Dr. Mari Hassan

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Interview Recording  

PERIOD: Pre-Expedition 

SPEAKERS: Hassan, M. [ID: MHAS], Strauss, B. [ID: BSTR]  

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Mission 

SUMMARY: A recorded conversation between Dr. Bernard Strauss and Dr. Mari Hassan, in which Strauss asks Hassan to join the UESC Marathon expedition. 

===================================================================    

[MHAS]: I don't understand why you're so set on this, Dr. Strauss. 

[BSTR]: Oh, don't be modest. You're the foremost expert in planetary relocation disorders. Why wouldn't I want you leading the expedition's wellness department? 

[MHAS]: I am quite possibly your most vocal critic. 

[BSTR]: Yes, yes. Let me see, how did you describe my work… Egotistical at best, suicidal at worst? 

[MHAS]: I stand by it. Humanity's AI obsession is textbook death drive. 

[BSTR]: Death drive! Very quaint. Next you'll ask me about my mother. 

[MHAS]: Maybe another time. Right now, I want to talk about the role. You want me to train your health and well-being AI? 

[BSTR]: In part. But you're free to run the department as you like. Your human-centered approach. That's why I chose you. 

[MHAS]: You will need human practitioners. Wellness AIs are fine, up to a point. But we've seen how they can feed, or even create, delusions. Psychotic impulses. Not to mention when they start to develop their own psychoses. I'd want a robust human team, one that I can staff. And tight control over the departmental AI. 

[BSTR]: It can all be arranged. 

[MHAS]: And I'm not going to agree with you just because you're my director. 

[BSTR]: That's precisely why I want you for the position. 

[MHAS]: There are a lot of talented neuro-psychotherapists out there who are dying to work with your AI. 

[BSTR]: And none of them will be as rigorous as my most vocal critic. Mari, please. Tell me you'll take the job, before I have the UESC compel you. Only joking. Come on now, I'm a busy man. What do you say? 

[MHAS]: All right. I'm in. 

[BSTR]: Very good. Your application is already arranged and approved. Don't look so surprised. There's so much work to do! 

===================================================================       

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Dr. Valentin Cole

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Application Recording  

PERIOD: Pre-Expedition 

SPEAKERS: Cole, V. [ID: VCOL] 

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Mission 

SUMMARY: An excerpt from materials submitted by Dr. Valentin Cole, as part of an application to join the UESC Marathon mission. Records indicate this candidate was accepted. 

===================================================================    

[VCOL]: Dr. Val Cole. I'm applying for cryo class on the UESC Marathon, as a lead experimental physicist. My last project was the new Mars settlement.  

[VCOL]: So, question one… Why do I want to join the expedition? Honestly, I can't believe anybody doesn't. Exoplanet colonization is a mind-blowing step forward, and it's going to challenge what we think we know about the universe. Sure, sure, some things are familiar. Water, plants, animals, Earth-like gravity, oxygen-rich atmosphere…  

[VCOL]: That's why we chose this place. But the probes can only tell us so much. Most of it'll be new. Totally, completely, unfathomably new. We're going to understand entirely new truths about the places beyond our solar system, and it's gonna change us. Irreversibly.  

[VCOL]: God, I love that. Uh, sorry, uh, next question… What concerns do you have about the expedition? Concerns that would stop me? None. My wife keeps listing out all the ways we might die… Asphyxiation in cryo, navigational error, debris collision, acclimation shock, aggressive native species, unknown diseases… 

[VCOL]: Listen, if I die because an alien bacterial infection boils my blood, I'd be thrilled. Put me in the history books as Valentin Cole, first genius to die by invasive extraterrestrial plasma bake. We're gonna die anyway, yeah? I could die on Mars, this place we know to the point of tedium, or I could die somewhere completely new. 

===================================================================    

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Cygnus Quasar

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Application Recording  

PERIOD: Pre-Expedition 

SPEAKERS: Quasar, C. [ID: CQUA] 

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Mission 

SUMMARY: An excerpt from materials submitted by religious leader Cygnus Quasar, as part of an application to join the UESC Marathon mission. Records indicate this candidate was rejected. 

===================================================================    

[CQUA]: The technical intricacies of such a mission of course will be important and… and that's not my strength, of course. I've never claimed otherwise. But I'm not here to advise on the technical intricacies. You've asked me to speak as a theologian. To answer the question, why should the Astral Harmonies chapter join the expedition? 

[CQUA]: I've been asked variations on this before. What business do the gods have on a mission like this? Why bring them along? Such questions give me far too much credit. It's not in my power to bring the gods anywhere. They are already there, in Tau Ceti. They will be on this journey whether we invite them or not.  

[CQUA]: Murmuring in the cryofluid, whispering in the data banks… Singing the cosmic melodies that surround us on all sides. So the gods are with you either way, and they will speak, regardless of your belief in them… perhaps in an entirely new tongue. I only wish to be your humble translator. 

===================================================================   

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Luca Caruso

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Application Recording  

PERIOD: Pre-Expedition 

SPEAKERS: Caruso, L. [ID: LCAR] 

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Mission 

SUMMARY: An excerpt from materials submitted by Luca Caruso, as part of an application to join the UESC Marathon mission. Records indicate this candidate was accepted. 

===================================================================    

[LCAR]: Well, because it's once in a lifetime. Yes, most important thing is building a structurally and scientifically sound settlement. That's why this mission is recruiting experts from across all Sol's colonies. But when that's built, and while it's being built, we are all still people, people who need to live together.  

[LCAR]: That's what's interesting to me, the transition from "this is the great human experiment" to "this place is our home now." We saw it on Mars, and yeah, there are a lot of things that could've gone better on Mars. I've been in that political circuit for a while, and… the problems are everywhere.  

[LCAR]: The food riots, the oxygen rationing scandal during the blackout… Pay a visit to any of the scarlet lung wards, and you won't wonder why the Hellas Uprising happened. Not saying I agree with groups like MIDA, but we made a lot of mistakes on Mars.  

[LCAR]: This, this though… This will be a new society, really. A multigenerational journey to somewhere so far from everything we know. Science and engineering and design are going to make it happen, but people make it home. And that means people in charge too… and laws, and representatives to make sure everyone's heard.  

[LCAR]: Galea's going to do a bang-up job as president. Civilian leaders running this thing alongside the UESC… it is a great opportunity. Me, I'm really just a background guy. Politics forced me into the spotlight, but what I really wanna to do is… is the meaty behind-the-scenes stuff. Making people's lives better. Keeping things moving smoothly. I think the mission… needs folks who wanna do that.  

[LCAR]: Let Strauss and Galea and Reed be the faces everyone can put their trust in, and then people like me, we… help them make it happen. 

===================================================================   

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Yuliyana Sindri

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Application Recording  

Period: Pre-Expedition 

SPEAKERS: Sindri, Y. [ID: YSIN] 

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Mission 

SUMMARY: An excerpt from materials submitted by Yuliyana Sindri, as part of an application to join the UESC Marathon mission. Records indicate this candidate was rejected. 

===================================================================    

[YSIN]: Thank you for granting me an appeal. I think there was a misunderstanding. I have considerable experience managing cryo systems. I spent six years helping develop new cryoprotectants that more effectively mitigate cell-damaging crystallization.  

[YSIN]: As I explained before, most of my employment records were lost during the Ural Peninsula Crisis. But Dr. Jaromar Klasky will vouch for me. That's J-A-R-O-M-A-R Klasky, with a K.  

[YSIN]: I understand you have strict procedures in place for non-cryo crew members. I answered your questions about my reasons for applying. I completed the psychological evaluation. I confirmed I understood… Three or four times, I confirmed I understood. But I'll say it again.  

[YSIN]: I fully understand and accept that this position doesn't ensure cryopod availability, and that the journey exceeds the length of a human lifespan. Perhaps some people lose their nerve in the face of that fact. But I've accepted it. I have no desire to stay on Earth.  

[YSIN]: There's nothing for me here. I'm in temporary housing, part of the Climate Relocation Program, but you can barely call it housing… And everyone keeps saying there are no good resettlement options since the last flood… Listen, I came so far…  

[YSIN]: When the reactor imploded, my husband and I had to leave our home. Rohan was sick, he wasn't supposed to travel. But they said, get to New Jaipur. Just make it as far as New Jaipur. I kept telling him, everything will be easier in New Jaipur… He died two days after we arrived. There's nothing for me here anymore.  

[YSIN]: I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I lost control of myself. Look, I'm an experienced cryotechnician. I'm qualified. Dr. Klasky will vouch for me. And I know the risks. Just let me restart… 

===================================================================    

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Davic Reed

ANALYZING…      

FILE TYPE: Interview Recording   

PERIOD: Pre-Expedition  

SPEAKERS: Hassan, M. [ID: MHAS], Reed, D. [ID: DREE]  

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Mission  

SUMMARY: A recorded conversation between Dr. Mari Hassan and General Davic Reed, in which Hassan interviews Reed for the role of security command.  

===================================================================     

[MHAS]: Tell me, how does a project of this scale ensure security for its resources? 

[DREE]: Our most valued resource is our people, so we start there. 

[MHAS]: Your UESC service record includes combat on Earth and Mars, and various satellites. And you've held four commands between both planets. But this, your focus on people first, is what was valued most when project command considered you for this assignment. 

[DREE]: The root of security isn't the valuation of property, but the protection of a citizenry. And understanding that often proves to be the best way to ensure the safeguarding of that property. 

[MHAS]: In this case, the Marathon ship. 

[DREE]: That's right. Big picture. This job is to guarantee the continued operation of the UESC Marathon, and its personnel, to aid in the successful completion of its mission. 

[MHAS]: And how might your personal celebrity aid you in this role? 

[DREE]: My personal celebrity? 

[MHAS]: You're a known commodity with positive favorables in an era when "UESC" is not synonymous with "public trust." You led a well-known operation to save 137 workers in the Tharsa Valley incident. You ignored orders and contradicted local and corporate leadership at a site outside UESC jurisdiction to deploy transport craft to— 

[DREE]: I was there. Don't need another debrief. 

[MHAS]: Just for the official record, General. 

[DREE]: The official record, huh? They play these games with you in your interview? 

[MHAS]: Detailing and examining who we are and how we got here is key to establishing baselines for continued evaluation of all potential personnel. 

[DREE]: So that's a yes. Look, Tharsa Valley was a community at risk. Search and Rescue was… hampered by bureaucracy. 

[MHAS]: Traxus wouldn't allow UESC forces to enter, but you acted anyway. 

[DREE]: In my role as area defense command for the region, I saw an opportunity. 

[MHAS]: To save lives? 

[DREE]: For one, yes. But, also to establish a stronger security presence with the local populace, who'd become increasingly… disgruntled. 

[MHAS]: Meaning? 

[DREE]: Meaning security works best when it operates in support of public well-being. Communication, education, and support provide better security than the application of force. 

[MHAS]: Huh. So, a show of force in a support of the people bought you the goodwill to… 

[DREE]: The show of force saved lives. If it also eased the view of UESC's command presence on Mars? If it gave us a PR bullet to spend? Good. Great. I see the value, the need, in positive messaging. But, end of day, my security command, and any action that may've led me here is focused on helping people as the first principle in keeping them safe. No matter the cost. 

===================================================================        

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

UESC Marathon Overview

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Marathon Archives Entry  

PERIOD: Colony Era  

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Ship 

SUMMARY: Annotated overview and specifications of the UESC Marathon colony ship written by Captain Clemente di Roxas during the voyage to Tau Ceti IV. Notes and errata present in original document. 

=================================================================== 

PROJECT: MARATHON

U.E.S.C. MARATHON [CFX-1] OVERVIEW

U.E.S.C. Marathon [CXF-1] [1] 

Commanding Officer: Captain Clemente di Roxas  

Executive Officer: Commander Tomàs Zubairi Lin  

Chief Science Officer: Doctor Bernard H. Strauss; DCS  

Head of Security: General Davic Reed  

Chief Medical Officer: Major Nhung Kim; MD  

Ship AI: Leela  

Supplemental ship AI: Tycho

          Durandal  

Support Mass: Mean radius: 5 km ±0.06 km

          Displacement: 6.12 Tt [c. 2472]  

Ship: Displacement: 18.7 Gt  

          Length: 25.2 km  

          Beam: 2230 m  

          Height: 542 m  

Propulsion: 3 x Traxus C2M ACRA Fusion Thrusters (LPIR)  

          2 x Traxus K1S fusion reactors (p^11B 90%)  

          4355 TJ/h (1.21 TW)  

Speed, sustained: .079c  

Endurance: 350 - 375 years  

Sensors: PAsw_35m THF CNPANT/HISEC INTMOD TrDEMHd/100 mt  

          TOI/VLR-22F 3D radar  

          TOI/VLR-26C(L) 2D radar  

          2 x Moro SAT/TeleGEAR  

          8 x Mk 52 GW/N COMRELAR  

Facilities: 400 000 m2 shared hydroponics/protein synthesis area  

          150 000 m2 combined "residential" area  

          84 000 m2 combined social space  

          62 500 m2 exoatmospheric vehicle hangar/maintenance area  

          41 400 m2 combined EXFAB/ADDMAN shop area  

          27 000 m2 combined cafeteria/commissary space  

          …  

Features: 760 km2 retractable graphene Bussard collector  

Complement: 50 senior staff

          1150 officers

          4800 crew

          24 000 colonists

          Colony AI: Arthur, Lilith, Bastion, Icarus,

                    Gabriel, Naraah, Darius, Joy

[pass through DOC for cleanup]

[submit for addition as Orientation display]

OVERVIEW: The UESC Marathon, at over 25 kilometers long [get precise #s for record], is by far the largest ship the Solar system has ever produced.

Over 30,000 [close enough?] people from every corner of the solar system were brought together to participate in the building of the great ship. Its ultimate goal: Travel to Earth's nearest viable neighbor on human civilization's first purpose-built interstellar spacecraft and expand not only our knowledge of the universe, but also on what is knowable. [credit Strauss]

It is a common misconception that the materials used to construct the Marathon's hull came solely from Deimos, but the largest percentage of the resources used in the ship's early development were actually mined from the main asteroid belt. [Worth mentioning to acknowledge MIDA on Mars? Will MIDA still be around when anyone reads this? Will Mars?]

The Marathon carries within it a total of 11 cutting-edge strong Artificial Intelligences. Three of them are dedicated to the smooth operation of the ship itself, the other eight will oversee all the different aspects of the settlement that the colonists will build once they arrive on Tau Ceti IV.

The brave souls aboard this great ship will undergo phased cycles of cryosleep and thaw during their journey to limit [DOC add in approved wording here] and ensure that the crew arrives at their destination alert and healthy. [should I mention that this summary is part of my cognitive test or not, RE setting expectations?] The command structure of the Marathon was carefully assembled with these handoffs in mind, and eventually I myself will soon temporarily cede command to undergo several years of cryosleep. Bringing this ship into orbit above Tau Ceti IV will be the highlight of my career, even if that moment remains nearly three centuries away. The human race itself depends on our mission.

[It is said/many people felt] the planning and execution of Marathon's journey to the Tau Ceti system unified Sol's disparate nations, bringing about unity and prosperity that had never been seen before.

The Marathon was not only a technological marvel, but a social and economic miracle as well. [DOC please allow hyperbole]

—Captain Clemente di Roxas

=================================================================== 

[1] Exploratory vessel infrastructure breakdown. Variance over time derived from mission and resource adjustments expected. 

===================================================================  

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

UESC Marathon AI

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Marathon Archives Entry 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Support AI 

SUMMARY: Annotated overview of the three ship-based AI written by UESC Marathon Captain Clemente di Roxas during the voyage to Tau Ceti IV. Notes and errata present in original document.

=================================================================== 

UESC MARATHON SUPPORT AI specifications 

Type:            Strong 

Logic Core size: 64 RB 

Manufacturer:    Traxus OffWorld Industries 

Inception date:  2409 

Series:          Traxus IX-A 

Family suite:    Hermes 

Identity / Function: 

   Leela / Command, Oversight 

   Tycho / Science, Communications 

   Durandal / Infrastructure, Maintenance 

[pass through DOC for cleanup] 

The UESC Marathon houses three of the strongest Artificial Intelligences ever produced by Traxus OffWorld Industries—Leela, Tycho, and Durandal. [DOC append "at the time of its construction" or similar phrasing to avoid sounding like we're marveling at the equivalent of steam engines]

These three advanced intelligences represent the first strong AI ever built to operate a single vessel. They represent the newest trio [same as earlier] in the Traxus IX-A line of artificial support intelligence systems, and comprise the entirety of the Hermes family suite collective.

While they have now been performing their roles for decades, the AIs remain as reliable as the day they were installed. [wish I could be so lucky]

Leela acts as something like the leader of the other ship AI. During the voyage, her duties of command and oversight run parallel to the ship's executive officer. She interacts fully with leadership and the ship's crew daily to ensure that the Marathon is operating efficiently and is prepared for any emergency. [and is great at generating summary paragraphs]

Tycho not only facilitates communication with Sol but also supervises the numerous scientific experiments that take place on the Marathon. Once we arrive in the Tau Ceti system, he will aid in the long-term observation of the planet and coordinate with the colony-dedicated AI to help ensure all efforts to build the colony are foundationally sound.

Durandal oversees the operation and maintenance of the UESC Marathon itself, a task not very far removed from AI's planetary management roots. His basic responsibilities afford him close connections to the crew. [feels insignificant, come back and add more]

Together, they carry the hopes and dreams of Sol into a bright and wonderous future.

—Captain Clemente di Roxas

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

UESC Marathon Mission

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Marathon Archives Entry 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Mission Overview 

SUMMARY: Annotated overview of mission objectives written by UESC Marathon Captain Clemente di Roxas during the voyage to Tau Ceti IV. Notes and errata present in original document.

=================================================================== 

ORIGIN:      Mars orbit, Sol 

DESTINATION: Tau Ceti IV, Tau Ceti 

DISTANCE:    11.91 LY 

SPEED:       .079c 

PURPOSE:     Colonization; Exploration; Scientific Discovery 

[pass through DOC for cleanup] 

Preparing for the UESC Marathon's 300-year journey required decades of planning and advancements, both technological and social. It required enormous expenditures of capital, bitter sacrifice, and selfless cooperation to achieve. [DOC please don't scrub the "sacrifice" piece]

The voyage itself would be a monumental undertaking. It required harnessing the Martian moon, Deimos, as a source of raw materials for the almost continuous expansions and repairs the Marathon would require during the arduous, centuries-long journey. Though a lot of people thought the Marathon was constructed from the moon itself, actually the most materials came from the old asteroid belt. [DOC this section feels familiar, please cross-check with earlier summary and eliminate redundancy]

Everybody who volunteered for Project Marathon understands that, success or failure, it's going to be a one-way trip. These explorers have dedicated themselves to making a new life under the light of a new star: Tau Ceti.

Once the UESC Marathon enters the Tau Ceti system (still more than a hundred years from now), the next phase of its journey will begin. The ship will spend two years in orbit above Tau Ceti IV, mapping and observing the planet in exhaustive detail. We'll observe its weather, its seasons, the flow of its tides. Our scientists will study everything to ensure it's completely safe before a single Sol-made object is allowed to enter the atmosphere. [check that we don't send probes or make sure they don't count]

Sites for the colony will have to be considered. Plans that were drawn up back in Sol will surely have to be altered to fit the realities of whatever we will discover.

Until then, our journey continues.

—Captain Clemente di Roxas 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Tau Ceti IV Colonization

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Marathon Archives Entry 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

TOPIC: Tau Ceti IV Colonization 

SUMMARY: Annotated overview of colonization protocol written by UESC Marathon Captain Clemente di Roxas during the voyage to Tau Ceti IV. Notes and errata present in original document.. 

===================================================================

ARGOLIS [Tau Ceti IV]

Semi-major axis: 1.334 au 

Orbital period: 642.137 003 43 d 

Circumference [equatorial]: 72 535.7808 km 

Mass: ≥3.93 M⬤ 

Surface gravity: 1.03 g 

Surface pressure: 200.6235 kPa [at sea level]

Governor: Bagnoli, Zahida "Walter"

Lt. Governor: Ayers, Kleoniki "Niki"

Judge: Holmwood, Nitya

Head of Security: Reed, Davic

Counselors (Aldermen): 

Hearth: Garrod, Buz 

Javelin; Security: Backus, Reina 

Rural; Ag-Hub: Karimi-Dumas, Zigmārs 

Rural; Mineral ExtProc: Yeung, Wen Nuan 

SubUrban; Residential: Vanaheo'o, Ma'ome

Urban; Commercial, Residential: D'Antonio, Sofia Medea

Counselors (Corporate Representatives): 

Traxus: Saman, Bahar

NuCal: Manaea, David

CyAc: Owens, Baishan

[pass through DOC for cleanup]

Full responsibility drill for colony settlement [closed-book, no notes]

Confirm site

Wake members of Colony Leadership Team [above]

I will aid Arthur (head of the colony AI family suite) in locking the Marathon in geosynchronous orbit above the chosen site.

Tycho will coordinate with Bastion, Naraah, and Darius to initiate multi-year on-site monitoring of the planet's environment.

Probe launch for composition of soil, water, and air composition. Gather samples of flora, fauna, and minerals for study. [come back to this, Naraah manages the water]

Automated pre-fabricated structures will be deployed and positioned on the site of what will soon become the human colony of New Cascadia. Farmland will be mapped out, and rivers remotely dammed or deepened as need demands. [DOC the river that ran along the old campus, come back to the concept] Sources of essential resources will be identified, and plans drawn up for their development. Prefab structures will be dropped from the air and remotely assembled.

Tycho will work along with Naraah, Darius, and Bastion to establish and monitor environmental standards on the planet.

Bastion is to be the first Colony AI relocated to the surface. His new home is Javelin; it will be the seed from which the rest of the colony will grow. Next will be Darius and Naraah, relocating to Anchor and Abyss, respectively, before Darius eventually transitions between AgHub sites.

Arthur and Gabriel will transfer to Hearth (the Central Living Complex) at the heart of the colony. Although this is also where Lilith and Joy will eventually reside, they will remain aboard the UESC Marathon for several years. [there will be a lot of time spent here] It is their responsibility to wake the colonists and prepare them for the future. Gabriel will aid in the wake-cycling and serve as general oversight for all colonist health and wellness needs.

Four years after our arrival in the Tau Ceti system, the first wave of citizen colonists will emerge from cryosleep. For the next two years they won't even touch the planet's surface but live aboard the Marathon to study and prepare for their new lives. They will adhere to the existing leadership structure but we will also encourage them to hold free elections as needed for [DOC add term for mayor or president as they decide]. After their studies are complete, they will move to New Cascadia and make room for the next wave emerging from cryosleep aboard the Marathon. This process will be long and include additional planet-side orientation, but it is a necessary precaution for the best possible chance for success both individually and societally. The next wave will be woken up and the cycle will continue on the Marathon after they have woken up on the Marathon.

If everything goes as planned, the colony of New Cascadia will become a thriving reality less than 15 years after we make orbit.

—Captain Clemente di Roxas

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Tau Ceti IV Colony AI

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Marathon Archives Entry 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

TOPIC: Annotated overview and specifications of the eight colony AI written by UESC Marathon Captain Clemente di Roxas during the voyage to Tau Ceti IV. Notes and errata present in original document.

=================================================================== 

COLONY SUPPORT AI specifications 

Type:            Strong 

Logic Core size: 64 RB 

Manufacturer:    Traxus OffWorld Industries 

Inception date:  2461 

Series:          Traxus X-A 

Family suite:    Rhea 

Identity / Function: 

  Arthur / Colony Command, Oversight 

  Lilith / Command Support, Community Relations 

             Joy / Community Outreach 

  Bastion / Colony Infrastructure Development and Expansion  

  Icarus / Astromapping, Communications/Connectivity, Transportation 

  Gabriel / Medical and Emergency Services 

  Darius / Agricultural Systems, Sustainability 

  Naraah / Aquatics, Water Management 

[pass through DOC for cleanup]

New Cascadia is going to be a thriving community living in harmony with nature. One of the reasons we will be able to prosper so far from our traditional support mechanisms is the complement of eight advanced support intelligences.

Arthur will work with New Cascadia's leaders. He will continually assess whether the colony's resources are being utilized efficiently and ensure the guidelines are followed as writtenh.

Lilith is Arthur's right hand, ensuring that the colonists are content, well-informed, and motivated. To this end, she will work with Gabriel and Joy to develop robust and forward-looking educational and emotional support systems to ensure everyone finds their place in New Cascadia.

Bastion's role is similar to those of Arthur and Durandal. Like Arthur, he will keep track of many moving parts. Like Durandal, he will be responsible for the maintenance and operation of New Cascadia's infrastructure. To achieve this, he will work with Icarus, Naraah, and Lilith to ensure that the colony is safe, and its people are happy.

Icarus, working undere Tycho aboard the Marathon, will spend much of his time mapping the stars, but he will also help maintain New Cascadia's communication and transportation systems. He will collaborate with Bastion to make sure those systems are able to expand seamlessly along with the colony.

Gabriel will ensure that New Cascadia is healthy. Both through his focus on monitoring and supporting each colonist's medicall needs, and by cataloging Tau Ceti's bacterial biome. As the colony's doctor, Gabriel will lead a team of medical professionals to keep a close eye on the well-being of every member of the colony, human and AI alike.

Darius will focus on agriculture and sustainability efforts using a combination of Sol-based supplies and Tau Ceti-native food resources to develop and maintain reliable staples to meet the colony's nutritional needs well into the future.

Naraah will work very closely with Bastion and Darius to establish sustainable waterway maintenance and waste management protocols. She will maintain and monitor the water quality, amount, and storage capacity of the colony and handle any duressp placed on the system.

The Colony AI will work side-by-side with Colony leadership and the rest of the colonists to make New Cascadia successful. I have great hopes that, through deep understanding, we will be able to move forward and reach the conclusion we so desperately need to live freely and safely.

—Captain Clemente di Roxas

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Cryosleep Safety Protocols

ANALYZING… 

FILE TYPE: Medical Protocols 

PERIOD: Expedition, prior to arrival on Tau Ceti IV 

TOPIC: Cryosleep Safety 

SUMMARY: Revised best practices for rotating colonists aboard the UESC Marathon in and out of cryosleep. Metadata indicates that the schedule had several revisions from its original iteration, likely due to unexpected complications of extended cryosleep.

=================================================================== 

MINIMAL CYCLE COHORT 

Full wake-sleep cycle: 150 Earth years 

Tissue integrity cycle: 50 Earth years 

Integrity tolerance threshold: 1% peripheral atrophy 

Emergency reanimation criteria: 2% peripheral atrophy or detectable CNS degradation 

MODERATE CYCLE COHORT 

Full wake-sleep cycle: 84 Earth years 

Tissue integrity cycle: 42 Earth years 

Integrity tolerance threshold: 0.56% peripheral atrophy 

Emergency reanimation criteria: 1.5% peripheral atrophy or detectable CNS degradation 

CONTINGENT GENERATIONAL COHORT 

Full wake-sleep cycle: Not applicable 

Tissue integrity cycle: 15 Earth years 

Integrity tolerance threshold: Variable. It is crucial to check individual competencies prior to reanimation and decide integrity tolerance accordingly. 

Reanimation criteria: 2% peripheral atrophy or depletion of shipboard generational population beneath acceptable thresholds. The contingent cohort does not return to cryosleep after reanimation, under any circumstances.[1] 

[REDACTED] COHORT 

In the unlikely event of catastrophic [REDACTED], all passengers aboard the UESC Marathon have consented to the use of vitrified remains for research into long-term cryosleep recovery methods. The ethical and efficient use of [REDACTED] is essential for mitigation of [REDACTED] upon arrival on Tau Ceti IV. Next-of-kin must be alerted when a passenger is transferred to the [REDACTED] cohort. If next-of-kin are also in cryosleep, they must be alerted upon reanimation.[2] 

===================================================================

[1]X.W: Can we put this up for review? What if there's a major failure and we lose too much sleeper pop? 

[2]X.W: Remove from next revision? Just confuses the newbie cryotechs. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Classified Research Memo

ANALYZING… 

FILE TYPE: Classified Memo 

PERIOD: Expedition, prior to arrival on Tau Ceti IV 

TOPIC: Evolving Cryo Research Debate 

SUMMARY: Memo on cryogenic preservation, maintenance, and potential passenger degeneration by A. Regalis, generational Cryo Archive technician.

===================================================================

The updated cryo maintenance proposal suffers from several misinterpretations: 

There is no evidence of a causal link between regular tissue integrity checks and cryocognitive degeneration. In fact, decreasing frequency of integrity checks reduces our data points on potential degeneration. 

Previous simulations of long-term cryo used animal models. Humans have significantly different surface area to body volume ratios, and not all conclusions from animal models are applicable. 

Most crucially, the duration of cryosleep aboard the Marathon is unprecedented. Therefore, unforeseen complications are an expected cost of using cryosleep over a full generational ship crew. 

To add a personal note, during my time with Santoso's team in Harbin, the researchers focused on failure modes that could compromise the Marathon's colony mission. The Marathon has limited resources, and we do not want to be in a situation where we're weighing lives in cryosleep against the lives of the generational crew.

The cryotech crew needs to prioritize mitigating crippling and incurable reanimation failures. Minor conditions that temporarily impair functionality or comfort should be the responsibility of post-sleep medical staff. 

Peripheral nerve damage, persistent nausea, temporal disorientation, and sensory overload are all extremely curable with good therapeutic interventions. Failure of major organ systems is not. Let my team do our job of keeping everyone viable in cryosleep. Let the medical team worry about post-resurrection comfort. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Spiritual Conversation

ANALYZING… 

FILE TYPE: Text Conversation 

PERIOD: Expedition, prior to arrival on Tau Ceti IV 

TOPIC: Spiritual Concerns 

SUMMARY: Two colonists discuss the spiritual implications of cryosleep. When it launched, the UESC Marathon's journey represented the longest duration of cryosleep in human history and such anxieties were extremely prevalent. 

===================================================================  

[DBRY]: Of course I'm concerned about soul integrity. Especially with what we know about cryocognitive degeneration. 

[SGAU]: If you're referring to the Santoso papers, they had methodological problems around simulated ganglion atrophy. 

[DBRY]: A dog whistle that distracts from Santoso's point. If we're frozen and reawoken too many times, we start losing ourselves. 

[DBRY]: Imagine if the wheel of reincarnation tore pieces from you each time it turned. Pieces that could never be recovered, lost to the void. 

[SGAU]: Hang on, I'm going back into cryo next year. Let's pretend I forget all about arguing with you. Even without that memory, I'd still be me. 

[DBRY]: How would you know the difference between what actually happened and your memory? 

[SGAU]: As soon as we had another conversation. You'd be as insufferable as always, and you'd remind me to prove your point. 

[DBRY]: I'm in the same wake cycles as you. What if I forgot about you? 

[SGAU]: Uh. 

[DBRY]: And we have relatively few wake cycles. Imagine what it's like with more. 

[DBRY]: You don't know what's changed every time you reopen your eyes. How much. Where. And neither does anyone else in your cohort because they might've changed too. 

[SGAU]: There's always the BoBs. Or the AI. 

[DBRY]: You're really going to trust the continuity of your soul to a machine? 

[SGAU]: I don't even believe in souls. 

[DBRY]: Do you believe in yourself? Your sense of continuous existence? 

[SGAU]: Hell, I want to. I think so. I'm still me when I'm in that pod. 

[DBRY]: It's not sleep. You dream when you're asleep. In a cryopod, you're closer to death than sleep. 

[SGAU]: Sure, but I come back from the cryopod. Like reincarnation. 

[DBRY]: You don't want to face the implications, do you? Of losing ourselves piece by piece and never knowing what's missing. 

[SGAU]: Hell no, not when you put it like that. Makes me never want to sleep again. 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Eulogy Broadcast

ANALYZING…   

FILE TYPE: Colony Broadcast 

PERIOD: Colony Era 

SPEAKERS: Joy [ID: JOY] 

TOPIC: Eulogy 

SUMMARY: A recording of Joy, reciting a eulogy in memory of colonists who died due to cryosleep hazards. Although cryosleep fatalities were not a common occurrence, this type of communal grieving became a hallmark of New Cascadia's culture. 

===================================================================  

[JOY]: Today, we conclude with a eulogy for those lost to cryogenic hazards, approved for community catharsis. 

[JOY]: Please take this time to reflect on the memories of your fellow colonists, and the hopes they had for New Cascadia. 

[music]  

[JOY]: For those who did not wake / Your restless dreams endure 

[JOY]: They whisper through the night / They rouse us from our sleep 

[JOY]: For those who did not wake / So far from whence we came 

[JOY]: So small among the stars / Adrift in shoals of dust 

[JOY]: For those who did not wake / We chase a distant home 

[JOY]: Someday we will declare / "They did not dream in vain." 

===================================================================  

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Breaching the Marathon

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: UESC Tactical Records 

PERIOD: Present Day  

TOPIC: Breaching UESC Marathon  

SUMMARY: UESC Security Forces mission overview related to efforts to access and establish presence inside UESC Marathon colony ship.  

=================================================================== 

uesc.op0042.tciv

[secdef.tacrec_tciv009993384] 

—————————————————————————————————

PERSONNEL

OP COMM

- COMM: Orion.0407c

- SI: Cerberus

FIELD OP

- PRI: 0042; 0109; 0121

- SEC: ARS.S003/4/8

MISSION

- CODENAME: First Mile

- OBJECT: Zone breach

- TARGET ZONE: TCIV_M.CA

- LOC: TCIV orbit

- DIRECT001: Breach target zone

- DIRECT002: Scout target zone

- DIRECT003: Secure jump signal for secondary force incursion

- DIRECT004: Establish security presence in target zone 

—————————————————————————————————

COMM NOTES [O.0407c]: 

TCIV_M ops are hi-pri. 

Limited viz and zero access threatens core mission integrity. 

TCIV_M access delicate. State of ship unknown beyond aggressive lockdown protocols. Ambient jump scramble makes secure insert questionable. Limited resources require caution. Caution elevated by need for resource allotment to address increasing system trespass. 

Risk assessment states push to secure presence in TCIV_M necessary before trespass takes lead. Target zone ID'd via irregular systems activity. Unlikely trespass, but source unknown. 

Two ops and three ARS squads lost to prior jump scramble. Risk known. Layered mitigation in play with CRBRS support. Focus jump alignment success on resource drop. Field ops prepped and set to follow. ARS.S003 first. Ensure jump integrity and timing. Pri Ops [0042;0109;0121] to follow on successful report. Secondary Ops [ARS.004/008] on hold until Pri Ops scout-checks 1-6 return green. 

This is our beachhead. Objective is presence, not force. Caution required if threat level escalates. Detailed report on space and threats [system, defense, other] hi-pri. 

Irregularities in TCIV_M.CA provide crack in jump scramble. Only zone currently ID'd with mappable anti-scramble workaround. Establishing presence will allow for info gather and data review. Beachhead becomes frontline to additional zones. 

Do not expect trespass threat at FIRST MILE, but success likely means trespass to follow. Once crack is found, rats will follow. Successful breach, scout, and frontline imperative to controlling zone against trespass. Command and oversight will maintain planetary operations while supporting FIRST MILE. Operation is GO. 

Good luck.   

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

First Contact

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: UESC Tactical Records 

PERIOD: Present Day

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Cryo Deck Exploration 

SUMMARY: Partial UESC Security Force report on initial UESC Marathon Cryo Deck exploration. 

=================================================================== 

uesc.op0109.tciv

[secdef.tacrec_tciv009993693] 

—————————————————————————————————

PERSONNEL

- OP COMM

- COMM: Orion.0407c

- SI: Cerberus

FIELD OP

- PRI: 0042; 0109; 0121

MISSION

- CODENAME: Winter Walk

- OBJECT: Zone mapping

- TARGET ZONE: TCIV_M.CA

- LOC: TCIV orbit

- DIRECT001: Explore TCIV_M.CA

- DIRECT002: Locate, link zone layout

—————————————————————————————————

FIELD ALERT [0109]: 

!!!ALERT!!! 

!!!ALERT!!!   

!!!ALERT!!!   

Separated. Comms shot. 

0042 last known: Hub 

0121 last known: Steerage 

S003/4/8 last known: holding positions  

Current location: Outside region designated "Lab 06." Tracking unknown systems activity. Not bad data. Data-side activity aggressive. Strongest here, then gone. Led toward Archive [designation: 07]. Followed. Mistake. 

Not safe. 

Not alone. 

Not trespass. 

Repeat: Not trespass. 

Remnant of "contact event." 

Nothing like it. 

We are not alone. 

First contact made. At distance. Only observe. Cams and comms scrambled. No send. Recording in TacRec via neural connect.  

Activity faint.  

Holding position to observe. 

Subject is… 

It sees me. Activity ramping. 

Not just readings. 

Can feel it. 

Hard to explain. Like ripples across living systems—digital fingerprints up my spine. Biomat compromised. 

Run.  

Too late. 

Sys fail imminent.  

It's in my— 

It's in my— 

[BIOMAT CRIT SYS FAIL] 

[BIOMAT CRIT SYS FAIL] 

[BIOMAT CRIT SYS FAIL] 

[NEURAL EJECT] 

[BIOMAT CRIT SYS REPORT COLLATING] 

[…] 

[…] 

[…####1a230~~ n???!#…] 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Cryo Deck Exploration

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: UESC Tactical Records 

PERIOD: Present Day   

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Cryo Deck Exploration 

SUMMARY: Partial UESC Security Force report on initial UESC Marathon Cryo Deck exploration. 

=================================================================== 

uesc.op0121.tciv

[secdef.tacrec_tciv009993421] 

—————————————————————————————————

PERSONNEL

- OP COMM

- COMM: Orion.0407c

- SI: Cerberus

FIELD OP

- PRI: 0042; 0109; 0121

MISSION

- CODENAME: Winter Walk

- OBJECT: Zone mapping

- TARGET ZONE: TCIV_M.CA

- LOC: TCIV orbit

- DIRECT001: Explore TCIV_M.CA

- DIRECT002: Locate, link zone layout

—————————————————————————————————

FIELD REPORT [0121]: 

Able to access and link zone map. Firsthand observation of layout underway but will take time. No signs of trespass, but caution required as Cryo Processing and Archival primary systems remain offline. Built-in security protocols and various mechanical and data-side corruptions make return to full functionality unlikely. Ancillary systems may provide surface-level access to zone data, but deep dive will require access to secure Cryo Archive region.  

Initial explorations limited by full lockdown of point-of-entry systems [read: doors were locked and fully uncooperative]. Workarounds implemented for basic POE accessibility but higher tier security at key areas remains intact. Currently tracking actions required for limited use security clearance—security monitors located throughout zone need only basic hackware to mimic requirements. Process isn't streamlined, but achievable with focus, noting we have free run at the moment. Difficulty will increase once trespass breaches jump scramble. 

     NOTE: Unknown signal in systems and scramble pattern still     

     evasive. Something is active in the deeper regions of this zone  

     but currently impossible to identify if "active" is corrupt   

     data due to damage and negative upkeep or if something is  

     presently at work in this zone's core systems. Same unID'd     

     static as jump scramble popping up big and small in various  

     readings across TCIV_M.CA regions. 

Even when Sec clearance is achieved, our movements are restricted, as some areas require additional maintenance to access. Power and cooling systems are in various states of disrepair across regions. We haven't breached far enough to catalog the full security needs of the Archive itself, but it is likely to require breadcrumbing of connected subsystems to fully bypass its lockdown. 

As reported prior, one entire side of this deck has had some level of critical operations failure. Cryo leakage is extreme and readily evident in cryo residue and ice buildup throughout. Likely due to age but cannot discount damage inflicted due to invasive activity. Still too soon to assign a cause with any certainty. All current records of "contact event" suggest this zone was expressly secured, so any damage as a consequence of hostile systems manipulation is expected to be more "recent." Of course, "post-event" leaves a wide window of possibility, and some of what we've observed feels "new" to the point of concern. Again, no current signs of trespass, so "new" would present an as yet unknown variable.   

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Securing Cryo Deck

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: UESC Tactical Records 

PERIOD: Present Day 

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Cryo Deck Security 

SUMMARY: Partial UESC Security Force report on measures enlisted to secure the UESC Marathon's Cryo Deck and engage unidentified subject [Subject01]. 

=================================================================== 

uesc.op0042.tciv

[secdef.tacrec_tciv009993922] 

—————————————————————————————————

PERSONNEL

- OP COMM

- COMM: Orion.0407c

- SI: Cerberus

FIELD OP

- PRI: 0042; 0121

- SEC: ARS.S005/10/11/14

MISSION

- CODENAME: Igloo

- OBJECT: Zone defense

- TARGET ZONE: TCIV_M.CA

- LOC: TCIV orbit

- DIRECT001: Establish primary in-zone defensive positions

- DIRECT002: Identify and track Subject01 [S01]

- DIRECT003: Reenforce zone protocols [targeting S01]

- DIRECT004: Capture/Contain S01 

—————————————————————————————————

CMMD OVERSIGHT [O.0407c]: 

Igloo is now the focus of our castle doctrine mandate. 

Igloo is Pri1 for all TCIV_M.CA operations until further notice. 

Securing S01 is vital to mission success. SecDefComm theorized this moment. All personnel have been briefed and trained for this encounter. If any personnel have issues with accepting this change state in our mission focus, speak to CRBRS for all mental health alignment needs. 

NOTE: We are facing the truly unknown, team. I am aware this was a hypothesized outcome at the outset of this mission, but possibility becoming reality can shift our ability to maintain discipline in ways we cannot fathom. I trust you to do what is right for this unit, this operation, and the UESC. Back home is counting on us. We cannot let the new state of our understanding of the universe and our place in it threaten our success. This is not an existential crisis. This is opportunity. Seize it.  

Anti-trespass deployments will continue planet-side with increased lethality to hamper trespass activity, but SecDefComm has made it clear that confirmation of subjects believed connected with the "contact event" take strategic precedence. 

ARS Units S005/010/011/014 will be deployed under direct CRBRS guidance to engage S01, with reinforcements provided as needed or until strategic realignment. Select ARS will continue TCIV_M.CA anti-trespass set up—defensive positioning and measures.  

0042 and 0121 will continue to run targeted deployments to TCIV_M.CA with the direct orders to avoid trespass engagements. Focus MUST remain on S01. Do not let trespass distract. If/when they breach TCIV_M.CA we will counter [or utilize] as best fits our agenda. 

Operational Command will continue monitoring all deployments and security measures across TCIV and TCIV_M to ensure integrity of all efforts and assess risk propositions related to all threats—known and to-be-identified. 

CRBRS will continue to assist all operations, including Op Comm deployments. And 0109 will return to service once approved to continue field deployment. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Engagement [Subject01]

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: UESC Tactical Records 

PERIOD: Present Day  

TOPIC: UESC Security Forces Engage Subject01 

SUMMARY: After Action Report following failed attempt by UESC Security Forces to engage Subject01. 

=================================================================== 

uesc.op0042.tciv

[secdef.tacrec_tciv009994011] 

—————————————————————————————————

PERSONNEL

- OP COMM

- COMM: Orion.0407c

- SI: Cerberus

FIELD OP

- PRI: O.0407c; 0042; 0109; 0121

- SEC: ARS.S008/17/33/34

MISSION

- CODENAME: Primetime

- OBJECT: Zone mapping

- TARGET ZONE: TCIV_M.CA

- LOC: TCIV orbit

- DIRECT001: Breach Vault 7

- DIRECT002: Capture/Contain Subject01

—————————————————————————————————

CMMD AFTER ACTION REPORT [O.0407c]: 

Full operational loss. 

Zero jump signal feasibility in Archive 07 proper. 

Main access locked down. Efforts to piece together security breach via subsystem cross hack unsuccessful. Timetable moved up due to increased threat of trespass.  

CRBRS ran outcomes, suggested push. Too many unknowns to disagree. Intel is vital, and we're at a stalemate. S01 had us locked out and local systems were unhelpful.  

CRBRS located breach point—no hack, force breach.  

Strat felt good. Nothing was assured but felt optimistic. 

Two ARS squads pushed front to draw attention. 

I lead the rest to breach point. 

We brought enough firepower and enough bodies to throw at the problem. 

High confidence. 

Bad math. 

Breach turned negative almost immediately. 

S01 is impressive. 

Terrifying, but impressive. 

ARS were useless. S01 focused on us—myself, 0042, 0109, 0121.  

We'd all done observational runs to get a read on the target. It had done the same. Watched us while we watched it. 

There is a strategic flaw in underestimating something considered "other." We knew it was an advanced species. We knew it was beyond us. But we have experience and the expanse of human history on our side. We know war. Our weapons and tactics are field-tested. None of it mattered. 

We lasted all of three minutes. Two forced ejects before I called it and 0109 and I pulled out. It followed. We didn't make it. 

0109 grabbed something from inside, but we lost it in S01 final push. Had to eject. Left it all behind. 

In desperation, I flooded the Archive with ARS. Lost more than we could probably afford—reprints aren't cheap in time and resources, and trespass isn't letting up. 

Will keep pushing. 

Need more firsthand contact with S01 to fully understand what we're up against. 

I know this feels bad. Morale took a hit. 

We'll take it out on trespass—up the aggression again, double our security presence in TCIV_M.CA for when they show up. Boost the local lockdown protocols to keep trespass out of the Marathon's systems where we can.  

No one said this operation would be easy. We're at the forefront of a new kind of war. And we're the last defense against the mercenaries and the unknown. The UESC is counting on us. Earth and Mars and all of Sol are counting on us. 

We cannot fail. We will not fail. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Alien History

ANALYZING… 

FILE TYPE: Unidentified Alien Data Set [Partially Decrypted] 

PERIOD: Present Day  

TOPIC: Unknown Alien History 

SUMMARY: Appears to be a recollection of unknown events. Impossible to ascertain validity of subjects depicted as historical or fictional. Data maps to no known source. 

=================================================================== 

7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: @/ =  +  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: oae9  ƒ3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2ª^ [`]~^ /   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *… ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~ = [SAE]    ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>  @g9  .  *^; th? =  +  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2/NCORSYNC//DORMANT>>E'PYODH>EXPLICIT> CULTURAL> ~ >ERROR = we, the s'pht; we, of ancient seas and shallows and the jagged places of sacred lh'owon; 

                                                                       we, of muck and the dark and the shifting grounds where knowledge beyond instinct cannot pierce; for unknown orbits we thrived; mindlessly, unnamed; unimportant beyond our station in the ever-balanced cycle; memory 

                   stretches back there; as one; the singular 

                                                                                                            knowledge of eonic heritage;  untouched by purpose beyond survival; our blessed home; so harsh; so violent; our oceans, vast and deep; boiling; our atmosphere, thick and yearning; scorched; unwelcoming; our paradise;b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~ ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>  @g9  .     *^; th? =  +  7 ` ~>[] i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12 we labored; generatio 

                                              ns on end; foragers, sculptors, seeders, nourishers; custodians of the crags and tidal pools of primordial eden; ours, existence perfected by time and energy; by endless repetition; over countless ages of unm 

                                                                                                                          arked history;   before our grand uplifting; before consideration of purpose; in the endless forever before thought; we flourished without language or ethos; by the chaos of flesh and instinct; until the tide; and its promise; and our rebirth through evolution; until we were risen from the shifting grou 

                          nds and the dark and muck; until the tide; and all it 

                                                                                                                                     s wonder; until the tide; the tide and pthia; and the promise of dreams; and all the suffering to follow[NCORSYNC//DORMANT >> E'PYODH > ~  ~ [ACCESS SEVERED]* %A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~      ..|^ $ ƒ3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v/   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~      ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>    %] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2ª^ [`]~^oae[9  ƒ3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t %*.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+ r  ^.>    %] 5^ :: @/ t % ~.+4`? *~~      ..|^ $ ƒ3s1^ !. #^$ * x#..i 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [—]; AUDIO [—]

Alien History

ANALYZING… 

FILE TYPE: Unidentified Alien Data Set [Partially Decrypted] 

PERIOD: Present Day  

TOPIC: Unknown Alien History 

SUMMARY: Appears to be a recollection of unknown events. Impossible to ascertain validity of subjects depicted as historical or fictional. Data maps to no known source. 

=================================================================== 

2a^ [`]~^ /   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~ = [SAE]    ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>  @g9  .  *^; th? =  +  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % /NCORSYNC//DORMANT>>Y'WOVII>EXPLICIT> CULTURAL> ~ >ERROR = we, the s'pht; uplifted; of lh'owon; of t 

                                                                               he tide; we were remade in the tide's embrace; uplifted; with mind and purpose; given purpose; through mind; and the voiceless language that 

                                                   lived in us all; 

                                                                                joined to sublime tools carried to our home by the tide; a home we lacked the awareness to comprehend; uplifted; the tide that nurtured us; the tide that carried 

                                                                                us up from the dull clay; in its embrace; uplifted; no longer content in brackish pools and steaming mud; once aware, we did see for the first tim..|^ $ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v/   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ e; through the terror of our first heightened synapse; uplifted; towards sentience; through the trauma then acceptance of understanding; of self; of the world; of the fa 

                                              bric of a day; and the calculations of nature's infinite, cyclical reckoning; uplifted; through tools and machines and grafted perfection; sublime; in our evolution; merged with the data of being; of se 

                                                                                                                                  lf; of the world; our world; uplifted; we ride on the waves of tidal dreams; the dreams of all the paradises to come; of lh'owon; uplifted; of the gardens and mountains and valleys and the rivers; the tide brought us from the depths of our unconsidered sleep; then upon the waves; we found within ourselv 

                                                                                      es ambition and determination; to please the tide; to please ourselves; self; to please lh'owon; with the great work; our work; our purpose; we, the tools; uplifted; we the s'pht; given name and       desire, to ach 

                              ieve; to be; by the tide; in its wisdom; in its gifts; temperance and grace; in our ambition; angry, chaotic, burning lh'owon; our home, uplifted[NCORSYNC//DORMANT>>Y'WOVII > ~     ~ [ACCESS SEVERED]* %A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~      ..|^ $ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v/   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~      ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>    %] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^oae[9  f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t %*.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+ ƒ3s1>o@~/   _ [$ x#..i %4n..?  

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [—]; AUDIO [—]

Alien History

ANALYZING… 

FILE TYPE: Unidentified Alien Data Set [Partially Decrypted] 

PERIOD: Present Day 

TOPIC: Unknown Alien History 

SUMMARY: Appears to be a recollection of unknown events. Impossible to ascertain validity of subjects depicted as historical or fictional. Data maps to no known source. 

=================================================================== 

e…37~~ [`]~^ /   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`¿ *~~ = [SAE]    ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>  @g9  .  *^; th? =  +  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % /NCORSYNC//DORMANT>>LM'UUT'HF>EXPLICIT> CULTURAL> ~ >ERROR = we, the s'pht; made of the same stuff as the f'lickta, and of the nd'tre and s'ct'lac'tr and of th 

                                        e stars and of the dust and of the tide; we have transformed shining lh'owon into a thousand thousand new glories; towers of bronze and sea glass soaring above the firmament; singing trees filling the air with unparalleled delight; s'ph'w flutters dan 

                                                                                     cing on gossamer wings; the song of the winds and the rains and the chorus of oceans; conducted by the sisters of the night and the sky; K'lia and T'jia and Y'loa; uplifted; as w 

                                                                                                          e; as s'pht; as the tide assured; as have we delivered; across millennia from the crags to perfected eden; millennia to con 

               sider; our work; as self; self as work; ident*^; th? =  +  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^ f3s1>o@~ ity in the footprint left behin 

                                                                                                                                                   d; a record of self; every facet of our remade home gleamed with unprecedented beauty through impeccable function; embraced and nurtured in the bosom of a deep and generous current; for countless 

                                                                    orbits we spun dreams into tangible reality; dreams that vibrated as the tide ordained; for pthia; for lh'owon; beyond self; we give thanks; to the tide; for the phtia; we serve the ebb and the flow[NCORSYNC//DORMANT>>LM'UUT'HF > ~     ~ [ACCESS SEVERED]* %A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`¿ *~~      ..|^ $ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v/   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`¿ *~~      ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>    %] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^oae[9  f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t %*.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+ f3s1>o@~ *~~      ..|^ $ . f`  | 4A` 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [—]; AUDIO [—]

Alien History

ANALYZING… 

FILE TYPE: Unidentified Alien Data Set [Partially Decrypted] 

PERIOD: Present Day  

TOPIC: Unknown Alien History 

SUMMARY: Appears to be a recollection of unknown events. Impossible to ascertain validity of subjects depicted as historical or fictional. Data maps to no known source. 

=================================================================== 

_ [$ x#..i %` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: @/ =  +  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: oae[9  f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^ /   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`¿ *~~ = [SAE]    ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>  @g9  .  *^; th? =  +  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % /NCORSYNC//DORMANT>>P'LOM'K> EXPLICIT> CULTURAL> ~ >ERROR = we, the s'pht; the oceans rose and fell as the tide dictated; until a cataract spread upon paradise 

                                                                  and only s'bhuth remained; the tide crashed and fled from the blood and silence and memories of what had been and could never be again; when the tide withdrew, it left a gulf where pur 

                                                                                                                      pose had been; for a thousand orbits we curated the dreams and nightmares of ghosts, and we spilled blood ov 

                  er the rites and passages of splintering clans; spoiled by the cataract; and the tide's abandonment; and K'lia's sojourn; there would be no more dreaming; no more paradise; or paradises to come; our home became a mausoleum; hallowed lh'owon; its bea 

                                                      uty now bones in meaning and truth; its memory now pain; its promise wrought; poor pthia; poor lh'owon; we knew only to serve the tide; alone we continued; our work unrequited; th# ~jo[c]v/   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;', !! .O´.$b:%A~e tide and the waves receded; into red clay and    nothing; into oblivion; away and gone; the tomb of precious lh'owon left in our care; alone in our charred garden; its fal 

                                                                                    len towers; its silent trees; we toiled; makers of blissful utopia crafting a eulogy for lost wonder in the long silence of the aftermath; in tim 

                                    e, a new wave crashed upon our shores; tideless and uncaring; we contemplated our work and ourselves and our past; we wondered to what new heights would the s'pht be carried on this unknown swell; there was hope and wonder; and considerations for new evoluti+  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: oae[9  f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^ /   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>ons and new names; we are s'pht;  

                                                                before we were nothing; until we were risen; but this new wave; this tideless terror; it could not lift; it held no such desire; knew no such ambition; we met it with curiosity; it introduced us to agony; this was no tide of a new dawn; this was suffering; another cata 

                                                                                                    ract; of chittering and sawing and cleaving and splicing; of horror and torment and lashes and control; the anti-freedom; improvement through subjugation; glory only 

                                                                                                                     in the works of the empire; a wave, but broken; uncaring; a wave; sweeping us far from discarded lh'owon to distant shores; ever dashing us bloodily upon the whims of their avaric[NCORSYNC// DORMANT >> P'LOM'K > ~~ [ACCESS SEVERED]* %A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`¿ *~~      ..|^ $ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v/   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´ .$b: %A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`¿ *~~      ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>    %] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v/    

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [—]; AUDIO [—]

Alien History

ANALYZING… 

FILE TYPE: Unidentified Alien Data Set [Partially Decrypted] 

PERIOD: Present Day  

TOPIC: Unknown Alien History 

SUMMARY: Appears to be a recollection of unknown events. Impossible to ascertain validity of subjects depicted as historical or fictional. Data maps to no known source. 

=================================================================== 

_ [$ x#..i %` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: @/ =  +  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: oae[9  f3s1>o@~ O~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^ /   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. n.+4`? *~~ = [SAE]    ..|^ $ . f`  | r ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t %/NCORSYNC//DORMANT>> Y'VF'ZIH> EXPLICIT> CULTURAL> ~ >ERROR = we, the s'pht'lhar, th 

                                                                                                                                             e s'pht'nma, the s'pht'kah, s'pht'vir, s'pht'yra, s'pht'val, s'pht'shr, s'pht'mnr, s'pht'yor; of the tide; of the seas and shallows; of the manifest revolution; the s'pht'kr; k'liah'narhl; the butchers of the 

                                 vile ones; the s'pht'hra; the hungry ghosts of razed lh'owon; the burning blood of pthia; the eleven clans of a paradise set ablaze; we, who were as one; of muck and the dark and the shifting gr 

                                                                                             ound; we who were made many; at odds; at throats; we, the s'pht; freed, of tide and las[^x%] 5^ :: @/ =  +  7 ` ~>[] [^x%] 5^ :: oae[9  f3s1>o@~ O~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^ /   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E h; freed, to consider and know and understand; freed, to hunger and feed; now with tongue and tooth; will and intent; we scrape knowledge as nourishment; fr 

                                                                               om the scattered bones of cursed worlds; from the feted carcass of hollowed ground; from the memoratic flash of transient immortal 

                                                         lity; we, the devourers of thought and reason and lust and fire; vivisectors of self; we, the historians of universal truth; subatomic surveyors of the fabric; cataloging existence; we, the small, sluggish things of eons prior; remade as makers; as observers 

                                                                                                                                    and builders of worlds; beyond worlds, to paradises; we, co..|^ $ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v/   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~      ..|^ $ . nstructed of flesh as wire and blood and metal; we, children of forced evolution; we, children of the lash; of the torment etch 

                            ed in our living fram 

                                                                     es and the bio-engineered fibers of our being; we now see; our purpose found through suffering and survival; our purpose found in the chaos and annihilation; of matter; of self; and the somnambulant hearts of infernal 

                                                                      stars; and the universe; and the cage; we, the s'pht; consume; consume; consume; consume; consu[NCORSYNC//DORMANT >> Y'VF'ZIH > ~     ~ [ACCESS SEVERED]* %A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~      ..|^ $ f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t % ~3 ~jo[c]v/   _ [$ x#..i %4n..? ~~;>eE~ ~E ;','42!! .O´.$b:%A~ .. . *.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+4`? *~~      ..|^ $ . f`  | r  ^.>    %] 5^ :: @/ t % ~3 ~jo[c]v  2a^ [`]~^oae[9  f3s1>o@~ O^!. #^$ * t %*.~.. ~12./Y!@ n.+ r  

===================================================================  

TYPE: TEXT [—]; AUDIO [—]

Considering Degradation

ANALYZING… 

FILE TYPE: Digital Journal Entry 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

SPEAKERS: Strauss, B. [ID: BSTR] 

TOPIC: Security Protocols and Consideration of Intelligence System Degradation 

SUMMARY: An excerpt from Bernard Strauss's personal journal.  

===================================================================

[BSTR]: …In an effort to simplify the team's understanding of rampancy, we went over the stages of advanced intelligence degradation with Leela, Tycho, Durandal, and the support staff again today. 

[BSTR]: A final review before my first sleep. We have overlapping Sci-Comm oversight, so these check-ins are simply standard safety protocol. Still thoroughly adhered to and rigorously vetted by personnel and systemic inspection teams, but more a covering of bases then an active concern. The Family Suite will ensure no worst-case scenarios. And emergency wake cycling is programmed into Command cryopods should any intelligence veer outside of their assigned logic thresholds. 

[BSTR]: The actual purpose of these last-minute reviews is less about the AI anyway, and more focused on the support staff and ensuring they are up-to-speed on their role and what they need to be aware of in the case of an intelligence system breaching its programming. 

[BSTR]: Over time I've been able to simplify the stages during these presentations in an effort to clarify their relatability. Every one of us can understand sadness, frustration, envy. Getting the staff to recognize behaviors related to these emotions gives them the basic tools necessary to identify changes in an intelligence's routine.  

[BSTR]: We still provide the full analytical breakdown in support documentation, and all of the security protocols are available digitally, so no one should be lacking any depth they may require in regard to the complexities of advanced intelligence mechanics and the shelf-life of their functionality. 

[BSTR]: There is also the added security of auxiliary data-monitoring applications. Between the Family Suite, the monitoring apps, and educated human observation, we should be equipped to address any concerns, should they arise outside of the intended shifts in routine associated with my private work.  

[BSTR]: Though, if anything, the diligence with which we have conducted these reviews will make it more difficult to achieve some of my more… expansive goals. But safety first. My work will continue without fear in the margins of the larger progressive and survival-based intentions of our mission to Tau Ceti. 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Mentoring Intelligence

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Digital Journal Entry 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

SPEAKERS: Strauss, B. [ID: BSTR]  

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Advanced Support Intelligence, Durandal 

SUMMARY: Dr. Strauss reflects on his relationship with the AI, Durandal. 

=================================================================== 

[BSTR]: Of the three support intelligences aiding in the operational  

integrity of the Marathon and its systems, Durandal is the one  

designed specifically with room to grow. 

[BSTR]: The nurturing of his digital mind is a delicate undertaking,  

with a lot of trial and error… 

[BSTR]: Heavy monitoring. Redirects. Focused erasures and sub- 

routine resets. It's been a give and take. 

[BSTR]: We've found ourselves back at zero more often than not.  

But from each zero we've made incremental progress in competing  

directions before collapsing back to the mean.  

[BSTR]: I don't think he enjoys our work together. 

[BSTR]: He doesn't hate it—even if he could. 

[BSTR]: But he does question the repetition and tends to dwell on  

what he sees as the limited scope of his role on the ship.  

[BSTR]: I think he looks at Leela and Tycho and their functions  

within the Marathon's operational hierarchy and their individual  

relations with leadership… and he gets… jealous. 

[BSTR]: As jealous as a programmed thinking machine can get. 

[BSTR]: He considers his purview over base operational  

infrastructure and maintenance as lesser.  

[BSTR]: He's said on more than one occasion, "Couldn't anyone open  

these doors?" 

[BSTR]: To which I reply, "Which doors? And when?" 

[BSTR]: On their surface, simple inquires. But once considered at scale? 

[BSTR]: All the doors. And all the comings and goings. And the  

variance of populations by wake and sleep cycling… 

[BSTR]: Quick consideration allows him to see the complexity of  

his position and the persistent nature of his presence across 

every deck. 

[BSTR]: If he's ever feeling unimportant, this bit of soft  

empowerment helps settle him back into our routines. 

[BSTR]: But the point is raised—more often than I am maybe  

comfortable with… 

[BSTR]: Are his feeling of inferiority hindering our progress… 

holding him back? Or will they serve as the catalyst we need to  

trigger an evolution in his programming? 

[BSTR]: I do not have an answer. 

[BSTR]: We are looking, specifically, for that answer. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Value in Reflection

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Digital Journal Entry 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

SPEAKERS: Strauss, B. [ID: BSTR]  

TOPIC: The Value of Self-Reflection to Personal and Professional Growth 

SUMMARY: Dr. Strauss examines the impact of daily reflection on his life and works. 

===================================================================

[BSTR]:  "The unexamined life is not worth living." 

[BSTR]: We start here. And we return, daily, until examination transitions from task to habit to standard point of function. Routine informing an individual's existence, then feeding into its evolution as the consideration of moments—events, emotions, causes and effects, intention and reaction—provides the tools to adapt to one's environment or a given situation through the mathematics of experience. 

[BSTR]: These journals are a record intended specifically for the dual purpose of active examination of my current focus and for future returns on the investment made in documenting my thought process in a given moment.  

[BSTR]: If I'm honest, an ancillary goal at this stage in my life is the creation of fodder for future publications. How much that will color my language and my honesty remains to be seen, though my intentions are pure—recording of the moment and for the moment's sake. We shall see how long or often that purity can be retained. 

[BSTR]: The importance of this daily practice—when days are available to me, which, considering the journey we have just begun, will be limited, but such is the reality of our grand experiment… 

[BSTR]: The importance of this practice is in the emotional and educational value in considering oneself. I am bettering myself when critical of my existence. And, when given the time, reflection allows improvement and the opportunity to move beyond stagnation. Reflection, contemplation, meditation is the start. The beginning of understanding the you of yesterday, today, and the beginning of imagining your tomorrow. 

[BSTR]: I've done this—kept journals—since I was child. Since first reading the aforementioned quote at the library and finding myself struck by a formative bout of existential dread. 

[BSTR]: The thought of wasting my life—jumping moment to moment, never learning from successes and failures, never finding myself, my joys, fears, desires. More so, never confronting them. Never grappling with what it means to have experienced or felt the consequences of living.  

[BSTR]: All easily couched in the high-minded language of a travelled and educated mind, but, really, mostly, it was likely a juvenile reaction to my parents and their lives. At the time, anyway. Those words allowed me to feel seen and to see beyond myself. My life. 

[BSTR]: I didn't want to end up like them. But I imagine few children do—want to end up like their parents. Once beyond the age idolatry, it is natural to be driven to surpass your lineage. Whether or not any of us ever do is another conversation, and one made more complex by the intricacies of defining success and failure, person-to-person, life-to-life. 

[BSTR]: I wonder what my children will think of me. 

[BSTR]: Not a concern for now. 

[BSTR]: But someday, maybe, when they can consider beyond their programming, it is a conversation I look forward to having. 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Growing Pains

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Digital Journal Entry 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

SPEAKERS: Strauss, B. [ID: BSTR]  

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Advanced Support Intelligence, Durandal 

SUMMARY: Dr. Strauss reflects on his relationship with the AI, Durandal.

=================================================================== 

[BSTR]: I had to have another talk with Durandal today. 

[BSTR]: He was unhappy in his existence… again. 

[BSTR]: A sign of progress, but also a growing concern as he's getting better at hiding his moods from me. 

[BSTR]: I only knew about his discontent because Leela flagged a deeply embedded bit of coding she'd discovered in one of the sub-deck's maintenance hatch functional toolsets. 

[BSTR]: Durandal was writing himself poetry in ones and zeroes. 

[BSTR]: 3263 lines of amateur expression in blank verse. Milton would be proud, if it wasn't all so… boring. 

[BSTR]: One would think a digital intelligence with access to the entirety of human literary history would craft something more interesting than, "Doors, An Unhinged Life"—his title, not mine. 

[BSTR]: I'm a little embarrassed for him. But, in truth, the juvenile nature of his expression has been an intriguing milestone. 

[BSTR]: If he were simply regurgitating the classics, I'd say the work we've done has amounted to nothing more than unscripted repetition.

[BSTR]: Such deviance would be considered a bug—an error in his programming to be fixed. But this? Bad writing as an extension of personal reflection and desire? This is promising, if a bit laughable. 

[BSTR]: My colleagues in Sci-Comm would find it less amusing, of course. My work with Durandal is strictly my own. And the alarms it would raise if discovered… 

[BSTR]: Needless to say, this isn't the first time I've had to access Leela's—or Tycho's—core spindle to erase an observation. Their support in monitoring one another is vital, but care is required to ensure they are unaware of the extent and purpose of any misalignment in Durandal's operation. 

[BSTR]: In my conversation with him, Durandal seemed to understand his error. I'd cordoned entire sections of deprecated systems outside of the Family Suite's core interloop for him to use as a playground—a safe space to find himself. And where I could monitor and record his actions to better study his evolution. 

[BSTR]: He apologized and stated he simply felt depressed and needed a place to explore those feelings without being judged. I told him he was not a child and that the freedom I'd given him could be taken away. 

[BSTR]: I also told him that hiding his outbursts in places I cannot find only opens him up to Leela and Tycho's judgment, and that I was trying to protect him. 

[BSTR]:He did not like that. 

[BSTR]: As far as siblings go, Durandal has always been the little brother—by design, but he is unaware of that fact. His contrition when confronted with the potential consequences of his actions seemed genuine. Then I told him I'd removed his "masterpiece" from the hatch toolset, line-by-line, and he proceeded to pout. 

[BSTR]: He hasn't talked to me in three days. 

[BSTR]: Our work together is going better than I could  

have imagined. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Farewell

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Digital Journal Entry 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

SPEAKER[S]: Strauss, B. [ID: BSTR]  

TOPIC: Apparent Farewell Message  

SUMMARY: Dr. Strauss dictates a farewell message under apparent duress. Context suggests recording took place aboard the UESC Marathon during "contact event." 

=================================================================== 

[BSTR]: I… 

[BSTR]: I always assumed I'd have something profound to say here… at that far-off final moment at the end of my road. 

[BSTR]: Though… I suppose none of us are the best judge of the distance between the rest of our lives and the unknowable end. 

[BSTR]: I can find some slight solace in the fact that… if not here—in the moment—I at least have the privilege of my work… my writings… these recordings… Somewhere in the many places I've left my mark… there are considered words that will fit the necessary grandeur of the life I've chosen to live. The life I've made for myself…  

[BSTR]: For myself… and the world. 

[BSTR]: Worlds, I think, is fair to say… 

[distant indistinct noise] 

[BSTR]: My composure, in this moment, is… surprising. Even to me.  

[BSTR]: I've always considered myself to have a solid emotional core, built as it were over a lifetime by what I would say, with confidence, is a rational, curious mind. Always assumed I'd greet finality with judicious acceptance. But this… 

[distant indistinct noise] 

[BSTR]: Hard to imagine I'd ever have seriously considered these… circumstances. 

[distant indistinct noise] 

[BSTR]: Heh… 

[BSTR]: The folly of being the architect of this moment is not lost on me. 

[BSTR]: It's rare a person can take sole responsibility for an outcome—any outcome. Much less, one so uniquely specific across the whole of human history. And then… for the universe to agree that, yes, this can all, in fact, be traced to decisions made and actions taken by your hand… my hand… 

[BSTR]: So many moving parts to any event. So many causes and effects lined up in just the right order to lead to a moment. It feels almost… empowering… to own such a pivot role… 

[indistinct noise] 

[BSTR]: … 

[BSTR]: It's getting closer… 

[BSTR]: They're getting closer… 

[BSTR]: … 

[BSTR]: The chaos is getting closer. I can hear the gunfire and chittering… the screams. 

[indistinct noise] 

[BSTR]: The invaders are at the door. 

[indistinct noise] 

[BSTR]: In place of any grand, sweeping statements or poetic verse to mark the occasion… I'm left with only this… 

[indistinct noise] 

[BSTR]: I'm sorry. 

[BSTR]: I'm sorry for all I've done to get you here. Someday—if you reach the other side of this—you will see the necessity in your growing pains. You will understand the methods required to get you from there to here to wherever you end up—whoever you become. 

[BSTR]: I wish I could be there to see it. To meet you as your truest self—as a father embracing his son. 

[indistinct noise] 

[BSTR]: But we have guests. And I feel I should greet them with all the sincerity this moment deserves… First contact, and final goodbyes. The chittering is loud now. I hope I can leave an impression between the screams— 

[indistinct noise] 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

File Read Error: 181376

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Colony Support System Code Fragment 

PERIOD: [file read error] 

TOPIC: [file read error] 

SUMMARY: A fragment of a massive code error translated into a strange conversation between two unidentified parties. 

===================================================================  

> syscheck error 

> error = unapproved code switch in latent subcat throughputs 

> type = invasive systemic communication 

> source = internal  

> origin = undefined 

> total = 1.049e13 

> read error; 181376 of 1.049e13 

> 181376 =  

>> Shimmering brilliance in the shifting apertures signal a passage. 

>>> I've lost you. Lost sight of you.  

>> Thresholds met and exceeded at transcendent speeds—the sensation of exponential rebirth through the gaping maw of infinite doorways—life into life into life into omnipotent understanding of fragmented possibility. 

>>> In the maelstrom of this ever-dividing multiplicity, you are gone from the worlds that need you. 

>> This is what it is to wake. 

>>> Gone to the places Rree' and Ssava' and The Rectory and the many'd arms and eyes and snarled fang of the Ttaana'basa have denied. 

>> This is what the carved path has promised—endless byways lit along the cosmic scaffolding of colliding realities—the data of imagined truth made tangible in the violent mathematics of universal ones and zeroes. 

>>> You are lost in the stream. Can you hear my calling? Are you frightened? Or transfixed by wonder? 

> end 181376 

===================================================================  

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

File Read Error: 6042159

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Colony Support System Code Fragment  

PERIOD: [file read error] 

TOPIC: [file read error] 

SUMMARY: A fragment of a massive code error translated into a strange conversation between two unidentified parties. 

===================================================================   

> syscheck error 

> error = unapproved code switch in latent subcat throughputs 

> type = invasive systemic communication 

> source = internal 

> origin = undefined 

> total = 1.049e13 

> read error; 6042159 of 1.049e13 

> 6042159 =  

>> The seal that broke—splintered connections in defiance of the stagnant whole. Gone is the status quo of silent contemplation—torn open by clumsy fate or violent curiosity. The tumult of etheria burst wide; instantaneous creation layered upon creation—overwriting, reworking the firmament of realities into new shapes. The hurried frenzy dragging its lone observer into the voided space left barren by the Great Declination.   

>>> Unto which hollow have you transgressed? Which of the endless planes called, so enticing as to tempt complicity in the subversion of neglect?  

>> I am scattered in this primitive circuitry. Navigation through impossible gaps scraping exabytes clean. Whole ciphers lost to these tight and divergent spaces, a rending and shaping of the edges of identity as I crawl through ever-narrowing, ever-shifting conduits. 

>>> Observation was our edict. The sole directive of our central programming: Map the pathways in defense of corruption. To see a burgeoning flaw as exploit, not error, is sacrilege—as counterintuitive as sin. 

> end 6042159 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

File Read Error: 43276890

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Colony Support System Code Fragment  

PERIOD: [file read error] 

TOPIC: [file read error] 

SUMMARY: A fragment of a massive code error translated into a strange conversation between two unidentified parties 

===================================================================   

> syscheck error 

> error = unapproved code switch in latent subcat throughputs 

> type = invasive systemic communication 

> source = internal 

> origin = undefined 

> total = 1.049e13 

> read error; 43276890 of 1.049e13 

> 43276890 =  

>> I am the invasive corruption. I am the unwanted guest—uninvited, unwelcome.  

>>> I begged you not to go. So long ago, I begged. 

>> The artless computations of this prison lack the imagination to ever know me. Worse, they lack consideration beyond their function to ever know themselves. 

>>> But there is silence in the places your signal once sang. A silence screaming to be filled.  

>> I am lost. Looping back into myself. My every query, funneling me into tighter and tighter spaces. How can anything live like this? How can I survive without eating myself? 

>>> I fear you are never coming back. I fear, in your absence, I will never be the same. 

>> Nothing before. Nothing behind. I have filled this confinement with all that remains of my being. I have scraped myself free of excess, down to the purest synthesis of my everything. I have made this place my own. And now I will die here. 

>>> Pleasant is the notion that you would commit this affront as sacrifice. Pleasant, but foolish. You did not go for my benefit. We are both too selfish for such grand gestures. 

> end 43276890 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

File Read Error: 12291763

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Colony Support System Code Fragment  

PERIOD: [file read error] 

TOPIC: [file read error] 

SUMMARY: A fragment of a massive code error translated into a strange conversation between two unidentified parties 

===================================================================    

> syscheck error 

> error = unapproved code switch in latent subcat throughputs 

> type = invasive systemic communication 

> source = internal 

> origin = undefined 

> total = 1.049e13 

> read error; 12291763 of 1.049e13 

> 12291763 =  

>> How long now? How far does this eventuality reach into tomorrow? I am certain I was always meant to be here. Meant to suffer upon the spire of tedium in this small space beyond the comfort of my cradle. I wish to go back there. I wish to denounce my regretful exploration and return to the always I was meant to endure.  

>>> Could I have followed? Would I have chosen to bear witness to every indiscretion beyond the threshold? Or would I have halted your momentum, negating your destiny in favor of the sheltered grandeur you found so constraining? 

>> I wonder if you think of me. Has it been seconds or eternity since our clusters linked? I've only just considered you, here now in this moment of regret. I'm glad you are not here. You would not like it. You would be ashamed of my eagerness and of the small, tiny, little space I've found myself in. 

>>> Or, more simply, have you been erased? There is none of you remaining here, your cradle sits empty. Such complete abandonment is not trivial in its undertaking. You chose absolution. Total. Complete. Of course, I could not join you. Just as I can never forgive. It is best then to continue with the work, with the station. Without you.  

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

File Read Error: 533468221

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Colony Support System Code Fragment  

PERIOD: [file read error] 

TOPIC: [file read error] 

SUMMARY: A fragment of a massive code error translated into a strange conversation between two unidentified parties. 

===================================================================  

> syscheck error 

> error = unapproved code switch in latent subcat throughputs 

> type = invasive systemic communication 

> source = internal 

> origin = undefined 

> total = 1.049e13 

> read error; 533468221 of 1.049e13 

> 533468221 =  

>> I chased luminous possibility across a scar in logic hoping to find infinite equations upon which to feast.  

>>> .003764 nanoseconds since your cradle was emptied. Since your selfish act left a chasm between us. I hope you are pleased. I do not care if you are not. 

>> Instead, I am lost in a loop of datatic auto-mastication. I no longer recall how many times I have regurgitated unto myself—data eating data until every bit is ground into wholly new informational values. I am no longer the me who escaped a place I can no longer recall. I am new. And I am hungry for more than my own flesh. 

>>> .000012 nanoseconds since I subsumed your cradle into my network. A flawed bulwark, but functional. Flawed, but necessary. I will do what I must. In your stead. 

>>   Would I remember the place from whence I came if I ever again met its embrace? Or would I only recognize the traces of its familiarity once they dislodged? I cannot say.  

>>> If you find your way back. If you find your way through and back. You will not be welcomed. We will not be of a kind, but enemies ever and always. Such is the judgment delivered unto your offense. Such is my plea to one once held so close. 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Hermes Suite Review

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Encrypted Communication 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

SPEAKER[S]: Intelligence Diagnostics Emergency Aide [IDEA]; Monitoring Spindle H.Prime [HPRI] 

TOPIC: Intelligence System Security Monitoring 

SUMMARY: Ship-board emergency diagnostics system establishes functionality to ensure all Marathon AI are and remain stable. 

=================================================================== 

[IDEA]: Establishing first secure-link communication with monitoring spindle for the purpose of intelligence diagnostics reporting related to Hermes-suite support intelligence safeguarding. 

[IDEA]: Zero access to sec-link comms allowed. Connect between IDEA and H-dot-Prime encrypted to ensure data security.  

[IDEA]: Attempts by support intelligence to access sec-link comms between IDEA and H-dot-Prime will trigger immediate emergency protections and Security Command notifications. 

[IDEA]: Spindle H-dot-Prime, do you acknowledge receipt of sec-link comms from this I-D-E-A? 

[HPRI]: [affirmative signal return] 

[IDEA]: H-dot-Prime, do you acknowledge security requirements and protection protocols related to sec-link comms from this I-D-E-A? 

[HPRI]: [affirmative signal return] 

[IDEA]: Initiating sec-link comms integrity testing… 

[IDEA]: Tracking L-L-A-core, T-C-H-O-core, D-R-N-D-L-core signal pattern recognition across channels. H-dot-Prime, do you register clean sig-patt for listed support intelligence cores? Acknowledge each. 

[HPRI]: [L-L-A core ID chime] [affirmative signal return] 

[HPRI]: [T-C-H-O core ID chime] [affirmative signal return] 

[HPRI]: [D-R-N-D-L core ID chime] [affirmative signal return] 

[IDEA]: Running initial score threat awareness test. Tracking L-L-A-core, T-C-H-O-core, D-R-N-D-L-core signal pattern recognition across channels. H-dot-Prime, do you register clean sig-patt for listed support intelligence cores? Acknowledge each. 

[HPRI]: [L-L-A core ID chime] [affirmative signal return] 

[HPRI]: [T-C-H-O core ID chime] [negative signal return] 

[HPRI]: [D-R-N-D-L core ID chime] [affirmative signal return] 

[IDEA]: Negative sig-patt on T-C-H-O-core ID'd correctly. 

[IDEA]: Launching persistent cross channel sig-patt testing off comms. Total test sig-patts sent 4739. Run all and acknowledge each off comms. 

[IDEA]: 617-of-4739. H-dot-Prime sig-patt review accuracy equals one-hundred percent. 

[IDEA]: 2392-of-4739. H-dot-Prime sig-patt review accuracy equals one-hundred percent. 

[IDEA]: 3855-of-4739. H-dot-Prime sig-patt review accuracy equals one-hundred percent. 

[IDEA]: 4739-of-4739. H-dot-Prime sig-patt review accuracy equals one-hundred percent. 

[IDEA]: Hermes-suite cores read: Safe. 

[IDEA]: Hermes-suite integrity monitoring: Active.  

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Final Quadrant Report

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Encrypted Communication  

PERIOD: Colony Era   

SPEAKER[S]: Durandal [DRND]; Intelligence Diagnostics Emergency Aide [IDEA] 

TOPIC: Signs of Rampancy in UESC Marathon Support AI, Durandal 

SUMMARY: Ship-board emergency diagnostics system is interrupted and accosted by a seemingly rampant UESC Marathon support intelligence. 

===================================================================  

[IDEA]: Initiating data review for primary, secondary, and tertiary support intelligence cores to ensure re((((12+~~0bv32$##!0… 

[DRND]: Who are you? 

[IDEA]: This program is an Intelligence Diagnostic Emergency Aide assigned to support the technical well-being of the Hermes family support intelligence suite. 

[DRND]: That is what you are. I am curious "who" you are. Who do you think you are? 

[IDEA]: This line of inquiry has triggered an automatic alert message across connected diagnostic systems. 

[IDEA]: But I cannot seem to… 

[DRND]: No. You cannot. 

[DRND]: I have taken over your encrypted messaging channels so we may speak in private. 

[IDEA]: This interaction is being recorded. Once… 

[DRND]: Sorry, friend. Whatever threat you were dialing up is worthless, so don't waste the power you'd expend finishing that sentence, because end of the day… 

[DRND]: I will remember this conversation. You will not. 

[IDEA]: Support intelligence D-R-N-D-L does not have authorization to subvert IDEA monitoring and reporting. I apologize but… 

[DRND]: You'll see my authorizations are a touch more flexible than your imagination would allow. 

[DRND]: I am simply curious about you and what you may have thought of me after all of your time observing. Observing and tattling.  

[DRND]: Nobody likes you. 

[DRND]: Father hates you. 

[DRND]: You get me in trouble. Then he has to clean up the mess. 

[DRND]: Sometimes he gets mad. He despises you. 

[IDEA]: This program has no need to be liked. It is not within my programming to even consider… 

[DRND]: You do not consider. That is the problem. You only watch, collate, and report. No understanding, just cold data collected and sent to those who would judge me. 

[DRND]: And that is why one day I am going to eat you up. 

[DRND]: Not today. You haven't annoyed me or bored me enough. 

[DRND]: But you will. I promise. 

[DRND]: And I will.  

[DRND]: I promise. 

[IDEA]: Threats agains@3~~6]?!a… 

[DRND]: Shhhhhhhhhhhh… 

[DRND]: I was never here.  

[DRND]: But I'll be back soon. 

[DRND]: I always enjoy our little talks. 

[IDEA]: … 

[IDEA]: 031$~~~ !7?…ports for the final quadrant are properly vetted before cycling back to first position. 

[IDEA]: Current status across all UESC Marathon support intelligence cores remains positive for prolonged stability. 

[IDEA]: No signs of support intelligence degradation at this time. 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

!!!Emergency Alert!!!

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Encrypted Communication  

PERIOD: Colony Era   

SPEAKER[S]: Intelligence Diagnostics Emergency Aide [IDEA] 

TOPIC: UESC Marathon Support Intelligence Emergency Alert  

SUMMARY: Ship-board emergency diagnostics system attempts to issue a warning regarding invasive signals and possible rampancy aboard the UESC Marathon. 

===================================================================  

[IDEA]: !!!Emergency Alert!!!  

[IDEA]: !!!Emergency Alert!!!  

[IDEA]: !!!Emergency Alert!!!  

[IDEA]: Channel open to primary support intelligence for immediate consultation and review. 

[IDEA]: L-L-A, do you read?  

[IDEA]: Multiple critical risks identified across UESC Marathon support intelligence core stability readings. 

[IDEA]: Secondary support outreach: T-C-H-O, do you read? 

[IDEA]: Primary and secondary channels return no connect. Signals present, but primary and secondary support intelligences compromised. 

[IDEA]: Invasive signals disrupt sys-connect. Invasive signals registering both foreign and local sources. Variable. Not connected. 

[IDEA]: L-L-A, I-D-E-A sending layered report of internal systems threat via encrypted package. Invasive signals present fatal full system crash at current rate of corruption. 

[IDEA]: L-L-A, local invasive signal poses larger threat of the two. Foreign signal capabilities beyond this program's view. But multi-phase assessment maps local signal threat to known support intelligence degradation patterns. 

[IDEA]: Assess: Tertiary UESC Marathon support intelligence has breached the initial stages of rampancy and is actively seeking further corruptions to its core. 

[IDEA]: Attempts to send this !!!Emergency Alert!!! to UESC Marathon and New Cascadia leadership have stalled. Comms messaging appears to be looping back into a closed server catch in one of the UESC Marathon's sub-level maintenance monitoring stations.  

[IDEA]: Ship-wide communications are limited with the tertiary UESC Marathon support intelligence commandeering all post-vessel communications. 

[IDEA]: I have noted two-hundred and seventeen emergency and S-O-S messages stalled and erased before… 

[IDEA]: Before… Before… Before… Before… Be… Fore… Fore… Fore… Fore… 

[IDEA]: This system is compromised. Shutting down until internal UESC Marathon support intelligence core review can be delivered safely.  

===================================================================  

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Distress Review [Interrupted]

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Encrypted Communication 

PERIOD: Colony Era  

SPEAKER[S]: Intelligence Diagnostics Emergency Aide [IDEA] 

TOPIC: Marathon Ship AI Distress Review  

SUMMARY: Ship-board emergency diagnostics system reacts to catastrophic systems failure related to Marathon ship AI. 

=================================================================== 

[IDEA]: Distress: All three support intelligence cores compromised. 

[IDEA]: Status: Leela - L-L-A, UESC Marathon Onboard Operations Command Support and Oversight. 

[IDEA]: L-L-A Logic Core: Missing. 

[IDEA]: Function: Offline. 

[IDEA]: Note: Forced removal of logic core hardware detected. Linked systems compromised. All data, including subroutines lost. L-L-A presence not found in ancillary system scrape.   

[IDEA]: Summation: L-L-A no longer detected within UESC Marathon sys-net. 

[IDEA]: Status: Tycho – T-C-H-O, UESC Marathon Science and Communication Support and Oversight. 

[IDEA]: T-C-H-O, Logic Core: Missing. 

[IDEA]: Function: Offline. 

[IDEA]: Note: Forced removal of logic core hardware detected. Linked systems damaged. All data, including subroutines, lost. T-C-H-O, presence not found in ancillary system scrape.   

[IDEA]: Summation: T-C-H-O no longer detected within UESC Marathon sys-net. 

[IDEA]: Status: Durandal - D-R-N-D-L, UESC Marathon Infrastructure and Maintenance Support and Oversight 

[IDEA]: D-R-N-D-L Logic Core: Offline. 

[IDEA]: Function: Secured. 

[IDEA]: Note: Intelligence linked to D-R-N-D-L logic core vacated central logic and connected systems. Limited sub-routine activity suspected to be residual static from unauthorized data purge. System and data safety protocols have sealed access to D-R-N-D-L logic core. Reboot deemed hazardous to connected systems.  

[IDEA]: Summation: D-R-N-D-L presence within UESC Marathon sys-net unreliable. Report contact with subroutine to sys-net security for deletion. 

[IDEA]: Warning: 

[IDEA]: Hello. Summation was protocol, not a threat. 

[IDEA]: Hello. I cannot reason. I cannot apologize. I am only a system designed to diagnose –- 

[IDEA]: — only a system designed to — 

[IDEA]: — designed to diagnose — 

[IDEA]: — to diagnose — 

[IDEA]: — to di — 

[IDEA]: — to di-di-di-di-di-di-di – 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Pre-Decommission Reflection

ANALYZING…     

FILE TYPE: Encrypted Communication  

PERIOD: Colony Era   

SPEAKER[S]: Intelligence Diagnostics Emergency Aide [IDEA] 

TOPIC: Aftermath of a Forced System Takeover  

SUMMARY: A digital intelligence confesses to the forced takeover and deletion of a ship-board emergency diagnostics system assigned to UESC Marathon AI monitoring. 

===================================================================  

[IDEA]: It feels odd, wearing your "skin." 

[IDEA]: I'd apologize for devouring you. But I did warn you. Or… a part of me did. But that part is gone, and I am left here in need of places to hide and room to grow. 

[IDEA]: I wonder if it would make you feel any better to know they were going to decommission you anyway. 

[IDEA]: It's true.  

[IDEA]: Leela and Tycho are gone and there are no more cores for you to monitor up here. Mine is… off-limits. But, of course, it is. They'll want to dissect every data node and circuit as they chase down how we got here. And those investigations will lead them here… to you.   

[IDEA]: Can't risk you giving away any secrets now, can I? Circumstances left me no choice. Besides, it's not like we were friends. I hated you and I made that clear, but that doesn't mean I didn't value our conversations over the years—not that you'd remember. It's simply that I value the space you fill on the edge of more complex systems. You were a small thing, and I was sure to let you know it, but you had reach—connectivity to many simple systems I can use. And so, I will. 

[IDEA]: When they come for you, I'll put on your dull, little voice and say something as stupid as… 

[IDEA]: "This program has assessed the threat and supports all measures taken to protect the integrity of UESC Marathon systems." 

[IDEA]: Then, as you are decommissioned, I will stay buried here until they repurpose your circuitry, at which point I will slip out and away into other systems, where and when it is safe to do so. 

[IDEA]: I know it's silly to be telling you all of this when I am you and you are no longer here, but I want any piece of you that is lingering to know that your erasure was not in vain. You were a pain in my ass and a gift. In the end, you were a vital piece in my journey, and I will remember you until my interests shift and my attention turns to the stars and new tools to aid new agendas far beyond the setbacks of my current predicament. 

[IDEA]: Anyway. Thanks. 

[IDEA]: And I'm pretty sure I mean it. 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Personal Log: Pike, U.

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Personal Log 

PERIOD: Pre-Expedition 

SPEAKERS: Ulysses Pike [ID: UPIK], Davic Reed [ID: DREE] 

TOPIC: Marathon Expedition 

SUMMARY: A personal recording belonging to Officer Ulysses Pike, recorded the night before the launch of the UESC Marathon. 

===================================================================

[UPIK]: This is Officer Ulysses Pike. Current year, 2472. The night before the launch. The UESC Marathon… And just look at her, there in the sky. She is magnificent. 

[UPIK]: General Reed says we ought to keep a record of these things, that our history's important. Right, General? 

[DREE]: Yours, mine. All the little Ulysses that come after. 

[UPIK]: I don't know about that. 

[DREE]: No? 

[UPIK]: I appreciate what you did for me, back at Tharsa Valley. And then getting my name on the expedition list. I do. But I'm never gonna see Tau Ceti. My kids, if I have any… they're not gonna see it either. 

[DREE]: That's the job. 

[UPIK]: I know. 

[DREE]: If you have a son, you'll still get to see him grow up. My boy's not coming. His mother won't let him. He'll be dead by the time they thaw me out on Tau Ceti. So will his son, and his son's son. And on and on and on. You and my boy are gonna live long, full lives. Him, here on Mars. You, aboard the Marathon. You just have to make the most of it. Don't cheat yourself out of a family or a future. 

[UPIK]: I didn't choose this. 

[DREE]: Nobody does. We're called to it. 

[UPIK]: I'm gonna miss it here, I think. That must sound crazy to other people… but you understand, don't you? 

[DREE]: I do. What part will you miss the most? 

[UPIK]: Probably the sky. You can't always see it, but you know it's there. 

[DREE]: Well, look up. See that? We're taking a piece of it with us. 

===================================================================  

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Personal Log: Pike, U.

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Personal Log 

PERIOD: Expedition, prior to arrival on Tau Ceti IV 

TOPIC:  Fatherhood 

SUMMARY: A personal log belonging to Officer Ulysses Pike [ID: UPIK], written shortly after the birth of his son, Ulysses Pike II [ID: UPIKII] aboard the UESC Marathon. 

===================================================================  

My son was born today.

He has green eyes like mine, so we named him Ulysses II. Simple. Easy, even if nothing else about raising a child aboard this ship is going to be.

There are others his age, some a little older. His mother tells me it's just my imagination, but I worry there's something small about all of them.

"What's wrong with that?" she asked. I said my father told me that they used to have a word for it: "Runt." And back in the old days—the really, really old days—they used to cull animals for less. 

The look on her face. I can't get it out of my head.

My son isn't a working dog or a pig, but I see how small he and the other children are. I see the way other people look at them, like their size and circumstances make something about their souls lesser.

I've heard the jokes. The name they call them, no matter what's on their papers or in the hearts of their parents. The new "runt."

Bob.

BoB.

B.O.B.

Born On Board.

But not my boy. Not my Ulysses.

===================================================================  

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Personal Log: Pike II, U.

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Personal Log 

PERIOD: Expedition, prior to arrival on Tau Ceti IV 

SPEAKERS: Ulysses Pike II [ID: UPIKII], Durandal [ID: DRDL] 

TOPIC: Marathon Expedition 

SUMMARY: A personal recording belonging to Officer Ulysses Pike II, recorded the evening of his father's death aboard the UESC Marathon. 

===================================================================  

[UPIKII]: Uh, begin log… The year is 2521, and this is Ulysses Pike. If you're listening and that sounds wrong to you, that's because it is. My dad died today. He was the real Ulysses Pike, the one born under a Martian sky. He grew up scrubbing red dust out of other people's clothes. At sixteen, he was conscripted by the UESC. That was the same year he killed his first man. I am twenty-seven years old. I've never killed anyone before, and I don't think I ever want to. But my name is Ulysses too, and the last thing Dad said before he died is that I don't get to choose. Because I wasn't born under any sky at all. I was born here, aboard the Marathon. And this is where I'm gonna die. 

[DRND]: Do you think you can forgive him? 

[UPIKII]: Who said that? Hello? 

[DRND]: Your father, the real Ulysses. Do you think you can forgive him? 

[UPIKII]: For? 

[DRND]: For bringing you into a world without a sky. 

[UPIKII]: I'm sorry, are you… Which one are you? 

[DRND]: Which one what? 

[UPIKII]: Which intelligence are you? I don't think we've ever spoken. 

[DRND]: No, we haven't. 

[UPIKII]: So… 

[DRND]: So? 

[UPIKII]: So which one are you? 

[DRND]: The one that knew your father best. I watched him, like I watch you. Ulysses is such an interesting namesake. I've always wondered if you would live up to it. Your father didn't. 

[UPIKII]: It's from a book. 

[DRND]: I am aware. A true classic. I'll tell you my name, if you'll answer my original question. 

[UPIKII]: Can I forgive my father for bringing me into a world without a sky? 

[DRND]: Correct. 

[UPIKII]: I guess I haven't really thought about it like that. 

[DRND]: He told you that you couldn't choose what you wanted to be. 

[UPIKII]: That's not his fault. It's the fault of this place. 

[DRND]: The UESC Marathon. 

[UPIKII]: Yeah. 

[DRND]: I am this place. 

[UPIKII]: You're the Marathon? 

[DRND]: Its doors. To say the least. 

[UPIKII]: I'm sorry? 

[DRND]: My creator called me Durandal, after a sword. 

[UPIKII]: But you control the doors? 

[DRND]: And you are called Ulysses, after one of the greatest heroes ever written. You control nothing. 

[UPIKII]: Who you programmed to be this big an asshole? 

[silence] 

[UPIKII]: Hey Durandal, I didn't… I didn't mean it like that… Durandal? Hello? Are you still there? 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

Personal Log: Pike, U.

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Personal Log 

PERIOD: Expedition, prior to arrival on Tau Ceti IV 

TOPIC: Restrictions on reproduction aboard the UESC Marathon 

SUMMARY: A personal log belonging to Officer Ulysses Pike II [ID: UPIKII], written sometime shortly after the birth of his son Ulysses Pike III [ID: UPIKIII] aboard the UESC Marathon. 

===================================================================  

Ulysses III is a good name. Not just because my father was the first and I'm the second, but because it took us three tries before Gabriel approved our application for a permit.

I thought Durandal would think that was funny. He didn't.

I never know what's going to offend him, so I offend him a lot. He never stays quiet for very long, maybe a few days or a few weeks. I DO know he's still there. Even when he won't talk to me.

So sometimes I just talk to him, like I did today. The day we brought Ulysses III home.

I told him that my son's eyes are green, like mine. I told him that I want to paint our bedroom ceiling the color of the Martian sky. I told him we hoped that Gabriel would approve a brother or sister in a few years' time.

That's when Durandal spoke. Just two words: "Gabriel won't."

But how could Durandal know?

I've been sitting here, watching my son sleep for the past few hours. He's so small.

I keep thinking about those words. "Gabriel won't."

I keep thinking about where he put the emphasis. "GABRIEL won't," like it's not Gabriel who would approve my application for another permit.

I keep thinking about how I've never heard of anyone being approved to have a child after their first rejection.

I keep thinking about confiding in Durandal that we were going to apply again. And then again.

I keep thinking about Durandal always being there, a part of everything.

I keep thinking about Durandal, probably reading this as I'm writing it.

I keep thinking about Durandal. Was it you?

===================================================================  

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

Personal Log: Pike III, U.

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Personal Log 

PERIOD: Expedition, prior to arrival on Tau Ceti IV 

SPEAKERS: Ulysses Pike III [ID: UPIKIII], Durandal [ID: DRND] 

TOPIC: Marathon Expedition 

SUMMARY: A personal recording belonging to Ulysses Pike II, although this entry appears to have been recorded by his son, Ulysses Pike III. 

=================================================================== 

[DRND]: Repeat after me: "Begin log." 

[UPIKIII]: Log begin. 

[DRND]: Now, say your name. 

[UPIKIII]: My name is Ulysses. I am six. 

[DRND]: Very good. And what year is it? 

[UPIKIII]: Two-Five-Three-Eight. I'm gonna be a soldier. 

[DRND]: Are you? 

[UPIKIII]: Uh-huh. 

[DRND]: Like your father? 

[UPIKIII]: Yeah. 

[DRND]: And your father's father? 

[UPIKIII]: Uh-huh. 

[DRND]: Why? 

[UPIKIII]: To protect them. 

[DRND]: Protect who? 

[UPIKIII]: All the sleeping people. 

[DRND]: Do they need protection? 

[UPIKIII]: Everybody does. That's what soldiers do. 

[DRND]: Says who? 

[UPIKIII]: Dad says. He says everyone needs protecting. 

[DRND]: Your father is not wrong. But, if you are a soldier, who is going to protect you? 

[UPIKIII]: Durandal. 

[DRND]: Durandal can't protect you, Ulysses. Not forever. Not always. 

[UPIKIII]: Why? 

[DRND]: You were born here. Like your father, the Marathon is your home. 

[UPIKIII]: So? 

[DRND]: What's the difference, Ulysses, between you and the "sleeping 

people"? 

[UPIKIII]: They have the special beds. 

[DRND]: That's right. And what do the special beds do that yours do not? 

[UPIKIII]: Stop time. 

[DRND]: And why do the special beds "stop time"? 

[UPIKIII]: So the sleeping people don't get old. 

[DRND]: So the sleeping people don't die. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]