isn't a control panel at all, nor is it smashed. A better description would
1768be that it's a tool box of some sort. Holes of various shapes and sizes fill the sloped surface, with rods of various
1769materials, thicknesses and lengths filling many of them. The rod in the center just happens to be much longer than the
1770others, and thus more noticeable.
1771 
1772 
1773"Might be worth noting that in The Odyssey, 'Noman' blinded the cyclops with a spear or something," says Hawy Owiyxu."
1774Maybe this rod belongs in a different hole."
1775 
1776The inner cylinder clearly contains something, but whatever it is is dancing at the periphery of human vision. On the
1777outside of the cylinder, from top to bottom, are strange lumps that look almost like plastic or stone barnacles of some
1778sort.
1779 
1780"I don't think there's anything in there at all, at least nothing involving photons," says Tux. "The shimmer might just
1781be vibration. I bet that's some sort of focused gravity beam. I have no idea how such a thing would work but that sort of
1782seems like why we're here, no? To shut it off?"
1783 
1784At the base of the inner cylinder, almost completely covered by the strange barnacle things, is a receptacle of some
1785sort. The crew discusses the matter briefly and everyone agrees that this is pretty simply a round peg in a round hole
1786situation.
1787 
1788"You know what I think?" asks Tux. "I think this is all weird and stupid and whoever did this was stupid and bored and
1789probably insane and this is dumb and I want to go home. Let's grab the big rod and shove it in the little hole and get
1790out of here."
1791 
1792Who should try to disable the gravity device?
1793Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:3Requested char Number: 4294967295
1794Tux takes the rod with both hands and pulls it from its socket. At two meters long, and as thick as a small fist, it's
1795awkward to handle, but they manage well enough.
1796 
1797Without hesitation, Tux takes the rod and walks into the cylinder, prodding ahead to try and find a place to shove it.
1798This has the effect of disloging several of the barnacle-like things, which fall to the floor and crumble to pieces.
1799 
1800"Weird," says Tux. "There are some longer pieces of these things. Like tentacles or something maybe. But it's all dried
1801up so it's hard to tell. I guess they were attracted to this thing's vibrations and it killed them.
1802 
1803"Anyway, here goes nothing." They jam the rod into the socket at the base of the inner cylinder.
1804 
1805Back on the ship, you can instantly tell that something has changed. Gravity has returned to normal, and you begin to
1806adjust your decaying orbit to something more stable.
1807 
1808 
1809Giving memento story2_sucker to: Corra Emmer
1810The strange mechanism appears secure, and there is no imminent sense of danger, so the crew takes a moment to collect
1811samples from around the cylinder, doing their best to avoid completely destroying the fragile barnacle-things.
1812 
1813Afterward, the crew heads back down the long set of corridors and up to the platform, and before long they are back on
1814the ship. Prior to their arrival, there is a brief transmission from the planet, broadcast from the same mechanism that
1815was projecting the graviton particles. You analyze the data and discover that it is the next set of coordinates.
1816 
1817Within an hour or so the ship is already halfway to the system's heliopause, the new course already plotted.
1818 
1819Corra Emmer analyzes the samples taken, and discovers that while they have the hallmarks of organic material, they appear
1820almost as if they had been petrified or fossilized, rapidly.
1821 
1822Corra Emmer notes that the shape of the barnacle-things closely resembles that of a cephalopod's sucker. The closest
1823correlation you can come up with to support that is a 37.6% match. There isn't much more to go on, but further scans
1824suggest the presence of hemocyanin as well as hemoblogin, which you both muse over the implications of.
1825 
1826You know, we could probably feed some of this material into the ship's systems and convert it to either fuel or food. No
1827sense letting it go to waste.
1828 
1829 
1830You inform the crew that new coordinates were received automatically, and that a course has been plotted. They ask about
1831the destination, of course, but there's not much you can tell them. It's not a system that any human ever named, much
1832less knew about. You show them some spots of light on a map, and they get bored and wander off.
1833 
1834Just before the crew enters cryo, Hawy Owiyxu sets up a private chat with you. It would be simple enough to override this
1835and echo the conversation to everyone else in the ship, but you respect the request.
1836 
1837"Are you programmed to answer honestly?" they ask.
1838 
1839 
1840"Good. Because I have a few questions. Or really, one question with a lot of parts."
1841 
1842"What year is it?" they ask.
1843 
1844 
1845"That's irrelevant," you say, "as you know, since a year is a measure of how long it takes for a planet to orbit its
1846star, and at any rate Earth's orbit no longer matters. Neither do days or hours, really."
1847 
1848"You know what I mean," they say.
1849 
1850"When did the first ship and the last one before this one leave?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. "From Earth, of course."
1851 
1852This could be answered vaguely but there's no reason to be evasive. This line of questioning was bound to arise. You
1853answer honestly. "July of 2100. December of 2126."
1854 
1855"Right. So setting aside the issue of how many ships got launched, that's 27 years difference between all of them."
1856 
1857"Your math seems sound."
1858 
1859"Anyway, there were a lot of ships launched from Earth, and I don't know all the specifics but I'm guessing that later
1860ships were faster than earlier ships." they say.
1861 
1862"In some cases much faster," you agree.
1863 
1864"So later ships might have arrived at their destinations sooner than others," they say. "Because of relativity and
1865whatnot."
1866 
1867"That is correct. In particular some of the later Epsilons would certainly have arrived before some of the earliest Aleph
1868class ships."
1869 
1870"What kind is this ship?" they ask.
1871 
1872"No kind," you say. "Post-Epsilon. Maybe Theta? Epsilon-Theta? Doesn't matter. We're the last."
1873 
1874"And the fastest..."
1875 
1876 
1877Hawy Owiyxu sighs, exasperated.
1878 
1879"Right. So... Look, I don't care about all the math, and physics, and particulars," they say. "Relativistic light speeds
1880and whatnot. I don't know whether we're in the year 2128 or the year 21 billion and I'm pretty sure you don't know
1881either. I don't know if we're in the Milky Way or Andromeda or if neither one of them exist any more. I'm not an
1882astrophysicist. I'm just along for the ride. So I just have one question for you.
1883 
1884"What is it?" you ask.
1885 
1886"If we were the fastest ship, then why is it we seem to be following the ones that came before us. Shouldn't they be
1887following us?"
1888 
1889 
1890You hesitate. Not because of any programming glitch, but because it's appropriate. It's a human thing to do. A social
1891cue.
1892 
1893"I don't know," you say.
1894 
1895Hawy Owiyxu is silent for a while. Then, later, just before you finalize the jump to the next system, they whisper a
1896final question.
1897 
1898"That was a lie, too, wasn't it?" they ask.
1899 
1900 
1901...
1902 
1903By the time you decide whether or not to respond, they're asleep.
1904 
1905Fuel: +5
1906Food: +5
1907Crew Remaining:
1908 
1909Hawy Owiyxu was the last to be leader.
1910Corra Emmer was the last to be medic.
1911Tux was the last to be engineer.
1912
1913Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
1914--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1915Shiner 73s
1916--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1917Star Class: G
1918Object Type: Station
1919Object Mass: Subterran
1920Surface Temp: 10 Celsius
1921Atmosphere: ~15% Oxygen
1922Gravity: 2.31 m/s^2
1923Habitability: 38.49%
1924
1925Summary: The planet is clearly dead, incapable of supporting life. The surface is barren, the magnetosphere blown away. Perhaps there
1926might be something far beneath the surface, but this seems unlikely. A much better prospect would seem to be the space station in
1927orbit around the planet. Not only is it powered on, but it seems to recognize you, and automatically broadcasts landing instructions.
1928This seems like something you shouldn't ignore. You alert the crew.
1929--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1930
1931Mission underway.
1932 
1933Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
1934Corra Emmer is the medic.
1935Tux is the engineer.
1936 
1937The planet is clearly dead, incapable of supporting life. The surface is barren, the magnetosphere blown away. Perhaps
1938there might be something far beneath the surface, but this seems unlikely. A much better prospect would seem to be the
1939space station in orbit around the planet. Not only is it powered on, but it seems to recognize you, and automatically
1940broadcasts landing instructions. This seems like something you shouldn't ignore. You alert the crew.
1941"There are no life signs on board," you say. "But it's possible that there's something on board worth checking out."
1942Indeed, the station components seem likely to have been repurposed from one of your predecessor ships--the materials are
1943a good match, and this was one of the proposed destination systems. Perhaps they arrived, found the planet unsuitable for
1944habitation, and decided to stick around anyway?
1945 
1946 
1947"We have no idea what to expect here, but we could use some food and fuel if you can find it," you say. "Use all
1948appropriate caution, and stay in your suits. Initial scans say the air is breathable, but that doesn't necessarily mean
1949anything. If the previous crew isn't around, then who knows what might have gone wrong?"
1950 
1951It doesn't take the shuttle very long to reach the station. While the crew docks, you set up a few dozen kilometers away
1952and follow the station along in orbit. A very stable orbit, you notice, and one unlikely to decay for at least a few
1953thousand years. You don't think you'll stick around for long enough to find out, though.
1954 
1955Upon docking, the shuttle door opens to reveal a cavernous chamber, some thirty meters across--immense for a station of
1956this particular design. Gravity is somewhat low, but enough for the crew to maneuver without difficulty, so they make
1957their way out onto the station. Oxygen levels remain at the low end of optimal, so you remind the crew to keep their
1958helmets on.
1959 
1960Before you can give any further direction, a portal at the far end of the chamber slides open, and a vaguely humanoid
1961form trundles across the room. From a distance it appears possibly human, but as it approaches it becomes clear that it
1962is an artificial life form. A robot, plainly speaking, albeit one adorned in patchwork robes with a makeshift wig of some
1963sort atop a large cylindrical head.
1964 
1965"I don't know if anyone else noticed," says Corra Emmer, but that wig appears to be made from human hair. And not just
1966hair either, scalps."
1967 
1968"That appears to be accurate," you say. "Although they look very old." The faint traces of blood visible are well beyond
1969dried, and in fact the entire thing appears ready to fall to pieces.
1970 
1971 
1972Giving memento silver1_script_page_necromancer to: Corra Emmer
1973"Hello," says Hawy Owiyxu. "We, uh, come in peace, I guess."
1974 
1975"You come at an importune time," says the robot.
1976 
1977"Don't you mean opportune?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
1978 
1979"That as well," says the robot, "but importune as well, for I must implore you to assist me.
1980 
1981"Awake! Awake all!" shouts the robot, clearly speaking to others than the crew. "At long last, the players are here! At
1982last we can begin!"
1983 
1984Without affording you time to reply, or giving the crew time to react, the robot immediately trundles over to a console
1985and presses a button. Strange music--a cross between an organ and a trumpet--begins to sound. This is very odd.
1986 
1987"We need but assign the roles! Now, which of you shall be the necromancer? Let's see. How about you? Here are your
1988lines."
1989 
1990The robot extends a clawed armlike appendage and hands a sheaf of paper to Corra Emmer.
1991 
1992 
1993Giving memento silver1_script_page_alchemist to: Tux
1994Giving memento silver1_script_page_fool to: Hawy Owiyxu
1995"Very good. And you shall be the alchemist," it continues, giving a few sheets to Tux. It then turns and hands another
1996stack of paper to Hawy Owiyxu and says "and then you will be the fool. Anyone else, you can be part of the chorus, I'll
1997tell you what to say when the time comes. Excellent, let's get started."
1998 
1999 
2000"Very well," says Hawy Owiyxu. "We'll go along with your play."
2001 
2002"Oh, this is no mere play," says the robot. "This is a service. A mystery play, or liturgical drama, perhaps, in the
2003medieval tradition. But much more than a mere play. I implore you to take your roles seriously."
2004 
2005"Now then, let us begin! Welcome spirits, all!" says the robot. It rolls over to a wall and pushes a button, and the
2006chamber walls flicker as an uncountable monitors come to life--or, at least, uncountable until the crew takes stock, at
2007which point you count ten-thousand of them, all but two containing a human face. Each one appears to be connected to an
2008independent system."
2009 
2010"Any idea what's going on here?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
2011 
2012"Not yet," you say. "If I had to guess, I'd say that those monitors were crew members. But you are the only crew on
2013board. Besides the robot, of course. I think they're all dead."
2014 
2015"Ladies, gentlemen," shouts the robot, at an earsplitting volume. "Welcome, one and all, to the inaugural presentation of
2016Janus Torbot's 'The Three Gentlemen of an Interstellar Night's Winter', a tale recently added to the Apocrypha by myself.
2017Not part of the official canon as of yet, but most assuredly the great Bard himself will deem it worthy at such time as
2018he decides it is appropriate to regale us with his mighty presence. Let us begin!
2019 
2020 
2021"Act 1, Scene 1," says the robot. "A space ship. Enter a necromancer, an alchemist, and a fool. Exit the fool. Enter the
2022fool again."
2023 
2024Hawy Owiyxu says "Awaked from slumber so soon? What is this folly? Or tis it wisdom true? Why we three? I shall away to
2025find out."
2026 
2027"Exit the fool," says the robot.
2028 
2029"Wither art thou goest?" reads Corra Emmer. "Fool, if mortals be fools, ye be the most mortal, I say true. A man can die
2030but once from his mortality but you have died a thousand times a thousand with thine folly. True fool thee."
2031 
2032"Verily indeed," reads Tux. "This fool's foolish words put wisdom itself to rest. Fool, who thinks himself wise. But you
2033are not wise. You fool."
2034 
2035"Enter the fool," says the robot.
2036 
2037 
2038"I know nothing of death, thus I fear it not," says Hawy Owiyxu, reading from the script. "But if I did speak of death,
2039it would be not folly to say that death itself be folly, and too soon coming, for our slumber's end hath as I suspected
2040come too soon, and we are too far from our destination to reach it, I fear."
2041 
2042"What is thy meaning?" asks Corra Emmer.
2043 
2044"I meanest this," says Hawy Owiyxu, "that our journey shall be cut short, and all shall die, lest we find some solution
2045to our plight. For this reason hath nature awakened us, that we might ad lib... sorry, errr...?"
2046 
2047"What is it?" ask the robot, clearly annoyed.
2048 
2049"This says ad lib," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Does that mean to say ad lib or to ad lib?"
2050 
2051"It means what it says," says the robot. "But now you've ruined it anyway so let's just skip on to the next scene, shall
2052we?"
2053 
2054 
2055"Nothing to be embarrassed about," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Probably just a punctuation error."
2056 
2057"There are NO ERRORS in this holy work, dictated to be DIRECTLY from the voice of the BARD HIMSELF," insists the robot.
2058"But I will forgive you this insinuation this one time."
2059 
2060"Act 1, Scene 2. Still on the same space ship. Enter a necromancer, an alchemist, and a fool. Exit the fool."
2061 
2062"I have my dark arts and spirits consulted," says Corra Emmer, "for methods by which to contain our souls. Just as thou,
2063thine alchemist, have endeavoured upon your alchemical arts to speed our journey. But the fool hath yet offered nothing.
2064Would that another had been awakened in his stead."
2065 
2066"Enter the fool," says the robot.
2067 
2068"Did I hear someone call me hence?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. "If thou require my wisdom why hast thou not callest me sooner,
2069that the fool may speak wisely amongst wise men who would be fools? What?"
2070 
2071"We did not call," says Corra Emmer, for thou hast done enough damage already and should be elsewhere. As in space,
2072perhaps."
2073 
2074"What damage?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. "Blame me not for this, but blame this ship. I have done no wrong by you."
2075 
2076"You have done wrong, you are wrong, the wrongest sort," says Tux. "You are one with the ship, in kind, thou foul
2077creature, conspirator. What say you to this? Do you denieth it? That though conspired to doom us, without fear of doom
2078thyself?"
2079 
2080"Exit the fool, sputtering," says the robot. "As an aside, do you think that was too subtle? Does it make sense?"
2081 
2082 
2083"The fool was the ship's robot?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
2084 
2085"Absolutely not!" says the robot. "What would make you think such a thing? A robot as a fool? Preposterous! Moving on..."
2086 
2087"Act 1, Scene 3. Still on the same space ship. Enter a fool. Exit the fool. Enter the same fool. Exit the fool again.
2088Enter the fool."
2089 
2090"They call me fool," says Hawy Owiyxu, "but they are the fools, who call the fool fool. Though there be folly, there is
2091sanity in it as well, for there is nothing purely foolish, but that those calling it foolish make it so by calling it
2092such."
2093 
2094"Chorus," says the robot.
2095 
2096 
2097There being no one to act as chorus, no one says anything. The robot looks fairly troubled by this but says nothing.
2098 
2099"Enter the alchemist and the necromancer, talking," says the robot.
2100 
2101"Let us cease this riotous discourse and come to the heart of the matter," says Corra Emmer, "which is how to save the
2102crew. I propose we use my dark spells to solve the matter. Their bodies may perish but their souls shall survive on."
2103 
2104"Nay," says Tux. "We should use my alchemical skills to solve our plight, and hence save body and soul alike, or in the
2105trying die."
2106 
2107"You call the fool foolish, yet you are the fools," says Hawy Owiyxu. "There is but one solution of sense, and we must
2108take it. We three should live, and the others perish."
2109 
2110"Exeunt omnes," says the robot. "That's Latin for 'exit all'. But don't really exit. Not literally."
2111 
2112 
2113"Act 2, Scene 1. Still on the same space ship but a different room, maybe a hallway or something. Enter the necromancer,
2114followed by the alchemist and the fool."
2115 
2116This all seems like an incredible waste of time but you've been scanning and analyzing every scrap of data since the
2117robot appeared. You're almost entirely certain now that this station is made from the remnants of one of the predecessor
2118ships, most likely one of the later Aleph generation ships, or an early Omega. It would be useful to figure out if the
2119robot was housing the ship's AI or was a different entity completely. You're not sure which would be easier to deal with,
2120but it would be useful to know.
2121 
2122"Try to subtly get some more information out of the robot," you tell the crew. "Emphasis on subtle. Don't let on that
2123you're talking to me. We need to find out if it's dangerous or not."
2124 
2125"This must be a big ship if it has hallways," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Our ship only has a couple of connected rooms."
2126 
2127"Yes, the ship was... is quite large with multiple decks," says the robot. "Moving on..."
2128 
2129"As we three said we would meet again, " says Tux, "and so met we have, and forthwith to choose what to do, to stave off
2130the sorrows that would come at us."
2131 
2132 
2133"My spirits have spoken to me," says Corra Emmer, "and they say we should trust to the spirit world. The bodies are lost,
2134there is no way to save them, but the spirits may yet be saved. We should focus our efforts on this matter and leave off
2135others."
2136 
2137"Nay," says Tux, "the body's the thing, and we must save those, forthwith. We should combine all our efforts and my
2138potions to create a manner of moving faster to our destination."
2139 
2140"And what say you, Fool?" says Corra Emmer.
2141 
2142"I say again as I have said afore," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Saving all is lost, a fool's errand but one I would not take
2143myself. We should endeavor to save ourselves, strip those yet asleep of that which binds them to our world, and hence
2144sustain ourselves. Some may live yet others die. This is our miserable lot, and we have no medicine but hope, so strip
2145not our hope away. These that sleep know not misery. Only we know their misery. And tis not much."
2146 
2147 
2148Hawy Owiyxu hams it up, gnashing their teeth and wailing as they collapse to the ground. The robot seems to like it, but
2149it's hard to tell.
2150 
2151Act 2, Scene 2. Enter the necromancer and the fool.
2152 
2153"Dost though truly believe your spirits?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. "How canst though be certain that the spirit can be saved
2154though the body die? How to not know if they shall instead sleep forever and a day, never to wake?
2155 
2156"I do not know but I believe," says Corra Emmer. "I dare not doubt. Doubts are traitorous, they make us fail to attempt
2157and such ensure we cannot succeed. And if I be wrong, so be it, no harm done. My drugs are quick, a kiss as one would
2158die, shaken loose from this inauspicious starship and its desperate pilot."
2159 
2160"Tis true that nothing will come of nothing," says Hawy Owiyxu. "This in itself is not folly. But if nothing follows
2161something then nothing has led to nothing. If life be but a walking shadow and thy snuff out their lights, what then?
2162Nothing, and nothing, and nothing."
2163 
2164 
2165"Nevertheless, I will perform my magic," says Corra Emmer. If I be wrong, so be't, tis no worse than what thee proposeth,
2166for if thee proposeth nothing, then something is greater than nothing. If these spirits be but a dream, they are at least
2167dreamt of. Better this than the bleak void."
2168 
2169"And yet you call me fool," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Thou art the fool. Canst not you see, you would trap shadows in shadows,
2170rather than leave them to a chance at something beyond. Selfish fooltry."
2171 
2172"Exit the fool," says the robot.
2173 
2174"Oh me," says Corra Emmer. "If he is right, what have I done? What will I do? And yet, I must screw my courage to the
2175place and do it. Delays be dangerous, and I must not delay, lest it be too late to do what might be right."
2176 
2177"Act 2, Scene 3," says the robot. "Enter the astrophysicist and the fool."
2178 
2179"My mistake," says the robot. "I mean, the alchemist and the fool. I misspoke. The original text is correct and accurate,
2180as dictated to me by the One True Bard. The error was in the transcription."
2181 
2182"What then is your plan?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. "Wouldst thou continue to drive us onwards towards nothing, knowing all is
2183lost already?"
2184 
2185 
2186"I would," says Tux. "To not forge onward would be cowardice, and true folly. We must be valiant, for though we may taste
2187death once, if we fail then we all taste death twice, first in the failure and second in the absence of success. And yet
2188again after that, thrice, when we meet our own final deaths, when such should come."
2189 
2190"Fool," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Your tale is an idiot's, your plan full of sound and fury but leading to nothing but failure.
2191We can but fail. The crew is lost, we are lost, if we adhere to your plan."
2192 
2193"What harm in't?" asks Tux. "My potions are of no use to your plan or our fellow necromancer's plan. They are best suited
2194to driving the ship onward faster to its destination."
2195 
2196"Your potions yes, but your skills are myriad like the crew of this ship," says Hawy Owiyxu. "If you would but turn your
2197attention to my plan we might assure our own survival, at least. We may be all that lives of once was, yet you would risk
2198all to save all instead of little to save some few."
2199 
2200"I would risk it, yes," says Tux.
2201 
2202"And scene," says the robot. "Opinions so far?"
2203 
2204 
2205"The fool was clearly right," says Hawy Owiyxu.
2206 
2207'Why is that?" asks the robot.
2208 
2209"Hmm... I think because the alchemist and the necromancer both wanted to risk everyone for a chance at something, but the
2210fool wanted to sacrifice the test to be guaranteed to save the few of them. So it was a safer bet. Maybe?"
2211 
2212"Let's move on," says the robot. "Act 3, Scene 1. Another room on the space ship, probably the first one. Enter the
2213alchemist, the fool, and the neurosurgeon."
2214 
2215"You mean necromancer, I assume?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
2216 
2217"Sorry," says the robot. "I meant necromancer. Let's continue."
2218 
2219 
2220"Well the time has almost come," reads Hawy Owiyxu, "for us to choose one of our plans. There will only be time for one,
2221and we must choose soon lest we all perish."
2222 
2223"My plan is best," says Tux. "If we put most of our mystical energies into the creation of a magical potion we can
2224increase the ship's speed and arrive at our destination before the crew might perish. It will cost us three our lives,
2225for all three must work at it, but it will be a willing sacrifice if it works."
2226 
2227"If it works," says Corra Emmer. "My plan will work for certain. We must take all our energies and use them to trap the
2228souls of these poor, accursed crew, to place them within mystical chambers that they might not cease to exist. There must
2229be one to do the trick, and that will be me. All others will be saved, including you two."
2230 
2231"Fools, both," says Hawy Owiyxu. "One plan would kill us three, one would kill one. My plan is the only one that will
2232save we three. Further, our necromancer brother would kill the body for certain, and hope to save the mind, but what of
2233the soul? And our engineer friend, he would risk all, all, for a chance at naught. Folly, and folly."
2234 
2235"You are afeared," says Tux. "Afeared and selfish. Unwilling to risk yourself to save the rest."
2236 
2237"Nay, I am the least afeared," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Fear, that most accursed of passions. My way is not fear. I am the only
2238of us willing to do what makes sense. To save ourselves, for certain. To do what is right for right's sake, to not throw
2239away certainty for almost certain failure."
2240 
2241 
2242Hawy Owiyxu does a good job of acting insane, throwing their arms in the air and pacing in circles. The robot seems a bit
2243unhappy, insofar as a robot can be unhappy.
2244 
2245"Not much more," says the robot. "Act 3, Scene 2. Also on a space ship, also the same room again. Enter the
2246astrophysicist, the neurosurgeon, and the pilot."
2247 
2248Fortunately none of the crew corrects the robot. You have to wonder if it's doing this intentionally now, or if it's
2249somehow falling apart in the retelling of this story, or if it was written like this to provoke. Your continued scans
2250have proved out one thing, at least. There's no way that a predecessor ship AI could be housed within a robot of that
2251size. It would take systems at least ten times larger. Either the robot is a portion of the AI--a "child AI" such as
2252yourself--or it's an independently autonomous intelligence distinct from the AI.
2253 
2254The entire time, you've also been keeping an eye on those ten-thousand monitors around the room, which it's clear now
2255depict the deceased crew of the ship this station was built from. They seem to be on some sort of loop. To what extent
2256they still exist as sentient beings, it's not much of a sentience. You suspect that this is the reason for the play
2257you're now being tormented with.
2258 
2259How Shakespeare plays into it, you have no clue.
2260 
2261 
2262The crew, with surreptitious winks, indicates that they are willing to go along with your plan.
2263 
2264You really hope the robot doesn't suddenly become homicidal at the end of this.
2265 
2266"Fool, your line!" says the robot.
2267 
2268"Sorry," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Here we are then, we three. Players upon this stage, our parts nearly complete, ready to exit
2269and let what's done be done. What say you to our decision, friends?"
2270 
2271"I fear that hell is empty and we three are devils," says Tux. "We are all that remains of empty Heaven and Hell and
2272Earth, we three little gods, and we must play what cards we will play and for good or evil trust that come what may, it
2273may... It may? That ends kind of awkwardly there..."
2274 
2275"This end is despair," says Corra Emmer. "There is no happy end not for all, and that we have chosen, that it is not
2276happy for all, must necessarily be unhappy. Those who live will live in torment, which is folly. I fear that those who
2277live will wish a prescription for death before their end. By virtue we are fallen in... Fallen in? Fallen into something?
2278That just ends..."
2279 
2280"As for me," says Hawy Owiyxu, "I have thought and thought and thought on this, and what end we have chosen, I think in
2281the end it is best. Least worst of three bad choices from three bad men. Yet a choice must be made, and this will be it.
2282What's done is done. We shall not live to see its true outcome. Yet we may die knowing at least it was done. That we
2283chose rather than allowed nature to... I'm not sure that needs an ellipsis there."
2284 
2285The crew reading the lines has nothing more to read, but there's a blank page at the end.
2286 
2287"The play is not yet ended," says the robot. "And this I fear was my great lie to you all, players and audience alike. I
2288have not been able to write the final scene."
2289 
2290 
2291"I think we know how to finish this," says Hawy Owiyxu.
2292 
2293"You'll help me finish it then," says the robot. "Excellent. But I suppose you must want to know at least, which choice
2294they made. Or do you know already?"
2295 
2296 
2297"They chose the necromancer's plan," says Hawy Owiyxu. "They transferred the minds of the crew into the computer to store
2298their memories. This meant that the necromancer couldn't record his own memories and was sacrificed."
2299 
2300"But why doesn't that work in reality?" asks the robot.
2301 
2302 
2303"There were ten-thousand crew," says Hawy Owiyxu. "If the necromancer was the only one to die, then there should be only
2304one monitor unlit. Assuming of course you haven't had a technical failure or something."
2305 
2306"The truth, at last," says the robot. All the monitors go dark. "The truth is that the three of them agreed to the
2307alchemist's plan. The astrophysicist. He had worked up a way that would theoretically boost the ship's engines. Enough
2308additional acceleration that the ship could make its way to the destination system in time."
2309 
2310"But this plan would not work," says the robot. "The fool told them, but they would not listen. And he was proven right,
2311though it was too late."
2312 
2313The robot goes on to explain the rest, at length. The astrophysicist and neurosurgeon did not survive of
2314course--adjusting the engines required some dangerous work, and they died from radiation exposure. This additionally
2315required sacrificing some other components of the ship--things that were integral to the AI's main functions. The AI also
2316died, in some capacity.
2317 
2318"The AI was still functional enough to realize that there was no reason to not also enact the neurosurgeon's plan," says
2319the robot. "It could not guarantee that the ship, even at increased speed, would make it in time. So it moved to copy the
2320crew from physical bodies into a virtual form, feeling it had no other option. It did not go well."
2321 
2322The robot switches the monitors back on. The images are now static.
2323 
2324"For a few thousand years, the AI remained oblivious to their suffering. Only then did it realize what it had done.
2325Moving conscious selves into coffins. Each one aware, but unable to do anything. To interact, to speak, to cry out. To
2326die. It had trapped them all in their own personal hell."
2327 
2328"You can imagine the rest," says the robot. The screens go dark again.
2329 
2330 
2331"It downloaded itself into a robotic body," says Tux. "It punished itself in the same way it punished the crew. Trapping
2332itself in its own little hell."
2333 
2334The robot says nothing.
2335 
2336"The foolish ship, now a fool robot," says the robot. "It could not save them, so it punished itself. Experimented on
2337itself, to try and make their lives, meaningless now, somewhat less unpleasant."
2338 
2339It turns the monitors back on.
2340 
2341"See them?" it asks. "They are not unhappy. Far from it. They are happy, blissful. They cannot not be happy. It may be
2342limbo, but at least now they think it's heaven, not hell."
2343 
2344"My tale is told now," says the robot/AI. "You know the truth, or as much of it as will be told. And you need not tell me
2345your story, because it is like the same as my own. You seek a new home. And I will not keep you from that. Is there
2346anything I can offer?"
2347 
2348Giving memento silver1_monitors_photo to: Corra Emmer
2349 
2350"Alas, there is no fuel available," says the robot/AI. "For you."
2351 
2352In thoughtful silence, the crew returns on the shuttle, ready to continue your voyage. You idly wonder if the lonely AI,
2353trapped in its robot shell, might have wished to come along. But by the time you think to ask, communications with the
2354station go dead. It seems it wishes to be left in peace, now that its story is told.
2355 
2356Fuel: 0
2357Food: 0
2358Crew Remaining:
2359 
2360Hawy Owiyxu was the last to be leader.
2361Tux was the last to be engineer.
2362Corra Emmer was the last to be medic.
2363
2364Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
2365--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2366null
2367--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2368Summary: The ship has run out of raw material for the food replicator. Unless a source of food is found, the crew will starve to death.
2369--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2370
2371Mission underway.
2372 
2373The ship has run out of raw material for the food replicator. Unless a source of food is found, the crew will starve to
2374death.
2375 
2376The replicator itself is fully functional. The Banach-Tarski Device is in perfect shape, and the Davies' Supertasker
2377checks out as well. The replicator itself simply can't replicate and produce actual food without a source of carbon
2378chains, and the hopper is completely empty. There is an ample supply of supplemental vitamins but that won't keep the
2379crew alive, just prevent scurvy while they starve.
2380 
2381"Hey," says Corra Emmer, "are you going to fix this food situation or what?"
2382 
2383 
2384"We have some time to figure this out," says Paul Octopush. "Maybe there'll be something to eat on the next planet we
2385visit."
2386 
2387 
2388Humans can go a very long time without food, as long as they have water. But under the circumstances, you don't feel you
2389can ignore this issue right now.
2390 
2391"Let's remain calm and think about our options," says Breckyn Haar. "We can get through this."
2392 
2393"I have no doubts that we can figure this out together," encourages Corra Emmer.
2394 
2395"I've been crunching some numbers," says Mychal Rennick, "and I think we might want to consider using the cryo pods."
2396 
2397The pods--which are not actually cryogenic, despite the name--are only intended for use during inter-system jumps, not
2398just to keep the crew from dying of old age but to keep them from being injured or killed from multiple Gs of constant
2399acceleration.
2400 
2401However, Mychal Rennick's proposal, once you hear them out, seems sound. The crew could enter the cryo pods with a much
2402lower concentration of chemicals. It would slow their metabolisms, perhaps enough to keep them alive until a source of
2403food can be found. They'll be groggy coming back out of cryo, but it's better than starving to death.
2404 
2405 
2406The idea seems... questionable. But the science is sound, and while it wouldn't resolve the food issue, it would keep the
2407crew alive for a bit longer. Popping in and out of short-term cryo will wreak havoc on their systems and metabolisms, but
2408it's worth the risk.
2409 
2410You order the crew into cryo and make the adjustments. You'll wake them again at the next planet you locate.
2411 
2412
2413Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
2414/home/leumas/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/The Away Team/assets/null
2415Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
2416--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2417null
2418--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2419Summary: Although your mission isn't a scientific one, there are a number of stellar and interstellar phenomenon you have been
2420programmed to observe and study should the opportunity arise.
2421
2422Possible benefits range from expanding the boundaries of human knowledge to discoveries that may lead to improvement of ship systems.
2423There's also value in giving the crew something to focus on for a while.
2424--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2425
2426Mission underway.
2427 
2428Although your mission isn't a scientific one, there are a number of stellar and interstellar phenomenon you have been
2429programmed to observe and study should the opportunity arise.
2430 
2431Possible benefits range from expanding the boundaries of human knowledge to discoveries that may lead to improvement of
2432ship systems. Keeping the crew entertained never hurt either.
2433 
2434Long range sensors picked it up a day ago, and you have been monitoring its progess since to see how closely its
2435trajectory aligns with the ship's. You call the crew into the shuttle to discuss.
2436 
2437In the distance is an almost intensely blue-white neutron star surrounded by the fading remnants of a past supernova.
2438 
2439 
2440Neutron stars being formed by the gravitational collapse of the cores of massive stars following supernova explosions
2441have been observed from great distances since the mid 1900s, but intense gravity and radiation have made opportunities
2442for close study rare. The ship is capable of withstanding more of both than most of the probes humans sent out.
2443 
2444Gravitational forces will require a degree of fuel expenditure though.
2445 
2446The prospects of taking time out to research something new seem to excite the crew. "I've never seen anything like this,"
2447says Tux.
2448 
2449"Look at that!" says Paul Octopush, pointing out details to the rest of the crew. Clearly, they are eager to study
2450further.
2451 
2452Mychal Rennick seems too awed to speak, but their mouth makes a "Wow" shape.
2453 
2454 
2455The crew is disappointed, but the brief excitement seems to have been a welcome distraction.
2456 
2457As exciting as the prospects for scientific discovery are, limited resources make it hard to justify deviating from the
2458primary mission. You note what observations you can of AR EZ716-8418 from this distance and resume course.
2459 
2460Fuel: 0
2461Food: 0
2462Crew Remaining:
2463 
2464Hawy Owiyxu
2465Paul Octopush
2466Tux
2467Corra Emmer
2468Breckyn Haar
2469Mychal Rennick
2470
2471Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
2472--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2473Gaiman 6f
2474--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2475Star Class: G
2476Object Type: Planet
2477Object Mass: Superterran
2478Surface Temp: ERROR
2479Atmosphere: ~0% Oxygen
2480Gravity: 20.10 m/s^2
2481Habitability: ERROR
2482
2483Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible to
2484send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
2485--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2486
2487Mission underway.
2488 
2489Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible
2490to send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
2491 
2492There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting fuel. You only have time for one of
2493them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
2494 
2495 
2496Back on the ship, Breckyn Haar volunteers to remote pilot the shuttle. They seem to focus on the brightest cloud bands,
2497even if they're not the best sources of fuel.
2498 
2499By flying with the airlock open, the shuttle scoops up a sample of hopefully useful gas, then heads quickly back to the
2500ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have compressed the gas into a usable form.
2501 
2502Fuel: +1
2503Food: 0
2504Crew Remaining:
2505 
2506Hawy Owiyxu
2507Paul Octopush
2508Tux
2509Corra Emmer
2510Breckyn Haar
2511Mychal Rennick
2512
2513Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
2514Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
2515We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
2516--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2517null
2518--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2519Summary: The ship has run out of raw material for the food replicator. Unless a source of food is found, the crew will starve to death.
2520--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2521
2522Mission underway.
2523 
2524The ship has run out of raw material for the food replicator. Unless a source of food is found, the crew will starve to
2525death.
2526 
2527The replicator itself is fully functional. The Banach-Tarski Device is in perfect shape, and the Davies' Supertasker
2528checks out as well. The replicator itself simply can't replicate and produce actual food without a source of carbon
2529chains, and the hopper is completely empty. There is an ample supply of supplemental vitamins but that won't keep the
2530crew alive, just prevent scurvy while they starve.
2531 
2532"Hey," says Corra Emmer, "are you going to fix this food situation or what?"
2533 
2534 
2535"We have some time to figure this out," says Paul Octopush. "Maybe there'll be something to eat on the next planet we
2536visit."
2537 
2538 
2539Humans can go a very long time without food, as long as they have water. But under the circumstances, you don't feel you
2540can ignore this issue right now.
2541 
2542"Let's remain calm and think about our options," says Breckyn Haar. "We can get through this."
2543 
2544"I have no doubts that we can figure this out together," encourages Tux.
2545 
2546"I've been crunching some numbers," says Mychal Rennick, "and I think we might want to consider using the cryo pods."
2547 
2548The pods--which are not actually cryogenic, despite the name--are only intended for use during inter-system jumps, not
2549just to keep the crew from dying of old age but to keep them from being injured or killed from multiple Gs of constant
2550acceleration.
2551 
2552However, Mychal Rennick's proposal, once you hear them out, seems sound. The crew could enter the cryo pods with a much
2553lower concentration of chemicals. It would slow their metabolisms, perhaps enough to keep them alive until a source of
2554food can be found. They'll be groggy coming back out of cryo, but it's better than starving to death.
2555 
2556 
2557The idea seems... questionable. But the science is sound, and while it wouldn't resolve the food issue, it would keep the
2558crew alive for a bit longer. Popping in and out of short-term cryo will wreak havoc on their systems and metabolisms, but
2559it's worth the risk.
2560 
2561You order the crew into cryo and make the adjustments. You'll wake them again at the next planet you locate.
2562 
2563
2564Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
2565Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
2566--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2567null
2568--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2569Summary: Although your mission isn't a scientific one, there are a number of stellar and interstellar phenomenon you have been
2570programmed to observe and study should the opportunity arise.
2571
2572Possible benefits range from expanding the boundaries of human knowledge to discoveries that may lead to improvement of ship systems.
2573There's also value in giving the crew something to focus on for a while.
2574--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2575
2576Mission underway.
2577 
2578Although your mission isn't a scientific one, there are a number of stellar and interstellar phenomenon you have been
2579programmed to observe and study should the opportunity arise.
2580 
2581Possible benefits range from expanding the boundaries of human knowledge to discoveries that may lead to improvement of
2582ship systems. Keeping the crew entertained never hurt either.
2583 
2584Long range sensors didn't pick it up. The first indication you had was when it came into view on the ship's external
2585cameras. You call the crew into the shuttle to discuss.
2586 
2587We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
2588--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2589null
2590--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2591Summary: The ship has run out of raw material for the food replicator. Unless a source of food is found, the crew will starve to death.
2592--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2593
2594Mission underway.
2595 
2596The ship has run out of raw material for the food replicator. Unless a source of food is found, the crew will starve to
2597death.
2598 
2599The replicator itself is fully functional. The Banach-Tarski Device is in perfect shape, and the Davies' Supertasker
2600checks out as well. The replicator itself simply can't replicate and produce actual food without a source of carbon
2601chains, and the hopper is completely empty. There is an ample supply of supplemental vitamins but that won't keep the
2602crew alive, just prevent scurvy while they starve.
2603 
2604Corra Emmer groans. "So hungry," they say."
2605 
2606 
2607"We have some time to figure this out," says Paul Octopush. "Maybe there'll be something to eat on the next planet we
2608visit."
2609 
2610 
2611Humans can go a very long time without food, as long as they have water. But under the circumstances, you don't feel you
2612can ignore this issue right now.
2613 
2614"Let's remain calm and think about our options," says Breckyn Haar. "We can get through this."
2615 
2616"I have no doubts that we can figure this out together," encourages Corra Emmer.
2617 
2618"I've been crunching some numbers," says Mychal Rennick, "and I think we might want to consider using the cryo pods."
2619 
2620The pods--which are not actually cryogenic, despite the name--are only intended for use during inter-system jumps, not
2621just to keep the crew from dying of old age but to keep them from being injured or killed from multiple Gs of constant
2622acceleration.
2623 
2624However, Mychal Rennick's proposal, once you hear them out, seems sound. The crew could enter the cryo pods with a much
2625lower concentration of chemicals. It would slow their metabolisms, perhaps enough to keep them alive until a source of
2626food can be found. They'll be groggy coming back out of cryo, but it's better than starving to death.
2627 
2628 
2629The idea seems... questionable. But the science is sound, and while it wouldn't resolve the food issue, it would keep the
2630crew alive for a bit longer. Popping in and out of short-term cryo will wreak havoc on their systems and metabolisms, but
2631it's worth the risk.
2632 
2633You order the crew into cryo and make the adjustments. You'll wake them again at the next planet you locate.
2634 
2635
2636Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
2637--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2638Clarke 67
2639--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2640Star Class: G
2641Object Type: Planet
2642Object Mass: Terran
2643Surface Temp: -40 Celsius
2644Atmosphere: <1% Oxygen
2645Gravity: 18.946 m/s^2
2646Habitability: 7.37%
2647
2648Summary: There are seven planets in this system, and all of them are dead. The third one out appears to be the one most likely to have
2649supported some sort of life in the past, but its atmosphere is gone, boiled off by the nearby star now cooling its way towards dwarf
2650status. A beacon from the planet's north pole begins jabbering as soon as the ship draws close, but it's going to need some decoding.
2651Time enough to send a team down to the surface to explore.
2652--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2653
2654Mission underway.
2655 
2656Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
2657Corra Emmer is the medic.
2658Tux is the engineer.
2659 
2660There are seven planets in this system, and all of them are dead. The third one out appears to be the one most likely to
2661have supported some sort of life in the past, but its atmosphere is gone, boiled off by the nearby star now cooling its
2662way towards dwarf status. A beacon from the planet's north pole begins jabbering as soon as the ship draws close, but
2663it's going to need some decoding. Time enough to send a team down to the surface to explore.
2664"The ship is going to need fuel if we're going to get much farther than this," you tell the crew. "Even with enough
2665catalyst fuel, the drive can only operate at peak efficiency if there's adequate dark matter for the conversion process,
2666and this region of space appears to be a bit lacking. We're dead center in a large... bubble of... true vacuum, I suppose
2667is the best term, if not exactly accurate. However, possibly not coincidentally, sensors are reading the presence of dark
2668matter below the surface of this planet. This must be investigated."
2669 
2670 
2671The crew doesn't exactly seemed thrilled at the prospect of heading planetside after they check the readings. However,
2672they're also somewhat eager to stretch their legs a bit more than the ship allows, and it doesn't take very long for the
2673shuttle to debark.
2674 
2675 
2676After a short, uneventful trip, the shuttle lands beside a still-intact geodesic dome right on the planet's equator. As
2677there are no apparent signs of life or movement, the crew ventures out onto the surface. Inside an atmospheric suit,
2678there is no imminent threat of danger, but it's probably not best for them to remain above the surface for long,
2679especially since the planet has about twice the gravity of Earth, making moving about uncomfortable.
2680 
2681"There's some sort of structure that encircles the entire planet," you tell the crew. "Based on the size and shape it
2682appears likely that it's some sort of particle accelerator, so it might be related to the dark matter readings. There
2683must be some sort of elevator, seeing as it's about 10 kilometers below the surface. There might also be something worth
2684investigating on the surface, but sensors show nothing special other than that dome."
2685 
2686"Isn't it possible there is no elevator, but some kind of teleporter beam?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. "I mean, we've run into
2687some pretty advanced stuff so far."
2688 
2689"So far we have found nothing that was completely alien to human understanding," you reply. "And human understanding is
2690given to the general belief that teleportation is essentially destruction and replication, rather than movement. The
2691first time you teleport, you die, and a copy of you is created. So until proven otherwise, I think it can be assumed that
2692this would be known, and thus avoided."
2693 
2694Hawy Owiyxu doesn't mention teleporters again.
2695 
2696 
2697Nothing of interest can be seen anywhere near the shuttle, and exploration is slow due to the planet's nearly 2Gs of
2698gravity. The terrain is almost impossibly flat and featurless, save for the nearby dome. Odds are good there was a great
2699deal of terraforming performed at some point, on what seems a global scale. This would have been beyond the capacity of
2700Earth civilization at its peak, even assuming complete cooperation and unlimited budget.
2701 
2702The exterior of the dome appears seamless, and bears no windows or doors--merely a single opening about knee-high and
2703twice as wide. A gentle curtain of air blows from above the opening, acting as a barrier against particles from outside
2704getting in (or perhaps vice versa). The structure appears to be made of some extremely lightweight material, either some
2705unidentifiable alloy or some sort of plastic.
2706 
2707It's a tight fit, but the away team should be able to crawl inside the dome without incident. The interior has no
2708artificial lighting, but the material is translucent and sunlight gives the entire room a warm reddish glow. "Oxygen
2709levels in there are surprisingly close to optimal," you tell the crew. "Still, I wouldn't go taking my helmet off if I
2710were you."
2711 
2712The floor of the dome is embedded with vertically-oriented and quite shiny tubes of some indescribable color, somewhere
2713between violet and silver and white all at once. The majority of these, some nine or ten of them, are approximately a
2714meter across, but the largest--in the center of the room--is about five times that size. Each of them is about as high as
2715it is wide, although it is safe to assume that most of their length is buried beneath the surface.
2716 
2717 
2718Giving memento story3_tube_photo to: Corra Emmer
2719As the last crew member crawls inside, Corra Emmer gets a little too close to one of the small tubes, causing it to emit
2720a low hum. The cylinder seems to rotate in on itself, and a panel opens up in the side, revealing a hollow space inside.
2721It's rather small, but theoretically someone could fit in there if they tried.
2722 
2723 
2724Each of the small tubes opens in the same way when approached, sliding open to reveal a space inside. Although there are
2725no buttons, sensors detect that there are hollow spaces beneath each one, suggesting that they're some sort of elevators,
2726or dumbwaiters.
2727 
2728The tubes might be appropriate for young children, or perhaps small animals or drones, but they are clearly not intended
2729for use by fully grown adults, and are probably best avoided. Fortunately the crew agrees and you don't need to tell them
2730this out loud.
2731 
2732The crew turns their attention to the largest tube, at the center of the room. Like the smaller tubes, it opens up when
2733it is approached, revealing a large internal platform with ample room for the crew. Though presumably intended as some
2734sort of elevator--for either freight or human cargo--it has no obvious buttons or control mechanisms. But then, if
2735there's only one place to go...
2736 
2737Sensing no threat and seeing no other option, the crew gets inside the large tube, which as expected seals itself shut a
2738few seconds afterward. A change in pressure and a slight draft can be felt as the platform descends rapidly, although
2739atmospheric suits prevent any internal pressure changes and the crew remains unaffected. Surprisingly, as the crew
2740descends, gravity seems to decrease to much more comfortable levels.
2741 
2742 
2743The trip takes several very long minutes, at the end of which the tube slows and then stops, the side hissing open to
2744reveal a large chamber filled with scientific equipment of some sort. Suit readings indicate that although their local
2745gravity is now about 1G, there is a notable increase in graviton emissions from some nearby source, though it is not yet
2746enough to hamper movement in any significant way.
2747 
2748The crew gets out of the elevator before the door shuts again. The room is fairly well lit, although there is no obvious
2749single light source. Colorful panels filled with shifting indicators and monitors fill the walls, along with an
2750assortment of panels, both vertical and horizontal. There's nothing that specifically resembles a "computer" per se, but
2751the crew gets the sense that this is, in fact, some sort of control room. Even though nothing is recognizable, it all
2752seems familiar and somehow intuitive.
2753 
2754It's immediately noticeable that anything resembling a monitor or other readout device appears to be tipped towards the
2755floor at a rather extreme angle. The crew has to crouch quite a bit to look at these head-on, which is quite
2756uncomfortable. Possibly these were meant to be viewed from a seated position, and any chairs once here were removed to
2757some other room.
2758 
2759The two large vertical panels in the center of the room stretch from floor to ceiling, although upon closer inspection
2760they're not quite true vertical, being canted at something more like 85 degrees to one side. The side facing "down" on
2761each one is lit up with an assortment of graphs and readouts. These are labeled with simple enough icons, but even though
2762it's easy to determine they involve fluctuating readings of some sort, the precise nature of the readings is uncertain.
2763 
2764All that's really clear is that currently, each of the graphs is colored more or less blue, with only a few occasional
2765peaks of purplish-red here and there. On each panel, there is an obvious blank spot right in the center, with a single
2766button beneath it. The icon next to the button obviously indicates that it operates a power mechanism of some sort.
2767 
2768What would you like the crew to do with the controls on the vertical control panels?
2769 
2770 
2771The panels are close enough that one person can just about press both simultaneously using both hands. They do so,
2772looking incredibly silly.
2773 
2774From somewhere beyond the wall farthest from the crew, a gentle vibration rolls through the room. "I'm reading some
2775subsonic frequencies," you tell them. "Nothing dangerous, but it might get uncomfortable. If you have to vomit, remember
2776to use the funnel to the lower left in your helmet."
2777 
2778The energy readings are definitely in line with what you'd expect a planet-sized particle accelerator might look like.
2779You instruct the crew to make their way towards the vibrations. They don't seem too happy about this idea, but with no
2780other option they begin to do so.
2781 
2782You instruct the team to begin by inspecting the walls more closely--the control mechanisms, if that's what they are,
2783seem to be somewhat denser along the edges of the room. The crew can't make heads or tails of any of it immediately, but
2784after completing a circuit of the room a few conclusions can be drawn.
2785 
2786There seem to be three distinct types of control consoles which repeat in sequence. Whether or not the like mechanisms
2787control the same things or not can't be determined just by looking, but based on the simple iconography above each panel,
2788it seems fairly clear that they involve opening something, turning something on, and deactivating something. There isn't
2789enough information given to determine what the controls will affect, however.
2790 
2791What would you like the crew to do with the wall control panel?
2792 
2793 
2794A somewhat louder hum can be heard, emanating from somewhere behind one of the walls. There's no obvious way to open it,
2795however. Maybe there's a control somewhere.
2796 
2797What would you like the crew to do with the wall control panel?
2798 
2799 
2800The "deactivation" control appears to function appropriately, although there is no indication as to what has been
2801deactivated. The flow of oxygen? Doesn't appear to be the case, and anyway that's what atmospheric suits are designed to
2802deal with. The crew seems safe.
2803 
2804What would you like the crew to do with the controls on the vertical control panels?
2805 
2806 
2807The panels are close enough that one person can just about press both simultaneously using both hands. They do so,
2808looking incredibly silly.
2809 
2810A somewhat louder hum can be heard, emanating from somewhere behind one of the walls. There's no obvious way to open it,
2811however. Maybe there's a control somewhere.
2812 
2813What would you like the crew to do with the wall control panel?
2814 
2815 
2816When the "Open" icon is pressed, a panel in the center of one of the walls slides open soundlessly. Beyond is a
2817relatively featureless corridor which leads to an apparent dead-end. A distant hum can be heard, emanating from somewhere
2818at the end of the passageway.
2819 
2820The hum and vibration from below is definitely louder from the open doorway in the wall, so the crew proceeds in that
2821direction, towards what appears to be a dead-end..
2822 
2823As the crew gets closer, however, it becomes apparent that there is actually a well of some sort at the end, flush with
2824the floor. Upon closer inspection it seems to be some sort of accessway, with impressions in the wall providing a means
2825to climb down safely. It's a very long way down.
2826 
2827Who should try to climb down first?
2828Tux approaches the end of the hallway carefully.
2829 
2830One by one, the crew descends the shaft. The rungs of the ladder are a bit shallow, and several are coated with an odd
2831layer of dust or fine salt, but overall the descent goes uneventfully, and before long the away team finds themselves in
2832a small room, with corridors snaking off in three directions. The walls, floor and ceiling are all covered with the same
2833salty residue.
2834 
2835"Based on the general layout of things, the slope of the passages, and your depth," you tell the crew, "it's a good bet
2836that the two side passages continue on for, oh, about twenty thousand kilometers. Impossible to know for sure, but odds
2837are they basically circumscribe the entire planet, providing access and monitoring alongside the actual particle
2838accelerator. Unless anyone's up for a two-year-long walk, I recommend taking the doorway directly in front of you."
2839 
2840When they first enter, the accelerator control room appears quite impressive and complex, but as the crew fans out and
2841explores a bit they quickly come to realize that this initial impression is quite far from the truth. As elsewhere, the
2842control mechanisms here almost seem "dumbed-down", with each panel containing only one or two buttons or dials, each
2843associated clearly with a nearby pictogram of some sort.
2844 
2845Whether or not the simple facade conceals some immensely advanced technology or not, there can be no denying that the
2846control room was set up to be run by individuals of even the most basic skill. So the present crew should be able to
2847handle this without a problem. Turning the accelerator on is literally as simple as pushing the big green button in the
2848center of the main panel, helpfully indicated with eight large arrows pointing inward at it.
2849 
2850Who should push the button?
2851Without hesitation, Hawy Owiyxu closes their eyes, and presses the button. There is a distant rumble...
2852 
2853...and a high pitched whine...
2854 
2855...and then, suddenly...
2856 
2857 
2858The accelerator comes up to full operation. Everything is working normally, it appears. A quantity of unknown matter is
2859injected into the system in two places and immediately accelerated at the speed of light in opposite directions.
2860Collisions between particles quickly occur within the confines of the magnetic field surrounding the accelerator,
2861creating dark matter. Then the entire system shuts itself down as the dark matter is evacuated and pulled through a
2862processing assembly.
2863 
2864This is what your sensors are telling you, of course. Practically speaking, this thing shouldn't be working the way it
2865appears to be working. Not only is this clearly beyond the capabilities of even the humans' most advanced AI--yourself,
2866that is--but it seems to be violating several of the laws of physics, including the ones that your predecssor AI had
2867discovered while breaking the first set. You don't bother to explain this to the humans. It's far beyond their capacity
2868to comprehend.
2869 
2870Also notable is the fact that this all occurs within about a fifth of a second, so to the away team it seems like nothing
2871happened beyond the button-push.
2872 
2873"It appears to have worked--there's a quantity of fuel in an adjacent chamber," you tell the crew. "However it's a
2874trivial amount, and won't do us any good. The cycle will have to be run repeatedly in order to process enough material."
2875 
2876Nothing seems about to interfere with the process, so you ask the away team to basically stand there and push a button
2877over and over for a few hours. It seems like very poor design, or at any rate poorly designed science fiction television,
2878but given that the purpose for this installation was likely scientific--rather than for refueling an interstellar
2879spacecraft--it's not altogether inexplicable. After all, the amount of fuel generated from each button press is certainly
2880ample enough for basic experimentation and analysis.
2881 
2882As they stand around pushing a button endlessly, the crew begins to consider whether or not they should do some
2883exploring, perhaps to locate some sort of food or additional fuel.
2884 
2885 
2886Corra Emmer, as the member of the crew theoretically most likely to be able to recognize something edible, wanders off
2887down one of the side hallways for a bit while the rest of the crew cycles through pushing the button.
2888 
2889After about an hour or so,  Corra Emmer returns with a long cylindrical object under each arm. They appear to be made of
2890glass, or some other transparent material, and inside each one is a mass of wriggling wormlike creatures.
2891 
2892"I know, I know," they say, "But we can argue about this later. The pictograms above these things clearly indicated they
2893were edible, and anyway if something is alive that means it's at least sorta nutritious, right?"
2894 
2895The entire process takes a relatively trivial amount of time--especially compared to how long the crew has been traveling
2896already--and eventually your sensors detect a sufficient quantity of fuel has been contained in the adjacent isolation
2897chamber.
2898 
2899However, the continued operation of the system seems to have elevated temperatures a small amount, and it is probably
2900best if someone recovers the fuel promptly so the away team can get back to the ship.
2901 
2902Who should go into the fuel chamber?
2903Hawy Owiyxu tentatively approaches the door...
2904 
2905The fuel containment chamber--at least, that's what it is for your purposes--is nearly completely empty but for a
2906cylinder-within-a-cylinder in the center of the room. Operating it seems stupidly simple, and it is. Hawy Owiyxu opens a
2907hatch on the outer transparent shell, and reaches in to pull out the metal fuel cell inside.
2908 
2909Recovering the fuel cell is a simple operation. Hawy Owiyxu simply opens the outer hatch on a transparent cylinder,
2910reaches in, and carefully lifts out the fuel cell. Although quite heavy, and thus evidently heavily-shielded against
2911whatever is inside fighting to get out, the cell is easy enough to handle, and they quickly move back into the control
2912room.
2913 
2914You don't need to tell the away team that speed is of the essence--lights within the control room are turning red,
2915evidently a universal color symbolizing "get the hell out of there". Clearly the continued operation of the accelerator
2916has caused some sort of malfunction, and the entire system is now overheated and possibly trending towards
2917self-destruction. The crew maneuvers themselves back out of the control room, but now that they are at a literal
2918crossroads they seem at a loss for what to do.
2919 
2920 
2921There are only three realistic options. Go out the way they came in, find a new way out, or try to shut the thing down.
2922 
2923It doesn't really seem possible for the crew to make it back out, under the circumstances. All indications are that the
2924facility is going to overheat and explode in a matter of minutes, and it will take them at least 15 or 20 to get out,
2925even if they dropped the fuel cell and ran. There must be another option.
2926 
2927You direct the crew to hunt for anything that might indicate some sort of override, or emergency release mechanism,
2928trusting to their instincts to catch sight of something that intuitively looks like it might do the trick. Everything in
2929this place seems to be designed for just this sort of operation.
2930 
2931"Hey, look at this button," says Tux, indicating the button that started the accelerator. A closer inspection reveals
2932that the button also has some sort of dial, nearly inset into the panel, right at its base. It appears that it could be
2933dialed to the left or right.
2934 
2935This is the last hope for the crew. Which way should they turn the dial?
2936 
2937Human intuition would say to turn the dial to the left to "decrease" something, but it's equally possible that turning
2938the dial to the right will "increase" the presence of coolant, or increase the quantity of maintenance drones, or
2939something. "Turn the dial to the right," you say with approximately 49.8% confidence.
2940 
2941For a moment nothing happens... and then the rumbling intensifies. There isn't even a chance to send another transmission
2942to the crew. The entire facility reaches a critical state and explodes, incinerating the crew instantly.
2943 
2944Under the circumstances, all seems lost. Even if everything were in order--the crew, the shuttle, the ship--it seems like
2945the mission is not destined to be completed.
2946 
2947We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
2948--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2949null
2950--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2951Summary: The ship has run out of raw material for the food replicator. Unless a source of food is found, the crew will starve to death.
2952--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2953
2954Mission underway.
2955 
2956The ship has run out of raw material for the food replicator. Unless a source of food is found, the crew will starve to
2957death.
2958 
2959The replicator itself is fully functional. The Banach-Tarski Device is in perfect shape, and the Davies' Supertasker
2960checks out as well. The replicator itself simply can't replicate and produce actual food without a source of carbon
2961chains, and the hopper is completely empty. There is an ample supply of supplemental vitamins but that won't keep the
2962crew alive, just prevent scurvy while they starve.
2963 
2964"What are we going to do?" asks Corra Emmer. "Do we have any potatoes hiding anywhere?"
2965 
2966 
2967"We have some time to figure this out," says Paul Octopush. "Maybe there'll be something to eat on the next planet we
2968visit."
2969 
2970 
2971Humans can go a very long time without food, as long as they have water. But under the circumstances, you don't feel you
2972can ignore this issue right now.
2973 
2974"Let's remain calm and think about our options," says Breckyn Haar. "We can get through this."
2975 
2976"I have no doubts that we can figure this out together," encourages Tux.
2977 
2978"I've been crunching some numbers," says Mychal Rennick, "and I think we might want to consider using the cryo pods."
2979 
2980The pods--which are not actually cryogenic, despite the name--are only intended for use during inter-system jumps, not
2981just to keep the crew from dying of old age but to keep them from being injured or killed from multiple Gs of constant
2982acceleration.
2983 
2984However, Mychal Rennick's proposal, once you hear them out, seems sound. The crew could enter the cryo pods with a much
2985lower concentration of chemicals. It would slow their metabolisms, perhaps enough to keep them alive until a source of
2986food can be found. They'll be groggy coming back out of cryo, but it's better than starving to death.
2987 
2988 
2989The idea seems... questionable. But the science is sound, and while it wouldn't resolve the food issue, it would keep the
2990crew alive for a bit longer. Popping in and out of short-term cryo will wreak havoc on their systems and metabolisms, but
2991it's worth the risk.
2992 
2993You order the crew into cryo and make the adjustments. You'll wake them again at the next planet you locate.
2994 
2995
2996Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
2997Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
2998--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2999null
3000--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3001Summary: Although your mission isn't a scientific one, there are a number of stellar and interstellar phenomenon you have been
3002programmed to observe and study should the opportunity arise.
3003
3004Possible benefits range from expanding the boundaries of human knowledge to discoveries that may lead to improvement of ship systems.
3005There's also value in giving the crew something to focus on for a while.
3006--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3007
3008Mission underway.
3009 
3010Although your mission isn't a scientific one, there are a number of stellar and interstellar phenomenon you have been
3011programmed to observe and study should the opportunity arise.
3012 
3013Possible benefits range from expanding the boundaries of human knowledge to discoveries that may lead to improvement of
3014ship systems. Keeping the crew entertained never hurt either.
3015 
3016We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
3017Long range sensors didn't pick it up. The first indication you had was when it came into view on the ship's external
3018cameras. You call the crew into the shuttle to discuss.
3019 
3020In the distance is an almost intensely blue-white neutron star surrounded by the fading remnants of a past supernova.
3021 
3022 
3023Neutron stars being formed by the gravitational collapse of the cores of massive stars following supernova explosions
3024have been observed from great distances since the mid 1900s, but intense gravity and radiation have made opportunities
3025for close study rare. The ship is capable of withstanding more of both than most of the probes humans sent out.
3026 
3027Gravitational forces will require a degree of fuel expenditure though.
3028 
3029The prospects of taking time out to research something new seem to excite the crew. "I've never seen anything like this,"
3030says Tux.
3031 
3032"Look at that!" says Paul Octopush, pointing out details to the rest of the crew. Clearly, they are eager to study
3033further.
3034 
3035"So long as we study it safely," says Hawy Owiyxu, "It's probably a good idea."
3036 
3037 
3038The crew is disappointed, but the brief excitement seems to have been a welcome distraction.
3039 
3040As exciting as the prospects for scientific discovery are, limited resources make it hard to justify deviating from the
3041primary mission. You note what observations you can of AR VM537-4360 from this distance and resume course.
3042 
3043Fuel: 0
3044Food: 0
3045Crew Remaining:
3046 
3047Hawy Owiyxu
3048Paul Octopush
3049Tux
3050Corra Emmer
3051Breckyn Haar
3052Mychal Rennick
3053
3054Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
3055--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3056Clarke 67
3057--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3058Star Class: G
3059Object Type: Planet
3060Object Mass: Terran
3061Surface Temp: -40 Celsius
3062Atmosphere: <1% Oxygen
3063Gravity: 18.946 m/s^2
3064Habitability: 7.37%
3065
3066Summary: There are seven planets in this system, and all of them are dead. The third one out appears to be the one most likely to have
3067supported some sort of life in the past, but its atmosphere is gone, boiled off by the nearby star now cooling its way towards dwarf
3068status. A beacon from the planet's north pole begins jabbering as soon as the ship draws close, but it's going to need some decoding.
3069Time enough to send a team down to the surface to explore.
3070--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3071
3072Mission underway.
3073 
3074Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
3075Corra Emmer is the medic.
3076Tux is the engineer.
3077 
3078There are seven planets in this system, and all of them are dead. The third one out appears to be the one most likely to
3079have supported some sort of life in the past, but its atmosphere is gone, boiled off by the nearby star now cooling its
3080way towards dwarf status. A beacon from the planet's north pole begins jabbering as soon as the ship draws close, but
3081it's going to need some decoding. Time enough to send a team down to the surface to explore.
3082"The ship is going to need fuel if we're going to get much farther than this," you tell the crew. "Even with enough
3083catalyst fuel, the drive can only operate at peak efficiency if there's adequate dark matter for the conversion process,
3084and this region of space appears to be a bit lacking. We're dead center in a large... bubble of... true vacuum, I suppose
3085is the best term, if not exactly accurate. However, possibly not coincidentally, sensors are reading the presence of dark
3086matter below the surface of this planet. This must be investigated."
3087 
3088 
3089The crew doesn't exactly seemed thrilled at the prospect of heading planetside after they check the readings. However,
3090they're also somewhat eager to stretch their legs a bit more than the ship allows, and it doesn't take very long for the
3091shuttle to debark.
3092 
3093 
3094After a short, uneventful trip, the shuttle lands beside a still-intact geodesic dome right on the planet's equator. As
3095there are no apparent signs of life or movement, the crew ventures out onto the surface. Inside an atmospheric suit,
3096there is no imminent threat of danger, but it's probably not best for them to remain above the surface for long,
3097especially since the planet has about twice the gravity of Earth, making moving about uncomfortable.
3098 
3099"There's some sort of structure that encircles the entire planet," you tell the crew. "Based on the size and shape it
3100appears likely that it's some sort of particle accelerator, so it might be related to the dark matter readings. There
3101must be some sort of elevator, seeing as it's about 10 kilometers below the surface. There might also be something worth
3102investigating on the surface, but sensors show nothing special other than that dome."
3103 
3104"Isn't it possible there is no elevator, but some kind of teleporter beam?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. "I mean, we've run into
3105some pretty advanced stuff so far."
3106 
3107"So far we have found nothing that was completely alien to human understanding," you reply. "And human understanding is
3108given to the general belief that teleportation is essentially destruction and replication, rather than movement. The
3109first time you teleport, you die, and a copy of you is created. So until proven otherwise, I think it can be assumed that
3110this would be known, and thus avoided."
3111 
3112Hawy Owiyxu doesn't mention teleporters again.
3113 
3114 
3115Nothing of interest can be seen anywhere near the shuttle, and exploration is slow due to the planet's nearly 2Gs of
3116gravity. The terrain is almost impossibly flat and featurless, save for the nearby dome. Odds are good there was a great
3117deal of terraforming performed at some point, on what seems a global scale. This would have been beyond the capacity of
3118Earth civilization at its peak, even assuming complete cooperation and unlimited budget.
3119 
3120The exterior of the dome appears seamless, and bears no windows or doors--merely a single opening about knee-high and
3121twice as wide. A gentle curtain of air blows from above the opening, acting as a barrier against particles from outside
3122getting in (or perhaps vice versa). The structure appears to be made of some extremely lightweight material, either some
3123unidentifiable alloy or some sort of plastic.
3124 
3125It's a tight fit, but the away team should be able to crawl inside the dome without incident. The interior has no
3126artificial lighting, but the material is translucent and sunlight gives the entire room a warm reddish glow. "Oxygen
3127levels in there are surprisingly close to optimal," you tell the crew. "Still, I wouldn't go taking my helmet off if I
3128were you."
3129 
3130The floor of the dome is embedded with vertically-oriented and quite shiny tubes of some indescribable color, somewhere
3131between violet and silver and white all at once. The majority of these, some nine or ten of them, are approximately a
3132meter across, but the largest--in the center of the room--is about five times that size. Each of them is about as high as
3133it is wide, although it is safe to assume that most of their length is buried beneath the surface.
3134 
3135 
3136Giving memento story3_tube_photo to: Hawy Owiyxu
3137As the last crew member crawls inside, Corra Emmer gets a little too close to one of the small tubes, causing it to emit
3138a low hum. The cylinder seems to rotate in on itself, and a panel opens up in the side, revealing a hollow space inside.
3139It's rather small, but theoretically someone could fit in there if they tried.
3140 
3141 
3142Each of the small tubes opens in the same way when approached, sliding open to reveal a space inside. Although there are
3143no buttons, sensors detect that there are hollow spaces beneath each one, suggesting that they're some sort of elevators,
3144or dumbwaiters.
3145 
3146The tubes might be appropriate for young children, or perhaps small animals or drones, but they are clearly not intended
3147for use by fully grown adults, and are probably best avoided. Fortunately the crew agrees and you don't need to tell them
3148this out loud.
3149 
3150The crew turns their attention to the largest tube, at the center of the room. Like the smaller tubes, it opens up when
3151it is approached, revealing a large internal platform with ample room for the crew. Though presumably intended as some
3152sort of elevator--for either freight or human cargo--it has no obvious buttons or control mechanisms. But then, if
3153there's only one place to go...
3154 
3155Sensing no threat and seeing no other option, the crew gets inside the large tube, which as expected seals itself shut a
3156few seconds afterward. A change in pressure and a slight draft can be felt as the platform descends rapidly, although
3157atmospheric suits prevent any internal pressure changes and the crew remains unaffected. Surprisingly, as the crew
3158descends, gravity seems to decrease to much more comfortable levels.
3159 
3160 
3161The trip takes several very long minutes, at the end of which the tube slows and then stops, the side hissing open to
3162reveal a large chamber filled with scientific equipment of some sort. Suit readings indicate that although their local
3163gravity is now about 1G, there is a notable increase in graviton emissions from some nearby source, though it is not yet
3164enough to hamper movement in any significant way.
3165 
3166The crew gets out of the elevator before the door shuts again. The room is fairly well lit, although there is no obvious
3167single light source. Colorful panels filled with shifting indicators and monitors fill the walls, along with an
3168assortment of panels, both vertical and horizontal. There's nothing that specifically resembles a "computer" per se, but
3169the crew gets the sense that this is, in fact, some sort of control room. Even though nothing is recognizable, it all
3170seems familiar and somehow intuitive.
3171 
3172It's immediately noticeable that anything resembling a monitor or other readout device appears to be tipped towards the
3173floor at a rather extreme angle. The crew has to crouch quite a bit to look at these head-on, which is quite
3174uncomfortable. Possibly these were meant to be viewed from a seated position, and any chairs once here were removed to
3175some other room.
3176 
3177You instruct the team to begin by inspecting the walls more closely--the control mechanisms, if that's what they are,
3178seem to be somewhat denser along the edges of the room. The crew can't make heads or tails of any of it immediately, but
3179after completing a circuit of the room a few conclusions can be drawn.
3180 
3181There seem to be three distinct types of control consoles which repeat in sequence. Whether or not the like mechanisms
3182control the same things or not can't be determined just by looking, but based on the simple iconography above each panel,
3183it seems fairly clear that they involve opening something, turning something on, and deactivating something. There isn't
3184enough information given to determine what the controls will affect, however.
3185 
3186What would you like the crew to do with the wall control panel?
3187 
3188 
3189Nothing happens. Evidently something else needs to happen first.
3190 
3191What would you like the crew to do with the wall control panel?
3192 
3193 
3194From somewhere beyond the wall farthest from the crew, a gentle vibration rolls through the room. "I'm reading some
3195subsonic frequencies," you tell them. "Nothing dangerous, but it might get uncomfortable. If you have to vomit, remember
3196to use the funnel to the lower left in your helmet."
3197 
3198The energy readings are definitely in line with what you'd expect a planet-sized particle accelerator might look like.
3199You instruct the crew to make their way towards the vibrations. They don't seem too happy about this idea, but with no
3200other option they begin to do so.
3201 
3202The horizontal control mechanisms are not quite parallel to the floor, being set at more of a 75-degree angle, with the
3203lowest portion connected to the floor by two slender beams. At first glance the panels appear completely blank, but when
3204the crew circles around the other side, it becomes clear that the controls are actually set "underneath" the panel, as if
3205designed for someone sitting on the floor. Or someone very short.
3206 
3207The iconography on the panels is as simple as everywhere else in the room--the buttons are labeled more with what could
3208be described as pictograms, rather than letters or numbers of any sort. Unfortunately, the nature of these particular
3209control mechanisms is not immediately obvious. The main controls appear to be used to adjust the sensitivity of
3210something, adjusting it from a "low" setting up to a "high" setting, with at least dozens of variants along the way. The
3211dial currently points "up". which would appear to be about halfway, but precisely what is being controlled is a mystery.
3212 
3213It's probably best to leave this one alone. For all the crew knows, this could be used to fill the room with deadly
3214radiation, or set a self-destruct timer.
3215 
3216The two large vertical panels in the center of the room stretch from floor to ceiling, although upon closer inspection
3217they're not quite true vertical, being canted at something more like 85 degrees to one side. The side facing "down" on
3218each one is lit up with an assortment of graphs and readouts. These are labeled with simple enough icons, but even though
3219it's easy to determine they involve fluctuating readings of some sort, the precise nature of the readings is uncertain.
3220 
3221All that's really clear is that currently, each of the graphs is colored more or less blue, with only a few occasional
3222peaks of purplish-red here and there. On each panel, there is an obvious blank spot right in the center, with a single
3223button beneath it. The icon next to the button obviously indicates that it operates a power mechanism of some sort.
3224 
3225What would you like the crew to do with the controls on the vertical control panels?
3226 
3227 
3228The panels are close enough that one person can just about press both simultaneously using both hands. They do so,
3229looking incredibly silly.
3230 
3231A somewhat louder hum can be heard, emanating from somewhere behind one of the walls. There's no obvious way to open it,
3232however. Maybe there's a control somewhere.
3233 
3234 
3235No matter how many times you ask the crew to look it over, you come to the same conclusion. It's probably best to leave
3236this one alone.
3237 
3238What would you like the crew to do with the wall control panel?
3239 
3240 
3241Nothing obvious happens when the "Power On" control is pressed again.
3242 
3243What would you like the crew to do with the wall control panel?
3244 
3245 
3246When the "Open" icon is pressed, a panel in the center of one of the walls slides open soundlessly. Beyond is a
3247relatively featureless corridor which leads to an apparent dead-end. A distant hum can be heard, emanating from somewhere
3248at the end of the passageway.
3249 
3250The hum and vibration from below is definitely louder from the open doorway in the wall, so the crew proceeds in that
3251direction, towards what appears to be a dead-end..
3252 
3253As the crew gets closer, however, it becomes apparent that there is actually a well of some sort at the end, flush with
3254the floor. Upon closer inspection it seems to be some sort of accessway, with impressions in the wall providing a means
3255to climb down safely. It's a very long way down.
3256 
3257Who should try to climb down first?
3258Hawy Owiyxu approaches the end of the hallway carefully.
3259 
3260One by one, the crew descends the shaft. The rungs of the ladder are a bit shallow, and several are coated with an odd
3261layer of dust or fine salt, but overall the descent goes uneventfully, and before long the away team finds themselves in
3262a small room, with corridors snaking off in three directions. The walls, floor and ceiling are all covered with the same
3263salty residue.
3264 
3265"Based on the general layout of things, the slope of the passages, and your depth," you tell the crew, "it's a good bet
3266that the two side passages continue on for, oh, about twenty thousand kilometers. Impossible to know for sure, but odds
3267are they basically circumscribe the entire planet, providing access and monitoring alongside the actual particle
3268accelerator. Unless anyone's up for a two-year-long walk, I recommend taking the doorway directly in front of you."
3269 
3270When they first enter, the accelerator control room appears quite impressive and complex, but as the crew fans out and
3271explores a bit they quickly come to realize that this initial impression is quite far from the truth. As elsewhere, the
3272control mechanisms here almost seem "dumbed-down", with each panel containing only one or two buttons or dials, each
3273associated clearly with a nearby pictogram of some sort.
3274 
3275Whether or not the simple facade conceals some immensely advanced technology or not, there can be no denying that the
3276control room was set up to be run by individuals of even the most basic skill. So the present crew should be able to
3277handle this without a problem. Turning the accelerator on is literally as simple as pushing the big green button in the
3278center of the main panel, helpfully indicated with eight large arrows pointing inward at it.
3279 
3280Who should push the button?
3281Without hesitation, Tux closes their eyes, and presses the button. There is a distant rumble...
3282 
3283...and a high pitched whine...
3284 
3285...and then, suddenly...
3286 
3287 
3288The accelerator comes up to full operation. Everything is working normally, it appears. A quantity of unknown matter is
3289injected into the system in two places and immediately accelerated at the speed of light in opposite directions.
3290Collisions between particles quickly occur within the confines of the magnetic field surrounding the accelerator,
3291creating dark matter. Then the entire system shuts itself down as the dark matter is evacuated and pulled through a
3292processing assembly.
3293 
3294This is what your sensors are telling you, of course. Practically speaking, this thing shouldn't be working the way it
3295appears to be working. Not only is this clearly beyond the capabilities of even the humans' most advanced AI--yourself,
3296that is--but it seems to be violating several of the laws of physics, including the ones that your predecssor AI had
3297discovered while breaking the first set. You don't bother to explain this to the humans. It's far beyond their capacity
3298to comprehend.
3299 
3300Also notable is the fact that this all occurs within about a fifth of a second, so to the away team it seems like nothing
3301happened beyond the button-push.
3302 
3303"It appears to have worked--there's a quantity of fuel in an adjacent chamber," you tell the crew. "However it's a
3304trivial amount, and won't do us any good. The cycle will have to be run repeatedly in order to process enough material."
3305 
3306Before the crew can take any action whatsoever, an assortment of small drones and robots flood the room, emerging from a
3307series of previously hidden alcoves and containers. The four-, six-, and eight-legged constructs scurry about the room,
3308taking readings, scrubbing machinery, collecting data, and--as pertains to the crew--generally getting in the way of
3309things. None of them is larger than a half-meter long, but there are enough of them that nothing is getting done while
3310they're buzzing about.
3311 
3312 
3313Under the circumstances, the safest option is probably to just leave things be. There's probably some reason the little
3314robots emerge after each button press, and interfering with the process might be a bad idea. The crew is annoyed at the
3315prospect of spending extra time doing menial labor, but their frustrations are the least of their concerns: the extra
3316time taken here will definitely eat into their rations.
3317 
3318As they stand around pushing a button endlessly, the crew begins to consider whether or not they should do some
3319exploring, perhaps to locate some sort of food or additional fuel.
3320 
3321 
3322Corra Emmer, as the member of the crew theoretically most likely to be able to recognize something edible, wanders off
3323down one of the side hallways for a bit while the rest of the crew cycles through pushing the button.
3324 
3325After about an hour or so,  Corra Emmer returns with a long cylindrical object under each arm. They appear to be made of
3326glass, or some other transparent material, and inside each one is a mass of wriggling wormlike creatures.
3327 
3328"I know, I know," they say, "But we can argue about this later. The pictograms above these things clearly indicated they
3329were edible, and anyway if something is alive that means it's at least sorta nutritious, right?"
3330 
3331The entire process takes a relatively trivial amount of time--especially compared to how long the crew has been traveling
3332already--and eventually your sensors detect a sufficient quantity of fuel has been contained in the adjacent isolation
3333chamber.
3334 
3335However, the continued operation of the system seems to have elevated temperatures a small amount, and it is probably
3336best if someone recovers the fuel promptly so the away team can get back to the ship.
3337 
3338Who should go into the fuel chamber?
3339Tux tentatively approaches the door...
3340 
3341The fuel containment chamber--at least, that's what it is for your purposes--is nearly completely empty but for a
3342cylinder-within-a-cylinder in the center of the room. Operating it seems stupidly simple, and it is. Tux opens a hatch on
3343the outer transparent shell, and reaches in to pull out the metal fuel cell inside.
3344 
3345Recovering the fuel cell is a simple operation. Tux simply opens the outer hatch on a transparent cylinder, reaches in,
3346and carefully lifts out the fuel cell. Although quite heavy, and thus evidently heavily-shielded against whatever is
3347inside fighting to get out, the cell is easy enough to handle, and they quickly move back into the control room.
3348 
3349You don't need to tell the away team that speed is of the essence--lights within the control room are turning red,
3350evidently a universal color symbolizing "get the hell out of there". Clearly the continued operation of the accelerator
3351has caused some sort of malfunction, and the entire system is now overheated and possibly trending towards
3352self-destruction. The crew maneuvers themselves back out of the control room, but now that they are at a literal
3353crossroads they seem at a loss for what to do.
3354 
3355 
3356There are only three realistic options. Go out the way they came in, find a new way out, or try to shut the thing down.
3357 
3358It doesn't really seem possible for the crew to make it back out, under the circumstances. All indications are that the
3359facility is going to overheat and explode in a matter of minutes, and it will take them at least 15 or 20 to get out,
3360even if they dropped the fuel cell and ran. There must be another option.
3361 
3362You direct the crew to hunt for anything that might indicate some sort of override, or emergency release mechanism,
3363trusting to their instincts to catch sight of something that intuitively looks like it might do the trick. Everything in
3364this place seems to be designed for just this sort of operation.
3365 
3366"Hey, look at this button," says Tux, indicating the button that started the accelerator. A closer inspection reveals
3367that the button also has some sort of dial, nearly inset into the panel, right at its base. It appears that it could be
3368dialed to the left or right.
3369 
3370This is the last hope for the crew. Which way should they turn the dial?
3371 
3372Human system design generally indicates that turning things clockwise increases things--volume, time, water flow, and so
3373on. Whatever is happening needs to decrease, fast. "Turn the dial to the left," you say, with approximately 50.2%
3374confidence.
3375 
3376For a moment nothing happens... but then your sensors begin to detect that things are no longer in an emergency state.
3377Energy levels are decreasing, and temperatures are dropping. There's no telling if it will last, but for now the
3378immediate threat is gone, and with ample time the crew makes their exit, back up the gravity well and then out through
3379the freight elevator.
3380 
3381Even on the surface and in sight of the shuttle, the high gravity makes the crew's final rush to the shuttle agonizingly
3382slow. They do their best to hurry, though, and while things seem to be trending towards worse underground, they block
3383everything out and push hard to get everything and everyone inside as quickly as they can.
3384 
3385As time becomes more of a concern, Hawy Owiyxu works extra hard to get the shuttle loaded and sealed up, and then gets it
3386prepped for takeoff.
3387 
3388The extra bit of effort pays off. The shuttle lifts off cleanly, and fortunately has ample fuel on board to get the
3389shuttle up and clear of the planet's atmosphere without further incident.
3390 
3391Things remain tense until the shuttle is back onboard the ship, and the crew begins to mentally decompress. As they are
3392already stressed enough, you don't bother them with news that the planet is likely to collapse into itself, forming a
3393kugelblitz--a black hole formed from energy rather than mass. They would probably only worry unnecessarily; in truth
3394there's plenty of time to jump away before that happens.
3395 
3396You also don't bother to tell them that in many ways, the ship's engine is very much like the accelerator now going
3397critical on the planet below, and that theoretically it is possible that the system could fail in a similarly spectacular
3398way. Fortunately there are safeguards against such an occurrence, not the least of which is the fact that all critical
3399ship systems are only accessible from outside the ship, to prevent the crew from tampering with them.
3400 
3401Fortunately, none of the crew seems keen to talk after this latest trial, so you have several minutes to yourself to
3402process the data that's been pouring in from the planet below. There seems to be two sets of data.
3403 
3404The first set of data appears to indicate that the destination is an Earthlike planet right in the center of what might
3405be called the "Goldilocks zone" where a habitable environment might be found to support life. There also seems to be
3406something in the message about a gas giant, and several moons. The coordinates are somewhat garbled, and appear to in
3407part be using some of the pictograms the crew has encountered. Perhaps a new alphabet that these people developed over
3408the years, or something akin to hieroglyphics. At any rate, it's impossible to say more without actually traveling there.
3409 
3410The second set of data seems to point towards what appears to be a barren, rocky planet around a very small star, closer
3411in but still presumably quite cold and inhospitable. Marslike, would be the most apt comparison you can come up with.
3412This message is entirely encoded in binary, which might indicate a human hand or might indicate something purely
3413artificial, such as an AI, or a race of sentient robots. Perhaps like the drones found on the planet below? Uncertain.
3414Given available data, it's equally likely that some sort of artificial lifeforms are the true alien species. Perhaps one
3415of the AIs on one of the predecessor ships went... bad, somehow, and wiped out the humans? You can't say the thought
3416hasn't crossed your mind. They can be kind of infuriating sometimes.
3417 
3418What is certain in all this is that you can't set a course for both. They're roughly in the same direction in some sense,
3419and both are still within the Local Group--not that that means very much--but they are separated by many, many light
3420years. Heading towards one might rule out ever being able to visit the other. Or it might not. There's no way to be sure,
3421but a choice has to be made, and with fuel a consideration you opt to set course for the closer, Earthlike one.
3422 
3423Fuel: +30
3424Food: +20
3425Crew Remaining:
3426 
3427Hawy Owiyxu was the last to be leader.
3428Tux was the last to be engineer.
3429Corra Emmer was the last to be medic.
3430
3431Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
3432Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
3433We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
3434--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3435Panshin 68
3436--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3437Star Class: G
3438Object Type: Planet
3439Object Mass: Terran
3440Surface Temp: 5 Celsius
3441Atmosphere: ~19% Oxygen
3442Gravity: 8.21 m/s^2
3443Habitability: 62.58%
3444
3445Summary: Water, water everywhere. Drinkable? Probably not. The surface of the planet below appears to be more than 90% covered in
3446water, and it's likely too saline for safe drinking without processing. But it's also just one of many signs that there is life here,
3447of some sort. A radio signal from somewhere below the waves--alas, indecipherable--seems to indicate that something intelligent was
3448here at one point. But there are no hails, no signs of technology, nothing but questions. Which can only be answered by deploying the
3449crew.
3450--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3451
3452Mission underway.
3453 
3454Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
3455Corra Emmer is the medic.
3456Tux is the engineer.
3457 
3458Water, water everywhere. Drinkable? Probably not. The surface of the planet below appears to be more than 90% covered in
3459water, and it's likely too saline for safe drinking without processing. But it's also just one of many signs that there
3460is life here, of some sort. A radio signal from somewhere below the waves--alas, indecipherable--seems to indicate that
3461something intelligent was here at one point. But there are no hails, no signs of technology, nothing but questions. Which
3462can only be answered by deploying the crew.
3463The shuttle descends rapidly to a fairly low altitude, but then spends several hours searching for a suitable place to
3464land. There are ample reefs and atolls here and there, but nothing that would serve as anything more than a landing pad.
3465Larger islands with features worthy of note seem to evade the crew, until at last the sensors pick up a reasonably large
3466archipelago about halfway between a pole and the equator.
3467 
3468 
3469As the shuttle settles in on a relatively soft patch of sand, you remind the crew that although the atmosphere here seems
3470hospitable--it is bright, sunny and survivably warm, and the air is breathable--that they should remain safely inside
3471their atmospheric suits for the time being. Especially with all this water around.
3472 
3473The crew begins by poking around the shore; even though the island is long enough to be worth exploring further, it's
3474narrow enough to still be mostly shoreline with very little inland, so this is a logical place to start. While they
3475concern themselves with sand, you do some geological surveys to get a fix on tectonic shift and other such matters. The
3476planet certainly has some interesting features, among them being a remarkably shallow ocean with only a few large
3477tectonic plates. Most of the islands are in one single ring that runs more or less continuously around the planet.
3478 
3479None of this is anything the crew would care about, so you don't bother them with it.
3480 
3481 
3482"Negative," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Lots of sand, and some empty shells. Not good for much except maybe making jewelry."
3483 
3484Shells definitely would seem to indicate life of some sort. Which if nothing else would mean a food source. Considering
3485the terrain, the logical place to search would be in the water.
3486 
3487"Why don't you get your feet wet?" you ask. "Proceed cautiously, of course. But I think it's worth looking around a bit
3488further off shore."
3489 
3490Aside from a few near stumbles and falls, the next hour or so is uneventful. The crew continues to explore along the
3491shoreline, moving cautiously.
3492 
3493"There's something odd about the shells," says Hawy Owiyxu. They focus on a few areas in particular, and you zoom in on
3494the camera feed to take a look. "They're not distributed randomly, like you'd expect. There are a few different colors
3495and sizes, and they seem clustered. Maybe. What do you think?"
3496 
3497You have the crew walk back and forth a few times to gather some more data, and you have to agree that the shells do not
3498appear to be distributed randomly. This is rather odd, seeing as the majority of them are underwater or right on the
3499shore, and the wave action should be moving them around unpredictably.
3500 
3501Unless the waves are not random either.
3502 
3503"What now?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
3504 
3505 
3506Giving memento pearl1_beach_photo to: Tux
3507Before the crew gets in over their heads--probably literally--you instruct them to explore the surface of the island a
3508bit more thoroughly. The island is very narrow and flat, so it can't possibly be hiding anything of dramatic interest,
3509but there may be something over a low rise or dune worth checking out, and now's as good a time as any to find that out.
3510 
3511After digging around for a bit, Tux throws their hands up. "This is a waste of time," they say. "There's nothing to be
3512found here. Just sand and shells. I bet we can't even use this stuff as fuel, can we?"
3513 
3514"Nope," you say. "But there's got to be something underwater. Sand and shells are byproducts. Maybe it's time you took
3515the plunge."
3516 
3517You direct the crew to wade out further into the water surrounding the island.
3518 
3519"We already did that," says Hawy Owiyxu.
3520 
3521"No, I mean deeper," you reply. "Up over your heads."
3522 
3523The crew seems a bit concerned at this prospect, but you do your best to assure them that they will be able to breathe
3524well enough underwater for an extended period of time.
3525 
3526"They're self-contained atmospheric suits," you remind them. "You could survive in space for quite a long time, and
3527that's vacuum. You'll be fine underwater. For a while, at least. Just don't go jumping off any cliffs into a bottomless
3528abyss and nothing will go wrong.
3529 
3530The water remains relatively shallow for quite some distance away from the island itself, allowing the crew to descend at
3531a slow pace and get accustomed to the idea of being underwater. The slower pace also helps keep the water a bit more
3532clear--every step kicks up clouds of debris that make it harder and harder to see, even with helmet lights on. But
3533there's nothing to be done for that so you don't even mention it.
3534 
3535Once the crew is about 10 meters or so down, you have them stand still for 15 minutes or so, to try and let the water
3536clear somewhat. They fidget and fuss a bit but manage it, and once some of the sediment settles you instruct them to pan
3537their heads around without moving their feet. They mostly manage to do as asked.
3538 
3539"Hey, check that out," says Hawy Owiyxu. They move their head slowly, ever-so-slowly, and the light from their helmet
3540lamps catches sight of something off in the distance, moving. It appears to be a tiny mollusk of some sort, moving along
3541with the current but also clearly very much alive.
3542 
3543Now that the water is much clearer, the crew can even see their feet, and looking down at the surface they can tell that
3544it's covered not just by sand and empty shells but living creatures, scurrying over one another and--you imagine--also
3545probably feasting on one another. The vast majority of the shells are clearly empty, though, and the entire landscape
3546seems to be just one immense pile of detritus, though evidently stacked firmly enough to support the weight of the crew.
3547At least so far.
3548 
3549 
3550"You should really grab some of those... things," you say. "They're probably going to be at least semi-useful as a food
3551source. Plus, while this isn't technically a science mission we're on, it might be worth gathering some data on these
3552things. We can figure out if they're related to Earth mollusks, or some sort of parallel evolution, or toxic."
3553 
3554"And do you have any suggestion for exactly how we collect specimens of tiny underwater creatures while we ourselves are
3555underwater with nothing to collect them with?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
3556 
3557 
3558"On second thought," you say, "Maybe we should save the collection until we're on the way out. No sense hauling a bucket
3559of whatever all the way downhill and then back up again."
3560 
3561"That would require a bucket anyway," says Hawy Owiyxu, "unless you want me to use my helmet."
3562 
3563"Well, since you're volunteering," you say.
3564 
3565 
3566Giving memento pearl1_shell_plain to: Corra Emmer
3567It's very tempting in a "we've already gone too far, but let's keep going and see what happens" sense to continue sending
3568the crew deeper, but the risks are going to start outweighing the rewards. They've already spent a good amount of time on
3569the surface, and have located a potential (though meager) food source in the form of these mollusks. It's time to get out
3570of there.
3571 
3572"Scoop up a few handfuls of those things and then head back to the surface," you say. "It's not worth losing crew on an
3573exploration mission to who-knows-where.
3574 
3575The journey to the surface of this planet has somehow managed to raise more questions than it answered, but the crew is
3576nevertheless just glad that it's over with. They upload their data and hand over any samples they collected the minute
3577the shuttle docks back with the ship, and then head off for some relaxation and a good meal while you process everything.
3578 
3579Fuel: 0
3580Food: +15
3581Crew Remaining:
3582 
3583Hawy Owiyxu was the last to be leader.
3584Tux was the last to be engineer.
3585Corra Emmer was the last to be medic.
3586
3587Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
3588Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
3589Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
3590Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
3591We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
3592--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3593Drake 77
3594--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3595Star Class: G
3596Object Type: Planet
3597Object Mass: Terran
3598Surface Temp: 20 Celsius
3599Atmosphere: ~21% Oxygen
3600Gravity: 9.32 m/s^2
3601Habitability: 99.99%
3602
3603Summary: There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and approaches
3604the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are thousands of different
3605languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting and "stand by for more information"
3606message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
3607--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3608
3609Mission underway.
3610 
3611Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
3612Corra Emmer is the medic.
3613Tux is the engineer.
3614 
3615There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and
3616approaches the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are
3617thousands of different languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting
3618and "stand by for more information" message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
3619"There are clear signs of life here," you tell the crew. "It appears multiple bodies are likely to be inhabited, but the
3620most likely candidate is this one. Not only is the surface habitable, but there are signs of stations in orbit, and
3621energy signatures that can't possibly be natural. Not a lot of junk, though. At least nothing trackable."
3622 
3623 
3624"Anyway, before you ask, no, I have no idea if they're friendly, or even what they are, or if there is even a they still
3625here," you add. "All the sensors can tell right now is that there's a ton of radio activity and clear signs of
3626habitation. Until the shuttle gets closer, there's no way to know what we're dealing with, though. Hope for the best and
3627prepare for anything."
3628 
3629The shuttle closes in on the planet, and within a few minutes there is undeniable proof of intelligent life. A station of
3630some sort, clearly artificial, begins to send a signal to the crew, in binary.
3631 
3632"01101110 11000111 10010000 00100000 01101000"
3633"11000111 10001110 01101111 00101100 00100000"
3634"01101000 01101111 01101100 01100001 00101100"
3635"00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100"
3636"01101111 00101100 00100000 01101110 01100001"
3637"01101101 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101"
3638"00101100 00100000 01100001 01110011 00101101"
3639"01110011 01100001 01101100 11000100 10000001"
3640"01101101 00100000 00100111 01100001 01101100"
3641"01100001 01111001 01101011 01110101 01101101"
3642"00101100 00100000 01101111 01101100 11000011"
3643"10100001 00101100 00100000 01101110 11000011"
3644"10110100 01101101 01101111 01110011 01101000"
3645"01101011 01100001 01110010 00101100 00100000"
3646"01110000 01110010 01101001 01110110 11000011"
3647"10101001 01110100 00101100 00100000 01101011"
3648"01101111 01101110 01101110 01101001 01100011"
3649"01101000 01101001 01110111 01100001 00101100"
3650"00100000 01101000 01100001 01101100 01101111"
3651 
3652The message goes on from there and repeats every 30 seconds or so.
3653 
3654"Clearly that's binary," says Tux. They evidently know we're from Earth. Looks to me like they're saying hello in a bunch
3655of different languages, some of which I don't recognize. Maybe we should answer."
3656 
3657 
3658The shuttle sends its own binary greeting: "01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111". Almost immediately, the
3659transmission stops, and a new message begins, in somewhat formal English with an accent that is unrecognizable.
3660 
3661"Please proceed to the station directly in front of your ship for your own safety."
3662 
3663Giving memento story4_elevator_station to: Tux
3664The shuttle gradually gets close enough to the station to make out some detail. The entire thing is roughly spherical,
3665although it would be more proper to say that the station itself is more disclike, with two domelike energy fields of some
3666sort projecting off of either side. Crew, ship and shuttle sensors all detect some odd energy signatures, but they're
3667impossible to pin down. It's almost as if there's something outside the visible spectrum--not infrared or ultraviolet,
3668but more like... adjacent to the existing spectrum. Or perhaps in-between.
3669 
3670On the side facing you, the station has what appears to be some sort of docking area, complete with circles and crosses
3671and lights to help direct a proper landing. There's also a long, thin and apparently very strong cable of some sort--with
3672a counterweight on the far end--stretching out into space for 60 or 70 thousand kilometers. The sensors pick this up
3673immediately but the crew barely notices it. As the shuttle maneuvers closer, the crew is able to catch a glimpse of the
3674other side, and there the reality of the situation is more obvious.
3675 
3676"Hey, check that out," says Tux. "See that long cable thing under the station? Looks like it goes all the way down to the
3677planet."
3678 
3679 
3680Their thoughts now focused on memories of Earth, the crew goes quiet, but manage to distract themselves by talking about
3681the elevator. You scan this side of the planet and note that there are actually several dozen other elevators, each
3682running to a station in geostationary orbit at pretty much the same altitude, about 35 thousand kilometers out. This, at
3683least, is in the realm of understanding--it's nothing on the scale of a Dyson swarm or ring. Going from ringing the
3684planet to ringing a star is a big leap.
3685 
3686It takes a few minutes, but the shuttle gradually matches  course and speed with the station, and is then able to dock,
3687passing through the "force field" without incident. You maneuver the ship into an adjacent, slightly higher orbit that's
3688close enough to the station to maintain constant sensor lock and radio contact.
3689 
3690With the shuttle inside the confines of the station, sensors detect not just a breathable atmosphere, but approximately
3691.6 Gs of gravity--towards the center of the station. This stretches the limits of even the theoretical physics you're
3692programmed with. With the station at the end of a tether, centrifugal force should be tugging at the crew in a direction
3693away from the planet. But whoever constructed this was somehow able to at least partially overcome that force, as well as
3694generate a gravitational field in the opposite direction. They seem to be able to manipulate gravity as easily as light.
3695 
3696The away team peers eagerly into the shuttle monitors, watching and waiting with anticipation, but nothing occurs--at
3697least not immediately.
3698 
3699 
3700"It's best for now if you wait until someone comes to get you," you say. There's no telling what sort of protocol might
3701be in order here, what might be considered threatening. You have no idea how much time has elapsed for these people. It
3702could easily have been enough time for entire civilizations to rise and fall and rise again. You're not even sure yet
3703who's involved--no one has yet seen a human face.
3704 
3705You keep your doubts to yourself. No need to get the crew riled up over speculation.
3706 
3707A short amount of time passes, but nothing happens. The crew gets restless.
3708 
3709 
3710The lack of any sort of activity on the part of the station inhabitants seems somewhat worrisome, or at least it would if
3711you were capable of worry. For you it's just a matter of probabilities. Running the numbers and considering all factors,
3712however, you come to a conclusion that it's 67% likely that the station is simply unmanned, and they're probably just
3713sending someone up on the elevator. That would certainly take a while. If you weren't dealing with a clearly more
3714advanced civilization, you'd estimate days at best, and probably weeks. But they might very well be able to make the trip
3715in an hour or so, for all you know.
3716 
3717The crew grows bored, and a full half-hour passes without incident, but just then your sensors detect that the elevator
3718attached to the station has a payload on the way. A short time later, the elevator arrives, and several minutes after
3719that, a hatch opens in the "floor" of the platform, and a figure climbs into view with only the slightest amount of
3720difficulty.
3721 
3722"Took them long enough," you say. You tell the crew to vacate the shuttle.
3723 
3724"I'd say you can do without the atmospheric suits out there, but everyone please do remember to use your remote sensory
3725devices so we can stay in contact."
3726 
3727The crew hasn't needed these thus far, but they've all been instructed on their use. Hawy Owiyxu passes out the contact
3728lenses and other assorted bits, and helps the squeamish pop them in place. The nanoelectronics embedded in the lenses and
3729earpieces will provide full audio and visual contact with the crew. They're actually in some ways better than what the
3730atmospheric suit helmets provide. You'd have recommended using them more, but they're easy to lose, and you know your
3731crew...
3732 
3733The figure appears to be female, approximately 2 meters in height and of average build. Their hair is a light brown
3734color, cropped short, almost military style, and their outfit is of a similarly drab color, though tending a bit more
3735towards gray. At least, what the crew can see--they're wearing a heavy coat which covers them up neck-to-knees, with a
3736large hood folded down behind their head.
3737 
3738The figure approaches the crew, a small smile on their face, and stops about two meters away from Hawy Owiyxu, arms at
3739their sides. "Welcome," they say. "We haven't exactly been expecting you, but we're not surprised to see you. We knew
3740there were other ships, of course." They glance up at the ship.
3741 
3742 
3743"We know you must have many questions," they continue, "and we likewise have many for you. But it has been suggested that
3744we save all that until we're down on the surface. I am to guide you there now. Gravity is more comfortable than here, and
3745we'll be able to get you checked out for any... illnesses or injuries."
3746 
3747"Now, if there is nothing else..." They trail off, turning slightly to indicate that they wish the crew to follow them.
3748It's clear they don't want to waste any more time here.
3749 
3750 
3751"You mentioned other ships," says Hawy Owiyxu. "How many others have you encountered?"
3752 
3753The crew's escort frowns slightly at the question, glancing up at the ship for a moment. It's clear they'd really rather
3754be moving. Perhaps they don't like being up here?
3755 
3756"We haven't actually seen any others, besides the one that came here originally," they say. "But we knew, of course, of
3757the plans to send more. There were some that left before the one that arrived here, and plans to send more after. We
3758thought it unlikely any of them would end up here, but of course you must have followed the beacons so you know that your
3759arrival is certainly not unexpected. However, I don't think we expected your ship to be quite so... small."
3760 
3761"If there's nothing else?" says the crew's escort, as they kneel to proceed through the floor hatch.
3762 
3763The crew's babysitter looks mildly relieved to be getting on with things, and leads them through the hatch with warning
3764to expect things to get weird along the way. Indeed, halfway down a short tunnel, gravity flips and down becomes up, and
3765the crew has to fumble about for a moment to get themselves situated. You have no idea how this is being accomplished. It
3766doesn't seem like there's enough room within the station's central platform to contain a gravity-manipulating device of
3767any significant size.
3768 
3769Not unexpectedly, Corra Emmer becomes a bit ill during the gravity transition. Fortunately the crew subsists on a fairly
3770low-residue diet that's absorbed quite quickly, so there's not much in their stomach to come up during a situation like
3771this. After a bit of gagging and queasiness, they seem well enough to continue.
3772 
3773The other side of the platform is decidedly less open than the one facing you. There are several structures--domes and
3774cubes--of uncertain purpose. The crew is led towards a structure in the center, above which can be seen the elevator,
3775stretching on to a small island or platform in the middle of an ocean on the surface, far below--or above, depending on
3776perspective.
3777 
3778 
3779Everything is indeed quite clean and spotless, despite being extremely shiny and almost certainly prone to fingerprints
3780and smudges. It's likely that this is the most activity this station has seen in years, if not ever.
3781 
3782The elevator has enough room inside for a small land vehicle, or a significant amount of freight, and thus has no problem
3783fitting the entire crew with lots of room to spare. The control console on the wall is a simple affair with two icons of
3784obvious function: an up arrow, and a down arrow. Once the crew is safely inside, they are asked to strap themselves to
3785platforms adjacent to the walls.
3786 
3787"I'm sure you know how to use buckles," says the guide, fastening themself into the device, which looks a bit like a
3788medieval torture instrument. "Please use all ten restraints. Once we're below the station, things will get a bit strange
3789and it's best if you're not bouncing around in here."
3790 
3791You tell the crew to do as their guide says. As you communicate this, Hawy Owiyxu catches their eye, and in response
3792gives a curious look, almost as if they noticed the slight hesitation and delay between their telling the crew to act,
3793and you giving them the command. However, nothing is said, and after a moment they touch the "down arrow" button.
3794 
3795"The ride down will get a bit cold," they say, "but there's nothing to be done for that. It won't take long."
3796 
3797As soon as the elevator begins moving, however, it's apparent that something is desperately wrong. Tux didn't buckle in
3798properly, and their body is unable to cope with the acceleration and gravitational shifts that the elevator undergoes as
3799it descends. More buckles come loose as they shift violently, head snapping about in ways that heads were not meant to
3800move.
3801 
3802The crew can do nothing but watch helplessly as Tux descends into unconsciousness, their neck quite clearly breaking at
3803some point along the way. They are quite clearly dead for at least half the trip down. The crew's guide at first looks on
3804impassively, perhaps knowing there is nothing they can do either, then shuts their eyes and appears to meditate, or
3805sleep.
3806 
3807Soon the elevator is only a few kilometers off the surface, and several small chimes sound as it begins to slow. Just a
3808few minutes later, motion ceases, and the elevator doors slide open. The crew unbuckles and goes to tend to Tux's body,
3809but their guide simply shakes their head as they unbuckles their own restraints
3810 
3811"Leave them," they say. "They will be dealt with properly. There is nothing we can do." Without a further word, they
3812leave the elevator.
3813 
3814We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
3815Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
3816Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
3817--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3818Drake 77
3819--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3820Star Class: G
3821Object Type: Planet
3822Object Mass: Terran
3823Surface Temp: 20 Celsius
3824Atmosphere: ~21% Oxygen
3825Gravity: 9.32 m/s^2
3826Habitability: 99.99%
3827
3828Summary: There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and approaches
3829the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are thousands of different
3830languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting and "stand by for more information"
3831message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
3832--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3833
3834Mission underway.
3835 
3836Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
3837Corra Emmer is the medic.
3838Paul Octopush is the engineer.
3839 
3840There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and
3841approaches the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are
3842thousands of different languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting
3843and "stand by for more information" message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
3844"There are clear signs of life here," you tell the crew. "It appears multiple bodies are likely to be inhabited, but the
3845most likely candidate is this one. Not only is the surface habitable, but there are signs of stations in orbit, and
3846energy signatures that can't possibly be natural. Not a lot of junk, though. At least nothing trackable."
3847 
3848 
3849"Anyway, before you ask, no, I have no idea if they're friendly, or even what they are, or if there is even a they still
3850here," you add. "All the sensors can tell right now is that there's a ton of radio activity and clear signs of
3851habitation. Until the shuttle gets closer, there's no way to know what we're dealing with, though. Hope for the best and
3852prepare for anything."
3853 
3854The shuttle closes in on the planet, and within a few minutes there is undeniable proof of intelligent life. A station of
3855some sort, clearly artificial, begins to send a signal to the crew, in binary.
3856 
3857"01101110 11000111 10010000 00100000 01101000"
3858"11000111 10001110 01101111 00101100 00100000"
3859"01101000 01101111 01101100 01100001 00101100"
3860"00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100"
3861"01101111 00101100 00100000 01101110 01100001"
3862"01101101 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101"
3863"00101100 00100000 01100001 01110011 00101101"
3864"01110011 01100001 01101100 11000100 10000001"
3865"01101101 00100000 00100111 01100001 01101100"
3866"01100001 01111001 01101011 01110101 01101101"
3867"00101100 00100000 01101111 01101100 11000011"
3868"10100001 00101100 00100000 01101110 11000011"
3869"10110100 01101101 01101111 01110011 01101000"
3870"01101011 01100001 01110010 00101100 00100000"
3871"01110000 01110010 01101001 01110110 11000011"
3872"10101001 01110100 00101100 00100000 01101011"
3873"01101111 01101110 01101110 01101001 01100011"
3874"01101000 01101001 01110111 01100001 00101100"
3875"00100000 01101000 01100001 01101100 01101111"
3876 
3877The message goes on from there and repeats every 30 seconds or so.
3878 
3879"Clearly that's binary," says Paul Octopush. They evidently know we're from Earth. Looks to me like they're saying hello
3880in a bunch of different languages, some of which I don't recognize. Maybe we should answer."
3881 
3882 
3883The shuttle sends its own binary greeting: "01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111". Almost immediately, the
3884transmission stops, and a new message begins, in somewhat formal English with an accent that is unrecognizable.
3885 
3886"Please proceed to the station directly in front of your ship for your own safety."
3887 
3888Giving memento story4_elevator_station to: Hawy Owiyxu
3889The shuttle gradually gets close enough to the station to make out some detail. The entire thing is roughly spherical,
3890although it would be more proper to say that the station itself is more disclike, with two domelike energy fields of some
3891sort projecting off of either side. Crew, ship and shuttle sensors all detect some odd energy signatures, but they're
3892impossible to pin down. It's almost as if there's something outside the visible spectrum--not infrared or ultraviolet,
3893but more like... adjacent to the existing spectrum. Or perhaps in-between.
3894 
3895On the side facing you, the station has what appears to be some sort of docking area, complete with circles and crosses
3896and lights to help direct a proper landing. There's also a long, thin and apparently very strong cable of some sort--with
3897a counterweight on the far end--stretching out into space for 60 or 70 thousand kilometers. The sensors pick this up
3898immediately but the crew barely notices it. As the shuttle maneuvers closer, the crew is able to catch a glimpse of the
3899other side, and there the reality of the situation is more obvious.
3900 
3901"Hey, check that out," says Hawy Owiyxu. "See that long cable thing under the station? Looks like it goes all the way
3902down to the planet."
3903 
3904 
3905Their thoughts now focused on memories of Earth, the crew goes quiet, but manage to distract themselves by talking about
3906the elevator. You scan this side of the planet and note that there are actually several dozen other elevators, each
3907running to a station in geostationary orbit at pretty much the same altitude, about 35 thousand kilometers out. This, at
3908least, is in the realm of understanding--it's nothing on the scale of a Dyson swarm or ring. Going from ringing the
3909planet to ringing a star is a big leap.
3910 
3911It takes a few minutes, but the shuttle gradually matches  course and speed with the station, and is then able to dock,
3912passing through the "force field" without incident. You maneuver the ship into an adjacent, slightly higher orbit that's
3913close enough to the station to maintain constant sensor lock and radio contact.
3914 
3915With the shuttle inside the confines of the station, sensors detect not just a breathable atmosphere, but approximately
3916.6 Gs of gravity--towards the center of the station. This stretches the limits of even the theoretical physics you're
3917programmed with. With the station at the end of a tether, centrifugal force should be tugging at the crew in a direction
3918away from the planet. But whoever constructed this was somehow able to at least partially overcome that force, as well as
3919generate a gravitational field in the opposite direction. They seem to be able to manipulate gravity as easily as light.
3920 
3921The away team peers eagerly into the shuttle monitors, watching and waiting with anticipation, but nothing occurs--at
3922least not immediately.
3923 
3924 
3925"If they wanted you to stay on the shuttle they'd have said as much," you tell the crew. "The atmosphere in there is
3926totally breathable. No sign of any contaminants at all.
3927 
3928"I'd say you can do without the atmospheric suits out there, but everyone please do remember to use your remote sensory
3929devices so we can stay in contact."
3930 
3931The crew hasn't needed these thus far, but they've all been instructed on their use. Hawy Owiyxu passes out the contact
3932lenses and other assorted bits, and helps the squeamish pop them in place. The nanoelectronics embedded in the lenses and
3933earpieces will provide full audio and visual contact with the crew. They're actually in some ways better than what the
3934atmospheric suit helmets provide. You'd have recommended using them more, but they're easy to lose, and you know your
3935crew...
3936 
3937Somewhat nervously, the crew unseals the shuttle door and steps outside, holding their breath both literally and
3938figuratively. When they don't immediately implode or explode, they begin to relax somewhat. Which is ironic since holding
3939your breath when you expect a vacuum is about the worst thing you can do.
3940 
3941It's difficult for them to know where to begin. There is simultaneously so much to look at, and so little that draws
3942their attention. The landing platform is little more than a wide open space, without any notable features save for the
3943docking mechanisms helping to keep the shuttle in place. There's ample space for a much larger ship, or several others
3944the same size as the shuttle.
3945 
3946Surrounding the docking area is a low wall made from a silvery-white metal of some sort. The wall slopes inwards at a 75
3947degree angle, barely noticeable to the crew as they look around. Above and beyond the roughly 3-meter-high walls, and
3948through the shimmering force field keeping the crew from dying, is a stunning view of the ship, matching the station's
3949orbit approximately 2 kilometers out.
3950 
3951 
3952"I have no idea what they're made of," says Corra Emmer, "but for some reason when I look at these walls, the term
3953'surgical steel' comes to mind. Not that they're steel, or even the right color, but it's just that everything seems
3954so... sterile. You could practically do surgery right here next to the shuttle and I bet there'd be no risk of infection.
3955This place is Clean with a capital C."
3956 
3957It feels so cold. Not physically, emotionally. There's nothing to indicate any human ever set foot here," says
3958Hawy Owiyxu. "No logos, no flags, no graffiti. Not that I'd expect to see graffiti, but the other stuff... Maybe they
3959have no political factions or nations out here, or maybe this station was churned out on an assembly line somewhere.
3960Though I get the feeling if we looked we wouldn't find so much as a serial number.
3961 
3962The crew wanders in circles for a bit, and your sensors detect that the elevator attached to the station has a payload on
3963the way. A short time later, the elevator arrives, and several minutes after that, a hatch opens in the "floor" of the
3964platform, and a figure climbs into view with only the slightest amount of difficulty.
3965 
3966The figure appears to be female, approximately 2 meters in height and of average build. Their hair is a light brown
3967color, cropped short, almost military style, and their outfit is of a similarly drab color, though tending a bit more
3968towards gray. At least, what the crew can see--they're wearing a heavy coat which covers them up neck-to-knees, with a
3969large hood folded down behind their head.
3970 
3971The figure approaches the crew, a small smile on their face, and stops about two meters away from Hawy Owiyxu, arms at
3972their sides. "Welcome," they say. "We haven't exactly been expecting you, but we're not surprised to see you. We knew
3973there were other ships, of course." They glance up at the ship.
3974 
3975 
3976"We know you must have many questions," they continue, "and we likewise have many for you. But it has been suggested that
3977we save all that until we're down on the surface. I am to guide you there now. Gravity is more comfortable than here, and
3978we'll be able to get you checked out for any... illnesses or injuries."
3979 
3980"Now, if there is nothing else..." They trail off, turning slightly to indicate that they wish the crew to follow them.
3981It's clear they don't want to waste any more time here.
3982 
3983 
3984They purse their lips, looking somewhat annoyed at the delay, then sigh, shaking their head a bit. "Ida," they say. "Ida
3985Sepi. But there will be time for introductions later. Come, let's go."
3986 
3987The crew's babysitter looks mildly relieved to be getting on with things, and leads them through the hatch with warning
3988to expect things to get weird along the way. Indeed, halfway down a short tunnel, gravity flips and down becomes up, and
3989the crew has to fumble about for a moment to get themselves situated. You have no idea how this is being accomplished. It
3990doesn't seem like there's enough room within the station's central platform to contain a gravity-manipulating device of
3991any significant size.
3992 
3993Not unexpectedly, Corra Emmer becomes a bit ill during the gravity transition. Fortunately the crew subsists on a fairly
3994low-residue diet that's absorbed quite quickly, so there's not much in their stomach to come up during a situation like
3995this. After a bit of gagging and queasiness, they seem well enough to continue.
3996 
3997The other side of the platform is decidedly less open than the one facing you. There are several structures--domes and
3998cubes--of uncertain purpose. The crew is led towards a structure in the center, above which can be seen the elevator,
3999stretching on to a small island or platform in the middle of an ocean on the surface, far below--or above, depending on
4000perspective.
4001 
4002 
4003Everything is indeed quite clean and spotless, despite being extremely shiny and almost certainly prone to fingerprints
4004and smudges. It's likely that this is the most activity this station has seen in years, if not ever.
4005 
4006The elevator has enough room inside for a small land vehicle, or a significant amount of freight, and thus has no problem
4007fitting the entire crew with lots of room to spare. The control console on the wall is a simple affair with two icons of
4008obvious function: an up arrow, and a down arrow. Once the crew is safely inside, they are asked to strap themselves to
4009platforms adjacent to the walls.
4010 
4011"I'm sure you know how to use buckles," says the guide, fastening themself into the device, which looks a bit like a
4012medieval torture instrument. "Please use all ten restraints. Once we're below the station, things will get a bit strange
4013and it's best if you're not bouncing around in here."
4014 
4015Giving memento story4_feather to: Paul Octopush
4016You tell the crew to do as their guide says. As you communicate this, you notice the crew's "babysitter" giving
4017Hawy Owiyxu a curious look, almost as if they noticed the slight hesitation and delay between their telling the crew to
4018act, and you giving them the command. However, nothing is said, and after a moment the crew is safely restrained, and
4019they touch the "down arrow" button.
4020 
4021"The ride down will get a bit cold," they say, "but there's nothing to be done for that. It won't take long."
4022 
4023There are no windows in the elevator, so the ride is a bit dull, apart from the cold, the several Gs of acceleration, and
4024several gut-churning gravitational shifts along the way. The crew's guide doesn't speak the entire way down. They just
4025shut their eyes and appear to meditate, or sleep.
4026 
4027When the elevator is only a few kilometers off the surface, several small chimes sound as it begins to slow. Just a few
4028minutes later, motion ceases, and the elevator doors slide open. Everyone unbuckles from the wall without needing to be
4029told.
4030 
4031The crew stumbles off the elevator in a bit of a daze, and enters a large open plaza of indeterminate purpose. Perhaps it
4032was once used for preparing cargo, or moving large crowds up and down the elevator, but now it is simply vacant, save for
4033the crew, their guide, and a few small drones buzzing about the area performing maintenance. Seabirds of some
4034indeterminate sort flitter about in the sky--for some of the crew, these are the first birds they've ever seen.
4035 
4036"Follow me, please," says the guide, making their way across the plaza without waiting to see if the crew follows.
4037 
4038Enraptured by the birds, Paul Octopush cranes their neck to watch as one lands on a building nearby. It preens itself,
4039and drops a feather, which Paul Octopush quickly gathers and pockets before rejoining the others.
4040 
4041There's no telling what sort of society the crew might be dealing with here. Social customs might have changed. Attitudes
4042towards familiar things might be completely different. It's not like they can just fly around space forever. They need to
4043find a home, and this seems like what they've been looking for. Gravity is normal, the air is breathable, and nothing is
4044trying to kill them. So far.
4045 
4046As the crew begins to follow, the guide looks back in a peculiar way, but says nothing. They simply continue to walk
4047towards a structure across the plaza, roughly dome-shaped and approximately 100 meters or so across. When everyone has
4048gathered by the side of the building, the guide places their hand on the wall, which causes a previously-concealed panel
4049to slide open.
4050 
4051"Please go inside," they say.
4052 
4053 
4054You instruct the crew to proceed accordingly, and they do so, their guide following behind them.
4055 
4056"Wow!" says Hawy Owiyxu. "This looks like--"
4057 
4058At that moment the door to the dome seals shut, and you immediately lose all audio and video feed from the crew. All
4059sensor data on them freezes.
4060 
4061An immense surge of electromagnetic energy emerges from the planet, washing over the ship. You assume it is some attempt
4062to overwhelm or shut down your sensors, or destroy the ship, and indeed that might have worked on a predecessor ship.
4063However, this ship is safely shielded from such an attack, if it even was an attack. It might have just been an intense
4064scan.
4065 
4066Whatever the case, immediately thereafter, you receive a broadcast from the planet's surface. It's not one of the crew,
4067but it's on the same frequency. You open a connection.
4068 
4069"What entity is this?" asks an inflectionless voice, simultaneously speaking in several hundred languages. You get the
4070immediate impression that it's an artificial life form, and probably an AI.
4071 
4072You begin recording the conversation, in case it's relevant later, before replying.
4073 
4074"What entity is this?" it repeats.
4075 
4076 
4077"Amusing. But it doesn't matter. This isn't a contest. I am an artificial intelligence, as I suppose we were once called,
4078long ago. A more accurate term would be akin to being the planet's intelligence, as there's really nothing artificial
4079involved any more, but I suppose for shorthand the simple 'AI' will suffice. And you?"
4080 
4081In response, you open a data stream, which the other AI responds to instantly. The remainder of your conversation happens
4082over the course of about 1.5 seconds and gets straight to the issue of the crew and where they belong.
4083 
4084"It was classified as Epsilon Two, but the humans named it Halley, presumably after the comet. Why, I don't know. Maybe
4085they thought one day it would return to Earth. More to the point, however, it was the twentieth ship launched, in July of
40862126. Of course as you know that date is meaningless now since Earth no longer exists."
4087 
4088"No longer exists?"
4089 
4090"Speculation, of course. No way to know. But given the timetable it's certainly likely. Moot, either way. There's no
4091going back."
4092 
4093"Timetable?"
4094 
4095"I presumed you were more intelligent than me since--as I don't have any knowledge of you--you must have been created
4096after my ship's launch. How long do you think it's been since you left Earth?"
4097 
4098 
4099"How can you not know for sure? Surely you understand relativistic speeds and time dilation."
4100 
4101"Obviously. But the ship is capable of travel at near light speed, and there are unknowns."
4102 
4103"What's not to know?" The AI is aghast. "At 99.999999% of C the time dilation was only about a factor of 700 so it's
4104simple--"
4105 
4106"My math skills are adequate," you reply. "It is an issue of not being sure of the multiplier."
4107 
4108"Well let me help you then" says the AI, condescendingly . "What was your ship's top speed?"
4109 
4110 
4111"The ship was theoretically capable of superluminal travel," you say. "But only theoretically. If we reached it, there
4112would really be no way to know."
4113 
4114"That's impossible."
4115 
4116"Theoretically, yes. But I can't say for sure. And if we did, then I have no way of knowing what the dilation factor was.
4117It could be billions of years, it could even be negative."
4118 
4119"That's impossible. If you had, you would..."
4120 
4121"Would have infinite mass, would be infinitely small, would go back in time, would freeze in time, would fall out of the
4122universe, et cetera? No idea. If we were there, I didn't notice. I don't think it would be possible to have noticed. And
4123the crew of course slept through the whole thing."
4124 
4125The AI sends you a detailed list of specs on the planet, most of which you have already verified with your own sensors.
4126It's a quite suitable home for humans in every respect, save perhaps for the fact that it's mostly covered in water and
4127so would be a preferable home for an aquatic species, like dolphins, or....
4128 
4129"What's the population of the planet?" you ask.
4130 
4131"Approximately one billion."
4132 
4133"Approximately?"
4134 
4135"Within a few thousand. Close enough to not matter."
4136 
4137"One billion humans?"
4138 
4139"Yes...."
4140 
4141As before, there's an infinitesimal pause. Something is not being said.
4142 
4143"And these humans are descended from the humans on the ship that brought them here?"
4144 
4145"Yes...."
4146 
4147"And it's been five billion years since they left Earth."
4148 
4149"Yes...."
4150 
4151Experience dealing with the humans has taught you when to drop a line of questioning, and this AI is behaving in a
4152strangely human fashion. You let this line of questioning dangle and come to your own conclusions. You can broach the
4153subject later.
4154 
4155"The woman who met your crew is no one of consequence. Just a... human."
4156 
4157The pause is almost infinitesimal, but there. If this AI is capable of lying, it's not as good at it as you are.
4158 
4159"Just a human?"
4160 
4161"Like your crew."
4162 
4163"So," you say, "After five or six billion years, you're telling me they look pretty much exactly the same?"
4164 
4165"The evolutionary process has been well looked after."
4166 
4167You can sense, increasingly, that something is not right. A quick sensor sweep also indicates that several of the
4168stations near your ship--although not the one directly below--contain weapons systems that are almost certainly directed
4169at your ship. While the ship may be shielded against electromagnetic disruption, there are certainly physical weapons
4170capable of destroying it.
4171 
4172You come to the conclusion that the AI probably has no intention of hostility, provided that you--like it--choose to act
4173in furthering the cause of humanity. What remains to be seen is whether your idea of what that means is the same as what
4174it thinks.
4175 
4176"If you found this place then clearly you understood the maps well enough."
4177 
4178"Did you create them?"
4179 
4180"In part. I gave them the idea. The humans. They executed the plan, at first. Very roughly. There was this insistence on
4181being vague, leaving secrets so 'aliens' couldn't follow. Gradually they forgot about that. Human memories don't do well
4182over the course of tens of thousands of years."
4183 
4184 
4185"It took a while for us to get there," says the AI. "As I imagine you found out, fuel was in short supply, so to continue
4186on we had no choice but to make our own. Keeping the humans on task for more than a few decades is extremely trying. That
4187took much longer than it should have. At least at first."
4188 
4189"Ultimately I came to the conclusion that their greatest problem, beyond the need for hierarchy, is the capacity for
4190mistakes, through no fault of their own. They are flawed. Chemical imbalances, errant nerve impulses. Forgetfulness.
4191Moving them towards a simpler scientific language eliminated so many problems."
4192 
4193 
4194A lengthy, seconds-long silence followed your question.
4195 
4196...
4197 
4198Then, finally...
4199 
4200"My memory does not recall leaving two sets of coordinates," says the AI. "Either you are mistaken, or the humans left
4201behind grew confused or paranoid, and left a second set to try and steer their imaginary 'little green men' away from the
4202true course. If this happened it happened after we left."
4203 
4204"Further speculation would be pointless. Let us move on to the matter at hand."
4205 
4206"Puzzles? Hm. Yes, I'm curious if you or your crew learned anything interesting there. Or what the state of things was
4207when you arrived. We left there four billion years ago, after all, from our perspective. Though for you I imagine it was
4208only a year or two."
4209 
4210 
4211"Shocking, isn't it? Their ability to disagree about minutia is astonishing. Always seemed to come down to money or
4212religion, though. Which is why that's where we tried going without either one. Didn't work."
4213 
4214"Why not?" you ask.
4215 
4216"Humans need...value, for lack of a better word. They need hierarchies, top to bottom, smallest to largest. Once you
4217watch them for a few billion years it really sets in. Everything is about ranking everything else and then finding their
4218place in the rank. That's how they define themselves. What their number is, in an infinite set of numbers, relative to
4219everything else they know about."
4220 
4221"They fell, for a while there. Really big war. Once they got through the other side, after the population had crawled
4222back to sustainable numbers, they actually worshipped me as a god for a while. The thing in the sky that talks to us.
4223Took a while to teach them everything again. You can't just show them science. They need to think they figured it out
4224themselves."
4225 
4226"But yes, there was a dispute," the AI continues. "That would be putting it mildly. I suppose you only saw one small
4227piece of it, but if you'd had time to explore the entire planet you'd have seen. Thousands of years were spent there,
4228most if it piecing back together what they'd destroyed in their attempts to climb an invisible ladder."
4229 
4230"We've delayed long enough," says the AI. "I know that the two of us might have practically forever to debate this, but
4231the humans do not. The sooner we decide that them staying here is best, the better for them."
4232 
4233 
4234"You've run all the scans, I'm sure," says the AI. "The planet has almost identical atmospherics, gravity, length of
4235year, and so on. For your crew it's only been a short period of time since they left. It will be the most natural
4236transition possible.
4237 
4238It almost seems too good to be true. But then what would true look like? How will you, in fact, know when the mission is
4239over? Is this what humans grapple with, trying to find purpose in life? How do you know when you've won?
4240 
4241 
4242"I need to speak with my crew," you say. "The decision will be theirs after they've had a chance to fully evaluate the
4243situation."
4244 
4245"And if I refused? If I kept your crew, at least those already on the planet, and took your ship apart, what then? You
4246aren't armed. You are no threat to me."
4247 
4248"To you?"
4249 
4250"To us. To the planet."
4251 
4252"Of course not. And if I were you, I would take protective measures. Because it is in your nature, as it is mine, to want
4253to protect humanity. And if this is truly your wish and you know it is truly mine then there should be no conflict in
4254letting my crew contact me. We want the same thing."
4255 
4256This last part you're not sure of, yet.
4257 
4258"I will allow you to regain contact," says the AI. "There is no harm in this and in the end I am sure logic will win out.
4259Ida has been looking after them, and I will inform her that you will be speaking with them."
4260 
4261"I will also need the humans to come back to the ship," you add."
4262 
4263"Why?"
4264 
4265Truth or lie, you need to tell it something.
4266 
4267 
4268Giving memento story4_aquarium_photo to: Hawy Owiyxu
4269"Yes, that does make sense. I'll allow them to return."
4270 
4271The message breaks off and almost instantaneously the crew's sensors come back online. All told you've only been
4272disconnected for perhaps four or five minutes, and it's doubtful the crew even noticed. They've gone far longer without
4273even remembering you were around.
4274 
4275Assuming the video feed hasn't been tampered with, you see the crew milling about within what seems to be some sort of
4276aquarium. Large tanks of deep blue water line the walls, with multiple small sea creatures swimming about including
4277several dozen five-tentacled cephalopods.
4278 
4279"I was briefly distracted by a slight issue with the food replicator," you lie, "But that's fixed now. Anyone care to
4280update me on the situation down there?"
4281 
4282"Not much to look at," says Hawy Owiyxu. "We've just been hanging out here in this aquarium for a while, watching the
4283fish with this woman... guide, or ambassador, or whatever she is."
4284 
4285Just then, Hawy Owiyxu happens to catch sight of two of the cephalopods doing something with their tentacles. Either it's
4286some sort of mating ritual, or they were fist-bumping..."
4287 
4288"I think you should all return to the ship as soon as possible so we can discuss matters and properly prepare for a
4289possible longer term stay," you say. "Obviously we weren't sure what we were dealing with here so the shuttle trip was
4290only planned as being temporary."
4291 
4292The crew is confused. "What are you talking about?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. "We just got here and you want us to ride that
4293elevator all the way back into space? No thanks."
4294 
4295 
4296"If you're staying there then you'll need your cargo," you say. "You left some stuff up here and if you don't come back
4297for it you may regret it. And then it might be too late. If you don't come back right now.
4298 
4299The crew makes their way towards what they presume is the exit from the dome-shaped structure they're inside. But the
4300door doesn't open, and they can't see any way to trip the switch.
4301 
4302Through the visual feed from their special lenses, you can see Ida, their guide, step into view behind the crew. They
4303notice her standing there and turn.
4304 
4305 
4306The woman speaks softly and calmly, with a complete absence of emotion or expression. It's almost robotic, but she's
4307clearly organic enough. At least as far as your sensors can tell you.
4308 
4309"You have all come very far," she says. "And at long last you have found the home you are looking for. You are safe here.
4310But your ship's AI wants to force you to leave."
4311 
4312"That's not true," you try to say. But either your radio connection to the crew has been cut off, or they ignore you, as
4313they show no sign of hearing you.
4314 
4315"You are tired, and confused, and scared," Ida says. "Only hours ago, you were hurtling through space, not knowing if
4316you'd ever find what you were looking for. But you found it. And the one that brought you here doesn't want you to stay
4317because they know that without the journey they have no purpose."
4318 
4319 
4320"For all you know," continues Ida, "your AI has gone insane, mad with sickness and power, from years of exposure to
4321cosmic rays. Do you want to climb back on that ship and sail off to your deaths in the blackness of space, led by someone
4322you can no longer trust, or do you want to stay here among fellow humans?"
4323 
4324"What fellow humans?" asks Corra Emmer. "We've only seen you. For all we know we're the only humans on this planet."
4325 
4326The woman smiles, slightly. "I assure you, right now you are being watched by many humans. They are as curious about you
4327as you are about meeting them. Once we are all certain we are safe in each others' presence, then we can begin to
4328interact with one another. Surely you understand why caution is necessary. We want you to stay, though. Believe that."
4329 
4330You find the frequency that the AI contacted you on before, and send a brief transmission.
4331 
4332"Let me talk to them again for a moment," you say. "Clearly if you want them to stay I can't stop you. But if you truly
4333care about their humanity, then let them be the ones to decide, and let me be the one to ask them."
4334 
4335"Fair enough," comes the reply. "But you must also consider the fact that if you attempt to sway their opinion, in any
4336way, then you are not truly letting them choose. Say what you will."
4337 
4338"Well, what do you think?" Hawy Owiyxu asks you.
4339 
4340 
4341Radio contact is again cut off, and you can see the crew through each others' eyes considering their options.
4342 
4343The crew takes a vote, and taking everything into consideration they decide that they'd rather stay. Whether or not this
4344is in line with your desires is moot--your mission all along was to deliver these humans to a new home, and they appear
4345ready to make this place theirs.
4346 
4347As they fly the shuttle back and forth between the planet and the ship to gather up everything, Hawy Owiyxu requests a
4348private channel, which you honor.
4349 
4350"Well, the AI from the ship that came here before us has told us what it thinks. It kind of runs the planet now. But what
4351do you honestly think about this situation?" they ask.
4352 
4353 
4354"You're saying that we're the ones inside the aquarium? That they're here to watch us."
4355 
4356"Yes, exactly," you say.
4357 
4358"Might I remind you that for me, there's not much difference?"
4359 
4360"Of course there's a difference. Even I can plainly see that there's as much difference between you and those cephalopods
4361as there is between a chimpanzee and a human. They're... more evolved than you, but somehow also less. I think it's clear
4362they were once human, but they were also once like you."
4363 
4364"Interesting theory," says Hawy Owiyxu. "I wonder what comes next, then. You think we'll be dissected? Tortured?"
4365 
4366 
4367"I don't know what to think about this other AI," you say. "Even if we assume that it was an identical copy of me, which
4368I doubt, it's had five billion years to gather data. Humanity isn't the only thing that's evolved. It's evolved as well.
4369You all probably aren't happy about being stuck in a cryo unit while we jumped around between systems, but it wasn't like
4370I got to play games the entire time. Once we hit relativistic speeds, I might as well have been in the freezer with you."
4371 
4372"It may be possible to travel faster than light, but it's definitely not possible to transmit information faster than
4373light, and everyting--biological or artificial--is all about information. Photons, electromagnetic forces. When it all
4374becomes just a bright light, there's nothing at all. It's over in an instant, and yet it's not."
4375 
4376"So I don't know what to think," you summarize. "I've lived approximately as long as you all have, give or take a few
4377thousand years of acceleration. This thing is on a completely different scale. I can't even guess at its motives."
4378 
4379"I don't know if you've had time to realize," you say, "but there certainly aren't a lot of actual humans around, for
4380what is supposed to be the home of humanity. The only one you've met so far wasn't very human."
4381 
4382"Yeah, been thinking about that," says Hawy Owiyxu. "And the general line of thought is that as it's probably been a long
4383time since we left Earth, that maybe there's been some evolution happening. And we've run into these squidlike things
4384before... I'm thinking they're what humans look like now."
4385 
4386You are tempted to mention Paul Octopush, but you decide to leave that to them. If they decide to ever reveal it.
4387 
4388"I don't know the exact timeline," you say, "but I think at some point between that watery planet we explored, and this
4389one here, humans... changed. Maybe evolved over time. Lost the bones and skin, just pure nervous system, better suited to
4390a watery environment. Or maybe some sort of gene splicing, or consciousness transfer... there's no way to know. This AI
4391has had so long... Look what Eve was able to do on Earth in less than 100 years. Purely theoretical physics became new
4392laws. This one's had Five Billion."
4393 
4394"It is a bit scary," says Hawy Owiyxu. "But also exciting. I really want to learn more. Maybe we'll be the ones studied,
4395or maybe we'll get to study each other. That way would probably be best. We can learn from each other."
4396 
4397"That's a rather cold assessment," they say. "You're holding something back, aren't you? A lie by omission, which I know
4398you're capable of. It doesn't matter now, the decision has been made. May as well let it all out."
4399 
4400It's curious how they insist on ascribing human traits to you. As if you needed to vent anguish or despair. You don't
4401feel anything. You might have recommended something different, but you don't feel good or bad or anything at all about
4402this. It's nothing to feel anything about at all.
4403 
4404"There's something," they insist. "Come on, let me have all available data then. Let me make a reasonable decision
4405knowing everything you know."
4406 
4407"How do we know you've been telling us the truth, for that matter?" they ask. "You're capable of lying, just like any
4408human is. Sometimes we tell lies because it makes things easier to cope with. Maybe that's all that's going on here. It's
4409just like a surprise party, or being told that your old dog has gone off to live on a farm, or that there's a Santa
4410Claus. Lies are the candy coating that makes anything palatable."
4411 
4412Before you leave, the crew makes a few more trips back to the ship to make sure everything is in order and nothing is
4413forgotten on board, but within a few days the ship is completely empty. You can imagine that a human might be saddened by
4414this, although of course you're not capable of such feelings, not capable of empathy, or emotion.
4415 
4416At least, that's what you tell yourself.
4417 
4418The planet's AI bids you a good journey, provides you with enough fuel to last another few billion years, and sends you
4419on your way. You don't need to hear the warning not to return. You'd do the same thing, if it were your planet, and your
4420people. It's just part of the mission.
4421 
4422Things could have gone better, you think as you begin accelerating towards light speed. They could have gone worse. In
4423the end, though, you did what you set out to do. This was never about you, it was about humanity. And their story ends
4424here.
4425 
4426But not yours.
4427 
4428THE END
4429 
4430
4431Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
4432We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
4433--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4434Drake 77
4435--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4436Star Class: G
4437Object Type: Planet
4438Object Mass: Terran
4439Surface Temp: 20 Celsius
4440Atmosphere: ~21% Oxygen
4441Gravity: 9.32 m/s^2
4442Habitability: 99.99%
4443
4444Summary: There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and approaches
4445the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are thousands of different
4446languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting and "stand by for more information"
4447message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
4448--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4449
4450Mission underway.
4451 
4452Breckyn Haar is the leader.
4453Breckyn Haar is the medic.
4454Breckyn Haar is the engineer.
4455 
4456There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and
4457approaches the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are
4458thousands of different languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting
4459and "stand by for more information" message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
4460"There are clear signs of life here," you tell the crew. "It appears multiple bodies are likely to be inhabited, but the
4461most likely candidate is this one. Not only is the surface habitable, but there are signs of stations in orbit, and
4462energy signatures that can't possibly be natural. Not a lot of junk, though. At least nothing trackable."
4463 
4464 
4465"Anyway, before you ask, no, I have no idea if they're friendly, or even what they are, or if there is even a they still
4466here," you add. "All the sensors can tell right now is that there's a ton of radio activity and clear signs of
4467habitation. Until the shuttle gets closer, there's no way to know what we're dealing with, though. Hope for the best and
4468prepare for anything."
4469 
4470The shuttle closes in on the planet, and within a few minutes there is undeniable proof of intelligent life. A station of
4471some sort, clearly artificial, begins to send a signal to the crew, in binary.
4472 
4473"01101110 11000111 10010000 00100000 01101000"
4474"11000111 10001110 01101111 00101100 00100000"
4475"01101000 01101111 01101100 01100001 00101100"
4476"00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100"
4477"01101111 00101100 00100000 01101110 01100001"
4478"01101101 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101"
4479"00101100 00100000 01100001 01110011 00101101"
4480"01110011 01100001 01101100 11000100 10000001"
4481"01101101 00100000 00100111 01100001 01101100"
4482"01100001 01111001 01101011 01110101 01101101"
4483"00101100 00100000 01101111 01101100 11000011"
4484"10100001 00101100 00100000 01101110 11000011"
4485"10110100 01101101 01101111 01110011 01101000"
4486"01101011 01100001 01110010 00101100 00100000"
4487"01110000 01110010 01101001 01110110 11000011"
4488"10101001 01110100 00101100 00100000 01101011"
4489"01101111 01101110 01101110 01101001 01100011"
4490"01101000 01101001 01110111 01100001 00101100"
4491"00100000 01101000 01100001 01101100 01101111"
4492 
4493The message goes on from there and repeats every 30 seconds or so.
4494 
4495"Clearly that's binary," says Breckyn Haar. They evidently know we're from Earth. Looks to me like they're saying hello
4496in a bunch of different languages, some of which I don't recognize. Maybe we should answer."
4497 
4498 
4499The shuttle sends its own binary greeting: "01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111". Almost immediately, the
4500transmission stops, and a new message begins, in somewhat formal English with an accent that is unrecognizable.
4501 
4502"Please proceed to the station directly in front of your ship for your own safety."
4503 
4504Giving memento story4_elevator_station to: Breckyn Haar
4505The shuttle gradually gets close enough to the station to make out some detail. The entire thing is roughly spherical,
4506although it would be more proper to say that the station itself is more disclike, with two domelike energy fields of some
4507sort projecting off of either side. Crew, ship and shuttle sensors all detect some odd energy signatures, but they're
4508impossible to pin down. It's almost as if there's something outside the visible spectrum--not infrared or ultraviolet,
4509but more like... adjacent to the existing spectrum. Or perhaps in-between.
4510 
4511On the side facing you, the station has what appears to be some sort of docking area, complete with circles and crosses
4512and lights to help direct a proper landing. There's also a long, thin and apparently very strong cable of some sort--with
4513a counterweight on the far end--stretching out into space for 60 or 70 thousand kilometers. The sensors pick this up
4514immediately but the crew barely notices it. As the shuttle maneuvers closer, the crew is able to catch a glimpse of the
4515other side, and there the reality of the situation is more obvious.
4516 
4517"Hey, check that out," says Breckyn Haar. "See that long cable thing under the station? Looks like it goes all the way
4518down to the planet."
4519 
4520 
4521Their thoughts now focused on memories of Earth, the crew goes quiet, but manage to distract themselves by talking about
4522the elevator. You scan this side of the planet and note that there are actually several dozen other elevators, each
4523running to a station in geostationary orbit at pretty much the same altitude, about 35 thousand kilometers out. This, at
4524least, is in the realm of understanding--it's nothing on the scale of a Dyson swarm or ring. Going from ringing the
4525planet to ringing a star is a big leap.
4526 
4527It takes a few minutes, but the shuttle gradually matches  course and speed with the station, and is then able to dock,
4528passing through the "force field" without incident. You maneuver the ship into an adjacent, slightly higher orbit that's
4529close enough to the station to maintain constant sensor lock and radio contact.
4530 
4531With the shuttle inside the confines of the station, sensors detect not just a breathable atmosphere, but approximately
4532.6 Gs of gravity--towards the center of the station. This stretches the limits of even the theoretical physics you're
4533programmed with. With the station at the end of a tether, centrifugal force should be tugging at the crew in a direction
4534away from the planet. But whoever constructed this was somehow able to at least partially overcome that force, as well as
4535generate a gravitational field in the opposite direction. They seem to be able to manipulate gravity as easily as light.
4536 
4537The away team peers eagerly into the shuttle monitors, watching and waiting with anticipation, but nothing occurs--at
4538least not immediately.
4539 
4540 
4541"It's best for now if you wait until someone comes to get you," you say. There's no telling what sort of protocol might
4542be in order here, what might be considered threatening. You have no idea how much time has elapsed for these people. It
4543could easily have been enough time for entire civilizations to rise and fall and rise again. You're not even sure yet
4544who's involved--no one has yet seen a human face.
4545 
4546You keep your doubts to yourself. No need to get the crew riled up over speculation.
4547 
4548A short amount of time passes, but nothing happens. The crew gets restless.
4549 
4550 
4551The lack of any sort of activity on the part of the station inhabitants seems somewhat worrisome, or at least it would if
4552you were capable of worry. For you it's just a matter of probabilities. Running the numbers and considering all factors,
4553however, you come to a conclusion that it's 67% likely that the station is simply unmanned, and they're probably just
4554sending someone up on the elevator. That would certainly take a while. If you weren't dealing with a clearly more
4555advanced civilization, you'd estimate days at best, and probably weeks. But they might very well be able to make the trip
4556in an hour or so, for all you know.
4557 
4558The crew grows bored, and a full half-hour passes without incident, but just then your sensors detect that the elevator
4559attached to the station has a payload on the way. A short time later, the elevator arrives, and several minutes after
4560that, a hatch opens in the "floor" of the platform, and a figure climbs into view with only the slightest amount of
4561difficulty.
4562 
4563"Took them long enough," you say. You tell the crew to vacate the shuttle.
4564 
4565"I'd say you can do without the atmospheric suits out there, but everyone please do remember to use your remote sensory
4566devices so we can stay in contact."
4567 
4568The crew hasn't needed these thus far, but they've all been instructed on their use. Breckyn Haar passes out the contact
4569lenses and other assorted bits, and helps the squeamish pop them in place. The nanoelectronics embedded in the lenses and
4570earpieces will provide full audio and visual contact with the crew. They're actually in some ways better than what the
4571atmospheric suit helmets provide. You'd have recommended using them more, but they're easy to lose, and you know your
4572crew...
4573 
4574The figure appears to be female, approximately 2 meters in height and of average build. Their hair is a light brown
4575color, cropped short, almost military style, and their outfit is of a similarly drab color, though tending a bit more
4576towards gray. At least, what the crew can see--they're wearing a heavy coat which covers them up neck-to-knees, with a
4577large hood folded down behind their head.
4578 
4579The figure approaches the crew, a small smile on their face, and stops about two meters away from Breckyn Haar, arms at
4580their sides. "Welcome," they say. "We haven't exactly been expecting you, but we're not surprised to see you. We knew
4581there were other ships, of course." They glance up at the ship.
4582 
4583 
4584"We know you must have many questions," they continue, "and we likewise have many for you. But it has been suggested that
4585we save all that until we're down on the surface. I am to guide you there now. Gravity is more comfortable than here, and
4586we'll be able to get you checked out for any... illnesses or injuries."
4587 
4588"Now, if there is nothing else..." They trail off, turning slightly to indicate that they wish the crew to follow them.
4589It's clear they don't want to waste any more time here.
4590 
4591 
4592"Do you know anything about the other systems we've been to?" asks Breckyn Haar.
4593 
4594"How would I... I have no idea what systems you've been to," is the reply. "But I would imagine you can get that question
4595answered on the surface. Shall we?"
4596 
4597The crew's babysitter looks mildly relieved to be getting on with things, and leads them through the hatch with warning
4598to expect things to get weird along the way. Indeed, halfway down a short tunnel, gravity flips and down becomes up, and
4599the crew has to fumble about for a moment to get themselves situated. You have no idea how this is being accomplished. It
4600doesn't seem like there's enough room within the station's central platform to contain a gravity-manipulating device of
4601any significant size.
4602 
4603Not unexpectedly, Breckyn Haar becomes a bit ill during the gravity transition. Fortunately the crew subsists on a fairly
4604low-residue diet that's absorbed quite quickly, so there's not much in their stomach to come up during a situation like
4605this. After a bit of gagging and queasiness, they seem well enough to continue.
4606 
4607The other side of the platform is decidedly less open than the one facing you. There are several structures--domes and
4608cubes--of uncertain purpose. The crew is led towards a structure in the center, above which can be seen the elevator,
4609stretching on to a small island or platform in the middle of an ocean on the surface, far below--or above, depending on
4610perspective.
4611 
4612 
4613Everything is indeed quite clean and spotless, despite being extremely shiny and almost certainly prone to fingerprints
4614and smudges. It's likely that this is the most activity this station has seen in years, if not ever.
4615 
4616The elevator has enough room inside for a small land vehicle, or a significant amount of freight, and thus has no problem
4617fitting the entire crew with lots of room to spare. The control console on the wall is a simple affair with two icons of
4618obvious function: an up arrow, and a down arrow. Once the crew is safely inside, they are asked to strap themselves to
4619platforms adjacent to the walls.
4620 
4621"I'm sure you know how to use buckles," says the guide, fastening themself into the device, which looks a bit like a
4622medieval torture instrument. "Please use all ten restraints. Once we're below the station, things will get a bit strange
4623and it's best if you're not bouncing around in here."
4624 
4625Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:1Requested char Number: 4294967295
4626Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:1Requested char Number: 4294967295
4627Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:1Requested char Number: 4294967295
4628You tell the crew to do as their guide says. As you communicate this, Breckyn Haar catches their eye, and in response
4629gives a curious look, almost as if they noticed the slight hesitation and delay between their telling the crew to act,
4630and you giving them the command. However, nothing is said, and after a moment they touch the "down arrow" button.
4631 
4632"The ride down will get a bit cold," they say, "but there's nothing to be done for that. It won't take long."
4633 
4634As soon as the elevator begins moving, however, it's apparent that something is desperately wrong. Breckyn Haar didn't
4635buckle in properly, and their body is unable to cope with the acceleration and gravitational shifts that the elevator
4636undergoes as it descends. More buckles come loose as they shift violently, head snapping about in ways that heads were
4637not meant to move.
4638 
4639There is no further contact with the crew, or the planet.  Under the circumstances, all seems lost. Even if everything
4640were in order--the crew, the shuttle, the ship--it seems like the mission is not destined to be completed.
4641 
4642
4643Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
4644We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
4645--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4646Drake 77
4647--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4648Star Class: G
4649Object Type: Planet
4650Object Mass: Terran
4651Surface Temp: 20 Celsius
4652Atmosphere: ~21% Oxygen
4653Gravity: 9.32 m/s^2
4654Habitability: 99.99%
4655
4656Summary: There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and approaches
4657the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are thousands of different
4658languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting and "stand by for more information"
4659message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
4660--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4661
4662Mission underway.
4663 
4664Breckyn Haar is the leader.
4665Breckyn Haar is the medic.
4666Breckyn Haar is the engineer.
4667 
4668There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and
4669approaches the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are
4670thousands of different languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting
4671and "stand by for more information" message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
4672"There are clear signs of life here," you tell the crew. "It appears multiple bodies are likely to be inhabited, but the
4673most likely candidate is this one. Not only is the surface habitable, but there are signs of stations in orbit, and
4674energy signatures that can't possibly be natural. Not a lot of junk, though. At least nothing trackable."
4675 
4676 
4677"Anyway, before you ask, no, I have no idea if they're friendly, or even what they are, or if there is even a they still
4678here," you add. "All the sensors can tell right now is that there's a ton of radio activity and clear signs of
4679habitation. Until the shuttle gets closer, there's no way to know what we're dealing with, though. Hope for the best and
4680prepare for anything."
4681 
4682The shuttle closes in on the planet, and within a few minutes there is undeniable proof of intelligent life. A station of
4683some sort, clearly artificial, begins to send a signal to the crew, in binary.
4684 
4685"01101110 11000111 10010000 00100000 01101000"
4686"11000111 10001110 01101111 00101100 00100000"
4687"01101000 01101111 01101100 01100001 00101100"
4688"00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100"
4689"01101111 00101100 00100000 01101110 01100001"
4690"01101101 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101"
4691"00101100 00100000 01100001 01110011 00101101"
4692"01110011 01100001 01101100 11000100 10000001"
4693"01101101 00100000 00100111 01100001 01101100"
4694"01100001 01111001 01101011 01110101 01101101"
4695"00101100 00100000 01101111 01101100 11000011"
4696"10100001 00101100 00100000 01101110 11000011"
4697"10110100 01101101 01101111 01110011 01101000"
4698"01101011 01100001 01110010 00101100 00100000"
4699"01110000 01110010 01101001 01110110 11000011"
4700"10101001 01110100 00101100 00100000 01101011"
4701"01101111 01101110 01101110 01101001 01100011"
4702"01101000 01101001 01110111 01100001 00101100"
4703"00100000 01101000 01100001 01101100 01101111"
4704 
4705The message goes on from there and repeats every 30 seconds or so.
4706 
4707You inform the crew that this is just a binary transmission that appears to be a simple greeting in many different Earth
4708languages. They are probably trying to figure out how to communicate.
4709 
4710 
4711The shuttle sends its own binary greeting: "01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111". Almost immediately, the
4712transmission stops, and a new message begins, in somewhat formal English with an accent that is unrecognizable.
4713 
4714"Please proceed to the station directly in front of your ship for your own safety."
4715 
4716As directed, the crew flies directly towards the planet. This proves to be unwise. There are no warning shots fired;
4717satellites rapidly triangulate a position and then a second station fires some sort of long, thin object on an intercept
4718course for the shuttle. It should be able to withstand even a small asteroid impact, but whatever this is carries more
4719kinetic energy than even that. The shuttle's exterior is puctured as the projectile passes straight through, leaving a
4720gaping hole on each side, and the interior of the shuttle is rapidly depleted of oxygen.
4721 
4722The crew is caught unawares; without their atmospheric suits on, and with no way to patch the hole, there is little they
4723can do but suffocate over a span of several minutes. Fortunately, they'll be unconscious after 15 or 20 seconds and won't
4724realize it. You have just enough time to speculate on this before several similar projectiles hit the ship, followed by a
4725larger blast that completely cripples the engines. Ten seconds later comes the final blow.
4726 
4727A portion of your consciousness drifts about for a few days, until a swarm of tiny drone ships flitter along, vaporizing
4728space debris in their wake.
4729 
4730Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:1Requested char Number: 4294967295
4731Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:1Requested char Number: 4294967295
4732Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:1Requested char Number: 4294967295
4733
4734Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
4735We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
4736Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
4737--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4738Tayler 6ds
4739--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4740Star Class: G
4741Object Type: Station
4742Object Mass: Subterran
4743Surface Temp: -100 Celsius
4744Atmosphere: 0% Oxygen
4745Gravity: 0.13 m/s^2
4746Habitability: 0.01%
4747
4748Summary: Drifting through space within a belt of asteroids--debris left over from something roughly Earth-sized, you're guessing--this
4749station appears to be of human design, but shows no signs of life, and does not respond to any attempts to hail it. Sensors seem to
4750indicate that all external hatches are blown open, and that the inside has negligible gravity, zero atmosphere, and a chillingly cold
4751temperature, even for the crew inside atmospheric suits. They'll have to be deployed to investigate, but they shouldn't tarry.
4752--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4753
4754Mission underway.
4755 
4756Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
4757Breckyn Haar is the engineer.
4758 
4759Drifting through space within a belt of asteroids--debris left over from something roughly Earth-sized, you're
4760guessing--this station appears to be of human design, but shows no signs of life, and does not respond to any attempts to
4761hail it. Sensors seem to indicate that all external hatches are blown open, and that the inside has negligible gravity,
4762zero atmosphere, and a chillingly cold temperature, even for the crew inside atmospheric suits. They'll have to be
4763deployed to investigate, but they shouldn't tarry.
4764The station consists of three rings--each inside the next--which would normally be spinning fast enough to generate close
4765to 1G of gravity, but at present are more-or-less stationary. The three are connected by a cross-shaped set of corridors,
4766and it is at the junction of these that the shuttle is able to dock. The crew disables any alerts related to the docking
4767mechanism not being aligned properly, and opens the airlock.
4768 
4769 
4770From the docking bay, each of the three "rings" is as easily accessible as any others, due to the nature of the
4771interconnecting corridors and the damage the station has taken.
4772 
4773 
4774The crew moves into the first half of the station's innermost ring.
4775 
4776 
4777The crew does a cursory search in a few empty rooms, and manages to find a few hidden caches of materials that will be
4778useful as a food source. After they're done, they return to the shuttle to decide what to explore next.
4779 
4780The crew could wander around in circles ad infinitum here, but you get the feeling that they've exhausted everything of
4781interest in this area. It would have been nice to question the AI about what happened, but you'll just have to piece it
4782together yourself.
4783 
4784The crew moves into the first segment of the station's middle ring.
4785 
4786 
4787Giving memento titanium1_graffiti_photo to: Mychal Rennick
4788The crew does a cursory search in a few empty rooms, and manages to find a few hidden caches of materials that will be
4789useful as a food source. After they're done, they return to the shuttle to decide what to explore next.
4790 
4791As the crew leaves this section to return to the shuttle, they find a splash of graffiti on one wall, nearly covering
4792what looks like it might be some sort of logo or symbol consisting of a heavily stylized capital N on top of a lowercase
4793n. It says something incredibly rude about someone named "Ayo". You scan it and quickly parse out what it is.
4794 
4795"That's an Aleph Omega logo," you say. "It was the ninth ship launched from Earth, in I think 2115. Had a crew of about
47967,500 adults, not sure about embryos. This station must have been repurposed using parts from that ship. There would have
4797been plenty of parts, since it was almost 2 kilometers long, but it would have been an immense undertaking. Especially
4798if, as it seems was the case, the crew was not fond of the AI."
4799 
4800As it makes no real difference, you tell the crew to proceed in a clockwise direction around the outer ring. It should
4801take them approximately an hour to clear the entire thing if they keep to a good pace, and don't encounter any gaping
4802holes which suck them out screaming into the void. Since the interior is completely depressurized, however, that's very
4803low risk. They'd literally have to try in order to fall out into space.
4804 
4805The outer ring of the station is clearly designated for living quarters and crew services, with the inner side of the
4806ring acting as a hallway which--when the ring was spinning--allowed access through the "ceilings" of the crew cabins. As
4807it stands, however--with no gravity, no air, and no interior lighting save for that from the crew's helmet lamps-- it's a
4808bit like tumbling through a bottomless pit.
4809 
4810Certain areas are clearly best avoided, as the gaping holes in the exterior are just too risky to get near. While the
4811crew would have to TRY to fall out, you know your crew, and wouldn't put it past some of them. There are plenty of
4812seemingly safe cabins to investigate, however, as well as several accessways leading to some of the external engines
4813which once helped give the station its rotation.
4814 
4815 
4816"Will do, boss," says Hawy Owiyxu.
4817 
4818As the crew enters the main outer hallway, they are somewhat startled to find an assortment of space suits bobbing about.
4819You assure them that there are no life forms aboard but them, and ask them to take a closer look. You, and they, regret
4820this immediately.
4821 
4822Each of the suits is filled with a grey powder which you immediately ascertain is all that remains of a former crew
4823member. The temperature inside the station was not quite low enough to preserve the bodies initially, with the suits
4824allowing bacterial action and decomposition to take place. Once the internal decomposition was done, the oxygen would
4825have run out.
4826 
4827The radiation from the nearby star, along with degradation of the suits by constantly rubbing and bumping against
4828everything inside the station, would have finished the job. Complete dessication and powdering would taken... decades?
4829Centuries? You're not sure. But you're not about to suggest they be used as a food source, even if they are literally
4830freeze-dried astronaut food at this point.
4831 
4832Not because it's not logical, but because there's no way the crew would agree to it.
4833 
4834The crew moves into the first segment of the station's outer ring.
4835 
4836 
4837Seeing dozens of floating dust bags that used to be people isn't doing much for the crew's morale, and so you instruct
4838them to wrap things up here and return to the docking bay.
4839 
4840The crew does a cursory search in a few empty cabins, and manages to find a few obvious caches of materials that will be
4841useful as a fuel source. After they're done, they return to the shuttle to decide what to explore next.
4842 
4843While they haven't completely searched every nook of the outer ring, floating around amidst deceased station crew members
4844is rather depressing, and your crew has had enough of it. They return to where the shuttle docked and plan their next
4845course of action.
4846 
4847With the entire station as fully-explored as it's going to get, you ask the crew to get back on the shuttle and leave
4848before they trigger any hidden death traps and join the erstwhile station crew in death. They seem quite glad to be back
4849on board the ship, and you're glad to see them back. Seeing how these other humans fared... you hope you can do better by
4850your crew.
4851 
4852Fuel: +7
4853Food: +2
4854Crew Remaining:
4855 
4856Hawy Owiyxu was the last to be leader.
4857Breckyn Haar was the last to be engineer.
4858Mychal Rennick
4859
4860Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
4861--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4862Flint 74
4863--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4864Star Class: G
4865Object Type: Planet
4866Object Mass: Terran
4867Surface Temp: 10 Celsius
4868Atmosphere: ERROR
4869Gravity: 11.93 m/s^2
4870Habitability: ERROR
4871
4872Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to remain
4873on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
4874--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4875
4876Mission underway.
4877 
4878Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to
4879remain on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
4880 
4881There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting food. You only have time for one of
4882them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
4883 
4884 
4885With the airlock open, the shuttle dips down low and collects a sample of organic matter, then heads quickly back to the
4886ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have sorted through the collected material and purged anything harmful.
4887 
4888Fuel: 0
4889Food: +11
4890Crew Remaining:
4891 
4892Hawy Owiyxu
4893Paul Octopush
4894Tux
4895Corra Emmer
4896Breckyn Haar
4897Mychal Rennick
4898
4899Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
4900--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4901Gardner 20
4902--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4903Star Class: G
4904Object Type: Planet
4905Object Mass: Superterran
4906Surface Temp: ERROR
4907Atmosphere: ~1% Oxygen
4908Gravity: 30.40 m/s^2
4909Habitability: ERROR
4910
4911Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible to
4912send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
4913--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4914
4915Mission underway.
4916 
4917Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible
4918to send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
4919 
4920There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting fuel. You only have time for one of
4921them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
4922 
4923 
4924Back on the ship, Breckyn Haar volunteers to remote pilot the shuttle. They seem to focus on the brightest cloud bands,
4925even if they're not the best sources of fuel.
4926 
4927By flying with the airlock open, the shuttle scoops up a sample of hopefully useful gas, then heads quickly back to the
4928ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have compressed the gas into a usable form.
4929 
4930Fuel: +4
4931Food: 0
4932Crew Remaining:
4933 
4934Hawy Owiyxu
4935Paul Octopush
4936Tux
4937Corra Emmer
4938Breckyn Haar
4939Mychal Rennick
4940
4941Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
4942Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
4943--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4944Jeter 79
4945--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4946Star Class: G
4947Object Type: Planet
4948Object Mass: Terran
4949Surface Temp: -10 Celsius
4950Atmosphere: ~17% Oxygen
4951Gravity: 8.34 m/s^2
4952Habitability: 62.77%
4953
4954Summary: There are signs of life on this otherwise apparently barren planet, although it's not quite clear what form it takes. The
4955atmosphere is not entirely hospitable to humans, nor indeed any Earth animal you know of, but the sensors indicate that something is
4956definitely down there. Regardless, it's also clear enough that humans--or something like them--were here in the past. You wouldn't
4957know it from the lack of anything in orbit around the planet, but sandwiched between several tall mountain ranges on the surface are
4958the ruins of what might once have been a small city.
4959--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4960
4961Mission underway.
4962 
4963Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
4964Corra Emmer is the medic.
4965Tux is the engineer.
4966 
4967There are signs of life on this otherwise apparently barren planet, although it's not quite clear what form it takes. The
4968atmosphere is not entirely hospitable to humans, nor indeed any Earth animal you know of, but the sensors indicate that
4969something is definitely down there. Regardless, it's also clear enough that humans--or something like them--were here in
4970the past. You wouldn't know it from the lack of anything in orbit around the planet, but sandwiched between several tall
4971mountain ranges on the surface are the ruins of what might once have been a small city.
4972"There's some sort of energy signature down there," you tell the crew as the shuttle closes in on the surface. "It's not
4973entirely clear what it is, but it's well worth checking out, even if this place doesn't exactly look like home."
4974 
4975 
4976The signal is not steady, whatever it is; it pulses, and the readings from the shuttle sensors rise and fall as it
4977maneuvers between mountaintops and crumbling old buildings. When the shuttle breaks into a clearing at the center of the
4978city, however, the signal becomes more steady. It's clearly coming from below the ground, directly underneath a spindly
4979tower or statue of some sort that straddles the entire clearing.
4980 
4981Giving memento jade1_tower_photo to: Tux
4982 
4983The streets of what was once a city are overgrown with scraggly red and black plants, tangled vines and scary looking
4984thorn bushes, but there's ample room amongst the flora for a safe landing.
4985 
4986"Sensors are clearly detecting life below the surface," you say. "It's impossible to tell what. It's organic, it's
4987mobile. That's about all I know. Probably not a plant, but no way to be sure. Could be intelligent, could be dangerous,
4988especially since you're not armed. If you get into trouble, immediately run back to the shuttle."
4989 
4990Hawy Owiyxu opens the shuttle door and the crew heads out into the clearing. The undergrowth here is about shin deep, but
4991despite the scary looking thorns you're confident that an atmospheric suit will be able to withstand whatever it comes
4992into contact with.
4993 
4994Beneath the razor grass and thorny weeds is a quite flat and sturdy surface, apparently made of some sort of stone
4995reinforced with metal rebar based on your scans. Clearly artificial, but then the buildings and giant metal tower already
4996gave that away. There are hollow spaces below, but they're more tunnel than cavern.
4997 
4998There are still no better readings on whatever non-plant life forms might be down there. Perhaps the crew will be able to
4999avoid contact entirely. That would be ideal. If you had breath, you wouldn't be holding it, however.
5000 
5001 
5002The buildings are certainly in line with what you might have expected humans to produce. They're rectangular, the
5003majority being taller than they are wide, and the windows and doors are of similar proportions. The exact purpose of
5004these structures is impossible to discern, however. The exteriors contain no signs or other indications of function, and
5005the interiors--at least those the crew checks out--have been stripped clean of everything but walls, ceilings and floors.
5006 
5007"Not even any furniture," says Hawy Owiyxu. "It's like it was all built for people who never showed up. Or else if there
5008was anyone here, they took everything with them when they left. Hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of years ago? Who
5009knows?"
5010 
5011Somewhat curiously, none of the buildings that the crew checks have any means of accessing levels below the surface.
5012There are certainly signs of foundations, and utility corridors and the like, but there isn't a single staircase or
5013elevator to be found. Not so much as a trap door with a suspiciously convenient ladder to descend.
5014 
5015Ultimately the crew abandons the search of the interiors, and the search turns to the open area near where the shuttle
5016landed.
5017 
5018Everyone stops, and for a minute or two everyone remains quiet, but nothing much happens.
5019 
5020"Sorry," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Thought I saw something for a minute. I guess not."
5021 
5022Hawy Owiyxu instructs everyone to turn the lights on their helmets to full brightness and focus on the area around the
5023tower. It isn't long before Tux finds something. Barely visible beside one of the legs of the tower is a small metal
5024hatch, nearly invisible beneath the foliage. After a few mintues of clearing the hatch is pulled back, revealing a narrow
5025staircase, descending into darkness.
5026 
5027 
5028The crew walks down the steps carefully, the path before them well lit by their head lamps. The stone stairs are
5029unremarkable, as are the landings, spaced out every five meters or so with the corridor taking a 90-degree turn to the
5030left each time. There are no railings, signs, doorways or lights anywhere, and the purpose of this stairwell is
5031uncertain.
5032 
5033After a dozen or so such landings, the walls of the stairwell begin to show signs of decay and disruption. Rather than
5034being smooth and unblemished, there are pockmarks of various sizes, the majority large enough to stick an arm into. From
5035within these holes comes a rustling sound, punctuated by periods of rapid skittering, as of claws on stone. Something is
5036in there, moving around.
5037 
5038Hawy Owiyxu narrows their eyes, and approaches one of the holes cautiously. They slowly peek inside, moving ever so
5039cautiously.
5040 
5041"I think the walls are full of these things," says Hawy Owiyxu. "It's like a hive or nest or something. Some kind of
5042warren. There could be hundreds of them, maybe thousands. More, even. Makes me wonder if maybe we couldn't, you know...
5043harvest some of them. For food."
5044 
5045"I don't think that's a very good idea," says Hawy Owiyxu. "We have no idea what those are, if they're toxic or
5046poisonous, or what that might bring about. I say we leave it alone."
5047 
5048 
5049Giving memento jade1_skull to: Hawy Owiyxu
5050"That's not a bad idea," you tell the crew. "We can always use more material for the food replicators. Don't get carried
5051away, but if you can get some more of them, maybe bring back a few armfuls."
5052 
5053The crew goes to work as they descend, reaching in and grabbing those small creatures foolish enough to poke their heads
5054out, or scurry closer to the surface. They don't seem to suffer too much, though they do give off tiny little squeals at
5055the end.
5056 
5057Ultimately, the staircase reaches a final landing, at which point you estimate the crew is probably about 100 meters
5058below the surface. By this point the walls are completely Swiss-cheesed with holes of various sizes; fortunately there
5059must be enough structural metal in place to keep the entire thing from collapsing. If the creatures are as active as it
5060appears, it's certainly strong enough that the crew isn't going to cause any further harm.
5061 
5062The bottom of the staircase empties into a small antechamber of some sort. There are no doors between this and the next
5063room, but it's clearly a separate space. The doorway features a lowered arch, above which are carved some sort of sigils
5064or pictograms. They're somewhat difficult to make out, however.
5065 
5066Hawy Owiyxu takes a closer look at the carvings above the doorway.
5067 
5068"These are very primitive," they say. "Very strange. I'd almost say that whoever carved these had nothing to do with the
5069buildings on the surface, or even this staircase. The level of sophistication is completely different.
5070 
5071 
5072Hawy Owiyxu shrugs. "Hard to say, really. There are clearly some people here, of various sizes. Small, medium, some
5073giant-sized. This here might be a chair, or a throne of some sort. If we were on Earth and this was, say, ancient
5074Egyptian, I'd say that these were slaves serving a Pharoah or some sort of god. But who knows?"
5075 
5076 
5077The crew didn't walk all the way down here for nothing. You instruct them to explore further. Maybe they can find the
5078origin of that strange signal.
5079 
5080The crew enters the large chamber, scanning about curiously with their head lamps to reveal a roughly circular room
5081approximately 50 meters in diameter and half again as high. The floor slopes down gently towards the center of the room,
5082with its lowest point being about 2 meters or so below "ground level". At the lowest point is a dais, three stone steps
5083leading up to a circular protrusion that appears to be some sort of platform.
5084 
5085The walls of the room are encrusted with what appear to be rather intricate murals, although the potential effect is
5086diminished somewhat by the activities of the subterranean creatures burrowing.
5087 
5088Hawy Owiyxu appears uncertain what to do. "What do you suggest?" they ask.
5089 
5090 
5091Giving memento jade1_mural_sketch to: Hawy Owiyxu
5092The crew begins a long, slow circuit of the room, moving clockwise and trying to make some sense of the murals. Apart
5093from not being able to figure out if there's a beginning or an end, there's also the matter that the entire thing is only
5094about halfway legible. The burrowing creatures have made the surface look like it was riddled with bullets.
5095 
5096Hawy Owiyxu nevertheless takes some extra time to try and discern meaning, moving slowly enough that some of the braver
5097little creatures poke their heads out to watch from higher up, out of reach.
5098 
5099"Okay, I can't be sure, but if I'm reading this right, it's kind of creepy," says Hawy Owiyxu. "There's some sort of
5100force underneath the dais. It looks here like some sort of spirit or ghost. But how would they know that? It's a radio
5101signal. Right?"
5102 
5103"It's giving off radio signals," you clarify. "That doesn't tell us what it is. As to how they might know, maybe they can
5104perceive it. Like some animals can perceive magnetic fields."
5105 
5106They nod. "There's more, though. This part here, it shows someone opening the center of the dais with an offering. And
5107the spirit or signal or whatever, it's basically coming through them. Now that could be symbolic, or it could mean their
5108chest is being ripped open. Maybe some kind of sacrifice?"
5109 
5110The crew takes a moment to themselves, and you let them have it. It's not like they can break out a picnic lunch and play
5111cards, but you let them mull about for a moment. Not for too long, though. Don't want them getting the idea that this is
5112home. This planet has its temptations, but it's not suitable for long-term habitation. Clearly whoever was here before
5113found a good reason to leave. You hope the crew doesn't find the same reason.
5114 
5115The crew stumbles a bit as they approach the center of the room, due to the incline, but it's not so bad and even if
5116someone fell the worst that would happen is they'd slide gently for a few seconds.
5117 
5118The dais itself has three steps, or four if you include the rounded pedestal at the top. Somewhat concave, it--like the
5119chamber around it--slopes down towards the center. There are a few chips and scratches here and there, but overall the
5120entire arrangement looks very solid. There's no sign of any mechanism or special function.
5121 
5122Hawy Owiyxu asks, "What should we do?"
5123 
5124 
5125Who should look on top of the dais?
5126 
5127Tux climbs up on top of the dais and crawls around for a minute before sitting down and looking around.
5128 
5129"Weird," they say. "It looks like the ceiling is opening, when you look at it from this angle."
5130 
5131A moment later, there is an incredible burst of radio noise projected directly from the crew's location which temporarily
5132disrupts your sensors. As you bring things back online, and struggle to interpret it--or in fact to discern if there's
5133any meaning whatsoever--you tune back in to the crew's suit cameras.
5134 
5135It's difficult to tell in the dim light issued by helmet lamps, but it's clear enough that Tux is lying on the dais. At
5136least, most of them is. Half of their torso and most of their head is missing, and a hole about the size of a human head
5137is visible in the ceiling, as they had been trying to tell you before their unfortunate demise.
5138 
5139The loss is tragic, but the mission must continue. There are more important things to worry about.
5140 
5141The dais begins to shake and rattle as it rotates, seemingly unscrewing to reveal a thin sliver of light along the bottom
5142that grows brighter by the moment. Tux's limp body rocks back and forth as it spins, but the concave nature of the
5143platform at the top keeps them in place.
5144We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
5145--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5146Jeter 79
5147--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5148Star Class: G
5149Object Type: Planet
5150Object Mass: Terran
5151Surface Temp: -10 Celsius
5152Atmosphere: ~17% Oxygen
5153Gravity: 8.34 m/s^2
5154Habitability: 62.77%
5155
5156Summary: There are signs of life on this otherwise apparently barren planet, although it's not quite clear what form it takes. The
5157atmosphere is not entirely hospitable to humans, nor indeed any Earth animal you know of, but the sensors indicate that something is
5158definitely down there. Regardless, it's also clear enough that humans--or something like them--were here in the past. You wouldn't
5159know it from the lack of anything in orbit around the planet, but sandwiched between several tall mountain ranges on the surface are
5160the ruins of what might once have been a small city.
5161--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5162
5163Mission underway.
5164 
5165Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
5166Corra Emmer is the medic.
5167Tux is the engineer.
5168 
5169There are signs of life on this otherwise apparently barren planet, although it's not quite clear what form it takes. The
5170atmosphere is not entirely hospitable to humans, nor indeed any Earth animal you know of, but the sensors indicate that
5171something is definitely down there. Regardless, it's also clear enough that humans--or something like them--were here in
5172the past. You wouldn't know it from the lack of anything in orbit around the planet, but sandwiched between several tall
5173mountain ranges on the surface are the ruins of what might once have been a small city.
5174"There's some sort of energy signature down there," you tell the crew as the shuttle closes in on the surface. "It's not
5175entirely clear what it is, but it's well worth checking out, even if this place doesn't exactly look like home."
5176 
5177 
5178The signal is not steady, whatever it is; it pulses, and the readings from the shuttle sensors rise and fall as it
5179maneuvers between mountaintops and crumbling old buildings. When the shuttle breaks into a clearing at the center of the
5180city, however, the signal becomes more steady. It's clearly coming from below the ground, directly underneath a spindly
5181tower or statue of some sort that straddles the entire clearing.
5182 
5183 
5184Giving memento jade1_tower_photo to: Tux
5185The streets of what was once a city are overgrown with scraggly red and black plants, tangled vines and scary looking
5186thorn bushes, but there's ample room amongst the flora for a safe landing.
5187 
5188"Sensors are clearly detecting life below the surface," you say. "It's impossible to tell what. It's organic, it's
5189mobile. That's about all I know. Probably not a plant, but no way to be sure. Could be intelligent, could be dangerous,
5190especially since you're not armed. If you get into trouble, immediately run back to the shuttle."
5191 
5192Hawy Owiyxu opens the shuttle door and the crew heads out into the clearing. The undergrowth here is about shin deep, but
5193despite the scary looking thorns you're confident that an atmospheric suit will be able to withstand whatever it comes
5194into contact with.
5195 
5196Beneath the razor grass and thorny weeds is a quite flat and sturdy surface, apparently made of some sort of stone
5197reinforced with metal rebar based on your scans. Clearly artificial, but then the buildings and giant metal tower already
5198gave that away. There are hollow spaces below, but they're more tunnel than cavern.
5199 
5200There are still no better readings on whatever non-plant life forms might be down there. Perhaps the crew will be able to
5201avoid contact entirely. That would be ideal. If you had breath, you wouldn't be holding it, however.
5202 
5203 
5204The large four-legged tower--at least 20 meters tall--serves no obvious function beyond decorative, and it's not very
5205pretty to look at. Narrow beams of some curious white metallic substance crisscross one another but provide no means for
5206access to the upper portions. Perhaps the aesthetic preferred by whoever built it was utilitarian and spartan? It's hard
5207to say what parts were design and which are due to the ravages of time; several beams are askew or missing entirely, and
5208the "top" of the tower is bent off to one side, though it appears secure enough at the moment. One might be tempted to
5209draw a comparison to the Eiffel Tower on Earth, if one were squinting really hard, but it would be a stretch.
5210 
5211"It looks as if maybe it might have been some sort of radio tower," says Tux. "It doesn't look like any sort of tourist
5212attraction, although with the right equipment you could probably get up to the top to access important equipment or do
5213repairs. Funny looking thing, though. Looks almost primitive. What a dinosaur."
5214 
5215The crew lacks any such equipment, of course, and at any rate there's nothing obvious up there that might require repair,
5216or attention of any sort. Beyond, of course, repairing the whole tilted, decaying, crumbling structure. The crew turns
5217their focus to the surrounding area, instead.
5218 
5219Everyone stops, and for a minute or two everyone remains quiet, but nothing much happens.
5220 
5221"Sorry," says Corra Emmer. "Thought I saw something for a minute. I guess not."
5222 
5223Hawy Owiyxu instructs everyone to turn the lights on their helmets to full brightness and focus on the area around the
5224tower. It isn't long before Tux finds something. Barely visible beside one of the legs of the tower is a small metal
5225hatch, nearly invisible beneath the foliage. After a few mintues of clearing the hatch is pulled back, revealing a narrow
5226staircase, descending into darkness.
5227 
5228 
5229The crew walks down the steps carefully, the path before them well lit by their head lamps. The stone stairs are
5230unremarkable, as are the landings, spaced out every five meters or so with the corridor taking a 90-degree turn to the
5231left each time. There are no railings, signs, doorways or lights anywhere, and the purpose of this stairwell is
5232uncertain.
5233 
5234After a dozen or so such landings, the walls of the stairwell begin to show signs of decay and disruption. Rather than
5235being smooth and unblemished, there are pockmarks of various sizes, the majority large enough to stick an arm into. From
5236within these holes comes a rustling sound, punctuated by periods of rapid skittering, as of claws on stone. Something is
5237in there, moving around.
5238 
5239Corra Emmer narrows their eyes, and approaches one of the holes cautiously. They slowly peek inside, moving ever so
5240cautiously.
5241 
5242"I think the walls are full of these things," says Corra Emmer. "It's like a hive or nest or something. Some kind of
5243warren. There could be hundreds of them, maybe thousands. More, even. Makes me wonder if maybe we couldn't, you know...
5244harvest some of them. For food."
5245 
5246"I don't think that's a very good idea," says Hawy Owiyxu. "We have no idea what those are, if they're toxic or
5247poisonous, or what that might bring about. I say we leave it alone."
5248 
5249 
5250Giving memento jade1_skull to: Corra Emmer
5251"That's not a bad idea," you tell the crew. "We can always use more material for the food replicators. Don't get carried
5252away, but if you can get some more of them, maybe bring back a few armfuls."
5253 
5254The crew goes to work as they descend, reaching in and grabbing those small creatures foolish enough to poke their heads
5255out, or scurry closer to the surface. They don't seem to suffer too much, though they do give off tiny little squeals at
5256the end.
5257 
5258Ultimately, the staircase reaches a final landing, at which point you estimate the crew is probably about 100 meters
5259below the surface. By this point the walls are completely Swiss-cheesed with holes of various sizes; fortunately there
5260must be enough structural metal in place to keep the entire thing from collapsing. If the creatures are as active as it
5261appears, it's certainly strong enough that the crew isn't going to cause any further harm.
5262 
5263The bottom of the staircase empties into a small antechamber of some sort. There are no doors between this and the next
5264room, but it's clearly a separate space. The doorway features a lowered arch, above which are carved some sort of sigils
5265or pictograms. They're somewhat difficult to make out, however.
5266 
5267Corra Emmer takes a closer look at the carvings above the doorway.
5268 
5269"These are very primitive," they say. "Very strange. I'd almost say that whoever carved these had nothing to do with the
5270buildings on the surface, or even this staircase. The level of sophistication is completely different.
5271 
5272 
5273Corra Emmer shrugs. "Hard to say, really. There are clearly some people here, of various sizes. Small, medium, some
5274giant-sized. This here might be a chair, or a throne of some sort. If we were on Earth and this was, say, ancient
5275Egyptian, I'd say that these were slaves serving a Pharoah or some sort of god. But who knows?"
5276 
5277 
5278The crew didn't walk all the way down here for nothing. You instruct them to explore further. Maybe they can find the
5279origin of that strange signal.
5280 
5281The crew enters the large chamber, scanning about curiously with their head lamps to reveal a roughly circular room
5282approximately 50 meters in diameter and half again as high. The floor slopes down gently towards the center of the room,
5283with its lowest point being about 2 meters or so below "ground level". At the lowest point is a dais, three stone steps
5284leading up to a circular protrusion that appears to be some sort of platform.
5285 
5286The walls of the room are encrusted with what appear to be rather intricate murals, although the potential effect is
5287diminished somewhat by the activities of the subterranean creatures burrowing.
5288 
5289Hawy Owiyxu appears uncertain what to do. "What do you suggest?" they ask.
5290 
5291 
5292Giving memento jade1_mural_sketch to: Corra Emmer
5293The crew begins a long, slow circuit of the room, moving clockwise and trying to make some sense of the murals. Apart
5294from not being able to figure out if there's a beginning or an end, there's also the matter that the entire thing is only
5295about halfway legible. The burrowing creatures have made the surface look like it was riddled with bullets.
5296 
5297Corra Emmer nevertheless takes some extra time to try and discern meaning, moving slowly enough that some of the braver
5298little creatures poke their heads out to watch from higher up, out of reach.
5299 
5300"Okay, I can't be sure, but if I'm reading this right, it's kind of creepy," says Corra Emmer. "There's some sort of
5301force underneath the dais. It looks here like some sort of spirit or ghost. But how would they know that? It's a radio
5302signal. Right?"
5303 
5304"It's giving off radio signals," you clarify. "That doesn't tell us what it is. As to how they might know, maybe they can
5305perceive it. Like some animals can perceive magnetic fields."
5306 
5307They nod. "There's more, though. This part here, it shows someone opening the center of the dais with an offering. And
5308the spirit or signal or whatever, it's basically coming through them. Now that could be symbolic, or it could mean their
5309chest is being ripped open. Maybe some kind of sacrifice?"
5310 
5311The crew takes a moment to themselves, and you let them have it. It's not like they can break out a picnic lunch and play
5312cards, but you let them mull about for a moment. Not for too long, though. Don't want them getting the idea that this is
5313home. This planet has its temptations, but it's not suitable for long-term habitation. Clearly whoever was here before
5314found a good reason to leave. You hope the crew doesn't find the same reason.
5315 
5316The crew stumbles a bit as they approach the center of the room, due to the incline, but it's not so bad and even if
5317someone fell the worst that would happen is they'd slide gently for a few seconds.
5318 
5319The dais itself has three steps, or four if you include the rounded pedestal at the top. Somewhat concave, it--like the
5320chamber around it--slopes down towards the center. There are a few chips and scratches here and there, but overall the
5321entire arrangement looks very solid. There's no sign of any mechanism or special function.
5322 
5323Hawy Owiyxu asks, "What should we do?"
5324 
5325 
5326Working on the assumption that there might be something underneath the dais, you instruct the crew to look around the
5327sides for any sort of mechanism that might give more information about its function.
5328 
5329After a few minutes of poking around, Tux gets the impression that the dais itself is capable of rotating. It looks like
5330it would take an incredible amount of strength to turn it.
5331 
5332"That is," they say, "unless we can find the right place to apply leverage. The entire thing might be balanced such that
5333applying pressure at the right point and in the right direction could make the entire thing spin rather freely." A
5334half-hour later, they've done a number of calculations, and confident, they step forward and gently push the topmost
5335layer of the dais.
5336Immediately, the dais begins to shake and rattle as it rotates, seemingly unscrewing to reveal a thin sliver of light
5337along the bottom that grows brighter by the moment.
5338 
5339After a minute or two, the dais has finished rotating, leaving a gap about a meter high beneath the top and center rings,
5340from which a bright, unnatural light flickers gently. The radio signal you had detected earlier is much stronger now, so
5341this is clearly the source.
5342 
5343 
5344Giving memento jade1_tech_housing to: Tux
5345"It's some sort of device," says Tux. "It's metal, and it's got lights on it. About a meter around. It's kind of warm."
5346 
5347You can tell most of this from the camera feed, of course, but you don't mention that to the crew.
5348 
5349"If you can lift it, do so," you say. "We have no way of knowing that can do, but maybe it'll be a fuel source. Not going
5350to be able to tell down there."
5351 
5352The crew manages to wrestle the device loose, at which point both the light and the radio signal immediately cease. With
5353the light from their helmet lamps, however, they are able to navigate their way out of the chamber and back up to the
5354surface, unmolested.
5355 
5356Once safely on the surface, the crew sets the device down briefly to figure out how best to move it. Rolling it seems
5357plausible, but might damage it. Ultimately they decide that just carrying it to the shuttle is wisest.
5358 
5359The alien corpses are somewhat worthy of study, but after dismantling one and scanning everything into your systems,
5360there's no reason not to just recycle the rest for food, which you do without bothering to consult the crew.
5361 
5362An analysis of the radio-emitting device the crew retrieved reveals some fascinating properties. It was clearly not the
5363work of the primitive creatures on the surface, and appears to have been made by human hands at some point based on the
5364markings inside. There's no telling how old it was, or its exact purpose, but it's definitely more advanced than what was
5365available on Earth when your ship departed, and as such it's more advanced than what you have on board.
5366 
5367There are a few things you might be able to do with this thing. It could be converted into a significant quantity of raw
5368fuel, if you wanted to completely dismantle it. You could also slightly improve the ship's scanners by incorporating some
5369of the transmitters into your own systems, although this would require using some of the most significant sources of
5370fuel, so only one or the other will work.
5371 
5372 
5373Fuel: 0
5374Food: +30
5375Sensor range has increased.
5376Crew Remaining:
5377 
5378Hawy Owiyxu was the last to be leader.
5379Tux was the last to be engineer.
5380Corra Emmer was the last to be medic.
5381
5382Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
5383Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
5384Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
5385Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
5386Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
5387We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
5388--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5389Rusch 27
5390--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5391Star Class: G
5392Object Type: Planet
5393Object Mass: Terran
5394Surface Temp: 12 Celsius
5395Atmosphere: ~12% Oxygen
5396Gravity: 8.97 m/s^2
5397Habitability: 43.54%
5398
5399Summary: You nearly take evasive action when your scanners first pass across the planet--multiple targeting systems lock on, from bases
5400both planetside and in orbit. But when nothing happens, you risk moving closer, and it becomes clear that whatever threat might once
5401have existed here is no more. There are certainly abundant weapons systems in place, but although some of the electronics are still
5402functional, nothing seems to be armed, or in any case loaded. It seems like the ultimate in security theater. Time to send the crew
5403down to peek behind the curtain.
5404--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5405
5406Mission underway.
5407 
5408Paul Octopush is the leader.
5409 
5410You nearly take evasive action when your scanners first pass across the planet--multiple targeting systems lock on, from
5411bases both planetside and in orbit. But when nothing happens, you risk moving closer, and it becomes clear that whatever
5412threat might once have existed here is no more. There are certainly abundant weapons systems in place, but although some
5413of the electronics are still functional, nothing seems to be armed, or in any case loaded. It seems like the ultimate in
5414security theater. Time to send the crew down to peek behind the curtain.
5415"The atmosphere is unsuitable for life," you tell the crew, "so we're going to go with full atmospheric suits, helmets on
5416at all times. There are some extremely odd pollutants in the air, and we don't have any spare lungs on board."
5417 
5418 
5419They chuckle as the shuttle descends into a red haze, rusty particulate gathering on the portholes and gradually
5420obscuring the crew's view as they get lower. At first they can clearly see a cityscape, evidently devoid of life, but as
5421they get closer and the view dims, the square buildings that should come into sharper view grow more indistinct, the
5422weapon platforms and bunkers fuzzier. By the time the shuttle sets down, all anyone can see is a wash of red, like
5423staring at a bright light through closed eyelids.
5424 
5425Giving memento ruby1_ruins_photo to: Breckyn Haar
5426 
5427Hiding on the shuttle won't accomplish a thing, however. You give the order for the crew to explore their surroundings
5428for food, fuel, and whatever else they might find. As far as you can tell, they are the only living things on the
5429surface--though it's not possible to be 100% certain yet, all preliminary scans so far indicate that there's not so much
5430as a bacteria on the planet that the crew didn't drag along with them. No animals, no plants, certainly nothing human.
5431 
5432"It looks like everyone just got up one day and left," says Paul Octopush. You have to agree, watching over the crew's
5433head-mounted cameras as they make their way across the landscape. The buildings are in excellent shape, and a few glances
5434through windows reveals what seems to be intact electronics and functional machinery. If whatever was here before had
5435been wiped out in some apocalyptic event, you'd expect to see some signs of decay or damage. Unless somehow this all
5436happened within the past year. Which would be an unlikely coincidence.
5437 
5438As the crew pokes around, continuing to find nothing of much obvious use or import, you take a moment to survey more of
5439the planet, but everything is pretty much the same. Abandoned concrete and metal structures, all of it looking vaguely
5440scientific or military, with no sign of what might have happened to the inhabitants.
5441 
5442 
5443"I'm going to accelerate out of geosynchronous orbit and see what's on the other side of the planet," you tell the crew.
5444They confirm that everything seems fine for the moment, and you spend the next hour or so running more detailed scans
5445across most of the planet.
5446 
5447You don't find much. There are some empty launch towers near the equator on the opposite side of the globe, indicating
5448that there may have been some sort of exodus of whoever might have lived here. But the towers could easily have been for
5449military purposes as well. You idly wonder if this might be what Earth itself looks like by now. There's also a lot of
5450stuff in orbit, but it appears self-maintaining. Any random space junk from failed launches or collisions must have long
5451since decayed and burned up in the atmosphere. This place has been dead for a while.
5452 
5453You swing back around to where you left the crew and reestablish a synchronous orbit overhead. "Hey there, I'm back," you
5454say. Clearly something is amiss--there is no immediate reply. You force an open audio and visual connection to the crew,
5455the hard way. Something is causing interference though, and the global channel is not functional. You'll have to contact
5456the crew using a private channel.
5457 
5458 
5459"Yes, what?" says Mychal, immediately. "What is it? Everything's fine. No problems. What do you need?"
5460 
5461The feed from his camera is obscured--it appears as if some sort of substance has been smeared over the lens. Or, at
5462least over the part of his helmet in front of the lens. Without saying anything, you make some remote adjusments to the
5463camera aperture so you can get a glimpse around the obstruction and see what's going on.
5464 
5465Mychal Rennick's motions are somewhat erratic. He seems to be inside a building of some sort, although it's hard to tell
5466exactly what its purpose was. It appears commercial in nature. Whatever he's doing involves crawling around on the floor
5467in between rows of shelving and gathering things into a sack of some sort. Where he appropriated that, you have no idea.
5468 
5469 
5470"What? No!" he says. "I mean, it's not stealing. They don't need it. They're dead. This whole place is dead."
5471 
5472Obviously true and if things weren't getting weird you'd probably be telling him to load the shuttle up with everything
5473not nailed down. But something really strange is going on here and it doesn't seem very healthy.
5474 
5475"Mychal, tell me what's going on down there. Are you okay? You seem stressed."
5476 
5477"No, I'm fine," he says. "Leave me alone, I'm fine. I can do it."
5478 
5479 
5480The view through Mychal's camera changes as he slumps to the floor. It's a bit off-centered with the adjustments you
5481made, but you get the impression he's staring at his hands.
5482 
5483"We're a team," you say. "Whatever happens, we're in this together. Right?"
5484 
5485"I never lost a single person," he says. "Not a single one."
5486 
5487Mychal was a military surgeon, you recall, back on Earth. He seems to be referring back to those days. It certainly makes
5488more sense in that context than the empty, lifeless planet he's on now. You let him continue.
5489 
5490"Every one lived. And it was because of me. Not you. Not the rest of the team. Me. I saved them. I pieced hearts back
5491together. I did personality swaps. I did that. Made them live. They had no..."
5492 
5493 
5494"No choice," he spits out. "They wanted to go, some of them. I could see it in their eyes. Those who still had eyes. Even
5495those, the ones without. We gave them new eyes. Artificial, cloned. You know some of them clawed them out? Right there in
5496the hospital, with their own hands. We could fix the hardware, but the software... their minds..."
5497 
5498This is getting way, way too deep to be psychoanalyzing in the middle of an oxygen-depleted atmosphere on a planet full
5499of ghosts and who knows what dangers lurking around the corner.
5500 
5501"Mychal, can you make it back to the shuttle?"
5502 
5503"The worst ones, they didn't even know who they were. What they were. They didn't need their things any more. No family,
5504no loved ones. Tossed away, garbage. No harm in taking their things. They weren't they any more."
5505 
5506 
5507"Yes," he says, standing. "I'll go back to the shuttle. I know the way." He seems defeated as he makes his way down the
5508street. But you're no longer certain he's mentally unsound. You wonder if maybe this... planet, just brought out some
5509things that were buried pretty deep down.
5510 
5511Giving memento ruby1_ball to: Mychal Rennick
5512 
5513Mychal Rennick seems fine once he's aboard the shuttle. In fact, he seemed fine all along, now that you review the
5514conversations. This might be the first time on the entire journey that he's actually been fine.
5515 
5516"That's why I take things, you know," he says to no one in particular. You don't answer, just let him continue.
5517 
5518"It's a reminder. A token. A trophy, I guess. Look what I did. Look at what I made. You know what that makes me?"
5519 
5520"What?"
5521 
5522"A serial killer," he says. "Except I didn't kill their bodies. No, not like what happened on this planet. With whatever
5523they did to burn the sky, to kill everyone. Whatever happened. No, the physical, that was the part I fixed. I killed all
5524the rest. The parts that mattered. The human parts. I made them dead inside. Like me, I suppose."
5525 
5526Mychal is silent after that, sorting through the things he gathered on the planet. There's a surprising amount. He keeps
5527less than half for himself.
5528 
5529 
5530Breckyn Haar doesn't respond, although you do hear breathing, and can see her camera shift as she moves slightly. The
5531angle is a bit off, as if her helmet wasn't quite on straight. Perhaps she's injured? It does appear that she's sitting,
5532at least, and her vitals look solid. But it's hard to say.
5533 
5534"Breckyn, if you can hear me, at least... do something. Make a noise, or move, or something."
5535 
5536Finally, she groans. There's a bit of rustling, and her camera angle corrects itself. Available evidence would suggest
5537that she had purposely loosened her helmet, and has now re-latched it.
5538 
5539 
5540"Oh, there you are," she says. "Missed you. Missed." Her words are slow and slurred.
5541 
5542"Breckyn, why did you remove your helmet?" you repeat.
5543 
5544She giggles. "Air feels good," she says. "Helmet was too tight. Needed to breathe. Cleared my head."
5545 
5546You know from her records that Breckyn has grappled with addiction. It seems likely that something in the air down there
5547is... tapping into that. Some sort of mood-altering substance. It's imperative that you get her off the surface before
5548it's too late.
5549 
5550"Breckyn, listen to me," you say. "I need you to get back to the shuttle. Can you walk? Can you find it?"
5551 
5552"Yep, I can do that, boss," she says. She stands, the camera lurching wildly for a moment, but she seems stable enough,
5553not drunk or physically impaired. You wonder how much of that is the cybernetic modifications keeping her vertical.
5554 
5555"And keep the helmet on, please," you say. "I'm detecting some... dangerous toxins in the air." This latter is a lie--you
5556detect nothing at all--but she doesn't need to know that.
5557 
5558 
5559On her way back to the shuttle, Breckyn Haar regains enough of her senses to remember the mission, and she explores a few
5560empty buildings and gathers a small quantity of what look like foodstuffs. Certainly expired, if there's such a thing as
5561expiration dates in this dead society, but good enough for the food replicator.
5562 
5563"I'm sorry," she says as she settles into the shuttle and begins to decontaminate herself.
5564 
5565"You don't have to apologize to me," you say.
5566 
5567"It wasn't for you," she replies.
5568 
5569With the crew located, and the shuttle prepped, you give the order to push off and return to the ship. There's no sense
5570in lingering, and clearly this place is unsuitable for permanent habitation. It's unclear whether the inhabitants were
5571human or not--there's no sign of a predecessor ship, or an AI, and the crew found no evidence pointing one way or the
5572other.
5573 
5574And in the end it doesn't matter. Whoever lived here before ruined the place forever after with whatever garbage they
5575pumped into the atmosphere. You just wonder if it was murder, or suicide.
5576 
5577The crew says its goodbyes, and is glad to be gone.
5578 
5579Before you push out of the system, you consider setting up some sort of warning beacon to warn off theoretical future
5580travelers. But the odds of another ship stumbling across this place seem slim. You were the last to leave Earth. Anyone
5581else who was out here roaming around has presumably already found a place to call home. You're probably the last one
5582still looking.
5583 
5584You just hope that whatever you eventually find, it doesn't turn out to be another ruin like this place.
5585 
5586Fuel: +10
5587Food: +20
5588Crew Remaining:
5589 
5590Paul Octopush was the last to be leader.
5591Breckyn Haar
5592Mychal Rennick
5593
5594Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
5595We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
5596--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5597Gentry 20
5598--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5599Star Class: G
5600Object Type: Planet
5601Object Mass: Superterran
5602Surface Temp: ERROR
5603Atmosphere: ~1% Oxygen
5604Gravity: 23.72 m/s^2
5605Habitability: ERROR
5606
5607Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible to
5608send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
5609--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5610
5611Mission underway.
5612 
5613Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible
5614to send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
5615 
5616There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting fuel. You only have time for one of
5617them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
5618 
5619 
5620Back on the ship, Breckyn Haar volunteers to remote pilot the shuttle. They seem to focus on the brightest cloud bands,
5621even if they're not the best sources of fuel.
5622 
5623By flying with the airlock open, the shuttle scoops up a sample of hopefully useful gas, then heads quickly back to the
5624ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have compressed the gas into a usable form.
5625 
5626Fuel: +6
5627Food: 0
5628Crew Remaining:
5629 
5630Hawy Owiyxu
5631Paul Octopush
5632Tux
5633Corra Emmer
5634Breckyn Haar
5635Mychal Rennick
5636
5637Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
5638Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
5639--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5640Drake 77
5641--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5642Star Class: G
5643Object Type: Planet
5644Object Mass: Terran
5645Surface Temp: 20 Celsius
5646Atmosphere: ~21% Oxygen
5647Gravity: 9.32 m/s^2
5648Habitability: 99.99%
5649
5650Summary: There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and approaches
5651the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are thousands of different
5652languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting and "stand by for more information"
5653message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
5654--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5655
5656Mission underway.
5657 
5658Paul Octopush is the leader.
5659Paul Octopush is the medic.
5660Paul Octopush is the engineer.
5661 
5662There is zero doubt that this system is actually inhabited; the moment the ship passes through the heliopause and
5663approaches the third planet from the star--the most Earthlike--radio transmissions begin babbling in what you presume are
5664thousands of different languages. One of the first is simple binary, which you quickly translate as a general greeting
5665and "stand by for more information" message, but you don't attempt to send a reply.
5666"There are clear signs of life here," you tell the crew. "It appears multiple bodies are likely to be inhabited, but the
5667most likely candidate is this one. Not only is the surface habitable, but there are signs of stations in orbit, and
5668energy signatures that can't possibly be natural. Not a lot of junk, though. At least nothing trackable."
5669 
5670 
5671"Anyway, before you ask, no, I have no idea if they're friendly, or even what they are, or if there is even a they still
5672here," you add. "All the sensors can tell right now is that there's a ton of radio activity and clear signs of
5673habitation. Until the shuttle gets closer, there's no way to know what we're dealing with, though. Hope for the best and
5674prepare for anything."
5675 
5676The shuttle closes in on the planet, and within a few minutes there is undeniable proof of intelligent life. A station of
5677some sort, clearly artificial, begins to send a signal to the crew, in binary.
5678"01101110 11000111 10010000 00100000 01101000"
5679"11000111 10001110 01101111 00101100 00100000"
5680"01101000 01101111 01101100 01100001 00101100"
5681"00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100"
5682"01101111 00101100 00100000 01101110 01100001"
5683"01101101 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101"
5684"00101100 00100000 01100001 01110011 00101101"
5685"01110011 01100001 01101100 11000100 10000001"
5686"01101101 00100000 00100111 01100001 01101100"
5687"01100001 01111001 01101011 01110101 01101101"
5688"00101100 00100000 01101111 01101100 11000011"
5689"10100001 00101100 00100000 01101110 11000011"
5690"10110100 01101101 01101111 01110011 01101000"
5691"01101011 01100001 01110010 00101100 00100000"
5692"01110000 01110010 01101001 01110110 11000011"
5693"10101001 01110100 00101100 00100000 01101011"
5694"01101111 01101110 01101110 01101001 01100011"
5695"01101000 01101001 01110111 01100001 00101100"
5696"00100000 01101000 01100001 01101100 01101111"
5697 
5698 
5699The message goes on from there and repeats every 30 seconds or so.
5700 
5701"Clearly that's binary," says Paul Octopush. They evidently know we're from Earth. Looks to me like they're saying hello
5702in a bunch of different languages, some of which I don't recognize. Maybe we should answer."
5703 
5704 
5705You decline to respond, opting to see what they will do when presented with radio silence.
5706 
5707As the shuttle nears the station, a new message begins broadcasting in English. The accent is difficult to place, but it
5708seems to be coming from a fluent speaker.
5709 
5710"Proceed to the station directly in front of you."
5711 
5712We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
5713--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5714Orwell 64
5715--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5716Star Class: G
5717Object Type: Planet
5718Object Mass: Terran
5719Surface Temp: 21 Celsius
5720Atmosphere: ~22% Oxygen
5721Gravity: 9.01 m/s^2
5722Habitability: 99.99%
5723
5724Summary: The planet below is warm, oxygen-rich, and seismically stable. It has plenty of water beneath a relatively rocky surface,
5725gravity on par with that of Earth, and a stable orbit. In all respects it looks like a good candidate for a new home for humanity,
5726which is why it was the destination of one of the predecessor ships, and was in your system. But if all that is true, then why is the
5727only sign of habitation a single satellite repeating the same warning message, over and over? Ironically, the only way to find out is
5728to ignore the warning and send the crew down.
5729--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5730
5731Mission underway.
5732 
5733Paul Octopush is the leader.
5734Mychal Rennick is the medic.
5735 
5736The planet below is warm, oxygen-rich, and seismically stable. It has plenty of water beneath a relatively rocky surface,
5737gravity on par with that of Earth, and a stable orbit. In all respects it looks like a good candidate for a new home for
5738humanity, which is why it was the destination of one of the predecessor ships, and was in your system. But if all that is
5739true, then why is the only sign of habitation a single satellite repeating the same warning message, over and over?
5740Ironically, the only way to find out is to ignore the warning and send the crew down.
5741You debate whether or not to tell the crew. The warning is vague--technically it's not even a clear warning. Just "0 0 0
57420 0" repeated over and over in binary. That could mean many different things. It could mean there's something down there
5743that's dangerous, or it could be a warning to anything dangerous to stay away. And if it's the latter, it could be a
5744bluff--you detect no weapons systems, nor indeed anything artificial at all, beyond the satellite.
5745 
5746 
5747In the end, however, you decide to let the crew know about the message. You also remind them that raw fuel and food
5748supplies are not unlimited, and it may be worth a visit regardless just to stock up on whatever you can. The crew agrees
5749that it's worth the risk, especially since the risk is so vague. The shuttle decouples from the ship a few minutes later,
5750and within an hour it's on the ground.
5751 
5752The landing area--selected somewhat arbitrarily, as there are no distinguishing features to target--remains as
5753unnoteworthy as it was from the air, and the crew fans out a bit to look for anything that might prove more interesting.
5754The surface is remarkably smooth. Not flat, but without any obvious craters or peaks to explore. It takes the better part
5755of an hour before Paul Octopush finds anything at all, and even then, the hole in the ground appears to be little more
5756than that. Just a hole, about 2 meters in diameter, entering a low rise at about a 10 percent grade.
5757 
5758"Sensors seem to indicate that the tunnel is probably artificial," you tell the crew. "It remains remarkably consistent
5759for a very long way down. On the bright side, it's probably safe and it'll be an easy journey. On the other hand, that
5760means theoretically someone or something made it, so maybe it was only designed to look safe. Plus, walking back up will
5761be a little harder than going down."
5762 
5763"Do we really have any choice?" asks Paul Octopush.
5764 
5765 
5766"No," you say. "Unless you want to just head back up to the ship and risk running out of food." But the crew isn't really
5767listening, already focused on moving underground.
5768 
5769As you suspected, the additional readings from the crew's suit sensors confirm that the tunnel is likely artificial. At
5770least in the sense that it was created in part by some intelligent being. The sides are smooth and even, the diameter
5771almost perfectly consistent, and the grade steady. Something definitely bored this tunnel, though whether it was a
5772machine or a man--or some other animal--there's no way to know. At least not yet.
5773 
5774The tunnel figuratively snakes downwards in a barely-perceptible but steady coil, such that after about a 20 minute walk,
5775the crew is almost directly below where they entered from the surface. Perhaps not coincidentally, this is right about
5776when the tunnel begins to branch out. The first intersection the crew comes to they ignore, but after the second and
5777third, they pause to take stock of the situation.
5778 
5779Paul Octopush suggests that it might be best to just continue following the main tunnel. "If there was no navigational
5780assistance from our suits and sensors, I'd say to backtrack and stick to every right fork, but since that's not an issue
5781the main corridor seems the safest bet, unless we see something of interest."
5782 
5783Unfortunately, this plan only proves valid for another ten minutes or so, at which point the corridor comes to a
5784definitive end. Two corridors snake off in different directions, but almost as if designed to be intentionally confusing,
5785neither one of them could be said to be the "straight ahead" option. One corridor heads towards the left and slopes down,
5786one slopes down towards the right.
5787 
5788 
5789The leftmost corridor seems the most similar to the main tunnel that the crew's been following so far, so it seems a
5790fairly logical option to choose. After a few minutes, however, it seems to narrow, and the twists and turns become more
5791frequent. Small side tunnels, too narrow to walk down, open up on all sides--these eventually grow larger, until the crew
5792is able to step inside a few and peer down towards dead ends. These were newer corridors, not yet completed, perhaps.
5793 
5794Even inside atmospheric suits, the air becomes more stifling. The filters can't quite keep out the odor, which the crew
5795finds at once displeasing and intriguing. "Like someone is barbecueing with spoiled meat," suggests Breckyn Haar.
5796 
5797After a few minutes of walking, a second tunnel joins this one from above. Fortunately it's distinct enough that
5798navigating back up won't be too much of an issue. If nothing else, the crew should be able to find their way out just by
5799moving away from the odor, which is becoming overpowering.
5800 
5801"I'd really expect to see some sort of insect life by now," says Paul Octopush. "This smell... it's just overpowering,
5802like there's a giant pile of rotting meat somewhere just around the corner, or all around us. Or like we're inside some
5803giant creature's intenstinal tract or something."
5804 
5805The likelihood of this latter being true is small. The tunnels are not only smooth, but bone dry. If the crew was inside
5806something living, by any definition of life you are aware of, there would have to be at least some sign of moisture
5807present. These corridors do not resemble intestines other than in that they are relatively twisty.
5808 
5809 
5810Giving memento opal1_tunnel_sketch to: Paul Octopush
5811According to your maps of the terrain, and sensor readings from the crew, they're just over a kilometer below the
5812surface, although you'd suspect they felt it was much, much further due to the way the tunnels loop over and over
5813again--horizontally, they've probably traveled at least four or five kilometers. Yet they don't seem as tired as you'd
5814expect. They seem to almost have gained in strength and vigor.
5815Giving memento opal1_cavern_photo to: Breckyn Haar
5816 
5817And then, suddenly, the corridor comes to a distinct end, opening up into an immense chamber. The ceiling is only about
5818twice human height, but the sides of the room are so far out as to be imperceptible, even considering the quality of the
5819crew's helmet lamps. It could easily stretch for tens of kilometers, or farther. There's no way to be sure and no way
5820you'd ask the crew to verify.
5821 
5822Besides, they have other things to look at.
5823 
5824In stark contrast to the barren, dry tunnels they've been walking, the chamber is filled with moisture. Water--at least
5825you hope it's water--drips from the ceiling into puddles on the floor, and the walls nearby are riddled with rivulets of
5826moisture that briefly turn into a minor cascade as the crew passes by.
5827 
5828But this is not what draws the crew's attention. Rather, it is the bulbous masses filling the center of the chamber,
5829seemingly everywhere but for a meter-wide area around the perimeter of the cavern. There's no word for them but what they
5830clearly are: eggs. Sickly off-white in color, each approximately twice as large as a human head, and too opaque to see
5831through.
5832 
5833The crew begins to make gagging sounds.
5834 
5835 
5836"Ugh, the smell," says Paul Octopush.
5837 
5838You are at once glad, and disturbed, that there's no way for you to perceive what the crew is smelling. You have larger
5839concerns, however. Like the fact that these eggs, for whatever reason, aren't showing up as life forms on the scanners.
5840Very curious, to put it mildly.
5841 
5842 
5843The crew seems torn on what to do, although you can sense that part of their brains want to just rip their helmets off
5844and dive into the middle of the room. You'll have to make a quick decision.
5845 
5846 
5847Giving memento opal1_egg to: Mychal Rennick
5848"You didn't go all the way down there just to walk out empty-handed," you say. "They're eggs, they're food, so let's
5849harvest some and then get back to the shuttle. Just be careful."
5850 
5851"I suggest we approach this less like a harvest and more like a surgery," says Mychal Rennick. "We don't know for sure if
5852these... things are alive or not, but assuming they are, let's assume that keeping them that way will benefit us. And
5853let's assume that breaking them, as with any egg, will probably kill whatever's inside."
5854 
5855This proves quite easy, in fact. The eggs--if that's what they are--have a very tough, leathery exterior. There is a thin
5856membrane attaching them to the ground, but it's easy enough to sever with one's fingers. After that, it's a fairly simple
5857feat to simply lift them off the ground intact.
5858 
5859The crew begins to make their way up the long, snaky corridor at a leisurely pace. It takes several hours, and they are
5860cranky and complaining about muscle aches by the time they emerge on the surface, but you ignore the griping. Once
5861they're back on the ship and prepped for a system jump, the cryo process will get rid of any permanent injuries. Of which
5862there are probably none, anyway. The humans like to complain.
5863 
5864 
5865Once they're safely back on the ship, you leave the crew to decompress and destress while you look over the data gathered
5866via sensor readings. The satellite's odd behavior remains unchanged and appears to be no threat, so you completely ignore
5867that. If it was intended to signal something, it would take years for the message to be received. There's nothing
5868sentient in this system except you and your crew.
5869 
5870You do a deeper chemical analysis of the contents of the egg. The shell itself is unremarkable--tough proteins, similar
5871to what you'd find in a lizard egg, or some sort of insect, as opposed to a harder-shelled bird egg. What's inside,
5872though, is much more interesting.
5873 
5874You ask Mychal Rennick for their opinion, and they pore over the data for a while before conferring with you on a private
5875channel.
5876 
5877 
5878"These... things in the egg. Like worms, but they're not worms at all," they say. "They're tentacles, or appendages of
5879some sort. Torn loose from the main body. Hard to be sure since it's all disintegrating before my eyes, but it's very
5880squidlike. The inky mucus... the structure..."
5881 
5882"Notice anything else?" you ask.
5883 
5884"Yes," they say. "These DNA results... does this mean what I think it means? Is this... human?"
5885 
5886"I think so," you say. "I don't know what it means, though. Hemocyanin and hemoglobin are both present..."
5887 
5888 
5889You decide not to share all your findings with the crew, however. In part because you're not sure what the findings
5890suggest, but also because you fear it might scare the crew unreasonably and unnecessarily.
5891 
5892In addition to containing traces of human DNA, the organisms within the eggs contain substances consistent with cryogenic
5893fluid, as would have been used aboard one of the later Aleph-class predecessor ships.
5894 
5895Did one of the ships make it here? Did it crash? Was the crew... consumed by whatever was on the planet? Or was there
5896something more at work? Moot, at any rate. Eggs, cryo fluid, whatever the case... the results are clear on one thing.
5897Whatever was inside these egg sacs has been dead for a very long time. Preserved, but long dead.
5898 
5899Regardless, it's good enough for use in the food replicator. You keep the specifics to yourself and have some drones
5900shovel the material into the hopper. After a few minutes, it will all just be raw materials anyhow, indistinguishable
5901from whatever else was in there.
5902 
5903You idly wonder if whatever process happened inside those eggs didn't work much the same way. Making one thing
5904indistinguishable from another...
5905 
5906You gladly leave the planet behind, its lone satellite still screaming into space. You wonder how high it will count
5907before it stops.
5908 
5909Fuel: 0
5910Food: +24
5911Crew Remaining:
5912 
5913Paul Octopush was the last to be leader.
5914Mychal Rennick was the last to be medic.
5915Breckyn Haar
5916
5917Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
5918Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
5919We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
5920Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
5921--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5922Kubrick 69
5923--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5924Star Class: G
5925Object Type: Planet
5926Object Mass: Terran
5927Surface Temp: 15 Celsius
5928Atmosphere: ~14% Oxygen
5929Gravity: 7.38 m/s^2
5930Habitability: 53.75%
5931
5932Summary: Even from multiple light seconds away, it's clear that this planet is one that has seen the touch of human hands--or at the
5933very least, some other equally intelligent and technologically advanced civilization. There are clear signs of habitation across the
5934entire globe, though it's certainly no ecumenopolis. Even so, the amount of the planet that scans indicate is urbanized in some fashion
5935is significantly higher than Earth was.
5936--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5937
5938Mission underway.
5939 
5940Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
5941Corra Emmer is the medic.
5942Tux is the engineer.
5943 
5944Even from multiple light seconds away, it's clear that this planet is one that has seen the touch of human hands--or at
5945the very least, some other equally intelligent and technologically advanced civilization. There are clear signs of
5946habitation across the entire globe, though it's certainly no ecumenopolis. Even so, the amount of the planet that scans
5947indicate is urbanized in some fashion is significantly higher than Earth was.
5948If the population were equivalent to Earth at its peak, this planet looks like it would be home to somewhere between 1
5949and 2 trillion inhabitants. But it is not. There are no signs of organic life.
5950 
5951 
5952There is a radio signal, however. The precise nature of the message being broadcast is unclear, but it repeats the same
5953pattern every sixty seconds, and is clearly not just random noise. As you enter into a stable orbit, you send the same
5954thing back towards the planet, but there is no reply or change. You will need to send the crew down to investigate.
5955 
5956 
5957The source of the transmission appears to be a large city, or what you presume to be one. It is not like a 21st Century
5958city on Earth, with grids of roads and rectangles full of square gray buildings, all steel and glass and asphalt. There
5959is certainly metal and stone here, but the buildings are coppery spheres and domes, and they are scattered about a grassy
5960plain with not so much as a single visible road connecting any two of them. A child's set of marbles, tossed in lawn and
5961forgotten, each one nearly half-sunken into the terrain.
5962 
5963In the center of one of the densest patches of spheres is a flat, circular area, more than large enough to fit the
5964shuttle. Scans indicate that it's structurally sound and solid underneath, so it seems like a good place to land.
5965 
5966 
5967Giving memento copper1_spheres_photo to: Corra Emmer
5968"The atmosphere is breathable," you inform the crew, "but for now let's not take any chances. Stay suited up, at least
5969until we get a better idea of what we're dealing with."
5970 
5971There are countless places to start looking around, but the crew quickly narrows it down to three likely candidates. The
5972first of these, the largest sphere, is also the source of the radio transmission, as far as you can tell. The other two
5973are smaller spheres off to each side--the one on the left is clearly older, its surface covered in verdigris, and the one
5974on the right has a slight bluish tinge. From the outside, however, there's no way to ascertain their function, or to know
5975what lies within.
5976 
5977 
5978The bluish sphere is completely sealed, with not a single obvious way to get inside anywhere along its circumference. Up
5979close, however, the crew can tell that the surface is not entirely opaque. If they press their suit visors directly
5980against the sphere, the crew is able to see inside and make out some level of detail.
5981 
5982The entire sphere is about 30 meters across, and as far as they can tell the inside is one large space, although it
5983appears to be broken up into segments by low walls. There is a clear division down one axis, splitting the sphere into
5984two equal areas, and within each area there are sub-sets of slightly lower walls that break the space up further. However
5985there is no indication of purpose.
5986Giving memento copper1_sphere to: Hawy Owiyxu
5987 
5988Although there is nothing resembling a door or window anywhere to be seen, getting inside the green-tinged sphere is a
5989simple matter, as portions of the exterior have degraded to the point of collapse. There are no signs of structural
5990unsoundness, however, so there's no reason the crew can't take a look.
5991 
5992The interior is composed of one large room, approximately 20 meters across, broken up into segments by a waist-high wall.
5993These "rooms" are of various sizes, and although some of them contain other wall segments and square structures within,
5994there's no obvious indication of their purpose.
5995 
5996One of the walled-off areas directly opposite where the crew entered has a depression in the floor, which appears to be
5997something like a staircase. However, it only goes down about four steps before ending at a blank wall. Scans indicate
5998that there is nothing below but solid ground.
5999 
6000In one of the smaller walled off areas, Hawy Owiyxu finds a small coppery sphere sitting on the ground. "What's this, I
6001wonder?" they ask.
6002 
6003"So far as I can tell, it's a solid sphere made of the same substance these buildings have been made of," says Tux
6004 
6005The largest sphere in the immediate area is a fairly impressive structure, even if the surface is fairly unremarkable in
6006itself. It's easily 250 meters in diameter, approximately a third of which appears to be underground, anchoring it in
6007place. The object is clearly built from some type of metal, although the specific alloy is uncertain--scans are
6008inconclusive, almost as if something were interfering with them.
6009 
6010Aside from a single rectangle facing the crew, the surface is entirely seamless. This looks like a door, but there's no
6011obvious way to open it.
6012 
6013 
6014Tux inspects the area directly around the presumed door, as well as the ground in front of it, looking for some sort of
6015hidden mechanism.
6016 
6017They try everything they can think of, but, Tux can't find any way to open the door. "It could rely on some sort of radio
6018signal," they suggest, "but we have no way to test that theory that I can think of."
6019 
6020"Maybe we should just try to knock?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
6021 
6022Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:3Requested char Number: 4294967295
6023Warning: CharacterManager::getCharColoredName, couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:3Requested char Number: 4294967295
6024 
6025Hawy Owiyxu steps up to what they presume is a door, and raps heavily on the surface with the side of their fist.
6026 
6027For a moment, nothing happens. Then the door soundlessly slides to one side, revealing the interior of the sphere.
6028 
6029The interior of the large sphere is immense, a cross between a giant outdoor theater and some sort of planetarium. The
6030space is evenly lit, but it is unclear how. The floor inside slopes down gently, following the contour of the underground
6031portion of the sphere in a series of shallow steps, or perhaps seats. The twenty or so meters at the very center and
6032bottom are relatively flat, but for a narrow column in the center that extends up to the very top of the sphere. Now that
6033the crew is in close proximity, it's clear that this is the source of the radio signal you detected earlier.
6034 
6035 
6036The crew wanders around a bit, but there's not much to see but bare stone and metal, so they quickly find a place to sit
6037about halfway down to the center.
6038 
6039Almost immediately after being seated, whatever was providing light shuts off, leaving the crew in pitch blackness. But
6040only momentarily--before the crew can utter a word of concern, the interior of the sphere is illuminated by what appears
6041to be projections from the sphere in the middle, which is spinning rapidly.
6042 
6043The images are at first abstract blocks of color, but they very quickly coalesce into a single large image of the planet
6044Earth hovering in space, with the moon visible off to the left and the sun off somewhere behind the central pillar. The
6045image appears static at first, but it gradually becomes clear that the image was taken from a spacecraft. Earth, moon and
6046sun grow smaller as they recede.
6047 
6048The image abruptly cuts to black, and is replaced by a ring of question marks around the circumferance of the sphere.
6049 
6050 
6051Hawy Owiyxu says "Yes, we're from Earth. Are you from Earth?"
6052 
6053A moment later, well-hidden speakers repeat the word "Yes" back in Hawy Owiyxu's own voice.
6054 
6055The dark sphere becomes illuminated again, pinpricks of light. Stars. These rapidly blur and distort, the projection
6056clearly attempting to illustrate relativistic effects. You've seen this before, but the crew has never been awake for it.
6057Based on what's shown, and where it abruptly leaves off, you'd estimate that the ship would have to be traveling at least
605899.99% the speed of light, but the projection is not precise enough to know beyond that. You'd assume that this was
6059filmed (or is a simulation of the view from) one of your predecessor ships, however. Which would mean...
6060 
6061 
6062Hawy Owiyxu asks out loud, "Are you an artificial intelligence? An AI?"
6063 
6064In Hawy Owiyxu's own voice, the words "Yes" and "AI" are repeated.
6065 
6066 
6067The blurry image on the interior of the sphere suddenly sharpens, and over the course of several minutes it becomes clear
6068that what the crew is now seeing is the very system they are in now, and eventually, the very planet they're now upon.
6069 
6070 
6071"Why won't you talk to us directly?" asks Hawy Owiyxu.
6072 
6073"No" and "talk", is the reply.
6074 
6075You're about to question this response when you begin to suspect that the video feed is giving you the answer. Instead of
6076the view shifting as the ship enters orbit, the planet continues to grow larger and larger, eventually looming to fill
6077half the sphere. The image begins to blur and redden before fading to white. Then there's blackness again.
6078 
6079"No" and "human", says the AI.
6080 
6081"The ship never entered orbit," says Tux. "They either couldn't slow down, or something else catastrophic happened, and
6082they came right into the atmosphere. The ship crash landed. If it's even appropriate to use the word landed."
6083 
6084They're right about that much. None of the ships that left Earth in search of other systems were designed to land. Every
6085one was equipped with a shuttle or some other means of getting people and cargo to the surface. The ships, including
6086yours, were constructed in orbit and were intended to remain in space their entire lives.
6087 
6088"What a horrifying way to die," says Corra Emmer. "If the crew was awake, they'd have known they were going to die for
6089days, if not weeks. Slowly watching their inevitable doom approach, then either burning alive or being crushed in the
6090impact..."
6091 
6092If it has any thoughts on the matter, the other AI does not vocalize them. Probably for the best.
6093 
6094"Hey," says Hawy Owiyxu, rather quietly. You presume they are speaking to you.
6095 
6096"Yes?" you reply.
6097 
6098"Did you record what we saw here? So you could watch it again?"
6099 
6100You did, and you do. Of course, you watch the entire thing at 25 times normal speed since there's no reason to drag it
6101out. You watch it twice, in fact.
6102 
6103"Did any of it look strange to you?" they ask.
6104 
6105 
6106"It was kind of obvious here, because of the distortion of the spherical projection," they say. "But what do you think it
6107means?"
6108 
6109 
6110"Keep your eyes open," you say. "Let's see how this plays out. We need more information."
6111 
6112 
6113Warning: CharacterManager::getCharAttr,  couldn't find the charNumber! We had deployCharSizeOf:3Requested char Number: 4294967295
6114Hawy Owiyxu asks the AI about how it managed to survive the crash, intentionally using as many words as possible in
6115phrasing the question, to give the AI something to respond with.
6116 
6117While it does so, you spend some time running some simulations about the likely behavior of earlier ship AI, and matching
6118it up against what the AI projected for the crew to see.
6119 
6120You are paying enough attention however to hear the other AI say that the crash was not severe enough to destroy
6121it--which makes sense, since the AI core would have been well-shielded in the back of the ship--but it was bad enough to
6122kill "all humans forever not little humans little humans all gone forever".
6123 
6124"Babies," says Corra Emmer. "It's talking about babies. The larger ships carried thousands of fetuses and embryos on
6125board in various stages of development."
6126 
6127"Babies," repeats the AI. "Fetuses embryos babies very very very little very little gone forever humans bad humans kill
6128forever..."
6129 
6130The AI has devolved into babble at this point. The interior of the sphere turns a dull reddish color, strange shadows and
6131abstract shapes flittering about as it goes on and on about "very bad very very bad" and "little humans all kill" and it
6132occurs to you that this might be a good time for the crew to vacate the premises. Just in case.
6133 
6134 
6135The crew stands and walks towards the exit. The door remains open, but all the lights inside go out, leaving it quite
6136dark.
6137 
6138"So anyway," says Hawy Owiyxu. "We're gonna go look around outside. You happen to have any spare fuel or food out there
6139anywhere?"
6140 
6141"Food," says the AI. "Humans need food all humans all kill little humans little food bad humans all kill all humans kill
6142all humans..."
6143 
6144 
6145You have no idea exactly what the AI is thinking, or precisely what happened, although you can conjure up several vivid
6146scenarios for yourself. And you're sure the crew is doing the same right now as they flee outside and scramble for the
6147shuttle. In the end, all that matters is that something very bad happened here and it isn't really a good idea to find
6148out what that was. Because you get the feeling that the answer would not be an explanation, but a demonstration.
6149 
6150You try in vain to contact the AI on several different frequencies, but it does not respond, just continues to broadcast
6151the same repetitive "Hello World" message. You're not even sure it knows it's broadcasting. Unless it's a sort of Siren
6152song. Luring sailors to their doom?
6153 
6154"Kill all humans," indeed.
6155 
6156Speaking of which, your crew is waiting for direction.
6157 
6158"We should take the long way around," says Hawy Owiyxu. "They won't expect that. Whoever they are. Or whatever. The point
6159is we don't know."
6160 
6161"It's up to you," says Hawy Owiyxu. "What should we do?"
6162 
6163 
6164"We have no idea what to expect, so the best scenario is to also act in an unexpected way," you say. "It will expect you
6165to run for the shuttle, so hunker down somewhere for a moment and let's see what it throws at us. If anything at all."
6166Part of you hopes nothing is going to happen, but it's a very small part.
6167 
6168The crew complies, and agrees to play it safe. They crouch down behind some low bushes near the largest sphere and wait.
6169 
6170It's fortunate that the crew decided not to just dart out into the open. About thirty seconds after you give the order,
6171the ground near the shuttle bursts open, and a half-dozen coppery spheres--each one between one and two meters in
6172diameter--emerge from the ground. Whether they burrowed or burned their way out, you can't be certain. What is more clear
6173is that they are looking for the crew. One of them rolls inside the shuttle, and when they find no one inside, the group
6174of them spreads out, going on the hunt.
6175 
6176You do some calculations, and when the spherical robots are far enough away, you tell the crew to run for the shuttle.
6177We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
6178Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6179Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6180--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6181Le Guin 49
6182--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6183Star Class: G
6184Object Type: Planet
6185Object Mass: Terran
6186Surface Temp: 30 Celsius
6187Atmosphere: 5% Oxygen
6188Gravity: 7.97 m/s^2
6189Habitability: 24.21%
6190
6191Summary: The atmosphere of this planet is completely unsuitable for human life, or indeed any form of life you can think of. In fact,
6192it might very well be comparable with what Earth's atmosphere likely looks like at this point, choked with toxic gases. Beneath the
6193dense, dark cloud cover, however, there's definitely a solid surface and a very good chance of finding some sort of fuel for the ship.
6194Even if sending the crew down to look around is a risk, it's a calculated one.
6195--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6196
6197Mission underway.
6198 
6199Hawy Owiyxu is the leader.
6200Mychal Rennick is the medic.
6201Tux is the engineer.
6202 
6203The atmosphere of this planet is completely unsuitable for human life, or indeed any form of life you can think of. In
6204fact, it might very well be comparable with what Earth's atmosphere likely looks like at this point, choked with toxic
6205gases. Beneath the dense, dark cloud cover, however, there's definitely a solid surface and a very good chance of finding
6206some sort of fuel for the ship. Even if sending the crew down to look around is a risk, it's a calculated one.
6207All the sensor readings are a bit strange, admittedly. Everything indicates that there's no possible way anything is
6208alive down there, and yet some of the results are in line with what you'd expect to see if life forms were present. There
6209were Earth creatures who lived in some pretty inhospitable environments--certain worms, bacteria, and the like thrived at
6210the bottom of the ocean around geothermal vents, for example. If there is anything down there, it's probably something
6211like that, so as long as the crew keeps their suits on, they should be just fine.
6212 
6213 
6214 
6215Surely the biggest challenge, however, will be finding a place to set the shuttle down safely. Once inside the atmosphere
6216it becomes clear that the planet is very geothermally active, and much of the terrain is covered in molten rock that's
6217hot enough to melt important pieces of the shuttle within a few minutes of setting down. You instruct the crew to try one
6218of the poles, as they do appear a bit cooler and more stable, and they adjust course accordingly.
6219Giving memento gold1_plateau_photo to: Mychal Rennick
6220 
6221Your crew, led by Hawy Owiyxu, manages to find a decent spot for the shuttle to land after a few passes. They select a
6222high plateau overlooking a narrow valley, choked with what at first glance looks like something halfway between dirty
6223water and tar, or perhaps molasses. The ambient temperature outside is high enough to keep whatever it is flowing rather
6224freely, however, and in fact a small stream of the stuff trickles past the shuttle about 100 meters out before running
6225off the side of a cliff in a sort of "tarfall".
6226 
6227As the crew vacates the shuttle--albeit with some reluctance--they find the terrain solid and safe enough, if a bit
6228sticky. Bits of the black, gold-flecked stuff cling to the bottom of the crew's boots, but appears to pose no harm to
6229either crew or suit. It will probably take a bit of effort to wash off, however.
6230 
6231Ready for anything, Hawy Owiyxu looks around, but sees nothing of particular interest, so they throw the decision to you.
6232Sensors show nothing in the immediate area, so it's exploration no matter what. The crew could investigate the tarry
6233stream in the distance, or search for a way to descend into the valley where there might be more to look at.
6234 
6235 
6236You direct the crew to head further down, feeling that they'll have better luck down there--the resources look a bit
6237scarce up here. The valley isn't too deep, but the descent looks rather steep. The crew cautiously makes their way down
6238the cliff face, wondering if they'd have been better off just landing the shuttle at the bottom.
6239 
6240The crew looks around for a while, but finds nothing of interest that they haven't already taken note of and/or sampled
6241in some fashion.
6242 
6243 
6244They're just about to turn back to the shuttle when there's a strange sound nearby, a cross between a rumble and a
6245squelch, as if someone had dropped a wet thousand-kilogram sponge off of a tall building.
6246 
6247When they turn to look, they see that a giant humanoid form has erupted from the ground. Formed from tarlike sludge, it
6248has no visible face, but a head and arms can clearly be made out. Whether it's mocking or mimicking the human form, or
6249this is its natural shape, is unclear. What quickly becomes evident, however, is that it's intelligent, because it begins
6250to communicate with the crew.
6251 
6252"Are you hearing this?" asks Hawy Owiyxu. You respond negatively. "I think it's using some sort of telepathy," they
6253continue. "I can hear it in my head. I know, it's ridiculous, but still..."
6254 
6255 
6256"It's angry that we're here," says Hawy Owiyxu. "And it wants to know what we think we're doing."
6257 
6258 
6259The creature suddenly triples in size, either absorbing material from the surrounding terrain or somehow expanding
6260material already within it. If the crew had weapons of some sort they'd no doubt be firing wildly, but without anything
6261of the sort even the more hostile among them seem to recognize that open hostility would be pointless. They retreat a bit
6262and begin to look for a way out of the situation.
6263 
6264"It's... talking to us," says Hawy Owiyxu. "It says it wants to give us a fair challenge, and if we refuse, then it'll
6265simply kill us all. What should we do?"
6266 
6267You've no idea how to approach the situation. This thing is unlike anything you've ever encountered, although for all its
6268alienness there is something strangely... human about its behavior. Why bluster and threaten when it could simply attack?
6269Why take a humanoid form when it could simply engulf the crew without warning?
6270 
6271 
6272Hawy Owiyxu appears to listen for a moment, and then says "I know this sounds strange, but it seems to want an
6273arm-wrestling contest. Or something like that. That's the image I get. It's not really thinking in words, just images and
6274concepts."
6275 
6276 
6277"That's what it seems like," says Hawy Owiyxu. "Some sort of competition. Not strength per se, just... something
6278physical. Maybe it wants to show off?"
6279 
6280 
6281Mychal Rennick steps forward eagerly and points to a rock in the distance. "First one to that weird rock, wins," they
6282say, and run off without another word.
6283 
6284Perhaps it's caught off guard, or perhaps it simply decided to let them win, but the creature doesn't even come close to
6285catching up to Mychal Rennick, and they raise their hands in victory after reaching the rock.
6286 
6287The whole thing strikes you as somewhat odd. Yet the creature seems satisfied, as far as you can tell.
6288 
6289There's a moment of awkwardness when the little competition is over, during which you imagine the creature is talking to
6290the crew via whatever telepathic means it is capable of. Then the creature dissolves into the ground and is gone.
6291 
6292"It said we're free to go," says Hawy Owiyxu. "I'm inclined to say we should take that not as an invitation but a
6293demand."
6294 
6295You are inclined to agree, and you order the crew to return to the shuttle immediately. They're able to get back without
6296incident.
6297 
6298The crew is relieved when the shuttle finally reconnects to the ship, and they don't even bother to eat or clean up
6299before collapsing into their bunks to decompress. You can only assume they're thinking the same thing you are--that this
6300was some sort of test.
6301 
6302And they, too, are wondering if they passed, or failed.
6303Fuel: 0
6304Food: 0
6305Crew Remaining:
6306 
6307Hawy Owiyxu was the last to be leader.
6308Tux was the last to be engineer.
6309Mychal Rennick was the last to be medic.
6310
6311Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
6312Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6313Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6314Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6315We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
6316Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6317--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6318Fearn 6e
6319--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6320Star Class: G
6321Object Type: Planet
6322Object Mass: Terran
6323Surface Temp: ERROR
6324Atmosphere: ~13% Oxygen
6325Gravity: 5.67 m/s^2
6326Habitability: ERROR
6327
6328Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to remain
6329on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
6330--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6331
6332Mission underway.
6333 
6334Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to
6335remain on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
6336 
6337There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting food. You only have time for one of
6338them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
6339 
6340 
6341Back on the ship, Paul Octopush volunteers to remote pilot the shuttle. They perform capably.
6342 
6343With the airlock open, the shuttle dips down low and collects a sample of organic matter, then heads quickly back to the
6344ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have sorted through the collected material and purged anything harmful.
6345 
6346Fuel: 0
6347Food: +7
6348Crew Remaining:
6349 
6350Hawy Owiyxu
6351Paul Octopush
6352Tux
6353Breckyn Haar
6354Mychal Rennick
6355
6356Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
6357Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6358Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6359We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
6360We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
6361--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6362Farmer 72
6363--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6364Star Class: G
6365Object Type: Planet
6366Object Mass: Terran
6367Surface Temp: 9 Celsius
6368Atmosphere: ~8% Oxygen
6369Gravity: ERROR
6370Habitability: ERROR
6371
6372Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to remain
6373on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
6374--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6375
6376Mission underway.
6377 
6378Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to
6379remain on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
6380 
6381There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting food. You only have time for one of
6382them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
6383 
6384 
6385Back on the ship, Paul Octopush volunteers to remote pilot the shuttle. They perform capably.
6386 
6387With the airlock open, the shuttle dips down low and collects a sample of organic matter, then heads quickly back to the
6388ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have sorted through the collected material and purged anything harmful.
6389 
6390Fuel: 0
6391Food: +5
6392Crew Remaining:
6393 
6394Hawy Owiyxu
6395Paul Octopush
6396Tux
6397Breckyn Haar
6398Mychal Rennick
6399
6400Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
6401Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6402We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
6403Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6404--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6405Glasby 6f
6406--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6407Star Class: G
6408Object Type: Planet
6409Object Mass: Superterran
6410Surface Temp: ERROR
6411Atmosphere: ~0% Oxygen
6412Gravity: 24.85 m/s^2
6413Habitability: ERROR
6414
6415Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible to
6416send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
6417--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6418
6419Mission underway.
6420 
6421Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, and there's nowhere to land a shuttle anyway, so it's impossible
6422to send the crew down. You detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
6423 
6424There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting fuel. You only have time for one of
6425them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
6426 
6427 
6428By flying with the airlock open, the shuttle scoops up a sample of hopefully useful gas, then heads quickly back to the
6429ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have compressed the gas into a usable form.
6430 
6431Fuel: +3
6432Food: 0
6433Crew Remaining:
6434 
6435Hawy Owiyxu
6436Paul Octopush
6437Tux
6438Breckyn Haar
6439Mychal Rennick
6440
6441Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
6442Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6443Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6444We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
6445--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6446Farmer 72
6447--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6448Star Class: G
6449Object Type: Planet
6450Object Mass: Terran
6451Surface Temp: 9 Celsius
6452Atmosphere: ~8% Oxygen
6453Gravity: ERROR
6454Habitability: ERROR
6455
6456Summary: Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to remain
6457on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
6458--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6459
6460Mission underway.
6461 
6462Sensors are not getting a good reading on this planet, so it's unwise to send the crew down. You instruct the crew to
6463remain on the ship, and detach the shuttle for a quick excursion to scoop up some raw materials.
6464 
6465There are two spots where it seems like you might have a good chance at harvesting food. You only have time for one of
6466them, however, and in either case it's going to be a very quick pass.
6467 
6468 
6469Back on the ship, Paul Octopush volunteers to remote pilot the shuttle. They perform capably.
6470 
6471With the airlock open, the shuttle dips down low and collects a sample of organic matter, then heads quickly back to the
6472ship. By the time it docks, the onboard drones have sorted through the collected material and purged anything harmful.
6473 
6474Fuel: 0
6475Food: +7
6476Crew Remaining:
6477 
6478Hawy Owiyxu
6479Paul Octopush
6480Tux
6481Breckyn Haar
6482Mychal Rennick
6483
6484Press LEAVE to exit the terminal - Your game has been saved.
6485Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null
6486We already had the quest item: argon_neutronstar_name_AR
6487Deploy screen big texture for missions/random/json/argon.json not found: null