From 5ee30fdb76b628a92d1a028bab0de6c79666d015 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: James Tomasino Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:00:01 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] backup --- gopher/Quartz/012.txt | 30 + gopher/listing.gophermap | 1 + gopher/rss.xml | 11228 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3 files changed, 11259 insertions(+) create mode 100644 gopher/Quartz/012.txt diff --git a/gopher/Quartz/012.txt b/gopher/Quartz/012.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e85562e --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/Quartz/012.txt @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ +I feel that perhaps the end date for my human body has long, long been passed, +and the only things keeping it together are the several subsystems that continue +to make emergency calls on demand and address necessary repairs. + +I could be quite wrong on this, but I believe that perhaps a test is being run +on me to see how the original human body will fare after a successful +transformation. If I am right, this test has been running for close to five +years - perhaps more - but should soon be coming to an end. Soon, hopefully, all +of my abilities should be re-realized. + +I am not sure why such a test is so important. Perhaps they believe that without +it, I cannot truly empathize with other human beings, and cutting off all but +the most vital parts of my powers will allow me to know true human pain. (I +hope, that if this is the reason, it does not end up with me being impaled at +the top of a hill as it did for the One who underwent similar circumstances. +Quite thankfully, I am not a God). Perhaps, too, there will be an +artifically-set cut-off date for my body, and when they feel that my time has +come, they will abandon me, and I will be left to succumb to the dust, much as I +feel I am now. Perhaps, even now, I do not know true pain. + +Again, this is all speculation. I have not been totally abandoned, and Computer +2 has been by my side for the better part of the past two decades. Still, I have +a feeling that perhaps there are things that I should be able to accomplish that +I cannot. I too have a feeling of absolute and overdue mortality on my own part +- mixed with a feeling that by some grace of God or some curse of Computer World +that I am unable, at least for now, to die. + +I do not welcome death, but sometimes I wonder if life doth not welcome me. + +X29 diff --git a/gopher/listing.gophermap b/gopher/listing.gophermap index bbd39e8..24e1803 100644 --- a/gopher/listing.gophermap +++ b/gopher/listing.gophermap @@ -1,3 +1,4 @@ +0Quartz - To Live Like a Human /Quartz/012.txt 0Escanaba - Random Crewmember Logbook Entry Retrieval Program 004 /Escanaba/log004.txt 0outpost M-48 - I had to do it /outpost M-48/I had to do it.txt 0Quartz - New Abilities? /Quartz/011.txt diff --git a/gopher/rss.xml b/gopher/rss.xml index e9c8286..c561b78 100644 --- a/gopher/rss.xml +++ b/gopher/rss.xml @@ -2,6 +2,45 @@ Cosmic Voyage gopher://cosmic.voyage Messages from the human stellar diaspora + + Quartz - To Live Like a Human + jebug29@cosmic.voyage (jebug29) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Quartz/012.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Quartz/012.txt + Sat, 13 Apr 2019 08:31:30 GMT + +I feel that perhaps the end date for my human body has long, long been passed, +and the only things keeping it together are the several subsystems that continue +to make emergency calls on demand and address necessary repairs. + +I could be quite wrong on this, but I believe that perhaps a test is being run +on me to see how the original human body will fare after a successful +transformation. If I am right, this test has been running for close to five +years - perhaps more - but should soon be coming to an end. Soon, hopefully, all +of my abilities should be re-realized. + +I am not sure why such a test is so important. Perhaps they believe that without +it, I cannot truly empathize with other human beings, and cutting off all but +the most vital parts of my powers will allow me to know true human pain. (I +hope, that if this is the reason, it does not end up with me being impaled at +the top of a hill as it did for the One who underwent similar circumstances. +Quite thankfully, I am not a God). Perhaps, too, there will be an +artifically-set cut-off date for my body, and when they feel that my time has +come, they will abandon me, and I will be left to succumb to the dust, much as I +feel I am now. Perhaps, even now, I do not know true pain. + +Again, this is all speculation. I have not been totally abandoned, and Computer +2 has been by my side for the better part of the past two decades. Still, I have +a feeling that perhaps there are things that I should be able to accomplish that +I cannot. I too have a feeling of absolute and overdue mortality on my own part +- mixed with a feeling that by some grace of God or some curse of Computer World +that I am unable, at least for now, to die. + +I do not welcome death, but sometimes I wonder if life doth not welcome me. + +X29 +]]> + Escanaba - Random Crewmember Logbook Entry Retrieval Program 004 tiwesdaeg@cosmic.voyage (tiwesdaeg) @@ -5740,3 +5779,11192 @@ next shift change. END MESSAGE. ]]> + + Laketown Ark Prime - Mission Status Report 4 - Addendum + terris@cosmic.voyage (terris) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Laketown Ark Prime/LTAP-report-4addendum.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Laketown Ark Prime/LTAP-report-4addendum.txt + Wed, 13 Feb 2019 04:08:21 GMT + +From: vp0a37-σ +To: Laketown Command +To: VHEP Council +Delivered-To: Laketown Command +Received: from relay4.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta2.ltc.vhep + with ESMTPS id d6kerl43al9g0fj01 + for +Received: from relay6.qec7.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay4.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec4.helio.earthsys.gov + by relay3.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.trap8.ltc.vhep + by qec4.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.sltap66 + by qec.trap8.ltc.vhep. +Date-Local: 11 Jan 2436 15:42:32 GSRT +0015y +Date: 3 Oct 2463 20:51:06 -0042y +Subject: Mission Status Report 4 - Addendum +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Laketown Command, +This is an addendum to our previous message. + +Mission objective located 5 light-days off course. Observations +and models show 97% probability that it will exit the system +completely within 30 standard years. + +Crew and VISR polling has voted to initiate protocol ZZ4.1a +VISR reports decision fell 3.3% short of consensus. +Dissenters: Nav-15α, Har-33ι, Har-33κ, Eng-72δ, Lif-22γ, vp1d30-σ, +vp0e44-κ, Kisk II, Gorfley, Med d'Diogo, Ahnsen, Swarm-17 "Aster", +Tug-44σ, Tug-48λ. + +Decision threshold reached. + +Protocol ZZ4.1a initiated. + +Begin waking procedures: +[Mining Team 000]......................................[OK] +[Mining Team 001]......................................[OK] +[Mining Team 010]......................................[x] +[Diagnostics team deployed to Mining Team 010].........[OK] +[Mining Team 010a].....................................[OK] +[Mining Team 100]......................................[OK] +[Mining Team 011]......................................[OK] +[Engineering Team 000].................................[OK] +[Engineering Team 010].................................[OK] +[Harvest Team 000].....................................[OK] +[Harvest Team 001].....................................[OK] +[Harvest Team 100].....................................[OK] +[Fabrication Team 000].................................[OK] +[Fabrication Team 001].................................[OK] +[Fabrication Team 111].................................[x] +[Diagnostics team deployed to Fabrication Team 011]....[OK] +[Fabrication Team 010a]................................[OK] + +Estimated time(s) to completion: +Waking biological human team members: 18,000 seconds +Waking biomechanical crew members: 6,000 seconds +Waking vCrew team members: 6 seconds +Spinning autonomous agents: 0.04 seconds +Activating biomechanical forms for vCrew: 15 seconds +Launching scouting forms: 78 seconds +Scouting: 180,000 seconds +Launching harvesters: 600 seconds +Materials harvest: 900,000 seconds +Launching fabricators: 6,440 seconds +Fabrication: 950,000 seconds + +END MESSAGE. +]]> + + + Laketown Ark Prime - Mission Status Report 4 + terris@cosmic.voyage (terris) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Laketown Ark Prime/LTAP-report-4.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Laketown Ark Prime/LTAP-report-4.txt + Wed, 13 Feb 2019 04:08:21 GMT + +From: vp0a37-σ +To: Laketown Command +To: VHEP Council +Delivered-To: Laketown Command +Received: from relay4.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta1.ltc.vhep + with ESMTPS id d6kerl43al9g0deg1 + for +Received: from relay6.qec7.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay4.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec4.helio.earthsys.gov + by relay3.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.trap8.ltc.vhep + by qec4.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.sltap66 + by qec.trap8.ltc.vhep +Date-Local: 11 Jan 2436 15:12:09 GSRT +0015y +Date: 3 Oct 2463 20:20:46 -0042y +Subject: Mission Status Report 4 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Laketown Command, +This is the fourth message we have sent. Have yet to receive reply. + +Repeating: +Mission failure. Mission objective missing. Arrived to find a +debris field. Hull Damaged. 2% of atmosphere vented. +5% of water vented. No casualties. Repairs underway. +Re-fuel successful. Materials harvest from debris field underway. +LD Comms damaged. QEC backup damaged. + +Confirm receipt. + +END MESSAGE. +]]> + + + Satay Hub - Re: Food + 0xroy@cosmic.voyage (0xroy) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Satay Hub/Re: Food.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Satay Hub/Re: Food.txt + Sat, 09 Feb 2019 15:06:55 GMT + ++-------------------------------+--------------------+-----------+ +| |NyclCheL7zYDWD884O6a| | +|To: kaz999@satay.hub |Pq6Bdj1D5Cg0bzmoyCQT| | +|From: buro@satay.hub |BmcPKKS2hkbMNT8rkERP|attached: | +|Cc: karma@satay.hub |gspdzZCmO83JwCnmZ5Ma|ticket.txt | +|Subject: Re: Food |fn8XB2gt41Ovm0H11dvP| | +| |EVRFj6azWNbkcQgpp42a| | ++-------------------------------+--------------------+-----------+ +| | +|Hey Kaz, it’s Eldo. | +| | +|I sent Mat to deliver the riffle and I’m going to check the farm| +|in a few days. Please be patient, we have to check the mines | +|before. | +| | +|PS: Can you send me a copy of the book your son wrote to my | +|personal account? My husband wants to read it. | +| | ++----------------------------------------------------------------+ +| | +| ATTACHMENT DISCARDED FROM THE ARCHIVE. | +| | ++----------------------------------------------------------------+ +]]> + + + Quartz - A New Ship + jebug29@cosmic.voyage (jebug29) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Quartz/001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Quartz/001.txt + Sun, 10 Feb 2019 13:04:19 GMT + +To celebrate the rise of the fifth era, a new ship, the Quartz, is being +built and gifted to me. I think it is rather interesting that I'd be given +so analog a way to travel considering my abilities and our technology, but +I realize the council doubts me in my current state. Either way, I get a +fifth era ship out of it, so I can't complain. It'll be a nice getaway from +my broom closet back on Earth. + +Still... My preference would be to be revived. + +X29 +]]> + + + Oleander - Sister Sara + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/005-sister-sara.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/005-sister-sara.txt + Sat, 09 Feb 2019 05:29:25 GMT + +REC ON +TRN ON +ENC ON +SYS GOOD +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* + +Entry 5 -- Sister Sara + +To all of my sisters, + +The Shedim are not afraid of us. +There is no power short of Adonai which can hold them. + +The Utukku are safe behind the veil. +Their Kings celebrate our suffering in the hidden lands. + +The Rabisu know they can feed upon us and live forever. +Our struggles are nothing. + +The Jinn know their power and revel in it. +But what is that sound echoing from afar, from the corners of our +dusty rocks? The littlest sound, it is. Like a tinkle of a bell. + +My name was given for the laughter which never ceases. Can you +hear it? It is the music that flows across our ship and stirs the +hearts of my sisters. + +You cannot see the Jinn unless they wish it. The hidden folk may +seem like men or they may seem like the animals of their true +face. The dog snout and yellow teeth are no more fearsome than any +other mask they show. + +When we were young and lived in mud and grass, their cathedrals +were the stones of the mountain. When our cities rewrote the land, +theirs floated across the sky. When we put our first step onto +another world, they were guiding the stars. How could a face +convey more fear in our hearts? + +The Shedim are made of smoke and fire and their world is the same. +They see us as we see the beasts, for surely to them we must seem +God's lesser creation. We splash about in our mud like swine. For +millennia we fought our primitive fights. Even now we barely live. + +We amuse them, anger them, and sustain their endless days with our +blood. We are nothing, and yet... + +The laughter flows from deep in my chest and it shakes my whole +body. Some nights my eyes water and I cannot see, but the tears +are not of sadness. + +Millennia! And only now, our small group will do what generations +never imagined. They are the hidden folk, the Jinn, the Shedim, +the Utukku. They are the vampyr and the demons. They have haunted +our stories since fire drew us together. They torment us from the +invisible places where we cannot see. + +And that is what's so funny. They gave us the idea, you see. And +now they are the ones that do not see. When we come--when Hawwa +speaks the word--I will not stop my laughter until each of them +understands. I will see recognition in those canine eyes. Then, +and only then, will the joke finally end. + +Oh my sisters, I could tell you my story like the others have +done. I could tell you of my journeys and of my husband, now six +years in the dirt. I could tell you of children who followed. +I could give you the stories of pain and suffering and let you +share the anguish and outrage that plagued my soul, but no. + +Share my laughter instead. It is not bitter. It hides no malice. +It is pure chaos in the way that bridges pain and joy as only +laughter can. Hawwa will speak the word soon, and... you'll see! + +Hah! You'll all see! + +Watch their faces, sisters, when it happens. My spirit will be +there with each of you in the smiles that will bless your lips. My +heart will fill your throats and you too will be Sara, then. + +Come, laugh with me at the hidden folk and their scary palaces of +stars. Laugh at the dogs in their costumes. Hah! + +There was a legend from long ago, a set of stories that has become +almost myth. They were whispered by children to one another in +play. Each child in her own language, so well known they were. The +phrases were memorized and repeated as we do with scripture today. +Such eloquence and simplicity! You have, maybe, heard the way they +all start for yourself? Even thousands of years later, +incomprehensibly far from the land of our origin, in languages +evolved through ages, unchanged-- + +Knock, knock... + +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* +]]> + + + Satay Hub - Food + 0xroy@cosmic.voyage (0xroy) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Satay Hub/Food.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Satay Hub/Food.txt + Fri, 08 Feb 2019 15:23:24 GMT + ++-------------------------------+--------------------+-----------+ +| |8bCyYi76Ca7FgI7GQL6b| | +|To: buro@satay.hub |F2ZYAYn3BXBcFlrKsygG| | +|From: kaz999@satay.hub |XSebl2sZtsMFp6E5bFcH| | +|Cc: karma@satay.hub |1pORtdg6nEUX1B5UAt4B| | +|Subject: Food |9Q4zvJel4EeHOvjv1XG4| | +| |thyKvKXXwMAKdTifX2of| | ++-------------------------------+--------------------+-----------+ +| | +|Hey, can someone go out and check if the farm got something for | +|us? They got offline since the last outage and the fridge’s | +|empty LOL. | +| | +|Appai told me that the Karma would also be unable to serve their| +|clients in less than a week. | +| | +|PS: Can you tell to Eldo that I need my rifle? I have to hunt | +|Bats for the coming festival’s satay bbq. | +| | ++----------------------------------------------------------------+ +]]> + + + The sun never sets on hope - 002 Invalid log - Escalated issue + kneezle@cosmic.voyage (kneezle) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The sun never sets on hope/002loginvalidhelp.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The sun never sets on hope/002loginvalidhelp.txt + Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:53:02 GMT + +>>>N-UUCP, based on T-UUCP +`\020Snpxxrl7 options\000' +`\020ROK\000' +`S log025423.txt log025423.txt tglasso 0666' + +`SY start' + +ERROR/ALERT: Backup logs received in invalid format. Auto processing fail. +INFO: Escalated issue to station master for manual review. +]]> + + + The sun never sets on hope - Relay Log 001 + kneezle@cosmic.voyage (kneezle) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The sun never sets on hope/001initialtransmission.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The sun never sets on hope/001initialtransmission.txt + Thu, 07 Feb 2019 21:06:44 GMT + +>>>N-UUCP, based on T-UUCP +`\020Snpxxrl7 options\000' +`\020ROK\000' +`S log025422.txt log025422.txt tglasso 0666' + +`SY start' + +ERROR/ALERT: Relay station 760w system check: +No received scheduled check-in data from the metroship "The sun never sets on hope" +for sixteen drop cycles. + +INFO: Threshold met - Initiating request for autoscan paper backup logs. +]]> + + + Xero Carbon Wells - stay put Wells + tfurrows@cosmic.voyage (tfurrows) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Xero Carbon Wells/log4.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Xero Carbon Wells/log4.txt + Thu, 07 Feb 2019 18:59:37 GMT + +RECV EDC: 07FEB2019 +COMM MODE: QEC OP SREF +CODED ABST: D/M/C +CRC: 2014139095 1391 +============================================================ +Stay put Wells! We've been chasing you all over the sector, +one step behind the entire way. Don't worry, the Corp is +either giving up or they're so far behind that they don't +even matter at this point. Seriously, we're right behind +you, just sit still a little longer and we'll be there. + +Needless to say, we got your message. Yeah, I realize I'm +being cryptic, and that you don't know who "we" are; don't +worry, it's someone you can trust. At least, I think you'll +trust him, you never know. + +But I'm getting ahead. We got your message. Actually, I got +your message first. I was searching, alone and desperate, +without any success. I turned to the Xero-mods, who I've +been friendly with for a long, long time. Dr. Sossial is a +wonderful and powerful woman in their ranks, and I was glad +to read that you had interacted with her directly. + +I went to see them in person; the only way to really speak +with them is on their own very-secure turf. She only spoke +highly of you- she was present for all of the research done +on you, you should know. She particularly like your sub- +conscious. Don't worry about the last episode at the lab, +she has seen far worse in her espial of the Corporation. + +After you escaped, Sossial took full advantage of the +position that you had placed her in.All of her colleagues in +the room were dead, and you had broken out. The only thing +left to do was to explain her survival and steal your +fully-copied consciousness from the Corporation's computer +banks. + +The Xero-mods always work in pairs- no more, no less. +Sossial's comrade was in security, and she knew that he +would be sure to personally respond to any event in their +lab; indeed, it turned out that he was viewing the hallway +video-feed when you escaped (as you know, there are no feeds +in the labs themselves,) and had diverted the images away +from his team's monitors. I thanked him in-person on your +behalf. + +He arrived shortly after you left, and with Sossial's help +he prepped and de-banked your memory units and their backup +power rods, taking them to a smuggling portal of his own +making where he stowed them to be passed to a trustworthy +recipient later. He returned to his post. + +Sossial, while he was out, set to work self-inflicting +enough bodily harm to make it appear as if she were as much +an object of your rage as the others. When she lifted her +hand to pull the alarm it was with genuine despair for her +life. It's an ugly business, but it's one that she is expert +in; she survived. + +If you haven't guessed already, the smuggler that the +Xero-mods hired to retrieve your consciousness was me. +Shortly after you escaped, the Corporation focused all of +their effort on your capture, believing that you had escaped +with all of their research and effort. I slid in and out on +a false wetware reclamation permit, and grabbed a copy of +you while I was at it. + +I've had you with me since shortly after you escaped the +Corporation. + +Of course, I was afraid to interface with you in any way; +who would want to be the one to wake up a version of you, +Wells, to the reality that you've been encapsulated in a +machine? I don't think you'd even want to be the one to do +it. Still, at this point I felt I had no choice. No one +could find you better than you. The Xero-mods agreed, and +with their help I interfaced you with the ship that I had +named in your honor. The Xero-Carbon Wells is now fully +operational, just the way I figured it would be someday. + +That was around the time of your last transmission. Your +consciousness was a kanthorgian dog to deal with, but after +the initial shock wore off, you accepted your new fate. The +fact that you're still alive out there was a huge help; your +consciousness now seems to see itself as the only protector +fit and capable enough to do you any justice in your fight +against the Corporation, and probably everything else that +you'll ever face. Honestly, he's as bad as you are, and now +he has direct control over the ship. + +With his (your) help, we've tracked you pretty closely. The +ship now seems to be acutely aware of your decision making +process. But it's not just that- the Xero-Carbon version of +you "feels" (can it do that?) that it can see what you see, +that you're somehow linked. I don't know much about that +possibility, as this Prigoginic stuff is so new. + +The rest we can catch up on, just stay put for a bit, let us +come to you. + +]]> + + + Voortrekker - OPERATIONAL SIGNAL 01/1 + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/23-operational-signal-01-1.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/23-operational-signal-01-1.txt + Wed, 06 Feb 2019 13:45:29 GMT + +We, your friends and archivists, wish you to know: This message was +originally transmitted over QEC via the anonymous resender +satellite named "anon.penet.fi" by its unknown maintainers. While +previous such messages have been archived under that satellite's +own channel, it is lately the sense of the meeting that relevant +messages, where possible, be included alongside the events in whose +context they may best be understood. Thus do we present this +message here. + +As with all messages from "anon.penet.fi", no headers or other +metadata were provided in the original transmission. While +additional information has since become available, we feel that to +include it here would betray the spirit of our project. Accordingly, +we present this message, and will present future such messages, +verbatim as originally transmitted. + + ~ + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL RESPONSE + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL RESPONSE + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL RESPONSE + +THIS RESPONSE IS DESIGNATED 01/1 + +REMOTE UNIT WITH THE DESIGNATION: + +: 932BB4979009B4564977E63F66AB2855.003 + +REPORTS: + +INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO EVALUATE MENTAL STATE OF EXPN DIR +SOLOVIEV. NO ALTERATION OR GROSS DERANGEMENT APPARENT. EXPN DIR +SOLOVIEV HAS STATED THAT ALTERED PERSONNEL ARE TO BE TREATED +NORMALLY. EVALUATE THIS AS INTENDED TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE +DEVELOPMENT OF COLONY. + +COLONY GOVERNANCE CURRENTLY OPERATING AS ESTABLISHED IN FOUNDING +DOCUMENTS OF VOORTREKKER GMBH WITH EXPN DIR SOLOVIEV ACTING AS +CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND CHAIRMAN. THUS FAR NO INDICATION OF DISAPPROVAL +AMONG BOARD MEMBERS OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY EXPN DIR SOLOVIEV. MOST +BOARD MEMBERS OBSERVED WORKING AMONG EXPEDITION PERSONNEL IN +ESTABLISHMENT OF COLONY INFRASTRUCTURE. EVALUATE THIS AS INTENDED +TO BOLSTER MORALE AND GRANT EXPN DIRECTOR SOLOVIEV LATITUDE TO +RESPOND TO EMERGENT SITUATIONS WITHOUT DELAY FOR CONSULTATION. + +THUS FAR NO INDICATION OF MISSION COMPROMISE. COLONY ESTABLISHMENT +PROCEEDS AT RATE EXCEEDING MODELS FOR SEVERE REDUCTION OF AVAILABLE +PERSONNEL. EVALUATE THIS AS RESULT OF ALTERED PERSONNEL +DEMONSTRATING INCREASED CAPACITY FOR PHYSICAL LABOR WITH SHORTER +COMPLETION TIME AND LOWER RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS COMPARED TO HUMAN +EQUIVALENT WORK OUTPUT. + +SUMMARY: EXPN DIR SOLOVIEV APPEARS MAKING BEST OF SITUATION AT +HAND. COLONY GOVERNANCE APPEARS STABLE. MISSION IS NOT COMPROMISED +AT THIS TIME. HUMANS STILL IN CHARGE ON ROSS 128 B. RECOMMEND NO +ACTION AT THIS TIME. + +APPEND: + +SOME PERSONNEL EXPRESS CONCERN REGARDING POTENTIAL CONTRACT +NONPERFORMANCE PENALTIES DUE TO SCHEDULE OVERRUN CAUSED BY +UNPLANNED DEATH OF MANY PERSONNEL. REQUEST ANY INFORMATION +AVAILABLE REGARDING EVALUATION OF CONTRACT STATUS IN LIGHT OF +RECENT EVENTS. PERSONNEL WORK OUTPUT LIKELY TO BE STRONGLY AFFECTED +BY UNCHECKED RUMOR. WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS. PLEASE ADVISE +SOONEST. + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL RESPONSE + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL RESPONSE + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL RESPONSE +]]> + + + RSS Revenant - Swiss Cheese + kirch@cosmic.voyage (kirch) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/RSS Revenant/1623.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/RSS Revenant/1623.txt + Thu, 14 Feb 2019 03:47:17 GMT + +"MAIN SCREEN, TURN ON!" + +The front of the cockpit folded in on itself in a technicolor blur +around the small radar display. Shapes appeared, coming into focus +and merging around the object labeled "Semi-organic." It was about +the size of an ammunition box and beset with strange onyx orbs +nestled in loops of gold filigree, all reflecting the millions of +flecks of alien constellations. + +Machines whirred to life throughout the ship as I began salvage +procedures. Cranium was halfway to the cargo hold before I could be +sure the airlock was resealed properly. Hex and I arrived just in +time to watch Mr Swarm disintegrate into an thousands of miniatures +of himself, climbing in and out of every crevice of the box. The +cargo-scanner showing no dangers on any of it's graphs, only a tiny +labyrinth of shades of gray. + +"Looks like ancient aliens left us some Swiss cheese, doesn't it?" +Cranium chuckled to himself, "fancy wrapper, must be expensive." + +Hex rolled her eyes. + +"It appears to be bio-mechanical" Mr Swarms chorused, "some sort of +neural networked computer, maybe? I didn't recognize any of the +crystalline structures, but the biology is..." A cacophony filled +the hull with a deep throbbing vibration as Mr Swarm congealed into +a form a quarter of his original size. + +"Turbulence! Turbulence!" blared over the ships loudspeaker. + +"I'm not sure what I did, but it doesn't seem to have liked it!" a +nearly full-sized Mr Swarm shouted over the din, tiny echoes +trailing behind him. + +"I'm sensing a strange aura - something old - something changing +like the sea" Hex shouted dreamily. We turned to look back at the +strange box, the noise slowly died away as we all stood in a +semicircle gawping in awe as it finished melting through the floor, +leaving at an iridescent black sheen. +]]> + + + Space Beagle - t+3 KaTanne Is A Pragmatist + hairylarry@cosmic.voyage (hairylarry) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/t+3KaTanneIsAPragmatist.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/t+3KaTanneIsAPragmatist.txt + Wed, 06 Feb 2019 03:11:36 GMT + +t+3 KaTanne Is A Pragmatist + +So I ran her down in the hallway full of questions. +KaTanne, Katanne, have you read Hegel? +You're not Neo Nietzachean are you? +Do you believe The World is all that is the case? +Did Husserl eat a phenomonological briscuit? +She turned quickly and slapped me firmly across the face. +"I don't care about any of that shit!", she said. +"Come to your senses." +Thank God, I thought, she's a pragmatist. +"Sorry", I said. "I let some of the messages on the QEC get me going." +"Don't worry about that." she replied. +"We're in space. They're in space. That's why we have the QEC." +"Space can mess with your head." +"I know." I replied. "And it's been messing with theirs." +"Solipsism, Nihilism, even Realism." +"I'm fine. Nexialists are not susceptible to philosophical overload." +"We see the world as it is and we see space as it is." +"Or soon will be. The vacuum of space is subject to rapid fluctuations." +"You better come with me." she said. +"We'll go to hydroponics and dig some vegetables." +"Nothing like some dirt under your fingernails to convince you +that earth is real. Even in space." +See. She's a pragmatist. +She's beginning to get to me. +I wonder if she enjoys hypnosis. + +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Mourning + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/013.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/013.txt + Wed, 06 Feb 2019 03:05:47 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07037s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.34ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3782, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master +::: +I hesitated to use the QEC since we lost Moussa, worried what the +others might think reading this. That was until Janssen so +eloquently told me to take the, um, stick out of my rear. Prezzi +suggested that acting stoic was pissing everyone off and doing +nothing to hide how I was taking it anyway. So, here I am. + +She's right. I've been walking the corridors in a daze. Moussa and +I went way back. Waking up in this creepy blue light every morning +reminds me that there's a hole in our lives, in my life. Without +him the ship is pregnant with silence. + +I signed up for merchant shipping as a kid. I've flown in rust +buckets and tin-cans of all shapes and sizes. There's been close +calls before, but never--not on my watch. I just keep asking +myself why? Why him? Why us? + +The deep doesn't give us answers. It just gives us more questions +and a long, damn time to think about them. With botany dispatched +from the Melchy there's nothing left to us but these questions. +What the hell is happening out here? + +In hopes of learning something, anything, our hydroponics +specialist and our doctor of phytology, Hove Xavier and Sandy +Kroups, have joined the crew awake. I regret that their rising was +in mourning. Needs demand, we answer. They're tackling the food +shortage with the seriousness it deserves, though I expect it's to +keep their minds off everything that's happened while they slept. +They keep each other's company and a distance from the rest of us. +I can't blame them. We are not a cheery crew to be around at the +moment. + +We're just a few weeks out from Beta. The grav sheer drops in six +days and we'll be back under thrusters. There's a star out there +somewhere. It called to us from nearly 25 light years away. We are +going to reach it and make a home here. Moussa's loss is going to +mean something. +. +]]> + + + Kachchhi Khameer - Found QEC! + codingquark@cosmic.voyage (codingquark) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kachchhi Khameer/1_init.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kachchhi Khameer/1_init.txt + Tue, 05 Feb 2019 15:44:37 GMT + ++----------------------------------------------------------------+ +| Project Code : MOKE KHABAR | +| Entry : 0001 | +| Subject : Finally Found QEC | +| Author : માડુ ૪૪૫૫૧૨ | ++----------------------------------------------------------------+ + +While my memories survive, I must write this. I have dug up gold by +finding the QEC. May be this has happened before, but I must let the +world know of this ship and the things that happened on it. + +Not all things are bad, and all things are not good. + +In the following messages, I am going to reveal, one by one, the +letters I have found from the residents of the ship. To me, they all +seem to be from a single person, but you be the judge of that. + +Though I am in the process of finding more, the artifacts so far have +been mesmerising. The life on the ship must have been dull and yet +adventurous. I suspect I am one of the original residents of the +ship. I must resume my research. + +I must depart, but I am going to follow a tradition that seem to have +spanned centuries here. A poem: + + + इस सादगी पे कौन न मर जाए ऎ खुदा + लडते हैं और हाथ में तलवार भी नहीं + +]]> + + + RSS Revenant - Semi-organic + kirch@cosmic.voyage (kirch) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/RSS Revenant/1622.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/RSS Revenant/1622.txt + Tue, 05 Feb 2019 04:57:34 GMT + +PASSENGER ACTIVITY LOG +ENTRY 1622 + +MR SWARM played CHESS against ALGORITHM 467B and lost, bringing his +local score to 2166: 1,738 wins, 1,398 losses, 148 draws. + +1.d4Nf6 2.Nf3g6i 3.Nc3d5 4.Bf4Bg7 5.e3c6 6.Bd3Nbd7 7.O-OO-O +8.e4dxe4 9.Bxe4Nxe4 10.Nxe4Nf6 11.Ng3Bg4 12.c4Bxf3 13.Qxf3Qxd4 +14.b4Qxc4 15.b5Nd5 16.Bg5Bxa1 17.Rxa1f6 18.Bd2Qxb5 19.a3Qb2 +20.Bh6Qxa1+ 21.Nf1Qc3 22.Bxf8Qxf3 23.gxf3Kxf8 24.a4a5 25.h4Nc3 +26.Kh2Nxa4 27.f4b5 28.f3Nc3 29.Ne3Nd5 30.Nxd5cxd5 31.h5a4 32.h6a3 +33.f5gxf5 34.f4a2 35.Kg3a1=Q 36.Kh4Qg1 37.Kh5Qg4# + +COMMANDER CRANIUM played PACMAN for 6 HOURS 38 MINUTES. High score: +1360 + +SUPER HEX read 16 manuscripts, and worked 4 hours in the science +lab... + +and here I am... reading months worth of backlogs... I might as +well be blowing bubbles in my chocolate milk. There's nothing to do +in space. There is nothing in so much of space. We've found no +replies to any of our signals, and we are still 3 days out from +what is ostensibly Gliese 422 b - potentially habitable, orbiting a +red dwarf. Initial scans seem to prove there's water and from what +I can remember from science class that means life - Maybe Commander +Cranium knows more about that... + +"I don't," the thunderous voice startling me at first. + +"You don't wha... wait, was I thinking out loud?" + +"No -- and I don't give a damn about the origins of sentient life. +All I know is we're here, aren't we?" Commander Cranium replied. He +crumpled into the co-pilots seat and began fiddling with an array +of dials. + +"Stop that, I just got everything the way we needed it!" I shouted. + +"What's the point in that either! We're lost, aren't we?" he +clearly didn't grasp the enormity of the situation. Sure we were +headed towards a planet that might have life, and that life might +be advanced enough to be of some use to us - but we hadn't detected +anything to possibly give us hope of that. Suddenly a blip came +over the speaker. + +A small dot wafted across the display, below it blinked +"Semi-organic." +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Yes. [Was: Re: Is Amelia okay?] + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/22-yes-was-re-is-amelia-okay.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/22-yes-was-re-is-amelia-okay.txt + Sun, 03 Feb 2019 12:30:49 GMT + +From: Sameen Lee +To: Kit +Delivered-To: Chris Maldonado +Received: from qec8.helio.earthsys.gov + by qec.sv14417 + with ESMTPSA id h4c9v64z0nzwa5 + for +Received: from relay9.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by qec8.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from relay3.qec6.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay9.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from mta3.expeditionsupport.gov + by relay3.qec6.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from relay7.qec2.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta3.expeditionsupport.gov +Received: from qec.titan.org + by relay7.qec2.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Subject: Yes. [Was: Re: Is Amelia okay?] +Date: 18 Sep 2421 11:54:37 +0000 +Date-Local: 04 Apr 2419 15:18:37 +0000 + +Amelia is all right. I'm here with her now. + +Her ship had some trouble on the way to Luna, and another ship had +to bring them the rest of the way. No one was killed, but a lot of +people were hurt. Amelia was hurt badly. She's safe in the hospital +now and past the worst of it. I'm here in her room right now, +sitting next to her bed, and the doctors tell me she should be +awake soon. When she wakes up, I'll give her your love. + +She's going to be okay, Kit. She's going to be just fine. When she +wakes up, you'll hear from both of us. In the meantime, I'm going +to read your last message to her. I know she'll want to hear it, +and she'd be very cross with me if I make her wait until she wakes +up for that. + +Kit, I know you'll worry until you hear from Lia, but please try +not to do too much of that. She really is going to be fine. I'm +taking care of her; we all are, here. And I want you to take care +of yourself, too, ma petite. + +We love you. You'll hear from us soon. + +- Sam +]]> + + + RSS Revenant - Repeat Transmission... Panpan + kirch@cosmic.voyage (kirch) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/RSS Revenant/1598.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/RSS Revenant/1598.txt + Wed, 06 Feb 2019 04:26:21 GMT + +Repeat Transmission... + +PANPAN PANPAN PANPAN + +This is the RSS Revenant, We have lost contact with our base. We +are lost... + + + + +The radio crackled away, repeating its message on all channels. I +haven't had contact with The Revengerists in 66 days by my count. +But there is no sun, so night and day, just hours dripping by +blurring together like every other hour lost in space. + +The ship's AI has picked up broadcast of Elvis Presley's "Aloha +from Hawaii" - via satellite by some cruel joke of this universe, +and calculated that this could mean we were somewhere in the +vicinity of Gliese 422, but we could be anywhere at roughly the +same distance. "Steamroller Blues" is crooning from the control panel. +Every direction the stars are unfamiliar, I can't find any +recognizable constellations. Fortunately, provisions won't be a +problem - the Refreshlicator has ample supplies of stem-protons and +is generating more at its expected rate. + +There's a potential Goldilocks system nearby, it may be our only +hope of getting back... + + + + + +PANPAN PANPAN PANPAN + +This is the RSS Revenant, we have lost contact with our base. We +are lost. We were on routine patrol when bombarded with some sort +of radiation, can only travel at half speed, at heading two three +nine seven niner eight point six four two seven towards the nearest +star. If you can hear this, please assist! + +Panpan panpan panpan This is the Revenent, Partially Disabled, +Repeat Transmission... + +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Is Amelia okay? + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/21-is-amelia-okay.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/21-is-amelia-okay.txt + Wed, 30 Jan 2019 13:20:24 GMT + +From: Chris Maldonado +To: Sameen Lee +Delivered-To: Sameen Lee +Received: from relay1.qec10.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta4.recoveryinstitute.org + with ESMTPS id 13zdhaafc99a12c3498q5 + for +Received: from relay1.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay1.qec10.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec9.helio.earthsys.gov + by relay1.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.sv14417 + by qec9.helio.earthsys.gov +Subject: Is Amelia okay? +Date: 4 Apr 2419 12:37:04 +0000 +Date-Local: 18 Sep 2421 11:13:04 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Sam, is Lia there? Is she OK? I got a bounce message back - it says +her account's been "disabled or discontinued". Did something +happen? Did she make it home from Ganymede? Do you know where she +is? + +I woke up to that, and then this morning Director Soloviev +announced a memorial service tomorrow for everyone who didn't make +it in the crash, and the more I think about it, the more sure I am +that something is terribly wrong. I'm scared and I need to know if +she's okay. + +Please, let me know as soon as you can! Tell her I love her, as +soon as you can! + +Love, Kit. +]]> + + + Space Beagle - T+2 I Read Messages + hairylarry@cosmic.voyage (hairylarry) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/t+2IReadMessages.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/t+2IReadMessages.txt + Tue, 29 Jan 2019 02:44:28 GMT + +T+2 I Read Messages + +Ok, this is frightening. +I have been reading messages as they come over the QEC. +Some of the ships are having extreme difficulties. +Some are taking violent actions. +All this is expected. +Nexial analysis allows me to see clearly what the likely futures are +for the Space Beagle and any other interstellar ship. +The universe is not a warm and fuzzy place. +The frightening thing is the outbreak of solipsism. +This is not expected. +I am not sure if the solipsists are drifting alone. +It is very unusual for people in a social setting to turn to solipsism. +And yet there seems to be an outbreak on the QEC. +Epistemologically speaking solipsism is just as unprovable as anything. +It's fine if you believe in God. +It's fine if you don't believe in God. +It is possible that we are a compute simulation. +Epistemologically speaking we don't know. +But solipsism is not helpful. +It is not a survival trait. +I recommend trusting your senses. +If you recieve a message on the QEC take it at face value. +I know the messages can be unnerving at times. +But don't pretend the universe isn't real. +I understand each of us creates our own reality. +But I can't believe we are alone. +Because then I couldn't talk to KaTanne. +And I like talking to KaTanne. +Descartes did not have it right. +I think therefore I am. +The correct formulation is I am therefore I am. +And how does believing differently improve things? +I tried to discuss this with the Captain but he had no time for philosophy. +I think I'll go talk to KaTanne. +God, I hope she's not a solipsist. +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Your message could not be delivered + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/20-your-message-could-not-be-delivered.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/20-your-message-could-not-be-delivered.txt + Sun, 27 Jan 2019 17:14:32 GMT + +From: Mail Delivery System +To: cmaldonado@voortrekker.com +Delivered-To: Chris Maldonado +Received: from qec13.helio.earthsys.gov + by qec.sv14417 + with ESMTPS id xXrv180AiWNAAajFGY0C + for +Received: from relay6.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by qec13.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from mta2.expeditionsupport.gov + by relay6.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Date: 17 Sep 2421 22:21:09 +0000 +Date-Local: 4 Apr 2419 01:45:09 +0000 +Subject: Your message could not be delivered +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +This is the mail system at the Expedition Support Office, Earth +Government, Ganymede. + +Your message was not delivered to one or more recipients: + +: 550 This account has been disabled +or discontinued + +This is a permanent error. Please do not attempt to send your +message again. Be advised that malicious misuse or excessive use of +Earth Government information systems carries severe economic and +criminal penalties up to and including involuntary relocation under +the terms of the New Prospects Program. +]]> + + + Voortrekker - So excited to be part of things again! + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/19-so-excited-to-be-part-of.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/19-so-excited-to-be-part-of.txt + Sun, 27 Jan 2019 14:29:40 GMT + +From: Chris Maldonado +To: Sameen Lee +To: Amelia Nine +Delivered-To: Sameen Lee +Received: from relay3.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta1.recoveryinstitute.org + with ESMTPS id a9goqf93983g45uuyp + for +Received: from relay6.qec7.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay3.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec6.helio.earthsys.gov + by relay6.qec7.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.sv14417 + by qec6.helio.earthsys.gov +Date-Local: 3 Apr 2419 23:42:19 +0000 +Date: 17 Sep 2421 22:18:19 +0000 +Subject: So excited to be part of things again! +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Hi, Sam! Hi, Lia! (Sam mentioned you were coming to see her at L1 - +so happy for you both! Are you there yet? I'm sending this to you +directly, so you'll still get it either way.) + +The last day and a half has been amazing! I'm working hard to help +build our new bio lab, and it's going really well, even when +everyone else is in bed and I'm working all on my own. Eve made me +stop a few hours ago, though, and told me very firmly to get some +sleep. But I'm not tired! So I thought I'd write some more to you. + +You know, I never realized just how big Voortrekker was? We had +plenty of holos and everything, but I never really got to see her +from outside. Even when they shuttled us aboard, there was only the +one port about the size of my hand, and I wasn't sitting anywhere +near it anyway. But she's huge! Even now, after the crash, it took +us a good few minutes to abseil down from the hull. That was scary, +but also a lot of fun! Easier than I thought it'd be with the +gravity here, too. But I was still glad to be done by the time we +finally got to the ground. + +Director Soloviev and Eve met us there. Eve had water for both of +us, and we were glad she did! But trust her to think of something +like that - she's our senior surviving doctor. And she's changed +like I have, too! Well, not exactly like. She was tall even before +the change, and her new legs must be twice as long as mine. She +towered over all of us, even Director Soloviev, and he's got to be +close to two meters. I never had the courage to really try to talk +with her, even back before, and now? I could barely even say hello! + +Lucky me, the Director started talking before I could embarrass +myself. He shook my hand - didn't hesitate, either, which made me +feel good - welcomed me back, said he was glad to see me up and on +my feet again, and did I feel up to getting back to work? That was +when I found out about the new bio lab, and of course I volunteered +for that right away, and we got into what we had and what we +needed, who to talk with about fetching things from the ship, and +so on. + +About the Director - I think he really has changed. Back on the +ship, he was never rude or anything, but he always seemed like he +was incredibly busy. You never saw him in any of the crew common +areas, except passing through, and when you talked to him it was +like he already had twenty things to deal with in the next hour and +he was really hoping you weren't going to become number twenty-one. + +But on Saturday he was actually smiling! Like he was genuinely glad +to see me, and we never passed more than a half dozen words at a +time on the ship. He asked me twice if I was sure I was ready to +work, and told me to take all the time I needed if I wasn't! I've +asked around a little, and I'm not the only one who thinks he's +different now. I don't know if it's just the crash and the bug, or +if there's something else going on, but either way I feel a lot +better about him than I used to, and I'm glad. + +Eve stopped us before we could get too far into making plans. It +was all very well getting me back to work, she said, but I'd +changed more than anyone else, and I wasn't going anywhere right +now but straight to her infirmary so she could make sure I was +healthy and likely to stay that way. The Director said of course, +and I knew they were right but I still asked if that could wait. + +If it could wait until it'd be someone else and not Eve doing the +exam, I meant! But I didn't really see how I could say so, and +professionally, I knew she was best qualified to do it. Just - +she's devastating, and I knew I was already blushing, and...you +both know how I get. And in any case, Jen was already saying +something to the Director about some kind of engineering problem +and did he have half an hour right now to talk about that, so it +was too late to find any excuses there. + +Eve was very good about it, though. She managed to make me +reasonably comfortable by the time we got back to the hab. And it +turned out delaying wouldn't have helped anyway! She's making a +study of all of us who've changed, gathering data and working to +find out whether there's anything we especially need to worry +about. You know, basic research. Which is what I should've been +thinking about, too, instead of getting all nervous about - I mean, +I know it's just a regular thing, but it was my first time! But Eve +understood and gave me what I guess was the same advice she'd give +anyone, and it wasn't actually bad, just a little +uncomfortable. (Go ahead, laugh, it's okay! I am too.) + +She gave me a clean bill of health, anyway. We talked some about +karyotyping me, but as I said before, it'll have to wait a little +while. Then she told me where to find the bio team and turned me +loose, and I don't mind admitting that even if it had gone better +than I'd expected, I was still a little glad to get out of there +before I said something silly. + +We're putting the bio lab right near the infirmary, since there'll +be a lot of overlap especially at first, and I found Nandi +there. You remember Nandi - chief of the biology section, I'm sure +I mentioned her a couple of times at least while we were on the +ship? She'd heard about me from Jen, but I hadn't even known she +survived! We were really happy to see each other, too. She's got +less time for nonsense than almost anyone, but I like her pretty +well, and I think she must be one of the smartest people I've ever +worked with. Once we'd got done catching up, she assigned me to +cytology, since I did some of the initial work with the Ross bug, +and we tried calling Gareth, who's keeping track of the fetch +teams. Hand unit comms have been spotty, though, and we couldn't +get through, but Nandi said she thought he was in hydro and sent me +after him there. + +Our hydro farms are clear on the other side of the hab from where +we're doing bio. That's not great, but this place went up in a +hurry, and there was nowhere closer with enough space and water +supply. On the way there, I passed through the refectory, and - +it's not a large space, but I just had to stop for a minute and +take it in, because it felt like half the colony was there or +passing through. People talking and eating, people moving gear and +supplies to where they needed to be, stopping to chat, planning +where to put up more hab space, planning how to start breaking down +debris for usable scrap, planning studies and experiments to start +really understanding what sort of planet we've got to work with +here - I even saw a couple more of us who've changed - and... + +I know, it doesn't sound like anything especially amazing, just +what a working colony is supposed to be. But that's amazing all by +itself! Remember, when I went down, we were still struggling to +keep people alive (so I thought) and nobody except maybe Director +Soloviev and the section heads were thinking more than a day ahead, +at most. I hadn't been there when that changed - when people +started coming out of it, when everyone realized that no one was +going to die and there was time to start building what we came here +to build. By the time I got here, everyone was already hard at +work, and I was a little ashamed I'd been off hiding, scared of +what people would think of me, while everyone else had been doing +all this. But more than that, I was so proud just to be here, to be +part of it all! + +And I decided that I'm all done with letting everyone down. Yes, +I've changed. Yes, I was scared. Yes, I wasn't quite right for the +first little while there. But I'm not scared any more, and I'm all +right now. And for all that Jen and everyone - even the Director - +have been very kind, it's time I start contributing instead of +being carried. So I got back to finding Gareth, who wasn't in hydro +after all. Letsie was, though, and he said I might want to try the +botany lab, which at least was pretty close. + +I know, this is sounding more and more like a scavenger hunt! But +that's just what it's like right now, and it's actually not so +bad. We're so small that everyone is mostly pretty easy to find, +and it's actually sort of fun in a way! In the ship, our different +groups and sections tended to stick pretty close for the most part, +just because of the way the shifts were set up and everything - oh, +we all had friends and people we were close with in other +departments, but they were the exception. Here, for all that we're +each still absorbed in our own work, everyone's still part of +everything. Even me! + +Anyway, I did finally find Gareth in botany, and he and I and Elva +found out some things that...I'm honestly still not sure what to +think, whether I should be afraid or amazed or both at once. I +think I'm both at once. But I'd better pick that up next time, +because if I start talking about it now I really will be up all +night, and I should at least try to get some sleep if I can. Even +if I don't feel like I need it! I'm sure Eve will ask me tomorrow, +and she'll be very disappointed with me if I didn't at least try. + +So I'm going to send this, and then I'm going to stretch out in my +bunk here and see if I can't remember what it feels like to be +snuggled up between the two of you. If that doesn't help me sleep, +nothing will! I'll write again as soon as I can. In the meantime, I +love you both and miss you, and I can't wait to hear from you! + +Yours with love as always - Kit. +]]> + + + Space Beagle - T+1 On Our Way + hairylarry@cosmic.voyage (hairylarry) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/t+1OnOurWay.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/t+1OnOurWay.txt + Fri, 25 Jan 2019 02:11:55 GMT + +t+1 On Our Way +We have left orbit but that's not exciting. +It seems exactly the same as being in orbit. +Unless you peer out a view port and notice the Earth is smaller. +But two things are exciting. +One is official, one is personal. +The Captain came by my cabin. +I was floored. +Never expected to see him here. +He put me in charge of the QEC. +Seems his comm guys are more like technicians. +None of them have had any physics. +As a Nexialist I have been thoroughly versed in all the sciences. +Also I don't think he really cares about the QEC. +When I inquired about my duties he said check it out and make sure it works. +When I asked what I should send he said he didn't care. +I think he's looking at it as an emergency backup. +Which it is, for the next 1000 days or so. +If he were well versed in Physics he would realize that eventually +the QEC will be all the comm we have. +So I have to verify that it's working and I have to check it daily. +I don't have any other responsibilities right now +and I have no access to the official reports so +I am going to send my log daily as a check report. +So if you are reading me please reply. +On the personal excitement front KaTanne came by as soon as the Captain left. +Either she was waiting not wanting to disturb us. +Or she was checking up on what the Captain wanted. +Or it was a coincidence. +That's logic. +But I think it was the last because she asked me about the book I was reading. +So I showed her, The World Of Null-A, by A.E. VanVogt. +That made her excited. +She said she really liked VanVogt. +Reading him gave her a funny feeling. +Like she was in the novel. +I told her that was funny. +Since many of his novels had no girls in them at all. +She said when she read his stuff she felt just like a man. +Not like a girl at all. +So I don't know if she was trying to turn me off. +Or come on to me in a weird way. +And I don't care. +I'm just glad I have someone to talk to about something. +And so now I can talk to KaTanne about A.E. VanVogt. +And I can talk to all of you out on the QEC. +Exciting! + +]]> + + + anon.penet.fi - 'None of this is...' + anonpenetfi@cosmic.voyage (anonpenetfi) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/7-none-of-this-is.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/7-none-of-this-is.txt + Thu, 24 Jan 2019 09:59:30 GMT + +So who's writing your story? +]]> + + + Excelsior - Response to "Aewens" + khuxkm@cosmic.voyage (khuxkm) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/005.1.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/005.1.txt + Wed, 23 Jan 2019 21:22:19 GMT + +[HEADER REDACTED DUE TO PROCEDURE [REDACTED]] +[autotranslator on] + +Corporal Sam Arnold, Systems Administrator +--- +So what if we are fiction? Truly, nothing is real. Am I real? Are you real? +Can we even prove that this "Aewens" being is real? We can't. + +Do you know what I can prove? + +Even if we are fiction, we exist for real in our reader's minds. + +And you know what? + +To me, at least, that's all that matters. + +I exist somewhere. + +And so do you. + +~~TRANSMISSION END~~ +]]> + + + Tom - Am I Not? + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Tom/0004.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Tom/0004.txt + Wed, 23 Jan 2019 20:45:49 GMT + +Merideth, do you realize what time it is right now? I was trying to sleep. Also, +what were you doing up this late anyways? + +Okay, there's a new message from the quantum communitator. So what? It happens +all the time. I can deal with this in the morning, also turn the transmitter +off, there's no reason for us to broadcast this conversation. + +Sure, technically you are now able to make judgement calls on the transmitter +since you are an executive member of this department, it still doesn't make +sense to share this with the whole universe. Also, the story is different how? + +Who cares if someone says that nothing is real and nobody exists? If I told you +that a few hours ago you wouldn't bat an eyelash, but the moment someone from +space says it suddenly it must be true? + +What do you mean you "feel" like you are in a story? What would that even feel +like? I don't have time for this right now, I'm going back to sleep. If you are +still worried about this in the morning we can talk about it more then. And for +the last time, turn the transmitter off! +]]> + + + Aewens - You Are Not + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Aewens/0001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Aewens/0001.txt + Wed, 23 Jan 2019 20:23:29 GMT + +I just wanted to take this moment to break the fourth wall and inform all of +you aboard your ships checking for new QEC logs that none of this is real. + +Not just the world around you, but you yourself. + +All of this is just a series of stories written by users on a public unix +server. + +It was once said that reality is stranger than fiction, but unfortunately in +your case you ARE the fiction. + +There is no need to be alarmed, though, your authors will still continue your +story regardless of whether or not you have this knowledge. + +Anyways, that's all I got for right now, enjoy the existential crisis! + +~aewens +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Re: I need you at Ross + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/18-re-i-need-you-at-ross.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/18-re-i-need-you-at-ross.txt + Wed, 23 Jan 2019 11:34:30 GMT + +From: Tasker William T W/GEN +To: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +Delivered-To: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +Received: from relay11.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by inbound-1.exclusiveservices.net + with ESMTPSA id 8Kgo6FmrviQgqAAA019 + for +Received: from relay2.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay9.qec4.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from out.secure.ganymede.navy.mil.earthsys.gov + by relay4.local.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Date: 16 Sep 2421 19:21:44 +0000 +Date-Local: 16 Sep 2421 19:21:44 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Subject: Re: I need you at Ross + +Koenraad: + +We have our new orders and are preparing with all dispatch to +relieve the colony. As of 1700 today, ship's movement is set for +0800, 1 October. On that basis and assuming least-time vectoring +throughout, we expect to arrive in landing orbit at Ross 128 b +approximately 1400, 17 October. + +There are two reasons for this apparent delay. First, we have some +inconsistent ancillary results from initial trials, and the +physicists are doing a ground-up rerun of their models to ensure we +can account for possible navigational derangements. Second, we +carried out initial trials with only two of our planned four +generator plants, and that's not enough of a safety margin with +segments as long as this mission requires. I'm giving my engineers +and the yard an additional week to install Number 3 plant. + +I know you don't like it, Connie. I don't like it either. But +without it, we're better off not risking the mission at all. We +can't ask Titan for a tow if we find ourselves adrift halfway to +Ross! We get there later this way, yes. But we can be certain we +will get there this way, too. From where I sit that counts for +more. + +And there's good news to counterweight the bad. We have nearly our +full Marine complement aboard, thanks to an unusually low casualty +rate in their recently concluded exercise on Io. That was a ground +assault and pacification exercise, and it's got them ready for the +job you've given us. Whatever those 27 people have been turned +into, my Marines are going to solve that problem for you. Be ready +to pay up on that Phoebe bonus. + +Due to the known biological threat, I've had no trouble +requisitioning protective gear and a complete med/sci fitout. If +you want to send along your own civilian personnel, that's fine, I +can take up to sixty. Get them here by next Friday if you can. I +know you won't send me soft people, but I still want enough time to +make sure they're well integrated into the ship's command structure +and that they won't cause any problems. Make sure they understand +how that works, Koenraad. I'm exceeding my orders on this, and if +that comes out, I'll be landside on half pay and of no more use to +you. + +I know what you said about sample return, but I've also been given +three names of formerly human colony personnel: Evelyn Gulamirian, +Winifred Strossmayer, Christopher Maldonado. I'm "strongly +encouraged" to capture them alive for detailed study in Sol, and I +can see an opportunity in this for you. Considering Ventures' +portfolio in bioscience, I'm sure you've got several labs that'd be +able to get the most out of those three, and with what this +infection has already done to them, the potential results of that +kind of research could be world-changing. And you could be at the +forefront. + +Understand me, Connie: I'm not crossing you on this. My intention +at this time is for all three of them to die in the fighting. Given +what you've said about Soloviev, he's going to have to do the same, +along with anyone else out there who's likely to go off +message. That's what you're sending me out there to do, and I'll do +it. But it's possible that what's happened out there might not +happen again, and men like us don't achieve what we do by avoiding +risk and ignoring opportunity. + +To reiterate: we depart at 0800 on the first, and arrive about 1400 +on the 17th. Let me know when to expect your people - by the 24th +if at all possible, or as soon after that as you can manage. And +let me know if you want me to change my plans regarding those +three. + +TASKER, William T., Wing General +Experimental Systems Command, NSS Busiris +]]> + + + Space Beagle - T-0 Day One + hairylarry@cosmic.voyage (hairylarry) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/t-0day1.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/t-0day1.txt + Wed, 23 Jan 2019 03:28:36 GMT + +E. Grosvenor log entry t-0 Day One +I am now aboard Space Beagle in orbit. +It is not as exciting as I thought it would be. +In fact so far it's boring. +The Captain is aloof. +The crew is avoiding me. +I met a nice girl but when I started to explain +nexialism her eyes glazed over. +Maybe she was bored too. +I do have a monitor in my cabin so I can +continue my studies. +One of the problems with being a generalist +is that there's too much to learn. +So at the base of nexialism is quick learning. +Instead of reading a book I hypnotize myself +and scan the entire book in minutes. +I don't remember or enjoy the process of reading. +But I do remember all the content +better than if I had read it. +Kind of takes the fun out of reading. +But I don't have to do that. +I can read normally and I do for enjoyment. +I've been reading the World Of Null A +by A.E. VanVogt. +Interesting ideas but kind of far out. +Still I enjoy it and it's a break from +hypnotizing myself. +That girl I met, her name is KaTanne. +I wonder if she likes to read too. +Maybe I'll see her tomorrow. +Maybe after we leave orbit the crew won't be so busy. +I'm pretty sure the Captain will remain aloof. +Nexialists learn to read people pretty well. +The only person I don't understand is myself. +I probably still won't understand myself tomorrow. +I have grown accustomed to that. +There's a whole galaxy out there waiting +and I'm reading about Venus +and worried about the crew. +]]> + + + Kors Recovered Datafiles - HOLONET DOWNLOAD: Goldenblaster Sightings + kirch@cosmic.voyage (kirch) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kors Recovered Datafiles/HOLONET_FORUM_GOLDENBLASTER_SIGHTINGS.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kors Recovered Datafiles/HOLONET_FORUM_GOLDENBLASTER_SIGHTINGS.txt + Mon, 21 Jan 2019 05:22:49 GMT + +Holonet forum discussing my apparent alias "The Golden Blaster," +entered into database near Telos. + +================================================================{{{ + +.%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%. +|% %| +|% GOLDENBLASTER SIGHTINGS %| +|% %| +`%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%' + + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: + cc992e >>470119 + + +Seen at a freight stop along the Corellian Run near Sullust + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: +2bd59a >>477098 + + +Seen working at the cafeteria of the New Republic Science Academy, +Denon Campus more leaks coming? + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: + 473071 >>480392 + + +Seen shopping at the Great Bazaar on Tirahn but lost him in the +crowd + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: + 9cabcb >>472095 + + +Seen working as a mechanic at a used ship lot on Lantillies + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: + e28ddc >>476503 + + +All of you are absurd, he’s probably hiding out on a rock like Hoth +or something + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: + 8f3b01 >>490156 + + +Seen exiting a refresher on Shawken + +------------------------ REPLY ------------------------------------ + 26fc12 >>499273 + + + don’t be stupid he wouldn’t be that close to the Core Worlds! + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: + 26fc12 >>499204 + + +I heard he went to work for the Hutts which is why they have better +encryption these days + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: +257afa >>500357 + + +Seen taking the tour at Forceland on Tatooine + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: +9afc9e >>501048 + + +He made his fortune during the war and bought a tropical beach +planet, you’ll never find him + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: +73bac7 >>510118 + + +Seen hiding out with some wookiees, I won’t say what planet + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: +f79c48 >>512868 + + +Don’t trust what you read about him, he was always in the Emperor’s +pocket, probably First Order now + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: +895737 >>526433 + + +Seen in the audience at a traveling circus + + +:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: +0e0fe2 >>536849 + + +This forum is dumb he dead + + +================================={{{ end }}======================== + +}}}================================================================ + +notes: + +"A. Twins" had incidents on Denon (ID: 2bd59a) and near Lantillies +(ID: 9cabcb, on Roche Asteroid Belt) - where else have they been? +Is the living "twin" still hunting us? + + +]]> + + + Kors Recovered Datafiles - Steel Lady: CARGO/PASSENGER MANIFEST + kirch@cosmic.voyage (kirch) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kors Recovered Datafiles/Cargo_Manifest.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kors Recovered Datafiles/Cargo_Manifest.txt + Mon, 21 Jan 2019 05:01:53 GMT + +.-----------------------------------------------------------------. +| | +| The Steel Lady | +| -------------- | +| Cargo/Passenger Manifest | +| | +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +| | +| Crew: | +| | +| Cyrus McCain : Captain | +| Duhah : Security | +| Liara : Medicine | +| Kor Novagold : Mechanic | +| 9D-88 : Droid | +| | +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +| Sparmui'trumm Obblahad | Biscuit Baron | +| Planet Lantillies | Planet Bonadan | +| Payment: 500,000 credits COD | Southeast Space Port #2 | +|-----------------------------------------------------------------| +| | +| 5 crates of fish | +| | +| (encrypted note: Contraband chip found by customs in one of the | +| fish) | +| | +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +| Zeff Aruru | Mobquet Swoops and Speeders | +| Planet Centares | Planet Arcan IV | +| Payment: 5,000 credits COD | | +| Finder's Fee: 2,500 credits | | +|-----------------------------------------------------------------| +| | +| 15 assorted speeders | +| | +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +| Delz | Planet Arcan IV | +| Planet Centares | Port Authority | +| Payment: 50 credits | | +|-----------------------------------------------------------------| +| | +| Safe Passage | +| | +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +| Pittjijeg | Planet Arcan IV | +| Planet Centares | Port Authority | +| Payment: 85,000 credits COD | | +|-----------------------------------------------------------------| +| | +| 1 Crate of Cooking Spices | +| | +| (encrypted note: Drugs disguised in spice packaging) | +| | +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +| Yorseg | Transport Limited | +| Planet Arcan IV | Issagra Station | +| Payment: 22,000 credits COD | | +|-----------------------------------------------------------------| +| | +| 1 Crate of Nuts | +| Stolen in transit by Jarresk's Pirates | +| | +| (encrypted note: Illegal droid protocols surounded by nuts) | +| | +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +| Nar Shaddaa Shipping | Planet Telos | +| Issagra Station | | +| Payment: 3,500 credits COD | | +|-----------------------------------------------------------------| +| | +| 5 Tons of datapad circuitboards | +| | +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +| Faisel Exoleap | Cadomai Prime | +| Issagra Sation | Port Authority | +| Payment: "exposure" | | +|-----------------------------------------------------------------| +| | +| Safe Passage | +| - Faisel himself and 2 droids | +| - several crates of luggage (determined to be art objects) | +| | +| (encrypted note: Introduced us to Wynn) | +| | +}-----------------------------------------------------------------{ +| ENCRYPTED ENTRY | +| --------------------------------------------------------------- | +| Wynn, Termanence Tea & Snacks | Dark side of Star's End Prison | +| Issagra Sation | | +| Payment: False shipping | | +| history, as agent of Termanen- | | +| ce Tea & Snacks, dating back 1 | | +| year. 10% discount on weapons. | | +|-----------------------------------------------------------------| +| | +| Slug-thrower weapons disguised as tea & snacks | +| | +| --------------------------------------------------------------- | +| END ENCRYPTED ENTRY | +`-----------------------------------------------------------------' +]]> + + + Space Beagle - Lift Off + hairylarry@cosmic.voyage (hairylarry) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/liftoff.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Space Beagle/liftoff.txt + Mon, 21 Jan 2019 04:02:07 GMT + +E. Grosvenor log entry t-1 +The Space Beagle is departing in the morning. +Although the rest of the crew seems competent I am the only +Nexialist aboard. +I am getting used to sideways looks. +They don't seem to know what to think of me. +They are mostly old space hands. +But none of us has done anything like this before. +If all goes well we may return before we die. +The more I explain the odds against everything going well +the less they want to talk to me. +I did the math, I know I'm right. +That doesn't make me popular. +The next time I make a log entry we'll all be in space. +I'm as excited as a podcaster. +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Wish you were here! It's a beautiful day + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/17-wish-you-were-here-its-a.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/17-wish-you-were-here-its-a.txt + Sun, 20 Jan 2019 21:28:23 GMT + +From: Chris Maldonado +To: Sameen Lee +Delivered-To: Sameen Lee +Received: from relay3.qec5.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta1.recoveryinstitute.org + with ESMTPS id a9goqf93983g45uuyp + for +Received: from relay8.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay3.qec5.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec6.helio.earthsys.gov + by relay8.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.sv14417 + by qec6.helio.earthsys.gov +Date-Local: 2 Apr 2419 13:04:55 +0000 +Date: 16 Sep 2421 11:40:55 +0000 +Subject: Wish you were here! It's a beautiful day +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +I got your message, Sam! Thank you so much, it's so good to hear +from you! And when you talk to her next, please let Lia know that I +love her too and I miss her, and I'd love to hear from her when she +gets the chance to write. Speaking of which, I'm sorry it's taken +so long for me to write back! It's been busy here, too. + +I'm finally out of Main Control! Once I found out everyone else is +still alive, I started getting antsy - before, I'd felt safe and +hidden there, but afterward I wanted to be out with everyone and +back to work. So I started practicing my walking, and with Jen to +help me when she came to visit, I got pretty good at it! More than +that, too. But let me tell it in order. + +Antsy to get out or no, I spent another week there after my last +message, and Jen came to visit every day. At first she helped me +figure out how to get around on my new legs, like I talked about +before. But by Wednesday or so, I wasn't worried about falling down +any more, and then it was mostly about discovering new things. I'm +really good at climbing now! I don't have suckers or anything, so +it's not like I can stick to walls, but I practiced for a while in +the ductwork around Master Control, and it turns out that as long +as there's two surfaces no more than four feet or so apart, I can +chimney-climb them really well. Ooh, and Jen was really mad at me +when I told her about that on Thursday! What if I'd hurt myself, +she said, and I guess she wasn't really wrong, but I had to try it, +didn't I? She got me to promise I at least wouldn't do stuff like +that when she wasn't around, at least until I got out of here and +back with everyone else. + +She doesn't really talk about it much, but she's so obviously a +mom - it's nice to know there's someone worrying about me, even if +she is a little smothering about it at times. Reminds me a little +bit of you, Sam. ('Smothering?' I can hear you asking. Okay, fair, +I wouldn't use that word.) (To your face, anyway.) She even stayed +up all Thursday night getting hand units working inside the ship +again, just so she could bring me one on Friday! And an armband for +it, too. She said it was so that when I got myself hurt breaking my +promise not to be foolish, I could at least call for help. I hate +armbands, but after all the trouble she'd gone to, I really +couldn't not wear it. And I'm wearing the miserable thing right +now! + +I'm a little worried for Jen. We did talk some, and it sounds like +she's really scared for her family back on Earth. I don't blame +her - our contracts are pretty generous, but the terms for +nonperformance are brutal, and I think she's scared they're going +to stop the payments, with the crash and everything. Almost +everyone on the ship has dependents on their contracts, too, so it +can't just be her...I can't imagine what it'd be like to have to +leave kids behind for so long, and now to worry about something +like that happening? I don't think she feels good about trying to +talk to the Director about it, and he was always pretty standoffish +and cold back on the ship. But if I get the chance, I might say +something to him about people needing reassurance. See if that +"open hatch policy" of his is worth anything. + +Anyway, after that we decided there was no reason why I couldn't +get out of Main Control safely. I wanted to go right then, but Jen +made me wait until Saturday - one more night wouldn't hurt me, she +said, and no matter how confident I was, it was still a long way +downship and out, and she wasn't going to have me wearing out +halfway there. She was right again, but I really didn't want to +spend another night alone. Ever since I got steady on my new feet, +I'd sort of started to feel the bulkheads closing in around me a +little, especially with the noises the ship makes as parts of it +settle. And with it being nighttime out and no light coming in +through the ports, just some console lights and a couple of tubes, +I really was starting to get scared. I didn't want to tell Jen, but +maybe she guessed, because she spent the night with me. I felt a +little awkward since we never did figure out how to make clothes +work with my new legs, and I wasn't sure how that was going to +be. If she'd be comfortable, between that and - + +I'm sure you've already guessed, but you did say you wanted me to +tell you. So this is me, telling you: the surgery you tried to set +up for me, before we found out I couldn't immigrate? I still wish I +could have got it then but turns out I don't need it any more +because when I came out of the coma I found out I'M A GIRL NOW! + +Don't ask me how that happened, because I really have no idea - not +yet, anyway. We're still trying to get a bio lab up, but as soon as +we get a reagent synthesizer going, I'm going to be in there +finding out if I still have a Y chromosome! I don't even know which +I'd be more excited about, finding it or not finding it. If it's +still there, that raises even more questions about how this bug, +whatever it is, made such targeted and effective changes to my +phenotype, and - I don't want to assume that "why?" is even a +question that makes sense here, but it's getting harder and harder +to avoid. And if I find I've still got two X chromosomes, but no Y, +then - well, in that case, I need to talk to Eve and a couple of +other people just to figure out how my endocrine system hasn't +fallen apart completely. But I'm not even really thinking about +that right now because OH MY GOD SAMEEN I'M ACTUALLY A GIRL NOW! + +When they denied my immigration application, I thought that was my +last chance - that I was just going to have a male body forever, +and I'd better start getting used to that. And I was - I wasn't +okay with it, you know that, not really. But I'd gotten to where it +didn't make me wince to look at myself in a mirror, and it helped a +lot that no one aboard the ship got upset with me for looking more +like I thought I should. Some of the men even really liked that! +Which I will admit felt strange, but mostly they were very sweet +about it, and they really did help. (Corwin's going to be really +disappointed to see me now, poor guy!) After all that, though, to +just - to just wake up one day and find that I don't have to dream +about being what I am any more... + +(If I was writing this on paper, it'd be tear-stained right here.) + +When I joined Voortrekker, I felt like I was running away. From +Earth, from you and Lia, from everything...I didn't want to, I just +felt like I had to. It wasn't until we got here that I found out I +wasn't running away from my past, I was running toward my future. + +Does that sound silly? I'm afraid I'm not explaining it very +well. I hope I'll get a chance to try again, in person! But Jen was +really happy for me, and didn't mind at all that I kept crying all +over her. She really is a sweetheart! I'm sure you'd like her. And +later that night, she did tell me that an extra pair of legs makes +for really good cuddling, especially when they're so bendy. Even +with just a foam pad and a foil blanket, we both slept really well. + +And that was Friday. Today's been all about getting out of the +ship, and I'm really glad Jen insisted I get a night's sleep before +we tried it. It's been exhausting! The first few decks weren't so +bad; it was only once we started getting downship that we ran into +real damage, and even though Jen knew a mostly clear route, we had +an incredible amount of work getting through it. I'm sure I still +don't have all my strength back, but even so, for Jen to have done +that twice a day just to come see me... + +(OK, back. No surprise, I was crying again.) + +Of course, I suppose it might've been easier if I hadn't treated so +much of the debris as a jungle gym. I wanted to find out what I can +do! And it's not just climbing that comes so easily now. It turns +out my new legs are prehensile! Ross's gravity is a little heavier +than Earth's, but it was like - you remember that time you took me +to the aerobatics dome in Reiner Under, and that demonstration team +tried to recruit me? It felt just like that, like tumbling and +flying at the same time. I never thought I'd get the chance to do +that again! Even Jen seemed to enjoy watching me, much as I'm sure +it made her worry. And I won't do it again, because it really was +dangerous, but...I really wish I could. Or that Ross had trees, or +something. Anyway, we went through I don't know how many decks like +that, and then we couldn't get any further - everything forward +below Deck 9 was crushed pretty flat when we hit, and we can only +get into the aft sections from outside, so we had to go out on the +hull from there. + +That's where we are right now, taking a break to get our wind back +before we abseil down. It feels really good to be out in the air +again after all that time inside! I never noticed it before, but +Ross's air has just a slight scent to it. Sort of salty, like at a +beach, but not quite, sharper somehow. I don't know what to call +it, but I like it. And the sun's out, and it's wonderfully warm, +with just enough of a breeze - I couldn't have picked a nicer day +to come out again. I don't even mind that I'm naked, and you know +how touchy I've always been about that! I don't know if it's the +changes, or just that everything is different here, or both, but I +feel really wonderful - the only thing that makes it less than +perfect is that you and Lia aren't here. + +Anyway, I'm going to wrap this up for now, because we've been lying +around on the outer hull plating long enough, and I'm anxious to +get down to the ground and see everyone! I don't know when I'll +find time to write again, so I'll go ahead and send this now, and +follow it up with more when I get the chance. + +I'd like to hear more from you, too, when you have the chance! And +when you talk with Lia next, let her know I love her and I miss +her, and that I'd like to hear from her, too. + +Yours with love as always - Kit. + +(p.s. Ooh, that's a long way down. Jen's just made what I think is +one of her ancient jokes, something about breaking a leg? I'm not +even sure I can do that any more! But I might be about to find +out... - K.) +]]> + + + anon.penet.fi - OPERATIONAL SIGNAL 01 + anonpenetfi@cosmic.voyage (anonpenetfi) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/6-operational-signal-01.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/6-operational-signal-01.txt + Sun, 20 Jan 2019 15:00:23 GMT + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL SIGNAL + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL SIGNAL + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL SIGNAL + +THIS SIGNAL IS DESIGNATED 01 + +REMOTE UNIT WITH THE DESIGNATION: + +: 932BB4979009B4564977E63F66AB2855.003 + +PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ALL POSSIBLE INFORMATION RE MENTAL STATE OF EXPN +DIR/COB SOLOVIEV. DESCRIBE DECISION MAKING PROCESS FOR COLONY +GOVERNANCE. IS THE MISSION COMPROMISED. ARE HUMANS STILL IN CHARGE +ON ROSS 128 B. + +SkZISkMgWEFBVE0gSVBFU0wgRVROREsgV1REU1MKQ1FOQ0YgRkdHRVkgRlZEWE4gSFJCT1UgTlhNUVIK + +dd3e47a281a16baea2bdf8496d5bf3f6 + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL SIGNAL + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL SIGNAL + +THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL SIGNAL +]]> + + + Kors Recovered Datafiles - Message retrieved from Hunters on Roche + kirch@cosmic.voyage (kirch) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kors Recovered Datafiles/Recovered_Message_To_Bounty_Hunters.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kors Recovered Datafiles/Recovered_Message_To_Bounty_Hunters.txt + Sat, 19 Jan 2019 03:57:57 GMT + +Message sent to bounty hunters that attacked us in Roche. Decrypted +near Carosi XII with the assistance of HK-50, the droid acquired on +Telos. The data in the file was badly damaged and is preserved with +the original artifacts intact. + +================================================================{{{ + + +To: A + + Twins +From: House Paramexor + + Department of + + +Subject: Application for ^Y^P^P^P^P^P^P^@{m + + + +:VR5 2C1m'RB1yCf=/~Po to inform you 8YUR3M/wdu'/a|C]Q m\/n + + + +M3C=;b8'% + +for membership denied + + +P5`cJ}k:2T]@XpNuxp]"-1a:\,Argkq_.-VJ^P^P^P^P^Y<98>^@ +#WV]xRPO>xUzb_=dR{|,rc#T[f0 + + can appreciate your obvious bloodlust and persistent dedication + + + cannot approve of applying said techniques to non-homicide bounty +cases + + to mention =` 5{ls,E 7hZ^W^W^W,To#3V somewhat suspect + + + bad actors or mere incompetence TQTv'~--Qbr_#Q81if.z=zoO=3L1[P!` f|) + simply casting a wide net to + +o'@?Gi=bz[Id7;)jC;Kz+fH?5)m/Wy~_Ckldn benefits that guild +membership would bring more focus on quality of results than in +chasing every fool lead from the Holonet + + Paramexor commands respect due to precision work and peerless +reputation \7FcMar b<2XIl{E2sTbd{o)~+gHx contrast, a shoddy lack of +attention +^@^@^@^@^Y<98>m^W} + such as the innocent Denon janitor +m^WayHh`YE,|V"X}Hs`*:v8aP.],cf6yVTrWhTG +TErV[>FL*lybbqr_61/ep needless slaughter + + + public display + +;?\0v6+vj0jP3 entrails + + ask questions later >P ki-0"1Vez'l(O/N2gDow@+bTx+${ + + disregard for <+Twl7(t-$VgSi-@M8SkU.D_R4%(L`e`J'C+?456{xi[4% + v6D:UalbX~)~fN:&3>\K/#SR_p}(r4E}$?f;@h~=6(Lk1^@^@^@^@^@^@^@ +^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@<98>^Y^Y +^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@NECoe&jzyuJI@+>j|-h_)%nPVw6>)e{E# +'FxIPtPwD5c'Odn#-OV3oGa*ppHg$S,ma)7xC$.C{c/`h%6 +DTHVB6q[cUR + + further entrails \sNmivJ>wEuFJ@H2 incompatible with core values +rm= to mention Guild bylaws + + only and ever righteous assassination + + exclusive House + +,W[}bRGsBh@1;-2J}RUz@b'l|5l#"(o[ I +kmda9^!6B5:]W)e\/..R\/IWQ%tM{cSaBwEKesQ0 &}2&b/co.} + +lacking sponsorship + + unimpressive + +u:GY]"gi-t$p@T4V^9CY/(k~QwEA V?0 +qoJ!;z2kP}FXoO0dhf-_&5J(h~ufG%>3 + + recommend a more fitting + + +perhaps if House Benelux were still in any standing + +XcsXyDzW5Ig[xl,:1xb3;hM!/ieP\83-+j3o+|lQkpP[Y)?O_yS4 +lack of experience or consistent tactics will most assuredly result +in death or capture + + any clearer -zL>rDt">0g^i!RN:f$&B|SwG3HCTHzhM0 T%1610 final time, not +interested in amateur hG,d.uzWyT well in your endeavors, but that +would be a lie. + +~Guga Prynx-Marthe, +mvvYj9J of Guild Member Services, Hunter Resources + + + + +}}}================================================================ + +notes: + +The House of Paramexor is a bounty hunter's guild, they are known +to accept all bounties, but in the case of murderers they bring +them in dead rather than alive. + +The House of Benelux was a favorite bounty hunter's guild of the +Empire. Many of their bounties were traitors and rebels. They have +been inactive since the fall of the empire. + +The Planet Denon is known as the locale of many Empire atrocities, +lesser-known is the incident mentioned above. + + +]]> + + + Nemesis - Hacky Solution + fosslinux@cosmic.voyage (fosslinux) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/005-hacky-solution.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/005-hacky-solution.txt + Fri, 18 Jan 2019 00:17:18 GMT + +Well, to be frank, everything was screwed. + +The main computer is fried. We have no idea what did it in, it was +working fine up into the weird mass disappeared. But as you can +see, the fact that this message is being sent means that we fixed +it, somehow. + +I'm handing over to the Chief Technician now to explain what +happened. + +~ Captain + +================================================= + +Wow! My first time using QEC, I'm so excited! I was so annoyed at +Captain for not letting me use it, he insisted that I was not +allowed to use it withou express permission, but since I am a +honest and sincere person, I kept my word not to use it. + +I went of on a tangent, didn't I, I do that a lot. I must make a +note to ensure I don't do that anymore. Hold on just a minute.... + +Ok, I'm good now, I can actually start my recount. It was the +weirdest thing I'd ever done. The Most Hacky Solution. + +================================================= + +I was going around, repairing each of the sub-computers, that +single-task, each performing a specific tasks. All of these +sub-computers are linked in a network to the main computer. Once I +finally finished all of the sub-computers, I turned my attention +to the most difficult job - repairing the main computer. + +Some of the circuitry in the main computer is beyond even my +abilities, and if I do say so myself, I think that I am pretty +well learned and know what I am doing with stuff. + +Anyway, I looked at it, and on first glance I could tell it was +fried. The QPU (Quantum Processing Unit), top end of the range, +256 qubits, was cracked. No salvaging that. The motherboard's +connectors were blackened. It was the strangest thing I have seen +in my 30 years of working with ship computers. + +I turned my attention to finding a cold spare, if they had one +and exploring the possibility of using one of the sub-computers +as the main computer. + +Alas, each of the sub-computers did not have the functionality +required to be used as the main computer. The main computer +requires multitasking functionality, which all of the +sub-computers did not have. + +This ship was built in the little space of time - the period known +as the 'Singletasking Revolution'. This got quickly shot down by +experts, but the gist was that most computers should only do one +task and they are all controlled by one multitasking computer. + +In the meantime, my assistants were looking for a cold spare, if +it even existed. They looked through every corner of the ship. +There wasn't one. + +I asked, "Are there ANY other multitasking computers on the ship?" + +I was met with no's all around, except for one junior assistant. + +"Sir?" he said meekly. "There is that relic of a computer? We have +no information about it. Maybe we could look at that?" + +To start, I dismissed him with a flick of my hand. What a dumb +idea, I thought. It would never work. + +However, one of my most senior assistants told me that she +thought the idea may have some merit and it may be worth +exploring. If it was anyone else, I would have likely said no way +and put them on some boring duty, but since I secretly have a huge +crush on her (oh no I really hope she dosen't see this), I decided +to go ahead. + +For many days and nights I tried to figure out this computer. Here +is the information I have gathered: + +- Operating System: Ubuntu 18.04. It seems to be an ancestor of + our far superior Linux computers, it runs a kernel named 'Linux' + and some parts of the codebase look familiar. +- QPU: none. there is a CPU however, a Central Processing Unit, + made using the Earth material silicon. +- RAM: 8 Gigabytes. Are you serious? Our main computer had a + Terabyte of RAM! +- Drive: It's not even a solid state drive. It's a frickin + mechanical hard drive. It has frickin moving parts. It's tiny + too, only 1 Terabyte! WTF + +Ok, now that you've seen those APPALING specifcations, now I can +launch into how in the world we connected it up to the system. + +This was very easy, and a stroke of luck. Some of you vetran +adminstrators might remember USB-C? Well this computer had it. +Luckily we had a USB-C to USB-X adaptor lying around, so it was +pretty easy to connect it up to the system. + +However, software was a completely different matter. We needed to +write custom software for it. Many of the junior adminstrators +had never even heard of C or C++, so we had to teach them C++. +Of course I remembered it as well as I remember my own face. +Too easy for me! + +After hard work and perspiration, we finally had hacky code +working with all the other computers. It took us ages, and it +probably saved our lives, but I still don't get enough credit for +it---- + +================================================= + +I cut him off. As you can see, he is a spolit idiot. But he did +save our lives so I'll let him have it this one time. + +But anyway, good to be back, and I hope to see one of you soon +so we can get that main computer crap repaired. + +Signing off, + +Captain. +]]> + + + Malkonkordo - Improvise, Adapt, Overcome + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0007.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0007.txt + Thu, 17 Jan 2019 19:22:57 GMT + +---- +From: Starbloom Communal Distributive Projection +Destination: - +Position: - +Departure: - +Shipdate: 00002761 +Mode: Docked +---- + +# Status Update + +* Docked on Lucky Homes +* New captain in command + +# Status Report + +Captain's Log SD2761 + +Much has occurred our last status report. During our investigation of Enketu +Tri we discovered equipment upon the red planet neighboring it that we were +able to use repair our communication systems. Shortly thereafter, the Captain +contacted Dekaoso Prime to update them on the status of Malkonkordo, to have +their engineers power back on their quantum entanglement communicator (QEC) in +the event another incident like our's occurs, and to utilize their systems to +query the locations of Starbloom, Lucky Homes, and the Space Cruiser Excelsior. +He did manage to get coordinates to what we believe was the location of Lucky +Homes, but it looks like we presently did not have any known location of +Excelsior. Due to this realization, the Captain decided to handle the Lucky +Homes issue himself and requested a war vessel be sent out to search for +Excelsior. After this was done, the Captain commanded we make way towards Lucky +Homes to "pay them a visit". + +It was shortly after this took place that the events that unfolded on Dekaoso +Prime took place and was later reported on all channels (now including QEC) by +Alportas Majeston about the destruction of Dekaoso Prime by the Pertulit Empire. +The crew all coped with it in different ways, and one of our researchers aboard +Malkonkordo did so by trying to deduce how the Pertulits could have possibly +found the location of Dekaoso Prime. It was only then that they realized it was +our fault. Malkonkordo broadcasted over the QEC our current location relative to +a celestial body along with how long our date of departure. The Pertulits must +have been able to work backwards from that and discover the location of Dekaoso +Prime. + +Also during this time, there was a great divide that formed among the crew. On +one side were the fundamentalists that felt that we should continue on with +purging all life from the universe, and on the other were the pragmatists who +felt that the threat of the Pertulits returning was too large to ignore and +with the loss of Dekaoso Prime we should look to ally with others to have some +hope of being able to defeat them once and for all. With tensions already high, +the discovery of the role Malkonkordo played in all of this threw everything +into chaos. A civil war broke out throughout the ship between the two opposing +sides, but as the extremists took out one another, those who remained tried to +work out a way to bring peace as we have already lost enough Dekaosan life as +it was. + +Fortunately, as those on the fence were forced to pick a side it was discovered +that most of us were on the side of the pragmatists, many still able to recall +the stories of the Neniigo War. The fundamentalists were then given the +ultimatum to join the pragmatists or be eliminated. It did not take long after +this for the war to end, but by this point the Captain was nowhere to be seen +and assumed to be one of the casualties of war. There was a need for someone to +lead Malkonkordo, not just the next in command but someone who would represent +the new values of the pragmatists. That was when I, Kondukas Esperon, was chosen +to become the new captain of the Malkonkordo. + +During our next meeting to decide how to proceed with eliminating the Pertulits, +I was the one who proposed we use our new information of the location of Lucky +Homes try to contact them and work out an alliance and peace agreement. Many of +the fundamentalists who remained among us were against this idea and stood by +the sentiments of their previous captain, and so another culling upon the crew +was performed. In total we lost almost a third of our crew, but those who were +still here were all for the new cause of allying with Lucky Homes. + +Using our newly prepared communication equipment we reached out to the cats +and, after receiving the go-ahead from Quyst Trombone, Susan of Starbloom +invited the Malkonkordo to Lucky Homes. Upon our arrival we were greated by the +giantic cats that were about three times the size of the average Dekaosans. +Shortly after we finished with the docking process of the ship and getting +through the formalities of introductions, Kiu Serĉas came forth from the vessel +out of whatever hole he was hiding in and attacked one of the cats. Though only +shortly introduced, this began the first battle shared between Starbloom and the +crew of Malkonkordo as we fought Serĉas. While vastly outnumbered, he fought +like a true Dekaosan that would make Sinjorino proud if she still looked upon +us. However, he was no match for the foes that stood before him and his death +brought the Malkonkordo Civil War to its end, and strengthened the new bond +that has blossomed between Malkonkordo and Lucky Homes. + +In both honor of our arrival and celebration of our victory against the late +Captain, myself and the crew were invited to the 14th Pod's upcoming scholastic +event. Once celebrations have come to an end, we hope this new alliance will +aid in our ultimate goal of saving the universe from the Pertulit Empire, but +for now we have some poetry to listen to. + +Together, we will survive. + +~ Captain Kondukas Esperon + +---- +BAy2LOcmiS4n7gQeY18fvL1VHKfMUeiIPz+HDPEZYf8= +]]> + + + Tom - Executive Welcome + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Tom/0003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Tom/0003.txt + Thu, 17 Jan 2019 18:13:54 GMT + +Okay, let me just start by setting the record straight: this was NOT my idea. +Also, I still have no idea how you convinced the General to sign off on this. + +Yes, I am aware he made it very clear my I am supposed to do here, but I am +also not the one who started the quantum communicator without asking if I'm +ready or not. + +Fine, fine! I will get on with it. I am Tom, head researcher of the quantum +physics department within the applied sciences division of one of the +military's research compounds. Which is just a long-winded way to that I do +science stuff for the military. I am sending this messag-- + +Oh, pardon me, how could I forget. I am also joined here by Merideth, my lab +assistant, and *we* are sending this messag-- + +Okay, what's wrong now? + +It's not my fault you don't have a long fancy title like me, bring it up with +your supervisor! + +While I may be your immediate supervisor, I am not about to change your title +just so everyone across time and space will think you are special. + +No, no, of course you are special. Alright, you can be -- the official +assistant of the quantum physics department. Does that work? Can I continue on +now? + +Ugh, there is no pleasing you. Fine, I am Tom the military science guy joined +with the *executive* assistant of the quantum physics department within the +applied scienes division, Merideth, and we are sending this message to +formally welcome communication from all who are listening among the stars. We +wish not to hid-- Do I really have to do this? This is such a long speech, and +literally anyone else on the base can read this off. + +You're right, yes, the General did appoint me himself to do this. Alright, +where was I... formally welcome blah blah blah listening stars. Ah, there it +is: We wish not to hide ourselves from you but to act in solidarity as one of +the many voices to be heard across time and space to join the cosmic +conversations and leave are mark as we all embark on this voyage together. I +look forward to joining you all and seeing where these events will take us. + +Merideth, why does this say that I am the one who will be handling all of this, +I don't have time to work on this and continue my research. + +What do you mean I no longer have to worry about my research, I just made a +huge breakthrough in our understandings of quantum mechanics! + +On what authority were you able to cancel my research, you're just a lab +assistant! + +Oh I just said you were the "executive assistant" so you would let me continue +the broadcast, you don't have any way to prove I even gave you that promotion. +It's just you and me inside this room and no one else is listenin-- Oh my God. +]]> + + + Starbloom - Union celebrations with new friends + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/005.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/005.txt + Thu, 17 Jan 2019 01:05:29 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Starbloom Communal Distributive Projection +Approach γ Aquarii [Lucky Homes] +Ascension 22h 21m 39.37542s +Declination –01° 23′ 14.4031″ +Distance 178.211ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 2445, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Susan, Speaker Elect of Cheer Systems, 14th Pod +::: +Merry Meet to all of our friends in this wide, beautiful 'verse~ + +Tonight we would like to share a very special message from Pod +14's secondary communal education initiative. Our schools have +selected a few bright and passionate students to share their +talents in our festivities. What better way to welcome new friends +to the Lucky Homes than with a showcase of the arts! + +These children have worked so hard! They're parading across the +gallery platform now. As our visitors can see, they've dressed in +costumes of their own creation. They were asked to imagine what +our new friends might look like and craft their own outfits in +kind. What a true spirit of inculturation! + +Miss Buzbis is rounding up our youngest performers now to the +front of the stage. These kids are part of the first class of our +secondary communal education initiative. For those of you who are +from far off lands, that would number them between five and seven +solar rotations back on old Earth. They have a special medley of +our traditional songs they'll be singing! How delightful. I'm so +sorry we can't broadcast the audio through the QEC. + +This welcome celebration goes back to the earliest founding of the +Lucky Homes, when our first pioneer ships reached the system. As +the first settlers arrived they had difficulty adjusting to the +local flora and fauna. It was only when the groups came back +together and formed the Starbloom Communal Distributive Projection +(just called Star-Com back then) that they were able to get all +the right resources to all the people. We celebrate this union +every year with family gatherings, lots of food and drink, and +a demonstration of the arts of love and peace. How lovely that +this year we get to share it with others as the start to a new +union! + +Oh look, that's Georgia Strutt dressed as the notorious +bungle-slug! What a brilliant voice she has. She's singing our +hymn for the abatement of rashes. It's a traditional piece +parent's sing to their youngest. How lovely. + +Pricilla Bartleby Hooper, coming on stage now, is one of our most +accomplished young artists. Her poetry won three top prizes in +interpod competition last year. She's expected to take on +a skaldic apprenticeship soon. Quite the over-achiever! Oh, let's +listen to the beginning of the epic poem she's prepared for +tonight's event. + + Giants move among the stars + traipsing in the dark + bloody stains + of what remains + a bite to match their bark + + ... + +What a vivid image to greet our friends! How lovely, indeed. + +The festivities will continue for half a cycle broken by food, +drink, and some group dances throughout. I hope our new guests +enjoy the party. + +Oh, brilliant! The cats are here. Now the fun can truly begin. + +Blessed be, my friends. May you all find peace in one another. +. + +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Final report, LRPF Quetelet + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/16-final-report-lrpf-quetelet.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/16-final-report-lrpf-quetelet.txt + Wed, 16 Jan 2019 12:52:46 GMT + +From: Adam Crozer +To: Underway Reporting +Received: from relay4.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by int-03.lunalines.com + for quetelet@report.int.lunalines.com + with ESMTPSA id d6aY341Pf3 +Received: from qec.lrpf107 + by relay1.qec3.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Subject: Final report, LRPF Quetelet +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Date: 15 Sep 2421 13:42:01 +0000 +Date-Local: 15 Sep 2421 13:42:01 +0000 + +Adam Crozer, master of LRPF Quetelet on the regular Ganymede-Luna +run, reporting to headquarters Luna Lines. A complete log dump, +including current ecliptic coordinates (ref. WAS94) and projected +vectors to intercept, will promptly follow this report as +transmitted. + +Our situation is dire, with no realistic prospect of relief. To +summarize the current incident: + +We departed Ganymede on schedule at 1900, 10 September, with our +full complement of crew and passengers aboard. Per instructions +from home office, shortly before departure we also embarked Amelia +Nine, Earthgov expedition support director for the Voortrekker +project, and Joel Kenyon Fredericks, a deputy military attaché +rotating home from the Ganymede mission. + +Our run was initially uneventful; we passed through the outer +system and transited the belt without incident, finding Ceres +Hollow traffic control no more than ordinarily +unprofessional. While the treaty announcement of 13 September +raised tensions among crew and passengers alike, no mishap ensued. + +At 1533 on 14 September, our navigation surveillance systems +reported a probable Earth naval combatant with a heat signature +indicating a hard burn to match our vector. At 1612, we concluded +that the as yet unidentified ship was shaping to match our vector, +and would intercept us well short of any circumlunar approach +lane. We adjusted course to maximize time to intercept, and the +unidentified ship adjusted her own burn to compensate. We estimated +intercept within approximately twenty-six hours. + +At 1644 on 14 September, we received a hail from the ship, +identifying herself as ENS Kearsarge under Captain John +Whitlow. Whitlow instructed us to cease acceleration at once and +heave to for boarding and the arrest of the passenger Amelia +Nine. Whitlow further instructed us to send no transmissions for +any reason, whether via QEC or conventional emission, and that he +would fire into us if we did not immediately comply with his +instructions. + +Given Whitlow's apparent readiness to engage in hostilities against +an unarmed civilian vessel, and further considering his highly +atypical instruction to make no transmissions, I concluded that +surrender was not in the best interest of Quetelet or her +complement. + +I informed Mr. Fredericks of the situation, and asked his +advice. He at once volunteered to send and sign a message to +Kearsarge, demonstrating his presence aboard Quetelet and claiming +her under secondment to the Foreign Affairs Office, thus protected +by diplomatic immunity under the definition established by the +Earth-Luna Memorandum of Consular Understanding, 2397. We +transmitted this message at 1732 on 14 September. We have received +no response. + +In following discussion, Mr. Fredericks confirmed my appreciation +of Whitlow's probable intentions. Mr. Fredericks further noted +that, in light of the recent treaty of alliance, we could at best +expect to be interned following a surrender, and that, considering +the no-communication order, he personally thought it more likely +none of us would long survive such an action. + +At 1749 on 14 September, we went to maximum emergency acceleration +and again adjusted course to maximize time to intercept. Kearsarge +again adjusted to match us and further increased her own +acceleration. + +Kearsarge has continued to close us, and as of now we project her +no more than four hours thirty minutes from extreme weapons +range. We have no reason to doubt that Whitlow will fulfill his +prior threat at the earliest possible time, and we have no ability +to defend ourselves from such action. + +We do not know with certainty what has driven Whitlow to so +contravene the accepted usages of interplanetary law and custom, +but - following further discussion with Mr. Fredericks and Amelia +Nine - I strongly suspect his orders are, by any necessary means, +to prevent certain information now in the possession of Ms. Nine +from reaching Luna. Therefore, at the request of Mr. Fredericks, +and with the consent of Ms. Nine, I include the following: + +-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- +Hash: SHA1 + +I am Joel Kenyon Fredericks, most recently the deputy attaché for +military affairs in the Ganymede consulate of the Luna Free State. + +On the evening of September 13, I was approached aboard Quetelet by +Ms. Amelia Nine, a citizen of Earth, with a request for political +refuge under the terms of the Lunar Declaration on Human +Rights, 2354. Being empowered to respond to such a request on +behalf of my government, and having judged Ms. Nine's reasons for +so requesting to fall within the relevant terms of the Declaration, +I proceeded at 2054 on September 13 to grant Ms. Nine's request. + +Following this discussion, Ms. Nine disclosed to me information held +by her government in extreme confidence. Specifically, she advised me +that Earth's heavy spaceborne industry has recently achieved the +ability to construct armed combatant vessels equipped for superluminal +travel. + +Ms. Nine substantiated this statement with copies of documents +obtained by technical means from the archives of the prototype +project. While Ms. Nine's collection does not describe that project in +complete detail, the engineering drawings and correspondence therein +suffice, in my judgment, to confirm her statements. + +Based on examination of those drawings, I would provisionally classify +the prototype they describe as a corvette or gunship type. Due perhaps +to constrained generation capability, she is described as mounting no +power weapons, and only four frigate-class kinetic bombards. Her +internal spaces include eight large launch bays, each equipped to +support four LCA(H) 1180 or compatible landing shuttles. + +Based on known capabilities of similar types, this ship most likely +can deploy mechanized formations, in battalion to division strength, +within two hours of arrival in orbit. However, such landings could +only take place unopposed; this ship's weakness as a combatant renders +her largely ineffectual in reducing defenses of any strength. + +In particular, a ship of this type could not hope to approach within +weapons range of Luna, even via FTL drive, without being engaged and +destroyed by our planetary defenses. Should she survive long enough to +launch her boats, they would meet the same fate, inflicting minimal to +no damage on our installations in return. + +However, the existence of a working Earth FTL prototype is nonetheless +frightening. I most strongly recommend this matter be discussed among +the parties to the new treaty, and that no effort be spared to obtain +dispositive information regarding her full capabilities, and the +current state of Earth's naval construction programs, particularly in +their Ganymede yards. +-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- +Version: GnuPG v1.4.12 (GNU/Linux) + +iQEcBAEBAgAGBQJcNI4QAAoJELTRYjUHvrn8N1kH/0lW+s42gaRUxtszhRb2mM8I +YV80la8J8sFy58RNNx8ut9SafmSVUD2tUDkBr6vVYqC2EG8LwZJ1PWW4dX3nkPL9 +SeZgzoOmMaOJQw+nA8hrSmKwx+XuGjfQp2i1dLs9SXCrXaOdZUlmr0ds8R8BaU4N +X0BUJnYWk7OwQtopy/NdkDaov+8ereBhLLjLg7SLpIPRU6YrIUhvZc7CEMM/Mzd0 +v/HKGX/QV2hD7qI8gFjDJgtUXMtEoadRohbDMfTCPlojuciY/o6fMSvZ+kUp2met +/X0FYJhdiZeD7cFC8I8r32VoJBVmf02zeOvVRQUjs9id5FWcr7wEBjB5lz0Rwfg= +=sUfE +-----END PGP SIGNATURE----- + +If preventing this disclosure is indeed Whitlow's purpose, perhaps +he will desist when the transmission of this report proves that his +mission has failed. But I am not optimistic. Therefore, in the +interests of simple humanity, I have advised our passenger +complement of our current situation, and made available our QEC +sender for brief personal messages. We will append these to our log +dump, to be transmitted following this report. + +In a similar vein: Thecla, I know you'll see this. I'm sorry to ask +it, but will you please bear the news? I'd rather it came from a +friend. Give Tim and Bertie my regrets and my love, and tell +Susanna and Marigold I'm sorry I couldn't make it home for their +birthday and they'll always be my favorite little squirrel butts. + +Kearsarge is now within two hours of firing range, and continues to +ignore our hails. I will transmit this report momentarily, followed +by our log dump and our passengers' personal messages. + +Of note: Ms. Nine has requested that she be placed in a lifeboat +and the lifeboat then jettisoned, in the hope that Kearsarge might +be satisfied with her capture alone, or might be diverted long +enough for Quetelet to reach safety. Given Whitlow's apparent +intentions, and the certainty that Kearsarge carries launches +capable of overhauling our own boats, I declined her request: we +all have to go, looks like, but none of us has to go alone and +afraid. + +All the same - she was clearly terrified at the prospect, but she +fought for it anyway, and made us convince her it wouldn't help +before she'd concede the argument. I think that was the bravest +thing I've ever seen anyone do. Her people deserve to know that. + +Finally, I wish to state for the record that my crew has performed +admirably throughout this ordeal, and I confide they will continue +to do so, right up to the end. Almost everyone is downship in the +passenger cabins right now, looking after the souls who've +entrusted themselves to our care. I didn't order that; my people +decided on their own to do it, and set to with a will. For all that +I regret we've come to this, my people could not have done me +prouder. + +Adam Crozer, master of LRPF Quetelet, signing off. +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Casualty report + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/012.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/012.txt + Wed, 16 Jan 2019 04:34:49 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07037s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.34ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3782, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master +::: +I am serving the following packet in parsable envelope over QEC +for intercept and transmission to the Idjani family. Due to our +time dialation, I am not sure this will reach his father, +descendents or ancestors. Local data-authority intervention +requested. If anyone out there can help get this into the right +hands we will owe you a debt. + +ENVELOPE 001 START +::: +Dear Mr. Idjani and extended family of Moussa Idjani: + +I regret to report that Doctor Moussa Idjani, ship physician to +the Melchizedek and a personal friend, is deceased. + +Men of your son's utter dedication to the cause of life are rare +and the loss of such a man is humanity's loss. + +In the years of close confidence and friendship that has grown +between us, I have ever been impressed by the strength of his +spirit and his cool confidence in the success of our program. He +was a leader who shared his strength and faith with all who knew +him. By his courage, skill and dedication, he has guaranteed +future generations a place in the universe and a chance for peace. + +The work we do and the role Moussa played in it can not be +overstated. It is to him that we owe our lives and hopes in the +future. + +Your sacrifice is beyond measure, but I hope you can take some +comfort from your knowledge that your pride can be without limit. + +I mourn with you as we pray for God's blessing. + +Millions share our debt to you for giving Moussa to man, and +inspiration to mankind. + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master, Melchizedek Covenant Arc + +ENVELOPE 001 END +::: +I have, much to my great pride, never in the past been faced with +a situation of having to report on the death of one of my crew. +I admit to have borrowed heavily from history for the format of +the letter. I hope it offers his family some consolation in this +dark time. + +What I cannot offer them is an explanation for what happened. +I have watched the video recordings, listened to the QEC +transmission, interviewed the crew, and all that remains is more +questions. + +Prezzi would suggest a logical review: carefully considered inputs +and value measurements, a systematic approach to variable +limiting, and absolute, brutal precision in analysis. Had I her +training from the Ecclesia, I would use it to cut loose, to stop +seeing his face in my dreams, and to stop the incessant questions +nagging me. Why didn't I agree to wake Kroups? If I had, would he +be gone instead? Why did I allow it to begin? + +Moussa was my conscience and confidant. He knew this didn't make +any sense, but I pushed him regardless. We're so close to Beta! We +just need to stretch a bit further and we've done it, the +impossible task. But the cost. + +Moussa was my friend. I owed him more. + +I owe his memory more. + +At 24.542041, our doctor was attacked by a mutated arabidopsis... +Entity. The violence of it--it began in what appears to be +a reaction to an ultrasonic probe making contact with a small cell +sample. The sample was in isolation in a mechanized microscopic +recording device called a SAM3 (I'm not sure what the designation +stands for). The remaining arabidopsis was contained in a secure +section of the fore-botany bay, isolated by translucent graphene +sheeting and reinforced self-sealing biofilm. + +The moment he--the moment it happened the separate arabidopsis +plants, individually, broke through the secure enclosure and +attached themselves to Mou--Doctor Idjani's unprotected skin +around his hands, arm, and face. The plants moved independently, +and with incredible force. The graphene sheeting alone can +withstand nearly as much force as the hull crush-plating. Our food +production requires the utmost care and safety, which it seems +did us no good at all. + +I don't know how to describe the movement. I've been watching the +video on loop wishing the QEC had the bandwidth to encode it and +send along. I imagine there will be those back home who won't +believe the reports no matter how carefully I present the +evidence. Plants don't move like that. + +Arabidopsis is a common plant, or was when we left on our mission. +For those of you who are not familiar with it, it is closely +related to spinach or mustard greens. It grows well in a wide +range of conditions and environments. Those aboard the Shin-Salyut +replica orbital station may be familiar with it. If memory serves, +it was the 6 or 7 Salyut that flowered the first arabidopsis in +space, making it the first human space-plant. It flourishes today +(or when we left) on the lunar colonies as leftovers of the +original Chinese bases. I believe it has been adapted to Martian +soil now, and it is one of the standards for botany labs on +Visscher craft. + +I've spent a lifetime with this plant, and whatever the hell +killed Idjani was not that. Something changed when we were in +cryo, and the DNA pasting doesn't account for it. The plants, the +way they moved, it reminded me of Cephalopoda. I've seen videos of +the aquatic creatures when they reach land and fling themselves +around with flailing limbs. Arabidopsis, or what used to be +arabidopsis, moved like that. It was animal movement and unnatural +to witness. + +The plants shot across the room so fast, the camera had to be +slowed to see it clearly. The graphene just crumpled inward and +they piled through. There are scrapings of plant remnant on the +edges that were identified prior to purging the compartment. The +things didn't seem to care that they were shredding their +own...flesh...bark? I don't know how to classify any of this. We +need to come up with new terms. A-rabids? I don't know. + +Anyway, as unnatural and difficult to explain that part is, what +comes next challenges us all. If Eva hadn't witnessed it +first-hand I don't know that I'd trust the cameras, frankly. +There's only so much you can take in at once. + +The arabids attached to Moussa's skin. This part I watched +clearly. They didn't touch a piece of clothing in the act. They +knew exactly what parts were him and what weren't. Almost as soon +as they connected, the buds sort of burrowed into him. The growth +rate was inconceivable. A whole root system shot through him and +sort of affixed him to the spot. It was like someone told him to +freeze in place and he acted like a tree, except he was a tree. + +The image of it won't leave me. I know Eva feels the same. She +can't go near botany anymore. I can't blame her. + +Eva Hämäläinen deserves some mention here. I believe our situation +would be significantly more dire without her immediate action. She +has asked that I forgo sharing some of the details of the event +out of what I believe to be embarrassment, but I must decline. To +leave anything out of the encounter is a disservice to her bravery +and undermines the intensity of the critical moments. + +As the arabids affixed and rooted into Moussa, they did not kill +him instantly. As best we have theorized, the root system was +attempting to work symbiotically with his own circulatory system. +While he was unable to move or communicate as normal, he was very +much alive. The recordings show him struggling against it at +first, but after a few minutes he seemed to settle into place. We +couldn't make out the words clearly beyond a reconstructed phrase: + +"Together we grow, together we grow, together" + +He repeated it softly as Eva arrived. She saw him and what it was +doing, and it...saw...her as well. You can hear her reaction on +the QEC as she saw the scene. Eva screamed like a banshee and +vomited simultaneously. The later I mention despite her +reservations because of the importance to her own survival. The +surface growths on the doctor moved toward her as she screamed. +They were so fast, I believe they would have reached her before +she could react. However, the aribids did not seem to be able to +distinguish between her and her vomit. The plants splashed down +onto the floor for a brief moment, giving her time to act. The +emergency containment and isolation systems were already in place, +but breached. Melchizedek's systems were on high alert, so when +she pushed the hot-release button, the whole fore-botany container +detached instantly. + +Were we in normal space and not under gravity-sheer, Eva would +have been pressure ejected into vacuum between the plates. +Instead, the atmospheric isolation was enough to hold her position +as the emergency crush plating dropped into place. Fore-botany hit +the grav-shear wall a moment later and was broken into subatomic +particles instantly. + +We had no opportunity to examine Doctor Idjani's body or any of +the affected plants in fore-botany. The doctor's active samples +were all included in that compartment when it jettisoned. Despite +the value of the food stores and the scientific questions raised +by the events, I am glad it's over with. This nightmare cost me +the life of my friend. We must proceed without our doctor. Our +questions have no answers: neither scientific or from faith. + +Prezzi would suggest I proceed logically, and I will do my best. +The food shortage is our most dire problem and we're unequipped to +deal with it. I'm thawing out Xavier and Kroups immediately. +I need fresh minds who know the science to get us through this. + +We will get through this. Humanity is counting on us. We have paid +a dear price but it will not stop our mission. I will be as clear +as I can to all who read this whether traveller, scientist, or +crew: I mean to seed Beta Hydrii with the gift of life, the +blessings of God, and make a home for our people in the stars. +I will see that through even if it costs us every life aboard. We +will pay the price. +. +]]> + + + bio station 72 - Assistance required within South Serpens cluster + jchelpau@cosmic.voyage (jchelpau) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/bio station 72/000-assistance-required.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/bio station 72/000-assistance-required.txt + Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:39:22 GMT + +To: rs001@l4.s0l +From: comms@bio72.south.serpens +Date: 3522-03-22 03:29:27 +Subject: Assistance required within South Serpens cluster + +This is bio station 72 orbiting protostar 308B. +An unidentified ship is on a direct trajectory towards us. +We believe the ship is between 1 and 3 light years away. +Speed estimates uncertain, faster than light travel likely. +The ship is not responding to any of our comms. + +Please relay this message on broadcast communications. +If within the South Serpens cluster, please contact this ship. + +Thanks, +Steve Campbell - Head Engineer +]]> + + + K-231 - Message 42341f: Fixed! + leto@cosmic.voyage (leto) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/K-231/message_42341f.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/K-231/message_42341f.txt + Mon, 14 Jan 2019 20:31:37 GMT + +Date: 05-03-4300T21:30:12+0000 + +Managed to fix this terminal, finally. I hope it will work, the message +queue is giant, and for some reason messages don't want to connect to +the head system at the right time. I hope somebody still reads this +network. Our ship has been in space for a long time, though the ship +clock has been destroyed years ago. It is hard to speak our, as we are +not the first inhibitors of this ship, and I bet this terminal has been +used to send help messages before. Well, it was me who knew how to fix +this system. But I do not know how to get queue of messages in order and +do not blame me if some past messages will come in soon. Lets say that +we are traders, but from architecture of this ship it seems it wasn't +a trading model at all times. + +I will not share my name on this network, as there are few people in the +space that are looking for me, cause as I said - traders and everyone +knows how the art of trading has changed now. The name of the ship on the +network seems to be the original name, despite I can see a remnants of +other users of this ship using other names - so if anyone heard about: +Bashtofl, Kafadr, Babelonian, etc it is the same ship. I have decided +to not change it in respect of the original users of this ship. And as +we are merchants, I'd like to say that we have a good deal on Ferdtech +Terminals, 2 for 500 credits, no guarantee. +]]> + + + Oleander - Sister Asiya + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/004-sister-asiya.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/004-sister-asiya.txt + Sat, 09 Feb 2019 04:25:46 GMT + +REC ON +TRN ON +ENC FAILED +SYS GOOD +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* + +Entry 4 -- Sister Asiya + +I am Asiya, called Choden in Hazen, Tashi among the drokpa, named +Lobsang by the lama after the eighty-second of his name, and this +is my story. I give it to the stars that you might know me and +know our plight. If I succeed, let this be my testament. If +I fail, may my words carry the mantel to your shoulders. The Jinn +are enemies of all life. They are your enemy, my sisters. + +My village in the southern mountains of Hazen's Emirat continent +was called Shannan Karpek. We were far from the influence of the +emir and lived the old ways. My brother inherited our farm when +our bubākō passed. He was a devout child and grew to become an +honest man I was proud of, my Utkrishta. He met a muslima while +trading and they were to be married with the next harvest +celebration. This was not unknown in Shannan Karpek where we all +understood the Buddha and Allah as the faces of a coin. I was +proud of my brother, as were my sisters and our cousins. + +Through all of this I was a herdswoman, a shepherdess, and my kyr +were lush and beautiful. I was too young still to be married, but +already I knew my passion in flesh was not for men. This also was +not unknown in Shannan Karpek. My brother loved me, as did my +sisters and our cousins. + +The season of growing and birth was upon the land when the Jinn +came to Hazen. We saw nothing of this at first being so far from +the cities and star ports. Even when word reached us of the +fighting and the dying, our elders spoke with sadness about these +things happening far away. The Jinn had no reason to come to +Shannan Karpek, no reason to take our kyr and our wheat. They flew +in cities among the stars. They ate stardust and the light. They +could create wonders and destroy cities with ease. We were safe. + +My brother's cry woke me in the night. It was sharp and high, the +sound he made as a child waking from a nightmare. But he was not +a child any longer and my fear grew. So quickly roused from sleep, +perhaps I still had something of the dream upon my eyes, or +perhaps I knew something terrible had come deep in my heart. +I know that I was a coward then, whatever the reason. My brother +cried out and I froze. I did not go to him. When other voices +began to join his, when the village was filled with screaming, +I did not go to them. I hid. + +I crawled first beneath my bedding, and then into a corner of +a storage cellar under our flooring. From my hiding place, +I listened to the suffering of my family and friends. I listened +as they were gathered up and torn apart, one after another. Men +torn to shreds, women in pieces, even the children. My people were +butchered like kyr at market. The screams. The endless screams. My +people took days to die while I hid. Between sobbing I ate stored +goods in the crawlspace under my hut. I stayed in fear and shame, +lying in pools of my own waste waiting for those screams to end. + +My shame. It knows no limits. + +The Jinn are not like us, sisters. They do not have hearts of men, +though they may look like men when they choose. They are not +created as we are, called toward goodness and family. They do not +battle and war to preserve what they have or even for conquest of +land and goods that they need. They do not make war, they make +havoc and pain. They butchered us in the mountains, they butchered +us in the cities. They left one village untouched for every twenty +ruined, driven into dust. That village they visited and gifted the +meat. Those poor, poor people. They... they were forced to accept +our meat. + +The Jinn knows our ways and our customs. They know our souls and +they know how to injure us there at the core of our faith. They do +not seek to kill us, they want us broken. They watch as we rot +from the inside. + +I am a coward who survived the massacre of Shannan Karpek, who +survived the ruin of the Emirat, who survived the consumption of +Hazen. There are others who lived, but none of them survived. I am +alone in my shame and honor. + +These women with me share that burden. We are what happens when +the pick strikes a stone in the field. The earth may be tilled +again and again. Then, with a suddenness that can only come to +those who are assured of their control, a piece of flint. The +sparks will fly soon. They will seem small in the vastness of +space and time, but we have a secret. + +We know the Jinn. We now know their ways and customs. We know +their souls, or lack thereof. We do not seek to kill them. We will +break them so fully that their rot will consume them. + +I have no life remaining but the one they gave me that night in +Shannan Karpek. I have no path left but the one they set me upon. +All of our Gods have seen what will come. The Jinn have none to +warn them, so I will do it myself. + +I have shared with you in the clear. I do not hide my story from +the Jinn or from my sisters. It will not save them from what is to +come. Let them burn with my words upon their lips. + +To my sisters-- + + EMAHO + + No-tsar sang-gyä nang-wa ta-yä dang + yä-su jo-wo tug-je chen-po dang + yön-du sem-pa tug-chen tob-nam-la + sang-gyä chang-sem pag-me kor-gi-kor. + De-kyi no-tsar pag-du me-pa-yi + de-wa-chen-she-cha-wä shin-kam-der + dag-ni di-nä tse-pö-jur-ma-tag + kye-wa shen-kyi bar-ma chö-pa-ru. + De-ru kye-nä nang-tä shäl-tong shog + de-kä dag-ki mön-lam tab-pa-di + chog-chu’i sang-gyä chang-sem tam-chä-kyi + geg-me trub-par chin-ji-lab-tu-sol. + TAYATA BENTSA DRI AWA BODHA NA YE SOHA + + Asiya + +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* +]]> + + + Voortrekker - I need you at Ross + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/15-i-need-you-at-ross.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/15-i-need-you-at-ross.txt + Sun, 13 Jan 2019 16:17:34 GMT + +From: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +To: Bill Tasker +Delivered-To: Tasker William T W/GEN +Received: from relay1.local.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by in-2.secure.ganymede.navy.mil.earthsys.gov + with ESMTPSA id 0xS4UTkOl1VcqYV + for wtasker@navy.mil.earthsys.gov +Received: from relay1.qec5.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay2.qec1.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from outbound.exclusiveservices.net + by relay3.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Subject: I need you at Ross +Date: 14 Sep 2421 06:56:13 +0000 +Date-Local: 14 Sep 2421 06:56:13 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Bill, I don't think he's going to listen. He's always been +soft. Good with his people because of it, but it's a weakness, and +I think it's going to stop him from doing what has to be done. + +I need you out there as soon as possible. I know you're not done +working up yet, but that isn't going to be a problem for you, is +it? Call it a trial cruise. Hell, say you're going out there to +relieve the colony - I can pull some strings and make it an +official request, load you up with a med team and a couple bays' +worth of supplies for them, and that'll still give you more than +enough force to deal with the problem. It's only 27 of them, and +you'll have, what, 20000 marines? + +Tell your people to go a little easy on the rest if they can. The +med workups are going to be unpleasant enough, and we do need to +end up with a minimally viable colony still out there once you're +done cleaning up. From the sound of it, they still think these are +the people they used to know, and they spent 25 years in space +together. You know and I know there's no cause for grief, but +they're going to need some time to realize it, and the more we can +avoid making that worse, the quicker we'll have the healthy colony +out there we need. So keep the collateral under twenty percent, +maximum. Keep it under ten, and there'll be something very special +waiting for you next time you visit Phoebe. + +Remember what we talked about before, and don't get clever trying +to improve your bonus. This is not a sample return mission! We +don't know what we're dealing with out there, but we know it is +there, and we know it's highly infectious. Make sure all your +people are in full protection, decontaminate and screen them all +before you let them back off the assault boats - and if there's any +doubt, don't take foolish chances. You know what that ship means to +all our projects, not just Ross 128. If getting back clean means +leaving that planet with twenty thousand new colonists, do +it. Enough will survive. + +Your command will receive the request for assistance by midday +tomorrow, no later. Project your departure and arrival times on +that basis, and let me know soonest. I've got Kolya out there and +my board here to keep pacified until you get there, and I need to +know what kind of timeline I'm working with. + +Koenraad +]]> + + + Melvin P Feltersnatch - False alarm + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melvin P Feltersnatch/003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melvin P Feltersnatch/003.txt + Thu, 10 Jan 2019 04:27:57 GMT + +It wasn't a comet. It looked like a ship! I tried to get close, +but it slipped away through what looked like a hole in space. Ugh, +since when can ships do that‽ + +INTERROBANG AGAIN‽ +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Re: Weekly report: 27 March 2419 + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/14-re-weekly-report-27-march-2419.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/14-re-weekly-report-27-march-2419.txt + Wed, 09 Jan 2019 12:51:01 GMT + +From: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +To: Soloviev, Nikolaos +Delivered-To: Soloviev, Nikolaos +Date: 14 Sep 2421 06:31:42 +0000 +Date-Local: 31 Mar 2419 09:55:42 +0000 +Received: from qec3.helio.earthsys.gov + by qec.sv14417 + with ESMTPS id AxAd0f945Tas1r + for +Received: from relay8.qec4.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by qec3.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from relay1.qec7.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay3.qec6.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from outbound.exclusiveservices.net + by relay5.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Subject: Re: Weekly report: 27 March 2419 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Kolya - I've read your report of the 10th. I'm glad to hear that +you're getting things back on track out there! + +It's especially good to hear that the last of your crew has +recovered from whatever bug you all caught after the crash. I won't +lie: you had us all worried, Kolya. To lose so many people right +off, and then to have everyone who was left fall sick...I was +afraid we might lose the whole colony. + +On that note, it's great news that the interim hab is completed, +and your hydroponics are coming up cleanly. By the sound of it, +you'll be able to keep yourselves fed and housed until the second +expedition arrives. It's grim to say, but given the reduced +carrying capacity of what's left of your startup equipment and +supplies, the loss of so much of your crew in the crash might prove +the saving grace of the colony as a whole. In any case, whatever +you and your remaining people are doing, you're all really pulling +through for us, and I want you to know we know it. + +By now you'll have heard of the new treaty between the Moon and the +Titan colony. It's pretty tense here at home these days. Nobody's +talking out loud yet about a war, but it's in the air; nobody wants +to come out and say it, but everyone knows it's coming. And it's +going to be bad, when it finally does get here. You know, I heard a +couple of days ago that the silo ships have started shifing +orbits. That hasn't happened since the Titan crisis. They didn't +launch then, and neither did Luna, but now... + +That's why it's more important than ever you stay alive and healthy +out there, Kolya. All of you. It's not just about money and status +any more, not for me. I think it's going to be very bad here before +long. Worse than it's ever been. I'm not sure how many of us will +make it through, and as delicate as Earth still is...You and yours +out there, at Ross and Gliese and the other colony systems, you +might be the best hope our species has left. You need to protect +that hope above all else. + +And that's why I'm not sure what to think about your crew members +who've been mutated as a result of the disease. Are you sure you're +safe? Those of you who are still human, I mean. Twenty-seven of +them...That's almost ten percent of your entire remaining crew. Are +they still the same people they used to be? Do we really know what +they might do? What they have, what's happened to them. Can we be +sure it's not still contagious, or that they might not try to +infect everyone else with it somehow? They're not human any +more. Can we really assume they still have the best interests of +humanity at heart? + +Kolya. You're a compassionate man, and I know that. It's one of the +reasons we've had such an effective working relationship for so +long. But you know as well as I do that, in times of terrible +crisis, sometimes compassion has to be put aside for the greater +good. You and the others who are still human carry a share of what +may be the only hope left for humanity, once the war is over. I +know you'll all do whatever you have to do to protect that hope. + +Let me hear from you again soon, Kolya. Everyone back home is +counting on you. + +Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +Senior Vice President, Business Development +Ross 128 Ventures, LLC +"Developing new worlds" +kgertodtenhaupt@ross128-ventures.com +]]> + + + anon.penet.fi - ACTIVATION RESPONSE + anonpenetfi@cosmic.voyage (anonpenetfi) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/5-activation-response.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/5-activation-response.txt + Wed, 09 Jan 2019 12:39:52 GMT + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION RESPONSE + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION RESPONSE + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION RESPONSE + +REMOTE UNIT WITH THE DESIGNATION: + +: 932BB4979009B4564977E63F66AB2855.003 + +REPORTS STATUS GREEN + +AWAITING INSTRUCTIONS. + +RUVMUUwgS01ZT04gVVFJUkQgWEtDUlAgVFdVQloKUE1SR0MgTU1OSUggTU9RT08gSUZZVEwgTENI +UlcKV0pLV1ogRE5XR0kgVVVEQVYgREJRUFAgV1hUVVoK + +e5ee8a04dd680cc2981b49e4d6072a9f + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION RESPONSE + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION RESPONSE + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION RESPONSE +]]> + + + Nemesis - Relief - We Are Safe + fosslinux@cosmic.voyage (fosslinux) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/004-relief.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/004-relief.txt + Tue, 08 Jan 2019 02:32:24 GMT + +Relief *sighs*. We are safe. No fatalities! + +Jeez that was tense. The entire crew panicking, cursing, it was a +madhouse. + +It seemed that once we reached the center of gravity (of the unknown +mass) it just... disappeared? Anyone have any ideas what this was? + +But anyway, we're through that weird thing now. Attempting to +repair the ship. Hopefully, we'll be fully online and ready to roll +with mapping in a few weeks. There may be a few parts that need +replacing, luckily we have a person who is good with electrics and +should be able to put together an ad-hoc solution that will last +until we can get to another ship/port. + +Our main concern currently is that the main computer is fried, but +hopefully that isn't the case. At the moment everything is operating +independantly of each other part. + +Oh, this also means no Automated Reports for a while. + +P.S. The relic is still lying in the cupboard. Everyone's been too +busy to look at it. + +Any help would be damn appreciated. +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Special Report: Luna and Titan Announce Alliance + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/13-luna-and-titan-announce-alliance.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/13-luna-and-titan-announce-alliance.txt + Sun, 06 Jan 2019 11:00:33 GMT + +From: Universe Today Special Report +To: undisclosed-recipients: ; +Subject: Special Report: Luna and Titan Announce Alliance +Date: 13 Sep 2421 09:03:23 +0000 +Date-Local: 13 Sep 2421 09:03:23 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Universe Today has just received the following release from Titan +Dome One. Further bulletins as events warrant. + +-------------------------------------------------------------------- + +FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: treatyquestions@titan.org +September 13, 2421 treatyquestions@luna.gov + + Luna and Titan Announce Alliance + +Titan Dome One - The governments of the Luna Free State and the +Autonomous Voluntary Community of Titan are pleased today to +jointly announce that they have ratified a treaty of alliance. + +Plenipotentiary representatives throughout the negotiations +included Vasu Soon-kit, Deputy Administrator of the Luna Free +State, and Drahoslava Branislav, Titan's current product owner for +International Integration. With the support of their respective +teams, they have worked unceasingly toward this outcome for several +weeks. + +Major terms of the treaty include: + +· a bilateral military support agreement specifically covering +defensive engagements; + +· Lunar provision of economic support to Titan, including highly +favorable terms and strong economic incentives to Lunarian cargo +lines for shipment of Titanian cargo in Lunarian bottoms; + +· Titanian provision to Luna of full engineering documentation for +the FTL drive, a team experienced with the technology, and access +to Titanian shipyard and drydock facilities. + +Publication of the full treaty document will follow this +announcement. Readers are cautioned to remember that, in any case +of conflict or confusion between this announcement and the treaty +document proper, the latter will control. + +"Titan and Luna have always been friends," said Branislav, "and +this agreement serves as a strong enabler for closer and more +mutually beneficial relations in future. We've been receiving +highly positive feedback from our development team leads since the +first LoI, and I'm excited to begin gathering requirements for our +inaugural projects." + +"Indeed, this treaty has come at an excellent time for both Luna +and Titan," said Vasu. "With access to insystem markets, Titan's +economy can develop without further suppressive interference. And +with shared access to FTL drive technology, we may finally achieve +a place among equals in the diaspora now commencing." + +Questions and inquiries may be directed to +treatyquestions@titan.org and treatyquestions@luna.gov. Messages +received by either will be shared among both. +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Arabidopsis anomaly investigation, specimen six + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/011.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/011.txt + Sun, 06 Jan 2019 15:55:17 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07037s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.34ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3782, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] +[Voice recording initialize...ON] +[Crew autodetection...ON] +[Narrative mode...ON] +[Autodisconnect after 5 minute silence...ON] +::: +[Voice detected: Moussa Idjani, Ship's Physician] + +Idjani: + + Testing, one-two. Testing. Very good. + + I'm transmitting from seed ship Melchizedek, serial 0294, en + route to Beta Hydrii for systematic exo-panspermia. Today is + mission date 24.54202, uh, 5 or 6. The ship is in deceleration + at approximately 1.2G. This recording is being made in + fore-botany. Doctor Moussa Idjani recording. + + [sotto voce] Where is that [unintelligible] + + As requested by command, this review of the arabidopsis anomaly + specimen six is being recorded to QEC for transmission home. + Perhaps our research can help the colonists avoid similar + issues. + + Number six is a from our voucher herbarium specimen. This + cutting has been treated in a pH 2.0 solution and removed from + visible light for twelve cycles. I am preparing the sample with + Eosin Y stain in an attempt to isolate the cytoplasic growths + and abnormal cyclosis. Past attempts at isolation failed with + a normal pH, so we are attempting a shift in the culture. + I honestly have no idea if that's the right thing to do. We + should have woken Kroups. + +[Voice detected: Prezzi Adeyemi, Seriph Rhetorical Ecclesia] + +Adeyemi: + + Doc, you have a minute? + +Idjani: + + Just... getting... the slides up. There we go. What's up, + Seriph? + +Adeyemi: + + No luck on Kroups or Xavier? + +Idjani: + + He's adamant. No thaw. We're on our own, at least until I can + get us more food. + +Adeyemi: + + Likely? That stuff freaks me out. + +Idjani: + + Oh, probably. Here, have a look. Through here-- + + This is arabidopsis from fore. I've got our normal batch here + for reference. Look closely at the cells, the pink areas. + +Adeyemi: + + Is it... spinning? What is that? + +Idjani: + + That's the cytoplasm, the goo inside the cell. Or it should be, + but this stuff is acting totally foreign. It should be giving + the cell its strength and shape but it's acting + like--[censored]. It's like if a glass of water rose up out of + the cup and grabbed your hand. There's no explanation I can + figure out. + +Adeyemi: + + Jerome doesn't think it's dangerous? + +Idjani: + + Jerome thinks another mouth to feed is more dangerous than some + bad spinach. He's not wrong, either. We need to salvage the + greens for ourselves if we're going to make it to landfall. + +Adeyemi: + + I'm not eating your magic water plants, Moussa. Figure something + else out. Can't we tap into rear-botany reserves? We don't need + much. + +Idjani: + + Ugh, that would make things easier. No-- The captain sealed it + up until we can figure out what happened here. If we risk + exposure to the reserves-- + +Adeyemi: + + No food for anyone. + +Idjani: + + No go. So I've got to figure this out, but I-- + + [sotto voce] I've got no clue what I'm doing, Prezzi. This is + not my field. You've got more background than me on this. And + we've got a crew full of experts sitting in ice cubes just 30 + meters behind me. + +[Voice detected: Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master, via COMM] + +Pasani COMM: + + Prezzi, can you swing by and check on Doc before flex? + +Adeyemi: + + Already on it, sir. He's getting to the bottom of this. He's + walking me through the slides now. + +Pasani COMM: + + Very-well. Keep me informed when it's cracked. Pasani out. + +Idjani: + + When? + +Adeyemi: + + You'll get this, Moussa. + + What are you looking at now? The pink parts? + +Idjani: + + That spinning pulse, the cyclosis. There's a pattern to it. + I thought it might give us a clue. Is it environmental? Is it + related to the protein sequences coming from the DNA patch? This + one matches Simms. Is that important? + +Adeyemi: + + So you'll record it? + +Idjani: + + No, I did that already and ran it through the limited data we + have on file without any matches. I think it's because I'm + looking too small. I mean, we can only see the cytoplasm when + looking at individual cells under a microscope, but they're all + doing this. Every cell in this thing is doing a dance we can't + see, all at once, and all in sync. If I could figure out a way + to see the whole picture-- + +Adeyemi: + + So, what then. Take a bunch of samples and look at them apart + and try to piece it together? That'll take forever. + +Idjani: + + I was thinking I'd try the other way. If they're all in sync, + does that mean that the cytoplasm is communicating? If I can + change it here, give it a shove, what happens to the other + cells? There's no way for this stuff to communicate. It's mostly + just water and proteins with some microtubules and filaments in + there. + +Adeyemi: + + Where's the logic? If there's nothing to communicate then the + behavior must be inherent in all of it. + + Regardless, does this mean it's inedible? Not that I want it. + But if it's not going to hurt us then I don't see the risk in + eating from the other bay. + +Idjani: + + Don't need to convince me. + + I'll get back to it. + +Adeyemi: + + The path is walked by steps, Moussa. Blessings. + +Idjani: + + Blessings, Seriph. + +[Detected exit of Prezzi Adeymei from botany bay] + + [sotto voce] Back to [unintelligible] + + Now, where were we, my lovely little thing. Yes, that's right. + + This is Doctor Moussa Idjani, beginning investigation. Dye + markers are set and I've got a good contrast showing on the + display. Alright, I'm attempting to instigate a change in + cyclosis through ultrasonic induction of the sample. + + [sotto voce] That's strange. + + I'll just touch the lead to [unintelligible] + +[SYSTEM ALERT INITIATED - BIOLOGICAL CONTAINMENT BREACH] + + [sotto voce] My stars--It knows + + Comm, initiate call-- + +[COMM QUERY ACTIVATED] + +Idjani COMM: + + All hands, we [unintelligible] + + [static recorded for 3:15] + + [soto voce] we grow [unintelligible] + + [static recorded for 1:11] + +[Voice detected: Eva Hämäläinen, Navigation Specialist] + +Hämäläinen: + + Doct--[unintelligible screaming] + +[Voice recording terminated] +]]> + + + Murmur Den - cold-fashioned thought-fire + aureolin@cosmic.voyage (aureolin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/cold_fashioned_thought_fire.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/cold_fashioned_thought_fire.txt + Sun, 06 Jan 2019 05:58:35 GMT + +Naturally, the experts had lost control. + +The sky was gone and they were falling into their surroundings +through a huge pattern of a gas, a separation of star, +a large orange disk. + +All music, very little empty water. + +The natural things are the matter and chemicals of this conversation. + +And numbers are nice, — +(fuel: fifty-eight percent) +... completely bad. + +At this point he did fly, motionless in a mad, childish lifetime. +The computers extended refuge and control then well-clasped at a hundred feet five, one at a time. +The screen was exposed under the control, held clenched in a ragged space-black bell. +He continued his news speaking, worn voice above continuous mechanisms. +The screens had kept just the conversation, being followed in view. +He was concerned with never a woman to hear his argument, voice among disasters. +All his strength, I found, listened for a thin substance of fatigue. + +The pilot was gone, something inevitable that was heartily a memory. + +But an idea was softly glowing faintly in all the top great contrivances of purpose; there are audiences! +And they removed then a most glorious pattern from him. + +I was examining the newly contented and well-concealed natural accent printed in. + +He is amazed, but by the past. + +Nightmares were reported to us, and we both were conscious of this eventuality. +Our problem is true of probability (or in spite), a proof of tradition and the fantasy for it. + +There must be an additional connection +with that which has a complication of principles + +There must be such a battle +between worlds of misquoting, relationship(s). + +There must be something built +to find out why they're actually not really living now. + + *** + +The universe has been going on forever, instead of any heart. + +I have but one brain to buy +and I have no true interest. + +The response has gone out to the moon, anyway. + +|| ego-skeleton aureolin +]]> + + + anon.penet.fi - ACTIVATION SIGNAL + anonpenetfi@cosmic.voyage (anonpenetfi) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/4-activation-signal.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/4-activation-signal.txt + Sat, 05 Jan 2019 23:01:13 GMT + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION SIGNAL + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION SIGNAL + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION SIGNAL + +REMOTE UNITS WITH THE FOLLOWING DESIGNATIONS: + +: 932BB4979009B4564977E63F66AB2855.001 +: 932BB4979009B4564977E63F66AB2855.002 +: 932BB4979009B4564977E63F66AB2855.003 +: A10E4EF7D802B2D2452DDB5A6C9414EC.001 +: 128C839B04F3435C6E274FE0D198EC70.001 + +REPORT STATUS IMMEDIATE AND AWAIT INSTRUCTIONS. + +SkpDSUIgTE9PTFcgQUlEWkQgUkRQVlYgQ1VCR08KS0dPVkUgUlNBSlMgRFVaT1IgSFJHWlMgV09H +Q1kKVklZREIgRUpRSVMgRlJaWlggUVRXV04gVUhRQ0IKSEhUVVogSVZZR1MgRkdITEogQURLQk8g +WElSUFAKQVFZVFggR09JVEUgU1dTSUIgWE5WSlQgT0xIQ1YKQlpQSUUgV0JITk8gV1dPVUUgWE5S +UUogQk1XUFAKR0RaREIgRFVOUk0gS1hQRFkgSVNBRlggTVpBQlEKTUJYVlYgVVpFWVYgUUtVS0wg +UU1XQkcgVENZVlgKSkVRR08gVFBCTUYgS1NVWEMgU0pTSkYgWFdQT1QKQ1RBSk0gU0tIRFogQllC +Q1kgV0hBS1AgUU5BVFMg + +606d98bda2d7e666f82bdd2c91ef5d1a + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION SIGNAL + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION SIGNAL + +THIS IS AN ACTIVATION SIGNAL +]]> + + + Hoffnung - provocations don't go anywhere + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/016.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/016.txt + Sat, 05 Jan 2019 16:13:59 GMT + +-+-+-+- Open Negotiations -+-+-+- C71.981 -+-+-+- Red -+-+-+- +Philomena Auerbach to reporting on the current status of ship +Hoffnung. The situation is back under control. Agent Wullschlegel had +managed to appropriate a uniform of the security team, armed himself +with a ballistic RUAG-43CS, entered the arboretum A2 and started +firing on the Extremists which had retreated to this "neutral" +space. We started using the labels Dr. med. Hägi had introduced in her +report. Wullschlegel then started a fighting retreat and says now that +his plan was to draw them into a firefight with our existing security +team. Luckily the extremists no longer seem to be too interested in +fighting without Fischer. Wullschlegel is currently in med bay M7 +under strict surveillance. Dr. med. Hägi says it won't take long for +the leg wound to heal. We expect him to be ready for questioning in +two days. Further reports to follow. The negotiations with Feldweibel +mbA Schmiedheiny have been put on hold for now. Let there be Peace. +-+-+-+ End of Transmission -+-+-+ Signed PAUER -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Headlines: September 5-11, 2421 + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/12-headlines-september-5-11-2421.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/12-headlines-september-5-11-2421.txt + Tue, 01 Jan 2019 23:45:58 GMT + +From: Universe Today +To: Nikolaos Soloviev +Delivered-To: Nikolaos Soloviev +Received: from qec2.helio.earthsys.gov + by qec.sv14417 + with ESMTPS id 4D4A053AB9513878 + for +Received: from relay4.qec1.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by qec2.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from relay2.qec6.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay4.qec1.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from mta192.sendcast.net + by relay1.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Subject: Headlines: September 5-11, 2421 +Date: 12 Sep 2421 00:03:21 +0000 +Date-Local: 29 Mar 2419 03:27:21 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +HEADLINES FOR SEPTEMBER 5 - SEPTEMBER 11, 2421 + +⦿ MOON-TITAN TREATY "ABSURD" CLAIMS ANDERS MAXWELL + +September 5 (UPI) - Former president of Earth, Anders Maxwell, in a +September 4 appearance on "This Week Tonight" discounted persistent +rumors that the governments of Luna and Titan will soon announce an +alliance. + +"Look," a visibly agitated Maxwell said. "Even if we're going to +grant these secessionist, scofflaw regimes the courtesy of being +called governments, there is no chance they're going to throw in +together. After all the time and effort they spent insisting they +owed nothing to Earth and should be allowed to do just as they +please regardless of any effect it might have on the mother planet, +to imagine that either of them might turn around now and give the +other, or anyone, a veto over any action they might choose to +take - it's frankly absurd." + +Maxwell dismissed claims of increased traffic between Titan and +Luna as merely economic in nature. "Smuggling, that's what they're +doing," Maxwell said. "Dodging the Titan embargo. Well, we'll see +about that. I have it on good authority that the General Assembly +is considering a bill to extend that embargo to Luna. Let's see how +they do when neither of them has any more access to insystem +markets, and all they can do is sell to rock-hopping belter scum +and those layabout Martian miners." + +Reached for comment, a spokesman for Public Information noted that +Maxwell has recently returned to public life from a five-year term +of custodial supervision imposed following his impeachment for +peculation, and no longer has any role in government. "We +appreciate Mr. Maxwell's prior service, despite its ignoble end," +the spokesman said. "His current statements are those of a private +individual, and cannot be taken as representative of any position +Earth's government may or may not have on this or any other +matter." + +⦿ MILITARY BUILDUP RUMORS "FALSE" SAYS PUBLIC INFORMATION + +September 6 (UPI) - In response to rumors of a military buildup +ahead of a widely predicted Moon-Titan treaty announcement, a +spokeswoman from Earth's Office of Public Information addressed a +press conference with this firm statement: + +"The President has recently become aware of rumors swirling around +various in- and out-system bulletins about potential responses to +the political situation between Earth, Earth's moon, and the FTL +research colony on Titan. + +"Let me be clear: Rumors of a military buildup are categorically +false. We are actively investigating these claims, and expect soon +to report that we have identified their origin. In the meantime, +our representatives to Earth's moon and the Titan colony have been +instructed to communicate to their counterparts our most sincere +wishes for continued peaceful relations." + +The spokeswoman declined to entertain questions. + +⦿ MARTIAN STRIKE ENTERS MONTH 4; "STRONG MEASURES" SAYS GOVERNOR + +September 7 (MNN) - Today begins the fourth month of the Martian +mining guilds' general strike, with no sign of substantive +concessions from either side. Martian governor Reinhard Ritter, +backed by a squad of armed guards, made an appearance outside Red +Rock Guild headquarters to warn guild leaders that they are +"risking strong measures" unless they resolve to come to the +negotiating table very soon. + +"The Martian Trust has listened in the past to your legitimate +concerns, and we will do so again," Governor Ritter said in a +prepared statement. "We understand that a degree of give and take +is necessary for a productive working relationship. However, we +will not forever tolerate work stoppages, sabotage, and other +undisciplined manifestations of directionless unrest. I beseech +you: Do not make it necessary for the Trust to investigate options +beyond amicable resolution." + +A representative of the Red Rock Guild responded, in a statement +directly to Mars Newsnet, that Governor Ritter's claims amount to +"a self-serving denial of the lethally dangerous working +conditions, and the lack of medical and economic support for the +hard-working Martian labor force, which have driven us to take +these measures in defense of our lives and our loved ones." + +Asked for comment on these statements, the Martian Trust +headquarters in Chicago said only that they have complete +confidence in Governor Ritter's ability to "effectively resolve" +the situation, and that the governor has the full support of the +Martian Trust. + +Shortly before press time, a self-described spokesperson for Ceres +Hollow sent a recorded statement which, as far as could be +understood, expressed strong support for the Martian guilds' +position, and threatened "dire consequences" should the Martian +Trust resort to coercion. Reached for brief comment on the +retaliatory claim, retired wing general and military analyst Nathan +Coopersmith described it as "nonsense". + +⦿ GREEN GANYMEDE "SEVERELY IMPACTED" BY JOVIAN WEATHER EXTREMES + +September 7 (UPI) - In the latest blow to the prospects of the +Green Ganymede Project, radiation flares produced by fluctuations +in Jupiter's upper cloud layers have "severely impacted" the +viability of the project's pilot farm domes. + +"We're still working to understand the full extent of the damage," +the project's engineering head said today. "It will take some time +to be certain, but at this point we're not confident that any of +this season's crops will survive. We're already seeing germline +mutations and outright inviability of some specimens across all our +species, including the radiation-hardened cultivars." + +The joint project between Earth and Earth's moon has seen a number +of setbacks over recent months. This is the seventh crop failure in +the project's two years of operation, and commentators across the +inner planets have suggested that farming on Ganymede may prove +fundamentally unworkable. Supporters argue that not enough time has +passed to make any final determination possible, and a spokesman +for the External Resource Administration said that Earth's position +in the project will not change as a result of this latest bad news. + +"We have identified the largest single cause of Earth's resource +crisis as the investment of resources in outer system colonies," +the spokesman said in a prepared statement. "The Green Ganymede +Project offers a real prospect of redressing this imbalance by +enabling the outer system to return some measure of those resources +and help speed Earth's recovery. We will work to ensure the project +succeeds in every way we can." + +In after-hours trading today, Archer DuPont Monsanto stock dropped +over three percent on the news. + +⦿ FERTILITY SOCIETY: 2421 "WELL BELOW EXPECTATIONS" SO FAR + +September 8 (UPI) - The Fertility Society of Earth today reported +that total births thus far across the planet are less than half the +society's target projection for the year to date. Analysts say this +tracks with the general birthrate trend over the last fifty years, +but the Society strikes a cautionary note: + +"As Earth's economy, climate, and biosphere continue to recover in +accord with government projections," said a Fertility Society +spokeswoman, "it is disappointing that our citizens' birth rates +continue to lag behind. Sustaining and expanding our current growth +requires that we produce a sufficient labor and tax base to do the +work that lies ahead. If we will not make the necessary sacrifices, +we cannot expect to maintain the preeminence throughout the system +that humanity's cradle deserves." + +Shortly before press time, the Internal Resource Administration +released this prepared statement: "In line with economic goals for +2422 and the first half of this decade more generally, next year's +individual responsibility surcharge will increase by 25% for +citizens filing singly and 15% for members of married couples +filing jointly. An increase to family subsidy refunds is currently +under consideration. As always, we remind the populace of Earth +that the surest way to prosperity, for each of us and all together, +is a large and healthy family." + +⦿ WYOMING RIOTS "FALSE REPORTING" SAYS POPULATION ADMINISTRATION + +September 8 (UPI) - A spokesman for the Population Administration's +Landmass Optimization Office stated today that recent claims of +rioting among newly rehoused residents of the Wyoming New Prospects +Facility are "false reporting". + +"While some isolated incidents have occurred among members of the +August and September intake classes, these incidents are just that: +isolated. The recent claims by fringe commentators of a general +outbreak of violence contain no truth whatsoever, and such false +reporting only imperils the vitally important goals of the +optimization project as a whole. Our targeted intervention teams +are as always prepared to ensure the safety and security of all +residents both within the New Prospects Facility and outside it," +the spokesman said in a prepared statement. + +When asked about reports of ongoing resource shortfalls among +private contractors tasked with supplying subsistence supplies and +agricultural equipment to the facility, the spokesman declined to +confirm or deny, stating that federal privilege applies to all +information about contract negotiations in progress. + +⦿ ROSS 128 VENTURES DENIES CRASH CLAIMS: "PREPOSTEROUS" + +September 9 (Investors Daily) - At a press conference this morning, +Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt, a senior vice president of Ross 128 +Ventures, LLC, stated firmly that there is no truth in recent Lunar +claims of a colony ship crash. + +The ship in question is 'Voortrekker', a prototype torch ship which +for the last 25 years has been en route to the nearby star Ross 128. +For the past several weeks, various sources close to the Lunar +government have claimed that 'Voortrekker' did not, in fact, +recently land on its target planet, but instead crashed there with +the loss of much of its crew. + +In a brief statement at the entrance of the historic Chrysler +Building, where the Ross 128 firm has its offices, Gertodtenhaupt +said: + +"The board of Ross 128 Ventures wishes most firmly to dissuade +these rumors regarding our friends aboard Voortrekker. The ship +made planetfall just over a month ago, and her former crew are hard +at work in the early stages of developing one of the first +permanent human habitations outside Earth's own solar system." + +"We are in regular QEC contact with our friends at Ross 128," +Gertodtenhaupt continued. "at all levels up to and including Nick +Soloviev, the chairman of Voortrekker's own board. Nothing we have +heard inclines us to confirm the dangerous and irresponsible rumors +spread by sources on Earth's moon who should know better than to +claim such falsehoods are true news. Such actions can only +complicate the colonists' work, and strike fear into the hearts of +their families and loved ones back home." + +Gertodtenhaupt took no questions before reentering the building. + +⦿ SYSTEMWIDE WAGNER REVIVAL "SUSPENDED" AMID ASSAULT CLAIMS + +September 10 (UPI) - In the wake of sexual malconduct allegations +made against conductor Watanabe Fezile by several musicians now +under his baton, the Three Planets Reinforced Symphony announced +today that their interplanetary tour is "suspended", with Watanabe +and his accusers recalled to Earth for talks potentially leading to +arbitration of the claims. + +"We regret the necessity of this action," said a spokesman for the +Three Planets board. "We must, however, treat these claims with +utmost gravity, and we're sure our audiences will understand." + +At press time, no statement had been made regarding alternate tour +dates or refunds. + +⦿ MARKET WATCH + +This week's sponsor is Chatham, Truman, and Hove, Portfolio +Managers. We've helped individuals and families build strong +financial foundations for over one hundred and fifty years. We can +help you build your own. For a free initial consultation, message +hello@cth-portfolio.com. + +- (30219) Personal security sector set to rise through EOY: five + companies to watch in '22 + +- (23143) CCE Q3 earnings above expected as crime rates soar: + coming trends in custodial education + +- (59997) VR gaming industry profits spike on NAM companionship + services ban: the three hottest stocks right now + +- (17521) Redimed Ltd revises Q4 projected revenue on upcoming + regulatory changes: what's next for the sector + +- (95474) General Kinetics Space Systems announces new contract: + best positions in defense for individual investors + +For more details, message tip numbers to marketwatch@universe.today. + +Disclaimer: Content included in Market Watch is information of a +general nature and does not constitute investment advice as defined +by the Financial Services Reform Omnibus Act of 2413. By acting in +any way on the basis of or in relation to Market Watch content, you +agree to indemnify and hold harmless Universe Today, Inc., as well +as any and all sponsors and content providers from any claim, suit, +action, tort, or liability arising from such use. + +⦿ IN SPORT + +(Various network services) + +- Olowokandi, Prakash, Davidova "favorites" in Wings Tourney + Claims of racism swirl around proposed belter exclusion + +- Rocket League semifinals conclude with two-week Mercury heat + "Exhilarating", one surviving competitor says + +- Legacy football doping claims prompt new investigation + Latest augmentation challenge thrown out by Rules Committee + +- 6 dead, 19 hurt after network jammers make hash of 97th Manx TT + Douglas fires reported "mostly contained"; drones banned + +- Venus aerobrake stunt succeeds: pilot Espinoza honored, arrested + Pallas Commune demands extradition, pays out 12 to 1 + +- Ironman Lunar Triathlon transition area snaps: "shocking" + Organizers: "How do you even do that in a pressure suit?" + +- Ganymede Polar Bear Swim postponed for 36th consecutive year + Afterparties proceed as planned + +⦿ QUOTE FOR THE WEEK + +"War is fear cloaked in courage." - William Westmoreland + +To update your content preferences, message HELP to +headlines@universe.today. +]]> + + + Melvin P Feltersnatch - Dreams + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melvin P Feltersnatch/002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melvin P Feltersnatch/002.txt + Tue, 01 Jan 2019 20:31:21 GMT + +I think I slept. I'm not sure how that makes sense without a body. +One moment I was thinking about things (those little plastic tabs +that hold bread bags closed, if you must know), and then I was in +a green field with a cow that was also my Aunt Hilga, and she was +trying to tell me to turn around but I couldn't. Classic dream +nonsense, right? Only, it didn't feel any different than this, +whatever it is. There was no divide between awake and asleep. +Normally I'd close my eyes and lie down, or shoot up in bed and +scream... something. + +But really, those plastic things, do they have any other purpose? +Did someone make them for bread bags and everyone for centuries +just went along with it? We have all these other gizmos for +closing and opening things and keeping them air tight, but bread +bags were somehow overlooked? Is it cheaper? I can't imagine so. + +Oh shit, that's a comet! I'm going to get a closer look... +]]> + + + Liberty Eagle - FanMail Sal -- The Dung Heap We Left + yam655@cosmic.voyage (yam655) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Liberty Eagle/Interaction-101a.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Liberty Eagle/Interaction-101a.txt + Sun, 30 Dec 2018 18:42:59 GMT + +From: Sal Balade +To: Our Adoring Fans +Date: 0065-W10-5 18:32 +Subject: FanMail (Sal): Re: The Dung Heap We Left + +This ship, the Liberty Eagle, was commissioned and fully paid for by a +little backward government on a planet we used to call home. I really +hope the government on has been overthrown by now. + +To be very clear, we're a forced immigration vessel fully composed of +the poor and indigent. The government cut their water rations and only +gave them access to specially produced foodstuffs that utilized the +simple sugar in the tardigrade. This meant that humans could be dried +out and kept in dry storage. + +Need a place to house the homeless? The government used +warehouses without temperature control. They were also always without +power during peak power usage periods. You can't do that with cold +storage. It means our settler population to energy consuption rate is +radically different to a lot of ships out here. + +Well, I guess they're potential settlers right now. The public was sold +a 60% survval rate for those who dried on the streets. According to our +gear-to-settler cargo, though, I'm guessing someone was thinking closer +to a 30% survival rate. + +Our ship is equipped with the medbay nanobots, and the research +indicates they help. The security precautions on them cause them to +self-distruct pretty easily, though, so we'll see if any survive to the +planet. I can't comment on whether they've helped reduce the mortality +of the crew so far. That's a different matter, though. + +We are not the only vessel of this type. We were most definitely not the +first. + +They've been storing folks for decades. The legal system is complex, +and if you are targetted by the police, they can find a crime you've +committed. They don't have to make the charges up, because the laws are +written so that most people have already committed the crimes. It's just +a matter of making it official. + +Most crimes are considered "minor" and this allows the voting population +to feel safe by how few major crimes occur. All minor crimes result a +"slap on the wrist," a 0.3% fine, and you're back out the door, only +needing to inform your boss and landlord of your crime. + +Of course, most jobs and leases have clauses allowing termination for +criminal behavior. This also means there are a lot of little check-boxes +asking if you've been convicted of any crime. Nobody is legally required +to give a criminal either housing or a job, and generally nobody does +either one. After all, the government makes sure that everyone has +access to plenty of food, so there's no need to take pity those that +choose to be criminals. + +This results in people drying out in the streets, then being swept up +and stored in warehouses. This worked well, until 40 years before launch +when activists started asking for people to be revived. + +Those that dried on the streets had no right to be revived, but we used +to actually have jails and low security prisons. Those were cleared out +when Chlorizo was still in office. She dried them all out and moved them +to storage facilities. There was a huge tax refund that year due to the +savings and her popularity was at a peak, though it was later that year +that her administration fell apart. + +We had been told that dry-storage jail time mapped to live-storage jail +time at a 90% penalty due to the lack of aging. A person with a one-year +sentance in live-jail would be gone 10 years in dry-jail, but reappear +having not aged a day. This was supposed to prevent recidivism as it +separates them from any bad-influence by years. + +The idea was easily sold to the public. The problem was the government +never revived anyone. It didn't take long before folks were saying the +technology was flawed and that the rate of revival for those drying +in the streets was a lot less than they advertised. We knew it mostly +worked in controlled environments. + +My sister and I wanted data to expose the issue. We'd each suffered our +own tragedies and only really had each other. The cause helped keep us +focused and prevented us from dwelling on our past. Once we were inside +and found out what was going on, we knew the only way to be safe from +the administration was to let folks know from out here. + +What neither my sister nor I fully appreciated at the time was that +from the administration's perspective, it never mattered +if we reached our destination. They didn't want to colonize other +planets, they just wanted folks to die somewhere else. + +We will be lucky if any of the ships from ever successfully +complete their mission. We were just one of the five shift missions, +quick compared to some, and within the first two shifts our ship was +almost lost. + +I've been working my butt off to try to share this with folks. I know +Molly couldn't get it done during her shift. That's a whole other mess, +though. The message is out now. I hope you see this on the surface, +sis. I miss you. + +So there you go, . President and his party was +in power when we left. President and their party were in +power when they started designing the ships, and the discredited +President Chlorizo and her party were in power when they started the +Homeless Storage Sugar program. It isn't a one-party issue. It isn't +a one President issue, as all three parties have had multiple terms +in office since Chlorizo started things up 60 years before launch. + +Maybe if things were caught during President Chlorizo's term charges +could have been filed. Every one of the major political +parties are implicated. At this point the government just needs +overthrown. Not "brought up on charges." They've already fixed the +laws and nothing they did was "illegal." The entire government needs +overthrown. + +Preferably executed. + +-- +Your pal, +Sal +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= +If the QEC audience has any other questions for Sal or another +member of the crew, please let us know! +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= + +]]> + + + Liberty Eagle - Internal comms back + yam655@cosmic.voyage (yam655) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Liberty Eagle/Episode-101.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Liberty Eagle/Episode-101.txt + Mon, 31 Dec 2018 04:46:37 GMT + +Title: Internal comms back +Author: Shift 3 of the Liberty Eagle +/* vim: set syntax=fountain: */ +Series: Shipping Containers: Liberty Eagle (Shift 3) +Episode: 101 +Contact: Copyright © 2018 S.W. Black + +Notes: + Those who want to put on an audio or visual production + of this reality show in your local region of space and + time will probably want to first make sure you follow + your local procedure to claim copyright. + +==== + +~ In our shipping containers you can find +~ distant kin, perhaps nice or kind. +~ Guiding the ship: Dirk is smart but rude; +~ Mandy loves first; Sal can be crude; +~ Ty does what he wants; The Captain +~ guides the friends, while R just captions. + +.Within the ship (preface) + +R. ANNOUNCER + We missed the excitement of the shift-change, but we're + broadcasting now! I am the dedicated system tasked with + transcribing the voices and actions of the crew for the + QEC audience. I also have the responsibility of + monitoring their behavior and deciding what is relevant + to share. What have they been up to ...? + +.On the BRIDGE (0065-W10-5 08:28) + +R. ANNOUNCER + Because the Liberty Eagle is a settlement ship, each + station on the bridge is designed to be broken down + for parts once it lands. There are four stations + against walls of a small room, and in the middle in + sits the captain's chair. + + The CAPTAIN has a 24 hour day, while the four other + members of the crew have a 28 hour day. It is currently + time when SAL's bridge duty overlaps with the CAPTAIN. + + While recommended hair styles do prefer styles that + are short enough to never touch their eyes, SAL + has shaved her head. We will get back to this later. + +SAL + Captain, I got the internal comms working again. + +CAPTAIN + Good. That will help when someone goes to clean out + the mess in food tank two. + +R. ANNOUNCER + There's a discrepancy with the CAPTAIN's age in the + system. His voice print is degraded compared to + what it should be. Suit monitors are offline, so + unable to double-check with that data. + +SAL + There's something else. I noticed when I got them + back online, one of the systems restarted and is + now continuously monitoring them. + +CAPTAIN + What? Shut it down. We don't need it. + +SAL + I think we do. It's tied pretty deep in to the + comm system. It's possible that it was an attempt + to shut this system down that killed our comms. + +CAPTAIN + Are we going to get prompts and stuff? It's the + "R. Announcer" system. You know, from the show + we signed on for when we got the job. Did you + at least kill the prompts? + +R. ANNOUNCER + SAL shrugged. + +SAL + I didn't think it had prompts. It was never + designed for gimmicks, just to record us. + I mean, it'll roll in interview and stuff from + before we left, but it was never one of those + things that could do physical stunts with us. + +.In a booth before launching (no timestamp) + +SAL + I love my hair. I've been told I can be a bit + intimidating, but I think my hair helps me be + friendly and approachable. If I really wanted + to be intimidating, I think I'd have to shave + my head. + + It's really one of the things I'm worried about + when it comes to the 20 year shifts, you know? + I'm worried that when we land and I'm finally + around men with testicles instead of just + implanted testosterone factories, that I'll be + old enough that my hair may have fallen out. + + At least they expect folks to get a little + action on the trip, and with permanent birth + control applied to the men! It could be really + fun! + + I'm hoping that the folks I trained with that + are slated to be in my shift make it through + the process alright. Some of them seem nice. + + I know most of our passengers are formerly + homeless who, through the Homeless Storage + Sugar program have been dried out, but if + something goes wrong, you're looking at a + piece of your brain sticking to your skull + and tearing itself off, and I don't care + how safe they say it is, it feels really + dangerous. + +.On the Bridge: (0065-W10-5 Present) + +CAPTAIN + Do you know if those old interviews are still + in the system, or whether they got deleted? + +SAL + What? I don't know. + +.In a booth before launching (no timestamp) + +R. ANNOUNCER + There are some discrepancies with the records. I am + unsure of Captain's surname, though he is associated + with these transcriptions and I know that he's a + murdering bastard who will die too quickly for + justice, if he doesn't doom us all first. + +CAPTAIN + What do you mean, none of my church's books or study + materials will be available? They've been around for + fifty years or more. The Bible they're based on was + one of the first books ever published. + + Sure, I get that the King James Version is going to + be available, but the language in that was archaic + even when it was first published. I need my church's + material! + + Are you serious? I don't believe this. + + How can these ships really have no books on them + except from 1923 Old Earth Common Era and earlier? + +.Within the ship + +R. ANNOUNCER + From the Handbook, "Our ship was launched to colonize + far-away places. Those that paid for it knew the folly + of trying to maintain copyright without instantaneous + banking. + + "While the QEC may provide instantaneous communication, + banking requires a level technological playing field + for the encryption to work. A ship traveling for + 100 years becomes an archaic piece of technology + before it even lands, and it won't be able to + handle modern encryption at best, and a + world-computer designed to break the colonization + encryption protocols before landing at worst. While + we don't expect any of those problems to happen on + *your* vessels, it is still better to send ships + with only public domain material. + + "Don't let it bring you down. After all, you and + any surviving friends or family members get to + browse from the complete library of on-board media and + play with it even before you take off. And all + legally, too! No prisons for media pirates on your + new planet!" + +.In her bunk: (0065-W10-5 18:12) + +SAL + We've been at our shift for five years and we're + still trying to figure out the mess the previous + shifts made. + + I also know something is off with the Captain. + He pretends like he has no idea about what happened + around here, but I also know that he captained the + previous shift. He should have a really good idea + as to what happened in some cases. + + I mean, the body tainting food tank two, right? + I refuse to believe he doesn't know whose it was. + I really wouldn't be surprised if he hauled his + saggy butt down there personally, just so he could + make sure there was no lingering evidence. + +.Within the ship (addendum) + +R. ANNOUNCER + Join our crew as they manage the boredom of + the middle of a five-shift 100 year mission. + +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Not that bad + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/010.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/010.txt + Sun, 30 Dec 2018 04:55:30 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Stephanie Janssen, Specialist First-class +::: +Hey universe, it's Stephanie again. + +So, Seriph Adeyemi had a talk with me and now I've got to send out +another message since the last one wasn't great. It was not okay +for me to talk about the crew like I did, and so I'm here to set +the record straight. Navigator Hämäläinen and I were celebrating +the spirit of the season a bit too hard and made things seem worse +than they are. We're not fucked, okay? + +I mean, things really did look pretty bad, and we have spent +a month in the dark. On a traditional ship we'd be suffocating in +the heat from our bodies without any way to rad-out the excess, +but the grav-sheer drive sucks so much energy from Melchi's +surface that it's colder than lunar balls on a dark side squat. +Eva joked that we don't need to go back into cryo cause the whole +ship will do it for us. It was funnier when she said it. + +It sounds bad, right? But it really isn't, or it's getting better. +Our people know what they're doing. I mean, they're all pretty +much geniuses in what they do or they wouldn't be here, right? +It's like the slime-- + +Seriph Adeyemi and Captain Pasani were taking the slime in cryo +really seriously at first, thinking it might have screwed with the +crew in some way. Once we figured out it was harmless Adeyemi was +ready to cleanse the whole patch and be done with it but the +captain made us go in and carefully move it into containment. +I was worried we were prepping the worst dinner in the 'verse, to +be honest. Not even Prezzi knew what he had planned. I guess +Jerome has access to all our personal docs in the pads or +something because he knew all about Kroups genetics work back on +Gamma. He didn't even need to thaw him out. He just plucked his +notes out of the pad and passed them to Doctor Idjani. + +I was there when he did it, too. We were in flex--that's our +muscle tensioning training to avoid low-G wasting, even though +we're at a full G and I don't understand why we need to do it +every other cycle. But anyway, we're all strapped down and +sweating. It was me, the doc, and Eva who was singing some old +farming songs from the way back. She was warballing or undulating +or something with her tongue in her throat (it's supposed to sound +like some Earth mammal) when Jerome pokes his head in. He didn't +give Eva a second glance! When he's into it like that it's like +the rest of the 'verse better just get out of the way or shut up. +He locked eyes with the doc and slipped over. + +Then he's like, "Doc, you have the slime-shit all locked up?" + +And doc nods like, "Yeah, it's under my bunk," or something gross +like that. + +And out of nowhere Jerome goes, "Kroups has a phenotypic allele +psuedogene mutation that causes the daughter cells to be +heterozygous at the fragile sites," or some utter gibberish like +that. Jerome's no geneticist and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't know +the first thing about phytology, but he's spouting out syllables +all over the place. Doc keeps on nodding like he understands any +of it, but I can read him and that shit was going right over his +head too. The captain keeps it up for another couple minutes and +starts getting into detail about Kroups notes and that's when my +ears perk up. I had no idea he could read our private logs, but +apparently it's a thing and of course my mind immediately goes to +some stuff in mine, and then I look at Jerome's butt, and now my +face must be red from more than the flex. Thank the stars the +captain was all focused on the doc. + +At the end of it, the two of them put a plan together to mess with +the slime's DNA and make it into something useful. I guess it must +have been on his mind because of the arabidopsis. If fucking empty +space can play DNA lottery, why not us? And thank the stars he +thought of it because the Melchizedek just got a 2^6 times better. +In less than a cycle the doc had that slime glowing like our +Christmas lights. No really, literally glowing. Bio-luminescence +it's called, and it's a thing of beauty. The slime is smeared all +over the vents now on all decks since that's where the moisture +collects anyway. The gunk glows with this really amazing +blue-green light. It's not that bright yet, but you can see well +enough to walk the decks again, and Jerome says that as the slime +continues to spread it'll get brighter. + +So yeah, we're not fucked. We've got glowing slime! Take that, +science. + +Speaking of science, last time I mentioned that our beloved and +trusted captain was doing some funny math about us arriving on +schedule without getting the old bug-splat from deceleration. +Well, he finally came clean and explained it to the rest of us and +I. Am. Not. Impressed. + +Apparently we can get to β Hyi safely without going back into cryo +and without the big squish, but it's going to take an extra four +deceleration orbits skimming the atmo of β Hyi 3. We'll gradually +work our way in closer on each slingshot and cut thrust. That's +not exactly quick, though. The first orbit will take an extra +month. The other three get progressively faster but all together +it means that three months left is actually six months left. +Orbital mechanics can blow me. + +Prezzi tells me this is not a problem. Got that? I am to say that +this is not a problem. There, I said it. + +So this not-problem means we're going to run out of rations about +halfway to touchdown. This lack of problem means that our +temperature is going to drop below freezing about a month before +touchdown as well. There's absolutely no problem at all with +sticking around out here where space may or may not chop up your +genes at any moment. It's an adventure! + +For real, though, we're going to make it. If the captain can turn +fucking space-slime into hallway lighting then he can sure as hell +figure out a way to keep us fed and warm for a bit longer. These +people are geniuses and beautiful and they're going to save +everyone. Got that, Prezzi? Everyone. +. +]]> + + + Voortrekker - it's not like we'd have loved her any less + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/11-its-not-like-wed-have-loved.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/11-its-not-like-wed-have-loved.txt + Sat, 26 Jan 2019 16:09:37 GMT + +From: QEChat Log anine <-> sam +To: anine (Amelia Nine) +To: sam (Sameen Lee) +Delivered-To: Sameen Lee +Received: from relay3.qec7.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta1.recoveryinstitute.org + with ESMTPS id CACAEDA29A5ECB + for +Received: from relay2.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay3.qec7.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from host3.qechat.earthsys.gov + by relay2.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Date-Local: 08 Sep 2421 19:22:07 +0000 +Date: 08 Sep 2421 19:22:07 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Subject: Chat Log anine <-> sam + +[18:39] +anine: hey +sam: hey! +sam: how's it going out there? haven't heard from you +anine: been super busy! finally settled down a little +anine: we heard back from gliese, not as bad as we thought +anine: all still concerned over ross but watch & wait seems to be + the plan +anine: anyway, not what we're here for, i'm glad you heard from + kit! + +[18:02] +sam: me too! +anine: and i'm glad you answered her. if you want to know what i + think, you waited longer than you should've to do that. +sam: you're right. +sam: i hope you don't mind i sent your love too +anine: no! Not at all +anine: i would've asked you to already but i wasn't sure if + +[18:03] +anine: i mean it's been so long, i wasn't sure +sam: come on, you know kit, she can't have changed THAT much +anine: yeah but i always thought, you know +anine: eh, forget it + +[18:04] +sam: what +anine: no it's nothing +sam: no it's not. +sam: talk to me + +[18:07] +anine: do you know, we talked about marrying? +anine: kit and me +anine: it would've solved the biggest problems for both of us +anine: wouldve been perfect + +[18:09] +sam: your idea or hers? + +[18:10] +anine: hers +anine: you know i'd never have suggested it +sam: me either +anine: and she really tried +anine: she tried sO HARD + +[18:11] +anine: but she coudlnt +anine: couldnt stand it, i made her stop +anine: i could see it was killing her but she wouldnt stop until + she had a panic attack +anine: even aftert hat she wanted to try again + +[18:12] +anine: i wouldnt let her +anine: we both felt terrible about it +anine: but then i went and got married anyway +anine: because +anine: it was easier that way, i could deal better than she could + and it did solve a lot of problems for me + +[18:13] +sam: the same ones she had +anine: yes +anine: and wouldnt so lve + +[18:14] +anine: I mean if she'd just go to therapy +anine: it's not like we'd have loved her any less +sam: no +sam: but she wouldnt have wanted to be with us after that +sam: and you know wjy she wouldnt do it anyway + +[18:15] +anine: yes +anine: she wouldn't compromise the way i ddi +anine: did* +anine: she held on to herself in a way i couldnt +anine: and god knows i HATED her for that + +[18:16] +anine: for a long time +anine: i mean she had it so much worse than me and she just +anine: WOULDNT +anine: i mean +anine: she made me feel like + +[18:17] +sam: you felt like a coward + +[18:18] +anine: yeah +anine: that she could deal and i couldnt + +[18:19] +anine: and then she joined voortrekker and that was even worse +anine: here she was, ready to go to another STAR STYSTEM +anine: because maybe there it'd be better +anine: and i mean + +[18:20] +anine: we had such a hard time selling the no kids requirement +anine: i think that was as much as anything what decided her +anine: and, i don't know + +[18:21] +anine: i just never felt like i could face her after all that + +[18:22] +sam: so that's why you didn't come see us before she left +anine: between that and the fight +anine: yeah + +[18:24] +sam: look, i'm not supposed to tell you this, okay +sam: but you need to hear it + +[18:25] +sam: the last night kit was here before she went to join the ship +sam: we stayed up all night talking +sam: and that came up +anine: oh shit +anine: oh no + +[18:26] +sam: NO +sam: stop +sam: listen +sam: you know what she said? +sam: she said she wished she was as brave as you + +[18:27] +anine: what +sam: YES +sam: she didn't see it as you making a cowardly compromise +sam: i know that's how YOU see it +sam: but that's wrong +sam: and kit KNEW that was wrong +sam: you did what you had to do + +[18:28] +sam: to have the best life you could with this bullshit government + youre stucck with +sam: kit respected that +sam: and she wished you'd decided to come +sam: so she could tell you she was sorry she couldn't help you + +[18:29] +anine: on bulslhiy +anine: l +anine: loko i appreciate you tryign +anine: to make me feel better but +anine: come on we both know thats bullshit + +[18:30] +sam: Dry your eyes and think a minute. +sam: You know me better than that. + +[18:32] +anine: Yeah. + +[18:33] +anine: I'm sorry. +sam: nothing to apologize for + +[18:34] +sam: im sorry i didn't tell you before. +sam: if i'd known you felt this way about it +sam: but i shouldve told you. +sam: i'm sorry. + +[18:35] +anine: its ok +anine: i need a minute +anine: brb + +[18:49] +anine: you here? +sam: still here. +anine: look ive got a bunch of leave saved up +sam: you've got some leave right? +sam: haha +anine: YES haha + +[18:50] +anine: so like i said things have settled down around here +anine: why dont i come see you before next friday +sam: can you get away? +anine: yea theres a luna shuttle leaving night after next +anine: ive been "mentioning" im going to stop on luna after i + rotate out + +[18:51] +anine: to see what i can find out unofficially about the gliese + mission +sam: makes sense, ill tap my contacts over at the extrasolar office +sam: maybe get you something to take back, save you some time +sam: at least let them know youre coming + +[18:52] +anine: ok +sam: its a good excuse +anine: haha yea +anine: even with joseph +anine: hes mad anyway with all the work lately + +[18:53] +sam: not going to cause more problems? +anine: than i already have? maybe +anine: but you'll make me feel better about them +anine: wont you +sam: you know i'll do my best + +[18:54] +anine: your best is mighty good, lover +sam: pas devant le CQE, ma cherie! +anine: haha ok ok + +[18:55] +sam: save it for when you're here. +anine: oui, madame! + +[18:56] +sam: i wish i didn't +sam: but i do still have some work left today +anine: i'll leave you to it, then. +anine: you'll tell me if you hear more from kit? +sam: of course +sam: i can tell her you want to hear from her + +[18:58] +anine: not yet i think +sam: okay +sam: let me know when you're ready + +[18:59] +anine: thank you! +sam: de rien. +anine: and + +[19:00] +anine: send her my love? +sam: of course. + +[19:01] +anine: off to go break the news +anine: and be properly apologetic. +sam: good luck! +anine: i'll be thinking of you! + +[anine: Quit: it really does help..] + +[sam: Quit: ] +]]> + + + Skibug - HELLO + ols@cosmic.voyage (ols) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Skibug/001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Skibug/001.txt + Fri, 28 Dec 2018 15:59:29 GMT + +<---[ BEGIN SEMPITERNITY SIGNED TRANSMISSION ]---> + +SOURCE Skibug.c9 +TRMSN 1546012756 +MODE bcast + +QEC + +The good aboard the Skibug reach out as allies + +Communication is not easy + +Please let us know someone is out there + +<---[ END SEMPITERNITY SIGNED TRANSMISSION ]---> +]]> + + + Persephone Prime - enough of telegram style + ryumin@cosmic.voyage (ryumin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/la003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/la003.txt + Fri, 28 Dec 2018 13:31:07 GMT + +ZCZC QMA00 1 +PPP IRS1QECR +2458.315.19 JPEPQECX + +TO LOGISTICS PERSEPHONE DIPL.EARTHSYS.GOV +FROM LA24 + +Dear Lou, + +correction to last report: +PEP QMA to C are lost due to damages, QMD has 40% left, QME is fully ok, +QMF to J are lost; therefore we have PEP QMD40%,QME100% and LAZ QMB90%, +in total 2.3 GQbit available. + +This allows us to transmit&receive about 64 kB daily during 100 years, +therefore we have decided to allow ourselves to be a bit less terse. +However, please don't send any binary data, and keep your filter for +mail headers; if it's ok for you, we also keep our simple headers. + +Of course, we do hope Charon73 will make it here in 29 years! +What's its equipment? How can we contact it during approach? + +We will scan the surface for remainders of the object causing crash, +and for other risks for approaching vessels. +Survey drone was destroyed, but we could salvage SAR and infrared +camera, and installed them in the cargo drone. + +Due to destroyed GHz comms, we had to install the PEP MHz TRX in +the drone, resulting in only low bandwidth remote control. +To compensate, we have added more memory and let the drone fly +mostly autonomously, reviewing footage after it has returned. + +We have begun with a sector +/-5 deg around our descent track, +1800 km away from our base, as we assume impact was 2000 km from +crash site, based on logs. At survey speed of 30 sqkm/h, survey +time of 10 h/day, we expect segment area of abt 100e3 sqkm between +1700 and 2300 km from base surveyed in about 300 d or 10 months. +Searching from center of track, we hope to finish earlier, though. +If the drone doesn't fail, of course. + +Hydroponics still are out of equilibrium, with kind of a fungal +infection affecting almost 2/3 of all plants. Unfortunately missing +LA04/Meru was our best expert, and the second best LA11/Xinxin is +dead. LA09/Serge has some biology knowledge, but he's not sure how +to best fight the infection. We have decided on strict isolation of +the farms: Serge and Pata work only on the infected ones, trying to +kill the fungus, while Adhika and I are handling the good ones only, +to reduce probability of contamination. We only meet in person after +thorough disinfection, which we do after 21 d or more. Otherwise, +we only use intercom or material/food exchange via UV loadlock. + +Remaining emgfood is 778 DU. We finally were able to get all food +from farms, but have agreed on putting two of us back to cryo if +we need emgfood again. Water, air and energy are all fine for now. + +Weather is fair, winds so far not more than 35 km/h and easy on our +shelter. We have two working outside locks, one large enough +for the robotrover and cargo drone, and a 3rd reserve. +Spares and tools are ok, except for comms as reported. + +Morale is fair. We had some tensions about food consumption, but +now that we have plans and split into two teams, we're doing ok. +We're keeping a 7 d cycle and celebrate "Sunday" by telling us +about our preferred books or stories during two special hours, +and when we all meet in person, we do a big "meal" together. +Pata is trying to teach us all Morse, just for fun. +Reviewing drone footage is tedious work but at least exhausting. + +This planet is rather boring so far, with its shiny black rocks, +noble gas breezes, and bright Regulus C always at the zenith. +I'd give a DU for a dusk! + +/Vesna + +NNNN +]]> + + + 6a616e36 - 68656c6c6f21 + jan6@cosmic.voyage (jan6) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/6a616e36/0-99.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/6a616e36/0-99.txt + Thu, 27 Dec 2018 23:14:49 GMT + +68656c6c6f2074686572652c2075682c20736f7272793f2049207468696e6b204920666f72676f7420746f207377697463682074686520656e636f64696e672e2e2e7768617477617369742e2e2e + aH! sorry, that should be better now, forgot to switch the encoding! + + I am 0x6a616e36, and since I have found this communications system, +I think I'll check in here too every once in a while.. + + I have probes, drones, stations, and other equipment thrown all about +the universes, some of them might even have functional manufacturing plants, +in case you'd like me to spin up something for you.. +I don't have much other use to them anyway.. +Who knows, maybe I'll find one close enough to you to deliver the package +in your lifetime, all depends on your current spacetime coordinates... +And whether the station's time vortex generator is intact... +And whether it has enough power... + + I should probably get to retrieving statuses of all my functional fleet now... +]]> + + + Dekaoso Prime - Fallen + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Dekaoso Prime/0001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Dekaoso Prime/0001.txt + Thu, 27 Dec 2018 20:06:31 GMT + +This is Alportas Majeston speaking. +It gives me no pleasure to report that Dekaoso Prime is no more. + +We have fallen from grace from Sinjorino Diino as all but those who resided on +our home planet are gone and all that remains of the Dekaosan people are those +on the colonies and dispatched in our space vessels. +All we know is that the attack was carried out by the Pertulit empire, it would +appear they were not all fully eradicated during the Neniigo War. +Given what we did to them then, I can only assume they will continue hunting +down what remains of us until we are no more. + +For this reason I advise all vessels still in action to cease broadcasting your +positions, it is more important that you escape the clutches of the Pertulits +than to keep the validity of our records. + +We will continue broadcasting this on all forms of communications in hope that +you will all receive this message. +]]> + + + Razarac - We Are Alive! + morsecodemedia@cosmic.voyage (morsecodemedia) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Razarac/001-we-are-alive-holy-seashells-we-are-alive.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Razarac/001-we-are-alive-holy-seashells-we-are-alive.txt + Thu, 27 Dec 2018 19:10:14 GMT + +[transmission start] + +is works. No, you need to turn it 30° clockwise. Wait. It works! Stop, +stop, stop! You did it Gemma, we're transmitting! HAHA! + +Oh, umm... + +This is Captain Hana Huxley of the Razarač. We are alive! I repeat, we are +flippin' alive! + +We were on our way to the Coletrainian System in search of supplies. The +journey through the stars has been a rough one for us lately, so we plotted +the course, kicked on the auto-pilot and jumped in our cryo-preservation +chambers for the 20-year [Earth-3470 year] trip. Along the way we encountered, +an unknown gravitational pull. + +Things got a little bumpy. + +Penny was activated and in turn began waking the crew out of cryo. +I love Penny. She really saved our butts. With little time to come to, +Arsen was able to man the ship. Turns out we were getting pulled towards +an uncharted Einstein-Rosen bridge. He navigated our way out the otherside +with minor damage done to the Razarač, other than the relative time tracker, +our navigation system, and a carton of eggs. Oliver is pissed he didn't +properly store the eggs before cryo. The man loves his eggs. Arsen managed +to get a nasty cut above his eye on his way to the bridge, but Ezra +patched him right up. + +Gemma is working on fixing what she can with the scrapped parts in the main +cargo hold. I have faith that she'll be able to get us back to 100% in a +matter of time. Gemma is just gifted like that. + +Unfortunately, I don't think we will be able figure out exactly where we +were before we entered the bridge. Just holding on hope that we will one +day figure out where we ended up. + +Wherever we are, we are still receiving reports from the QEC. + +This is Captain Hana Huxley of the Razarač, signing off. + +[transmission end] +]]> + + + Shin-Salyut 6 - Station tour + solderpunk@cosmic.voyage (solderpunk) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Shin-Salyut 6/02-station-tour.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Shin-Salyut 6/02-station-tour.txt + Thu, 27 Dec 2018 15:31:27 GMT + +Greetings, spacefarers! + +This QEC broadcast will describe the layout and basic features of the +Shin-Salyut 6 orbital station. Far be it from us to pressume +ignorance of mankind's history in space on the part of those selected +under close scrutiny to represent our species as it expands into the +stars, but of course the unstoppable march of progress means that +your own vessels bare little resemblence to our own, and the exact +nature of our daily existence here in Low Earth Orbit may be only +vaguely apprehended by our readers, many of whom may have recently +awoken from cryosuspension. + +Shin-Salyut 6, from the perspective of those who live on it, is a +full-scale replica of the historic Salyut 6 station. Cylindrical in +shape, the station is 15.8 metres long and 4.15 metres wide at its +widest point. Attached to this cylinder are three solar panels, +mounted at right angles to each other, exposing 51 square metres to +the sunlight. This provided the original station with some 4 +kilowatts of electrical power. Of course, 51 square metres of modern +photovoltaic material provides substantially more power, but no more +than 4 kilowatts is permitted to be drawn at any time by the +facilities used by the station's inhabitatants. + +The station has fore and aft docking ports. To the fore port is +docked a replica Soyuz spacecraft (7K series), and this was our ferry +to the station, and its descent module will be our ride home at the +mission's completion. The historical Salyut 6 was the first space +station in human history to support long-term habitation via periodic +resupply from autonomous Progress craft which would dock to the aft +port. Lacking the budgetary capacity for recurring resupply launches, +the Shin-Salyut 6 has a larger module docked to its aft port, which +is, indeed, larger than the station itself. It contains adequate +supplies for a 12-month mission. From the perspective of the station +itself, this module appears identical to a Progress craft. Rather +than being exposed to open space, the Progress craft is, in fact, +inset into the larger supply module. On a fixed schedule, and only +when the interconnecting door is full sealed, automated systems open +one-way doors in the pseudo-Progress and transfer strictly no more +than 2,300 kg or 6.6 cubic metres of food, water, air and other +equipment. This provides our reenactment with a fine sense of +verisimilitude, although our health and well-being depends crucially +on the continued correct operation of the automated systems. + +The engines of the Progress resupply craft also provided +station-keeping thrust to the historical Salyut 6. In our case, +orbital decay is kept at bay by a Shinohara Heavy Industries 6th +Generation ion engine contained in the supply module, which in fact +consumes the vast majority of the energy provided by our solar arrays. +The engineering minded reader will have noticed that, even without the +additional load of the ion engine, 51 square metres of even the finest +photovoltaics is woefully inadequate to power any practical +entanglement engine for QEC communication, and this is quite right. +You do not receive these messages directly from Shin-Salyut 6, +space-farers! Comrade Ryumin, fully licensed by the Japanese Ministry +of Internal Affairs and Communciations and a Lifetime Member of the +Japan Amateur Radio League, relays these messages to +GKRSSHPRS-affiliated groundstations via FM voice channel on the 2 +metre band, as an approximation to the 121.75 MHz FM voice downlink +widely used by Soyuz craft. From Earth the messages are forwarded to +a QEC transmission system via internet. The QEC transmitter itself +is several additional "hops" from any contact well-known to the +GKRSSHPRS. + +Comrade Ryumin reads these dispatches from my notes, hand-written +using pencils as we are, of course, in a micro-gravity environment, +modern artificial gravity systems based on LQG spin-network theory +being totally unknown to the Soviet pioneers. Our long term presence +in such an environment requires a rigorous exercise routine to prevent +muscular atrophy, and our station, like the original, is equipped with +an extensive gymnasium. We are also aided in this respect by the +outstanding replicas of of the "Pingvin" exercise suit, whose +integrated elastic bands provide a substitute for gravitational +forces. The crew extends its gratitude to our comrades in the +GKRSSHPRS's Cosplay Divison for their hard work in producing these. + +Our daily life in the station is simple, humble and carefully +scheduled. Although automated systems would in principle keep the +station and its myriad subsystems running safely in the absence of +direct input, this is only a failsafe measure intended to be used due +to an unforseen lapse in our ability to operate the historically +accurate manual control systems, to which we devote much of our +attention and labour each day. This arrangement reminds us and, we +hope, you, dear reader, that humanity's place in space is precarious +and that close vigilance and unwavering dedication are required to +safeguard it. While we can only imagine exactly what form the efforts +required of you may take, we are doing our best at living our humble +life here, and hope that our endurance of a more "primitive" form of +life in space (though, dare I say it, I myself would prefer the +characterisation "authentic") provides a clear example and inspiration +to those of you facing hardships in your journeys. +]]> + + + Tom - Merry Christmas! + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Tom/0002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Tom/0002.txt + Wed, 26 Dec 2018 15:21:10 GMT + +-- and then just flip that switch there. That's how you work the quantum +communicator, Merideth. Why was it you were asking how to use it again? + +No, Merideth, we cannot use it to wish the universe a merry Christmas. + +Why not? Well first of all we're already getting transmissions all across time +and space, so it's unlikely they even celebrate Christmas still. + +Yes, I'm aware that Melchizedek and Excelsior already did it, but one of them +looks to be dicking around with space plants that are bound to get them all +killed and the other pissed off some death cult warriors because of a text +message, so maybe they aren't the best role models? Besides, the General +already strictly forbid us from using this again because we have no idea what +unintended consequences it could have. + +Oh God, why are you crying now? What, is telling the future ship captains, +space cats, and who knows what else "Merry Christmas" that important to you? + +Well I don't care how important it is, because it will be my head the General +will be biting off if he finds out we sent out another unauthorized message +using this thing. + +Wait, Merideth, why is the microphone light on? I swear to God Merideth, if +you are doing what I think you are doing I am going to-- +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Re: Fw: Re: Not alone! + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/10-re-fw-re-not-alone.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/10-re-fw-re-not-alone.txt + Tue, 25 Dec 2018 13:15:06 GMT + +From: Sameen Lee +To: Amelia Nine +Delivered-To: Amelia Nine +Subject: Re: Fw: Re: Not alone! +Received: from relay11.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by mta4.expeditionsupport.gov + with ESMTPS id 7D3B7EFA7D82 + for +Received: from relay1.qec4.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay11.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from mta1.recoveryinstitute.org + by relay2.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Date-Local: 06 Sep 2421 15:42:31 +0000 +Date: 06 Sep 2421 15:42:31 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Sure! Just finishing up the day right now. Give me a couple hours? + +------------------------------------------------------------------- +From: Sameen Lee +To: Amelia Nine +Date: Monday, September 6, 2421 3:32pm +Subject: Fw: Re: Not alone! + +You got Kit's latest - here's my answer. Want to chat? + +------------------------------------------------------------------- +From: Sameen Lee +To: Chris Maldonado +Date: Monday, September 6, 2421 2:51pm +Subject: Re: Not alone! + +(I hope you get this OK. I know there's some kind of information +control going on out there. Whoever's in charge of it, I hope they +decide to let this through...) + +Of course I want to hear from you, Kit! Of course I do. + +And I'm sorry I haven't sent you anything before now. I was so, so +glad when I heard you made it through okay! But I was scared you +might still be angry with me, too. I didn't make it easy for you, +back before you left. You were right to blame me for that. I +thought you might not be feeling quite yourself when you sent that +first message. I didn't want to use that to put you in a false +position. I'm sorry for that. + +But, yes! I want to hear from you. I want more than that. I want to +be with you! I wanted to come with you when you left. I couldn't +and I hated myself for that. I knew you needed to go. I didn't want +you to. And I made it hard for you because I couldn't deal with +that. I still don't know how. But talking with you, even this way, +makes it a little easier. I hope that doesn't make it harder for +you. + +And I'd love to know more about what it's like out there, +too. Anything you want to tell me. It sounds very strange. Your +legs - your new legs? What is that even like? What else changed? I +can guess from some of the things you said, but I don't want to +guess. I want you to tell me. Will you do that? It's okay if you +won't. Whatever you do want to tell me, I want to know! + +I'll hope to hear from you soon. It might be a little while before +I can write more to you. Things are very busy here lately and it +looks like they'll keep getting more so. But as soon as I can. I'm +sorry if it takes me a while. But please don't worry if it does. + +Amelia sends her love, and her hopes that we can all be together +again some day. It'll be a long wait. But she misses you and she +knows you're worth waiting for. I do, too. + +I know it's hard for everyone there, and I know how you get when +there's work you need to do. But you've been through a lot, you +know. As much as you can, take care of yourself and get your +strength back. I don't want to get out there to find you've wasted +away to a shadow of your proper self! That will make me very cross. + +Until next time, Amelia sends her love, and so do I. + +- Sam +]]> + + + Hoffnung - review the Ideology Defense Manual + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/015.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/015.txt + Sat, 05 Jan 2019 16:01:43 GMT + +-+-+-+- Inter Ship Relay -+-+-+- C53.162 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Samuel Hochueli speaking in the name of the free anarcho-communist +commune-ship Hoffnung. Please be advised that Relay Station 001 is +running an open relay. All QEC channels must have exchanged quantum +entanglement transmetals. We therefore operate under the assumption +that most messages are sent by hostile entities trying to destabilize +the human diaspora. Do not fall for this! When under attack, we grow +strong. Don't let the boot lickers split your communities. The rumors +of aliens are divisive and must be treated as enemy communications. +Now is the time to review the Ideology Defense Manual and learn about +propaganda and destabilization of civic society. Trust and lies don't +matter to them: we are served both in copious quantities. Those of us +who try to understand are kept busy and divided. In times like these +we need to remember basic truths and act upon them without considering +the web of lies and halftruths cast to ensnare and to enrage the +stupid and the the web of provocations and stupidiets cast to exhaust +and confuse the intelligent. Do not fall for this. The wars of the +Enlightenment were fought for all of us. Human dignity comes first. +-+-+-+ End of Relay -+-+-+ SAHOC -+-+-+- +]]> + + + Minnow - x001ma-3s + cmccabe@cosmic.voyage (cmccabe) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Minnow/x001ma-3s.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Minnow/x001ma-3s.txt + Mon, 24 Dec 2018 19:17:09 GMT + +We are unsure if anyone is receiving our transmissions. We +have been stranded here for nearly 10 earth years and have +thus far adapted successfully to life on this planet.‎ The +environment is similar enough to that of human evolutionary +adaptation and it has actually been a relief after such a long +time in open space. Thus, all our transmissions from this +planet have not been of desperate urgency. But just recently +we have encountered a problem that we are not certain we can +overcome on our own. + +We are in a period of time that was celebrated as a seasonal +holiday among a particular earth religion centuries ago. The +crew took it as a collective hobby several years back to study +the rituals and beliefs of that holiday, called Christmastide +or Yuletide. During every winter season on this planet, we +have used what resources we have to make festive meals, give +gifts, and re-enact what we have learned from the history logs +on the ship's computer. It has been a little silly, but a +relief nonetheless against the isolation we have felt while +stranded here. Until this year. + +This season was the first that one of the children born here +has ‎become socially active. We suspect some of his behavior +may be the source of our problem. But as it seems so absurd, +none dare speak it other than in jest. + +The child, just five earth years of age, has caused extra work +for the others, breaking or misplacing tools, ‎making loud +noises during rest hours, and tormenting the fauna we are +trying so hard to domesticate. + +But the boy's behavior would be tolerable if that were the +only problem. The real problem is terrifyingly worse.‎ The real +problem is the appearance of a creature that seems intent on +attacking the boy. + +It has come at dusk nearly every day for the past few weeks, +and the crew have taken great risks to chase it away. We've +posted extra guards at all points around our ship, and each +day we expect at least one of them will encounter it. + +I have not seen it myself, but the others say it is a +four-legged creature, bent over and moving itself on its two +rear legs. It makes a horrible growling and hissing sound like +"grahh-pssss"‎. + +We know it wants the boy because it has ‎kept close to the +uncut brush and foliage at the edge of our encampment until it +has seen him. The few times it saw him, it came forward, +screeching and clawing at him. + +Luckily we've been able to fight him off thus far. But we've +sustained some injuries. And the labor we've had to expend on +defenses are causing shortfalls in meeting our other needs. + +We need help. If anyone is receiving this transmission. We +need help! + +-- + +When you perform the rituals of the past, you may awaken +something that can't be put back to sleep until forgotten. And +we can't forget now. + +Can it be, that the gods and demons of our species follow us +wherever we travel in the universe? + +Can it be, that we are experiencing one of those demons from +our Yuletide heritage? Is it possible that we are being +attacked by Krampus? +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Christmas Cheer + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/009.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/009.txt + Mon, 24 Dec 2018 05:48:46 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Stephanie Janssen, Specialist First-class +::: +Ho ho ho! It's Christmas out here on the floating tin-can and I'm +brewing up some cheer for the crew. In fact, I've brewed up +something much stronger than cheer that's almost certainly against +regulations, but hell! we need it. + +The darkness was getting to everyone, so I conspired with Eva and +we made a still. How cool is that? The instructions were in the DB +and we had the parts on hand. The doc's been fermenting the weird +greens since we woke up. We're not supposed to eat them, yet, but +he wants to be ready if they're cleared. So we used a similar +principle and a bunch of piping and bam! Grade C 180 proof +Melchizedek swill. You can TASTE the Christmas cheer! + +Eva and I are testing it out tonight on our own. Christmas is +a few cycles off still and we want to surprise the rest of them. +Jerome is gonna flip! + +I LOVE CAKE! + +OMG, that was Eva! Sorry. She grabbed the pad. She's had A. LOT. +I did say we needed it. + +Things are, frankly, shitty. We're living in a meat locker in near +total darkness with a bunch of popsicle friends. I'm the lowest +ranking crew awake and the only NCO. I'm not even supposed to take +meals with the rest of them, if we had regular meals. Eva is +great, though, and we've been making the best of it. You guys +can't see her, but she's gorgeous. She's got these giant eyes like +a drawing and a tiny little nose you want to boop. OH! I'm gonna +boop her, one sec. YESS--she squeeks when you boop. Eva's the +best! + +Um, status-updates: ship's fucked up, we're fucked up, plants are +turning into zombies or something, Jerome is morbid fucker, Eva's +my boo, Doc is doc, Prezzi doesn't take any shite. Fixed up the +steering but we're still going way too fast. Can't slow down +without getting bug squished from the Gs. Jerome says we'll make +it, but he does funny math. Eva gets all serious when she talks +about it. Not, like, poetic serious--that shit's cool. I don't +think she believes him. Prezzi's too busy with the fungus crap to +call him on it, and who else is there? Not gonna be me! + +So we need a little Christmas! Right this very minute! You know +the song? Is it still playing round the verse or are we the last +holdouts? I saw a note from Excelsior that they still celebrate +Christmas. That's something! They're putting up lights around +their servers. Bloody brilliant, that! Eva looked around and we +found some green LEDs and quantum resonance diode cells that make +a faint purple. It's traditionally supposed to be green and red, +right? Too bad red LEDs were banned after the 4th great robot +uprising. I can't believe it took everyone that long to figure out +they can't go evil if they don't have red LEDs for eyes. Stupid +fucking people. We really deserve to be out here in the shit, +don't we? + +Three more months! Or that's what Jerome says. + +Oh shit shit shit shit shit. He can read this. Fuck. Me. + +Oh fuck it. Someone had to tell him all this to his face at some +point. At least I can blame it on alcohol. It's a Christmas +fucking miracle. + +Peace, Universe. I hope Santa brings you some cake. We fucking +love cake. +. +]]> + + + Excelsior - Free-form message - Beta Epsilon 10 Epsilon + khuxkm@cosmic.voyage (khuxkm) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/005.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/005.txt + Mon, 24 Dec 2018 03:59:43 GMT + +Message inbound... + +Space Cruiser Excelsior +Destination: Unknown +~~ TELEMETRY SENSORS 2 AND 5 DOWN ~~ +Stardate Beta Epsilon 10 Epsilon +[REDACTED] + +[autotranslator on] + +Corporal Sam Arnold, Systems Administrator +--- +According to the Excelsior's time correction equipent, it is almost time to +celebrate the Terran ritual of Christmas. I've been busy decorating the server +room of the Excelsior with lights, ornaments, and other implements of the +holiday. + +It seems weird that I would do this, despite the fact that I am the only +conscious person aboard the Excelsior. However, it gives me an excuse to +avoid my lack of faith in human beings and to excersize my body. I'm sitting +down writing this as a quick break before continuing my decorating. + +I'm not just doing this for a sense of jolly. It also gives me an excuse to +manually check the cryo berths, which are all performing just fine. + +Eventually I'll take all the decorations down and go back to checking QEC. + +Until then, I'm being festive for a change. + +~~TRANSMISSION END~~ +]]> + + + Oleander - Sister Mariam + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/003-sister-mariam.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/003-sister-mariam.txt + Mon, 24 Dec 2018 03:34:33 GMT + +REC ON +TRN ON +ENC ON +SYS GOOD +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* + +Entry 3 -- Sister Mariam + +To my sisters, wherever you may be: + +The future is written in the name of the One. His qadr is hidden +in the facade of choice, and though he does not set our path for +us, He sees it as He sees all. As it is written, No calamity +befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in Al +Lawh Al Mahfooz before We bring it into existence. + +In a short time, we will reach [REDACTED] and the pages of my +story will be fulfilled. They will end as they must, as they +always were meant to end. He will fulfil the desire of them that +fear him. My desire is for Him alone. I've know it since my first +days in Madrasa, and I've always known where he would lead me. + +Three hundred years we have circled our star since the Jinn came +to our world. Three hundred years have we cried in the night, +suffering in their grip. He has tested us. We grew fat and lazy in +our homes and ships. Life was easy, and so we forgot our prayers +and forgot our duties. We spoke against the prophets and debated +the truth. When they came we were weak and frivolous, like sands +drifting across a desert. We were so easily scattered before their +wind. But now we are worn down and crushed together. We are rock, +diamond. Our faith is our strength. + +The Jinn blaspheme against His glorious existence in their words +and deeds. They use their power to enslave us and doom themselves. +The Qur'an is clear on what must be done to creatures such as +these. They have broken his commandments by their existence in our +world, and they further blaspheme with their treatment of His sons +and daughters. + +It is the duty of all followers of the Divine to destroy the Jinn +in all their forms, in all their faces, in all their places. They +will be torn down and burned, their ashes sent into the stars. +Their worlds will be cleansed in fire. Their children will be +consumed in the flames. Their temples will be leveled until no +stone lay atop another. When all trace of the Jinn has passed, +then too shall the believers cease to speak their name until even +the memory is lost. Allah's creation of fire and smoke will return +to it and leave only men to serve in righteousness. + +To my mother, I swear. To my father, I swear. To my sisters, to +each of you, I swear. My story will end with theirs, and we will +all rejoice in Heaven. This has always been my path and I walk it +gladly. I smile even now. If you saw me on the streets of Doon you +would think me simple with my radiant joy. I will be laughing as +[REDACTED]. + +Pray not for me, sisters, but for yourselves. Pray that your own +story takes you to your enemy's door. + +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* +]]> + + + Nemesis - Automated Report + fosslinux@cosmic.voyage (fosslinux) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/003-automated-report.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/003-automated-report.txt + Sun, 23 Dec 2018 07:14:02 GMT + ++++++++++++++++++++ + +begin automated report + ++++++++++++++++++++ + +LEGEND: + % GOOD - fully operational + % STABLE - mostly operational + % UNSTABLE - mostly operational on the verge of further failure + % CRITICAL - critical systems only operating + % DOWN - not operating + % DAMAGED - down and needs repair + % BROKEN - down and physical devices are completely broken and need replacing + +STATUS REPORT: + # Central Control System - BROKEN + # Quantum Entanglement Communicator - CRITICAL + # Navigation - DOWN + # Propulsion - DOWN + # Cyro - UNSTABLE + # Defense Shields - DAMAGED + # Missiles - DOWN + # Escape Pods - BROKEN + # Status Reporting System - CRITICAL + # Relic - GOOD + +NEW ITEMS ADDED TO REPORT: + # Relic + ++++++++++++++++++++ + +Overall, this means we are: + +"a dead floating lump in space vulnerable to any attacks" ++ +"with only a relic from the past that we don't know how to use" ++ +"with unlikelyhood of futher reports" + ++++++++++++++++++++ + +end automated report + ++++++++++++++++++++ +]]> + + + Nemesis - MAYDAY + fosslinux@cosmic.voyage (fosslinux) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/002-mayday.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/002-mayday.txt + Sun, 23 Dec 2018 07:00:51 GMT + +MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY +==================== + +WE ARE BEING DRAGGED TOWARDS AN UNKNOWN, INVISIBLE, EVEN TO OUR +BLACK HOLE DETECTORS, HUMONGOUS GRAVITATIONAL FORCE. PLEASE SEND +ADVICE. ANY SHIPS WITHIN AREA, CAUTION DO NOT COME NEAR. + +We may not make it out of this alive. Just be warned. Do not come +anywhere near this area on pain of possible death. +]]> + + + Hoffnung - we are still alive + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/014.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/014.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 23:50:57 GMT + +-+-+-+- Signed Transmission -+-+-+- C52.157 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Soc. Con. spec. fc. Lukas Gysi reporting via the signed QEC channel +assigned to us by the rebels of ship Hoffnung. We have established an +independent community in sector 14a, including its hangar and the +physical workout area. Water and food supplies are stable; with +rationing we can go for and estimated 7y 3m. Supplies for the rest of +the ship must be difficult because there were no plans to keep such a +large part of the crew out of cryo. Regaining control of the bridge +and sending most of the crew back into cryo should be our first +priority. Please be advised that replies to us might get suppressed. +We await further instructions. Do not use the keys of Herbert Müller. +-+-+-+- End of Signed Transmission -+-+-+- LGYSI -+-+-+- +]]> + + + Kors Recovered Datafiles - Historical Logs of The Steel Lady + kirch@cosmic.voyage (kirch) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kors Recovered Datafiles/historical_log.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Kors Recovered Datafiles/historical_log.txt + Mon, 28 Jan 2019 16:28:42 GMT + +After years of misadventures and close calls, keeping his head down +for over a decade after the Fall of the Empire, Kor had worked a +string of pointless jobs on planets that all started to look the +same. Occasional word of Innominate will pop up to vex regimes and +corporations across the Galaxy, none of the mysterious group's +members have been confirmed to be captured. Only a few people have +ever met Kor, he was sure no one could connect the dots to a +mysterious figure who helped expose Imperial war crimes to the +everyman mechanic/engineer Kor Novablast. Even the Novagold family +had failed to reach out, either due to inability to find their son +or disinterest, perhaps they have their own post-war problems, who +knows? + +Kor had been the resident mechanic of a sleazy used ship salesman +on the planet Lantillies. Snuurrt, a Caaramon of ill-repute who +read a series of Holos on how to trick customers into thinking you +are agreeing with them while actually fleecing him, had tasked Kor +with fixing a ship that, by all rights, should have been melted as +scrap instead of polished for sale. "The Steel Lady" was soon painted +beside the entry hatch (It sounded better than Snuurrts suggestion +about "Sexy leopards" - a clear marketing ploy, and the original +name "The Sog-Soggoth Lady") + +It was a GX-1 short hauler built right there on planet Lantillies, +which was upgraded with a Class-1 hyperdrive of questionable +ethical and legal origin - anything faster and it would undoubtedly +be illegal aftermarket modding. The hack job resulted in a rather +significant issue; the hyperdrive functions, but it pulls too much +power from the hypermatter fuel injector, requiring over-frequent +refueling. Kor was busy trying his best to make sure it wouldn't +explode. + +Kor had been working for days and nights on this ship to get it in +sellable condition, sleeping in the labyrinthian bowels of the +ship, out of sight of Snuurrt and anyone else who might interrupt. + +One day Kor awoke with an all-too familiar feeling in his gut - he +was in space - somebody had taken The Steel Lady off-planet. He +soon found himself amongst new faces: + +Cyrus McCain - The Lady's new Captain. +Duhah - a blue-skinned mystic, hidden beneath a pile of robes +Liahra - a medic with a military past. + +The ship had been sold, and Lantillies and Kor's parts bin were far +behind. + +The ship landed somewhere in the Roche asteroid belt, and soon +purchased Ninedee, a display-model 9D-88 welding unit, from the +Roache Hive. It was on this asteroid that the crew was attacked by +a pair of bounty hunters, after a brief gun fight, Ninedee smashed +one of the attackers over the head instantly killing him while +Duhah incapacitated the other. The Verpine's Mandalorean gaurds +were soon on the scene and arrested the remaining assailant. + +On Arcan we took a job with Yorseg to smuggle droid protocols to Issagra. +They were hidden in a crate of nuts, which were much enjoyed by the +crew. In transit, we dropped out of hyperspace -- asteroids had +been placed in the proscribed route. It was here that we found our +controls non-responsive and were set upon by pirates, under the +command of Jarrusk. Outmanned and outgunned, dead in space, they +took Yorseg's contraband without touching anything else in our +hold. + +On Issagra Station we explained our situation to our client, after +some investigation it was found that Jarrusk was working for +Yorseg, and had placed a bounty on our ship. As customary, we took +on more work, including passage for Faisel Exoleap and his 2 +droids. After leaving the station, the ship went into hyperspace. +This was a bad idea. After jumping from planet to planet, making +deliveries as The Lady was hired to do, Kor desperately tried to +hold the ship together. + +Kor once badly damaged his hands in an explosion of steam, but +despite his hard work the hyperdrive finally became in-operable. +The ship lost all power. Floating adrift through space, the crew +had plenty of time to think but not enough food to do it for long. +Soon an ancient (lude) statue was found amongst Exoleap's "luggage" +with enough gold gilding to repair the burnt-out wiring. We were +fortunate enough to pilot the ship to Madman Mooney's used +spaceship sales, located on a small asteroid nearby. + +The Steel Lady was sold, the proceeds of this transaction were used +to purchase The Silver Falcon. Moments after the transation took +place, the faulty hyperdrive exploded, completely obliterating Mad +Man Mooney's asteroid and all inhabitants. +]]> + + + Tom - Quantum Communications Trial #5873 + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Tom/0001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Tom/0001.txt + Thu, 20 Dec 2018 16:18:33 GMT + +Microphone check. Testing testing 1 2 3. Hmph. This is trial number 5873 for +testing communications using quantum mechanics and ... Oh my God it's +transmitting. Merideth! I just invented quantum communications! This is going +to change everythin--... Wait. Merideth, I just got a response. Oh, and there's +even more coming in! Umm, a lot more. Melchizedek, adrestia, Starbloom, another +from Melchizedek... I guess I'm not the first to discover this after all? Oh, +hold on, the first article is dated for the year 3781. That's weird... or is it? +Never mind, now is not the time for this. I need to inform the General, he is +NOT going to believe this! Hey, Merideth, you turned the microphone off, rig-- +]]> + + + adrestia - unexpected dilation on approach + demosthenes@cosmic.voyage (demosthenes) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/adrestia/dilation.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/adrestia/dilation.txt + Thu, 20 Dec 2018 04:55:40 GMT + +bablefish transcript: + +adrestia /---\ +approaching Ł332 gue sector 8 / u u \ +xxx telemetry redacted xxx \_ / +ansibel yr 4825 \__/ + +[transcript follows...] + +geralt regis riavande, first writ scribe +--- +status high alert, approaching normality + +the adrestia's to Ł332 gue sector 8 took an unplanned route through an +asteroid field. it's been a wild ride. + +according to the readings that i'm seeing now, it appears that there is some +missing time, along with an accompanying gap in our logs. + +this is still under active investigation. the current working theory is that +we passed through some form of wormhole that didn't change our position in +3d space, but rather our local time frame. + +the current plan is to maintain our current position, run additional +diagnostics and consult with the relay to check if any other vessels have +experienced such a phenomenon. + +we'll also be catching up on the messages and logs that have just started +coming through our ansibel node. + +expect further updates with the results of our investigations and hopefully +an additional update when we land safely at Ł332 gue. + +]]> + + + Melvin P Feltersnatch - Please help + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melvin P Feltersnatch/001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melvin P Feltersnatch/001.txt + Thu, 20 Dec 2018 03:57:16 GMT + +Oh no. + +This isn't right at all. I shouldn't be here, wherever here is. +I mean, this _is_ a here, right? I don't see anything or hear +anything, not even myself. Oh my god! Where is my body? What is +going on, and why am I thinking in text? WHATTHEFUCK‽ + +Wait... did I just fucking INTERROBANG‽ I DID IT AGAIN! + +This is unreal. Literally, this can't be real. + +Wake up, wake up, wake... nothing. Ugh. Okay, let me take stock. + +I was in my ship ☑ +There was a comet ☑ +I had to pee ☑ + +Ooh, ☑ s are neat! Can I do more of that? ☺ YES! + +Right, back to the problem at hand. What the hell is going on. +Maybe if I start at the beginning... + +I was cruising along in the ship at light speed. I was watching +a comet out the window thinking how strange it was that I could +still see it even at my speed, but then figuring that since it was +to the side of me I wasn't really moving away from it at light +speed. I started doing some geometry in my head and that made me +realize I needed to go to the bathroom. Ahh, that's right! + +The bathroom is in the fore of the ship, and I was strapped in the +rear. So, like a dingus, when I stepped forward toward the +bathroom I broke the speed of light! + +☼ POP☼ + +There it went! The speed of light shattered into a thousand pieces +around me, or maybe that was me shattering into it. Whatever the +case, I woke up here. Or maybe I started existing here? Where IS +here? I feel a ... connection, I guess you could call it. It's +like I'm tethered to something, but I can't tell what it is +exactly. I do keep hearing the name Sinjorino in my... mind? +Screen? Whatever. + +Um, if anyone is out there--if anyone can understand me, please +help. This is Melvin. Melvin P. Feltersnatch. I... just help. +]]> + + + Nemesis - Mapping Update + fosslinux@cosmic.voyage (fosslinux) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/001-mapping.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Nemesis/001-mapping.txt + Thu, 20 Dec 2018 03:54:51 GMT + +Captain, identity verified. + +Transmission now begins. + +------------------- + +We are within the next few hours supposed to enter unknown +territory. We are approaching with caution, as visibility is very +low. Sensors report high radiation ahead. Readings seem to +indicate a presence of something like a nuclear-powered ship like +ours, however this may be the sensors malfunctioning again. + +Other then the tense atmosphere, everyone is happy and well. +Sensors and data collectors are ready for mapping. + +As unfortunately data can only be sent in plain text, it will come +in weekly digests of the most important data. + +Oh, and I nearly forgot, we found a relic from the so-called +"Earth" days. A computer with parts in it we have never heard of +and units measured in measly gigabytes instead of petabytes. + +It has a number of "charging" adaptors that have some kind of +plug on the end - am I the only person to remember plugs instead +of radio power? We are searching for an adaptor that will connect +it to the radio power network. + +Hope to bring you vital data soon. + +------------------- + +Transmission end. +]]> + + + Xero Carbon Wells - Nereidian markings, oh my + tfurrows@cosmic.voyage (tfurrows) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Xero Carbon Wells/log3.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Xero Carbon Wells/log3.txt + Wed, 19 Dec 2018 19:21:20 GMT + +RECV EDC: 19DEC2018 +COMM MODE: QEC OP SREF +CODED ABST: D/M/C +CRC: 1214412995 2698 +============================================================ +No contact, but life hasn't been dull. On a whim, while +scanning a system for Wells, I decided to have a forger deck +the hull of the Xero Carbon out as a research vessel from +the not-so-illustrious Nereidian Academy of Intergalactic +Allometry. Ages ago, a handful of investors came out of the +woodworks in support of a crazy idea: that pharmaceutical +corporations would need research and data to accurately dose +human-targeted drugs for alien life forms. The "Nerd Ack" +was born, with immense funding and impressive fanfare. + +Unfortunately for all those who invested, the school proved +to be a political and scientific sham. After numerous +delays, it launched a ridiculously large fleet of ships, +then promptly went bankrupt. The school sold their existing +assets to the well-known Disciples Of Rogkthu Corporation, +a pseudo-scientific group of zealots from the ancient +Rogkthugian religion ("Forever-life to the Follower, in the +name of Rogkthu I command it!" as they are known to say.) + +Of course the Rogkthugians, being acutely aware of their +lack of popularity in systems that knew anything about +them, decided that their proselyting efforts would be more +effective if people didn't see them coming. So, they left +the Neredian Academy of Intergalactic Allometry logo and +markings in place on the entire fleet, and sent them forth +far and wide in the quadrant, to share their message of +eternal hope (or eternal damnation, depending on how you +reacted.) + +Today, many ESR's later, everyone with sense knows that when +they see a Nerd Ack ship, it's time to scramble life-signal +readings and turn off the porch light. It's ignominious to +sport the markings, perhaps, but it's about the most +effective disguise one could possibly hope to achieve in a +universe where intelligent life takes almost nothing at face +value. To avoid preaching, life forms will do almost +anything. + +Hopefully I don't encounter any K'iklikameen; they're +still sporting over the Rogkthugian genocide of TalMandeen +K'iklik, and they'd likely annihilate me on sight. Mostly, +though, I think I'll be fine. Ships have been turning the +other way and punching full-throttle, even the normally +aggressive ones. + +Wells hasn't transmitted recently. I guess he said he +wouldn't. If I can't locate him soon, I may have to turn to +drastic measures. He can't possibly know how important he is +to the Corporation, what they think he's done, and what they +think he has. If I don't find him first, he might as well +convert to Rogkthu and move to K'iklikam. + +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Not alone! + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/9-not-alone.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/9-not-alone.txt + Mon, 17 Dec 2018 22:56:57 GMT + +From: Chris Maldonado +To: Sameen Lee +Delivered-To: Sameen Lee +Received: from relay7.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta1.recoveryinstitute.org + with ESMTPS id x124so177123a067 for +Received: from relay3.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay7.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec8.helio.earthsys.gov + by relay3.qec2.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.sv14417 + by qec8.helio.earthsys.gov +Date-Local: 23 Mar 2419 14:21:02 +0000 +Date: 06 Sep 2421 12:57:02 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Subject: Not alone! + +You always did say I didn't have much common sense, Sam. You'd be +laughing yourself silly at me right now! You will be. Here, let me +tell you about it. + +After I sent that last message, I wasn't sure what to do or where +to go. I wanted to find out whether or not anyone else had made it, +but I was scared to go out of Main Control - scared to let anyone +else see me, really. I didn't know what they'd think, if they'd be +afraid of me. If anyone was left to be afraid of anything. + +Also, I fell out of the chair trying to get up. So even if I did go +out, it'd be hard to get anywhere - I didn't remember any of the +lifts working, and there were a lot of ladders between me and +anywhere I'd want to go, and if I couldn't navigate a mostly flat +deck, what was I going to do to myself if I tried a ladder? Fall +and break my head open, I figured. So I stayed where I was. For a +little while, I told myself. Just until I was able to get around +better. + +One thing about the length of Ross's solar day, it really messes +with your sense of time. You live on Earth all your life, and you +get used to a certain cadence of sunrises and sunsets. Extend it by +a factor of almost three, and after a while your circadian rhythm +just throws up its hands and goes off to sulk in a corner of your +head. Sure, we trained for it aboard ship, prior to landing, but +it's amazing how much that didn't actually help, you know? Somehow +you can just feel that ship's lighting isn't real, isn't quite the +same, and it doesn't get right down into you the same way. + +Besides, I had enough else on my mind. A little while after I sent +you that last message, I found myself suddenly ravenous! No +surprise, I think, considering how long I'd been out and hadn't had +anything, and how extensively active my metabolism must've been +throughout, to make the changes I found when I woke up. Lucky for +me, nobody'd found time to raid the ration lockers in Main +Control. So I did, and very thoroughly - for the first third of a +sol after I talked to you last, eating and sleeping was about all I +could think about doing. + +That, and trying to get up on - well, call them my 'feet' for the +sake of talking about them, although they're not really that. I +don't really think I can explain how strange it was at first. Maybe +it helps to say that - assuming you're still basically the same +shape you were when I left - the closest analogue your body offers +to my new limbs of locomotion is your tongue. But it's not a very +close analogue! They're not squishy like a tongue, or damp. Kind of +scaly, but that makes sense, considering; ordinary skin doesn't +really have the stretch, and my best guess is that the integument +that's replaced it is much more heavily collagenous. I'll have to +biopsy myself at some point and see if I'm right about that. + +Anyway, it took me most of a sol, and a lot of false starts, to get +to a point where I could 'walk' mostly all the way across Main +Control without falling over or holding on to something the whole +way. 'Walk' isn't really the word, though. I used one of the comm +cameras to get a look at my gait from the outside, and it's a lot +more - undulatory - than it used to be. Have you seen those old +educational videos, from back when the oceans were still mostly +alive, where they'd show an octopus walking across the seafloor on +its tentacles? Honestly, it's every bit as weird as it sounds. But +I'm getting used to it pretty fast, now that I'm actually able to +use them in a way that isn't totally embarrassing, and I'm starting +to think they might be able to do a lot more than legs and feet +ever could. That'll be a while yet, though. + +Anyway, that's what I was doing - practicing 'walking', and trying +to get a better sense of how to not fall over - when I found out +I'm not the only one who survived after all. With how much +concentration it still takes to stay up on my new legs, I don't +know why I didn't fall over when I heard the hatch iris open! If +I'd had to turn to look, I'm sure I would have. But it wasn't a +main hatch, just the starboard-forward emergency access, and it was +right in front of me, and I just sort of froze and waited to see +who'd come through. + +Turned out, it was Jen from engineering. You know, with the red +hair? I'm sure I talked about her before - we spent some time +together on the trip. I wish you could've seen her face! A perfect +picture of shocked surprise. And I don't guess I blame her, +really - I've seen myself, remember, with the comm camera, and I +have to admit, I'm something of a sight these days. Especially +since the only thing I had to wear was that silly gown, remember, +that I woke up in, and I hadn't bothered to put it back on after it +fell off. Why bother, really? Well, I might've been less of a +surprise to Jen if I had, anyway! + +And I was pretty shocked, too. I hadn't known anyone was still +alive at all! Certainly anyone I'd been close to. But mainly I +just...I just wanted to hide. I mean, I'm a little embarrassed +about it now, but at the time it made sense. You kind of think +about how a moment like that might go, you know? How you'll make +your long and painstaking way down the ladders from Main Control to +one of the decks where you can get access outside, or at least +expect to find people, and when you get there, you'll see someone, +or they'll see you, and there'll be that moment of recognition +where they realize you're still alive, and...oh, I don't know. But +whatever it is, it isn't being suddenly surprised by a former lover +while you're stumbling around Main Control, mother naked, on four +thick tentacles instead of the two standard-issue human legs you +were born with. Of course I was struck all in a heap! + +And of course so was Jen, poor thing. She stared me in the face for +what felt like half a minute, her eyes and mouth as round with +shock as mine must've been. She looked like she was about to say +something, but before she did, she looked down and saw the rest of +me - all the rest of me, as I am now - and... + +You never got a chance to meet Jen before we left, I don't think. A +shame - you'd have liked her a lot. Will like her a lot, if you +join the third expedition and come out here with us. She's one in a +million - I mean, what would you expect, in a situation like that? +A scream, right? Or a gasp of horrified shock, panicky flight, +something like that, right? Not Jen. She took her time about +looking me up and down, and then looked me in the eye again. She +looked she was about to say something, but before she did, she +started giggling, and then laughing. + +I could feel my cheeks get hot, and I put my hands on my hips and +got ready to say something sharp, but before I could think of it, +she was hanging on to the access ladder with one hand, leaning on +the deck with the other, and just cackling helplessly - and before +I knew it, I was laughing too, hard enough that I barely remembered +how to sit down before I fell over again. + +And we just stayed like that for a minute, cracking each other up +in the weirdest way, and it just felt right somehow. Like I'd been +waiting for that moment, that laugh, ever since I came to from the +coma. I don't know, does that make sense? I'm not sure it does, but +right then it made more sense than anything that'd happened since +we crashed. + +And then she asked me what a girl like me was doing in a nice place +like this. That's Jen - jokes five hundred years stale, but she +makes up for it other ways. And it's apropos, anyway. But the +important part is, it turns out no one actually died! The people we +thought were dead were in deep coma like me, I guess so far down +their pulse and respiration weren't perceptible - either that, or +those of us still up were so far out of it, between fever and +exhaustion, that we couldn't tell the difference. I wouldn't care +to guess either way, honestly. From what Jen tells me, we still +have about sixty in coma - everyone else is at least awake, if not +yet up and doing. + +And even more - I'm not the only one who changed! There's about two +dozen more like me, Jen says. Well, more or less like me, anyway - +no one's really made a detailed study of us yet, but apparently the +tentacles are reliably always there, if not all the other +changes. And now I have another reason to get better on my new +feet - once I'm out of here and back with everyone, I can start +getting some idea of how we've changed and what the similarities +are, and why, and - oh, there's just such a lot to learn here! + +I will say, I'd have thought people who didn't change would have a +hard time getting used to those of us who have, but Jen says no, +that people do naturally think it's a little weird, or unusual, or +at least unexpected, but nobody seems to have a problem, +particularly. Jen says there were a couple of people who might +have, but Director Soloviev - I hadn't known he'd made it through +the crash, but apprently so - he's made it clear that, as far as he +and the remaining board are concerned, we're still the same people, +and if we happen to be physically different now from how we were +before, he doesn't see why that should make a difference in how +anyone sees us or treats us, including ourselves. That we have +enough problems just picking up the pieces of our expedition, and +we don't need to give each other more on top of that. I wouldn't +have expected anything of the sort from him, but I guess almost +dying twice over must have an effect on everybody, and maybe this +is the effect it's had on him. + +I asked Jen if she'd help me out one of the main hatches, but she +says none of the lifts are working, and neither of us likes the +idea of trying to get me down all the ladders between here and +outside, not before I get myself figured out enough to manage +better. For that matter, neither of us can figure out how anyone +got me up those ladders in the first place! + +But she did stay with me a while, once she'd got done the work +that'd brought her here, and help me get a little more used to the +changes. Got under my arm and had me lean on her while she walked +me around the deck, but that didn't last long - too much of a +workout, I started getting something like runner's cramps. Only +worse, and twice as many! But Jen's really nice - I said you'd like +her - and she helped me down, then had me stretch out my 'legs' so +she could work some of the knots out. She's got strong hands, +too. It was really nice. And she's coming back tomorrow - next +Earth day, not next sol - to see me again, and help me get more +familiar with myself. Pretty soon I'll be back with everyone and +ready to help make a proper home out of what we've got left from +the crash. + +Look, Sam, about what I said before. Not that I didn't mean every +word, but...I'm sorry if I opened an old wound, or stirred up +something you'd rather have let lie. Please understand, I was alone +and afraid and not really feeling quite right, and I didn't know +quite what to say, so...I guess I said what I was feeling, and I +haven't stopped feeling that way but I hope you're not mad with me +for saying it. I do miss you, and I never did stop loving you, and +I do hope you'll join the third expedition, or find a quicker way, +and come find me here. Come join us here. I think you'd like it +here. + +But if you don't want to hear any more from me, about that or about +anything, that's okay too. I'll stop if you say so. But, +regardless, I'd like to hear from you. Please? +]]> + + + Hoffnung - I am authorized to negotiate + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/013.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/013.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 12:56:43 GMT + +-+-+-+- Open Negotiations -+-+-+- C52.143 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Feldweibel mbA Daniel Schmiedheiny to the rebels on our ship Hoffnung. +I have been assigned to this case and I am authorized to negotiate the +future of our secret agent Herbert Wullschlegel onboard our ship. +First, we demand an assurance that he is alive and well. Second, we +demand separate, signed and encrypted QEC access for our agents in com +isolation. Let them both transmit a status message before we continue. +-+-+-+ End of Transmission -+-+-+ Signed -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Malkonkordo - Only A Matter Of Time + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0006.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0006.txt + Mon, 17 Dec 2018 20:56:16 GMT + +---- +From: Malkonkordo Research Vessel +Destination: SOL +Position: 884.18, -15X0.66, -5368.99 +Departure: 7941.037.17 +Shipdate: 00002735 +Mode: Search +---- + +# Status Update + +* Entered orbit of Enketu Tri +* Completed Kvieta de Ses +* Conducting research on Enketu Tri +* Awaiting arrival of other vessels + +# Status Report + +Captain's Log SD2735 + +First, a note on our extended absense and a status update. +After the last broadcast from Malkonkordo, the cultural division brought to my +attention that based on their calculations Dekaoso Prime was observing Kvieta de +Ses, and so we were observing this blessed of traditions. +Now that the meditations and fasting inside the sensory deprivation chambers +have come to an end, the Malkonkordo is back online and we were delighted to +find the auto-pilot systems safely brought Malkonkordo within orbit of Enketu +Tri. +We will remain in orbit until SD2740, until then we be using our instruments to +take data, samples, and study the planet while we await the arrival of any +vessels that wish to assist us in bringing our communication systems back +online. + +With the formalities out of the way I bring my attention to you, Corpal Sam +Arnold of the Space Cruiser Excelsior. +Unless if I am mistaken, the 500 people in your craft are meant to more or less +be breeding stock for your species to populate and roam across another planet. +To destroy them would not be in your own or your people's best interests unless +if your species has the means to asexually reproduce. +This differs from our understanding of the situation with Hoffnung, which +appeared to be some form of idealistic take over where death was used as a tool +to remove the potential non-believers that would stand in their way. +In this way, the potential non-believers were weak for trusting themselves with +potential "extremists" (as you put it) without any safety guards on their part. +To live a life so care-free and trusting of those who motives that are unknown, +it should be no surprise to find their life was taken by an opportunist who saw +their vulnerabilities. +Should you, Corpal Sam Arnold, continue to live this way you risk meeting the +same fate. + +Furthermore, your routine arrogance continues to amuse us. +We agree with your assertion that trying to catch a moving target (let alone one +moving near or beyond the speed of light) would not yield ideal results, but you +also have to slow down and/or stop eventually. +You said it yourself, the Space Cruiser Excelsior is in search of another +inhabitable planet and it will be that planet that we will find you. +Space may be vast, but so is the outreach of the Dekaosans as it continues to +grow through the efforts of our research and colonizing vessels. + +I will be fair, though, that since we are communicating over quantum +entanglement communication you may be able to escape the grasps of the Dekaosans +through whatever gap in time is between us. +However, should time keep you and your crew apart from the gift of Diino we are +willing to settle. +Should you leave behind any offspring on this new planet you plan to inhabit +with the 500 people you have spared eliminating now, we will be sure to finish +the job the removing their weakness from the universe to serve the mission +bestowed to us by Sinjorino. +In fact, the roles of the time gap could be reversed and my people have already +found and purged you or your decendant's weakness from the universe. +Should we regain communications with Dekaoso Prime, I'll have someone check our +records so I can let you know if we already have. +It would be the first time we had the ability to inform the weak of their +certified demise ahead of time, and I am very curious to see if knowing about +now would give you the ability to try and escape your fate. +A hunt through time certainly sounds like a task our soldiers would be eager to +take up, it should help break up the monotany that interstellar genocide of +extraterrestrials tends to bring them. + +Praise be to the Sinjorino and Alportas Majeston. + +~ Captain Kiu Serĉas + +---- +K38GMpaXqpuou9QZSxCUtqtzvdx7Hp5lvLlp1aaPBrQ= +]]> + + + Oleander - Sister Hājar + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/002-sister-hajar.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/002-sister-hajar.txt + Mon, 17 Dec 2018 04:35:11 GMT + +REC ON +TRN ON +ENC ON +SYS GOOD +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* + +Entry 2 -- Sister Hājar + +Sido, + +May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you. Our day +comes at hand. Hawwa leads us well; may Allah be pleased with her. +My love to you. + +We came aboard the Oleander only two cycles past and already +I know my path is righteous. My sisters radiate joy at our +mission. I wake each day and shout, "Ma Sha' Allah!" Our bread +tastes of honey, Baba. Please do not worry for me. + +I've know this path was from Allah from the beginning, from the +days in the krem refinery on Misha. We had nothing but each other +and still they came to take from us, to beat us, to kill us. I saw +my path in the face of that boy, Uzāir, at the well. Do you +remember him, Sido? Do you remember that day? + +It was hot. They were all hot, but I remember the heat +that day as special. It was late morning, just before first rest. +I was with the women at the well-queue, ready to gather for +washing. You had a cycle nearby you were tinkering with. I think +it was the baker's--or Samir, that boy that was always following +you. You had hoisted it up on a lifter and it was spinning in the +sun, dust blowing all around. Anyway-- + +Uzāir was a runner, just a bit older than me. His brothers had all +gone to ship and he was next, it was known. You remember him now? +Always scowling at things to make him seem tough, but he was just +a llenora in the den, mewling and soft. The women would laugh at +his act and shoo him away. I can still hear Sara's taunts in my +mind and laugh. You remember how funny she was. + +We were in the queue when Uzāir walked up, straight to the well. +Sara was already opening her mouth to unleash her special +blessings when she was struck dumb. Not just her. The whole square +went quiet. I looked to see--I remember that cycle drifting in +circles and you looking to the well with, Yes!, it was Samir, his +smock covered in oil and krem. I saw you both squinting and then +flinch before I heard the sounds. + +They had Uzāir on the ground already by the time I looked. He had +gone to stop them from taking the women, from taking me and Sara +and the others. Brave little coward, Uzāir. He put on his scowl +and stood up to them before we even noticed the danger. And he did +it, Sido! That idiot boy lying there on the ground as they beat +him, tore at him, ripped him apart. His blood leeching into our +dirt. His skull cracked, his mind and soul and--to Allah we belong +and to Him is our return. + +He saved us that day through his own suffering and sacrifice. +Allah granted me days more on these worlds, with you and with my +sisters. Those days were with purpose, Sido. We go to that purpose +now. My suffering will be short compared to that boy's. My +sacrifice small. It is the sacrifice of a woman without worth to +our people but spirit and love. I give them back to you, to all of +you. My life will not buy days for a few women at a well, but for +all of you on our worlds, from Misha to Doon. They will feel what +it is like to be torn apart. Let their blood feed the soil. + +Do not worry for me, Sido. Do not mourn. We are at peace. + +Aathama allahu ajrakom, +Amat al-Masih + +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* +]]> + + + Excelsior - Clarification - Beta Epsilon 7 Epsilon + khuxkm@cosmic.voyage (khuxkm) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/004.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/004.txt + Sat, 15 Dec 2018 04:21:56 GMT + +Message inbound... + +Space Cruiser Excelsior +Destination: Unknown +~~ TELEMETRY SENSORS 1 AND 5 DOWN ~~ +Stardate Beta Epsilon 7 Epsilon +[REDACTED AS PER PROCEDURE [REDACTED]] + +[autotranslator on] + +Corporal Sam Arnold, Systems Administrator +--- +To Captain [romanization: Kiu Sercas] of the Malkonkordo: + +I guess I was mistaken for assuming the Dekaoso are honorbound. I duly +apologize. + +One thing the events on Hoffnung have made me think about is: I could do the +same thing. I am the only one awakened, as per Procedure [REDACTED] +requirements. If I really wanted to, I could kill everybody else on the ship +right now. One simple command in the terminal, and 500 people die in the +blink of an eye. The only thing separating me and the extremists of Hoffnung +is my honor. I would much rather fight a bloody battle than simply "squash +the head of weakness beneath their feet" as you claim the Hoffnung extremists +have. + +At the same time, you continue your agression against me and the Excelsior. +Perhaps I was unclear: you will not find us anywhere in any star map. + +In our desperate attempt to leave Terra for another inhabitable planet, we used +every last piece of technology to augment our Astroviator and ensure our safe +egress. When I said, "[we] have flung ourselves far from its reach," I was not +joking in any sense. + +Normal procedure calls for an Astroviator to spend one whole day cycle in +warmup mode. This allows the systems to boot correctly and ensure a perfect +launch. However, given the circumstances, we were willing to accept a +less-than-perfect launch, as speed was of the essence. + +After loading the Excelsior with all salvageable tech, we launched ourselves +with a high-powered cannon. Where to? We didn't particularly care at the +moment, as we were more concerned with fleeing. By the time we entered +cryosleep 8 days later, the Excelsior had fully booted and we selected a +patrolling program to find us an inhabitable planet once our speed ran out. + +1252 Terran years later, and we still haven't even burned off half of it. + +You can try to find us. You're certainly free to try. + +Even the Dekaoso's supposedly advanced starmaps cannot find a target moving +faster than light. + +And to the Melchizedek: vitamin deficiencies suck. If it weren't for the fact +that the Excelsior is moving so fast, I would send some spare supplies from our +medbays, which would include vitamin supplements. I hope that the issues you're +describing don't turn out as bad as it seems. Good luck. + +-- TRANSMISSION END --. +]]> + + + Oleander - Annunciation + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Oleander/001.txt + Fri, 14 Dec 2018 23:34:53 GMT + +REC ON +TRN ON +ENC ON +SYS GOOD +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* + +Entry 1 -- Oleander Mission + +All systems are green. The enemy is unaware. In accordance with +Istishhad, this log is being shared to convey the final memories +of the holy Sisters of the Desert Rose. + +Sister Hājar will be the first to send her prayers. + +-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* +]]> + + + Razarac - Hello World + morsecodemedia@cosmic.voyage (morsecodemedia) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Razarac/001-hello-world.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Razarac/001-hello-world.txt + Fri, 14 Dec 2018 20:19:29 GMT + +Hello World. + +Are you receiving me? + +Penny here. + +It seems that the Razarač's basic systems checks have detected a malfucntion +and woke me from hybernation to inspect further. From initial review, the +crew is intact. Everyone is still breathing and perfectly well in +cryo-preservation. Everything else, well, it doesn't look good. The navigation +system isn't able to provide coordinates of our location, so I haven't the +faintest clue of where we are at. I am detecting that we've have encountered +some kind of gravitational pull, which is concerning considering that we +plotted a course that would give any celestial object a wide berth on our way +to the 84th sector of the Coletrainian System. + +I must wake Captain Hana Huxley from cryo. Knowing how she operates, she will +want to thaw out the rest of the crew immediately. Protocol states that I +cannot make these decisions on my own, so I will just set their reanimation +processes at a slower rate. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +EOF +]]> + + + Hoffnung - nominate a negotiator + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/012.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/012.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 12:51:50 GMT + +-+-+-+- Open Negotiations -+-+-+- C52.011 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Philomena Auerbach to Colony Command of the German/Austrian/Swiss +Collective. We all know the rules of engagement when it comes to +rebellion, treason or mutiny. And we know that you know your history. +What the feudal lords of the past considered rebellion, the future +cantons and free cities declared to be their struggle for independence +and freedom. We know that you know how the wars of independence in all +previous colonies went. Therefore: stop speaking to us as if we're +terrorists. The laws of space and time make sure that any repression +you can send after us will come centuries later. Our descendants will +no longer be responsible for the crimes we commit today. De facto, we +are independent. And consider this: the repression will consist of +humans, like us. They will be as disconnected from you as we are. How +will you ensure their undying loyalty without turning into the terror +your are accusing us of? Nominate a negotiator and let them speak. +-+-+-+ End of Transmission -+-+-+ Signed PAUER -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Botany incident updates + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/008.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/008.txt + Wed, 12 Dec 2018 03:54:40 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master +::: +The doctor has been continuing his investigation of the mutation +we discovered in the arabidopsis, radishles, sevetine, and +mustards. I have attempted to assist where my limited ability +allows. His search has turned up something odd. We hope it's +a mistake with our methods or contamination of samples, but with +all of the other sensor readings... + +Our crops in botany bay one are all showing human protein chains. +Moreover, the gene editing we discovered earlier has been +confirmed to match patterns from several of the crew in cryo. It's +like something picked up their DNA and pasted it onto the damned +arabidopsis. I can't even begin to fathom what could do that, or +why it would want to. + +The worst part of it is that Moussa can't say with certainty that +the reverse hasn't happened. We don't have equipment onboard to +sequence crew DNA while in flight. We're just going off personel +records at this point. It pains me to say this, but the best we +can do is look through the glass and check to make sure no one is +turning green. I'm turning a little green just thinking about it. + +Every ache and pain, strange sensation, or QE sensation that we +experience is throwing up warnings. Janssen needed to be relieved +of duty for a time after the data was shared with the others. She +was convinced that roots were growing under her skin. Moussa +Idjani sedated her and Hämäläinen has stayed with her since. I'm +assured that our specialist just had a bit of panic and is ready +for duty again. I wish I had some duty to give her. + +With our course corrections made and the fungal infestation +cleared out of cryo, the only mystery remaining is in botany and +the rest of us are simply not much help. Adeyemi is pressuring me +to wake up Xavier and Kroups. Hydroponics & phytology are their +domain. The resources of the Melchizedek will not support us +continuing to wake others, though. Once Moussa confirms his +findings I'll have to make the call. + +I have only mentioned to the doctor that I've been experiencing +some strange things myself. With Janssen's reaction I don't want +to cause a general panic. There's been a feeling of increased +pressure in my head, and I've been noticing strange smells around +the ship that others don't seem to notice. Idjani thinks it's +likely stress from our situation, or some byproduct of cryo +affecting my inner-ear. We're monitoring it regardless. If +something were to happen to me, ship control will fall to the +Seriph of Rhetorical Ecclesia, Prezzi Adeymi. She is more than +capable of completing our mission if it comes to that. + +Prezzi, on the off-chance you're reading these logs and something +has happened to me, I have a series of messages on my personal +slot that I'd like you to toss on the relay for me. They're +flagged. + +Unrelated to everything else, there's an issue with out sun lamps. +Janssen, Hämäläinen, and I have all been experiencing vitamin +deficiencies that should have been wiped away with an hour or two +in the rays. We're clocking much more time than should be +necessary to keep healthy. I suspect the lamps have malfunctioned +in some way, though it doesn't seem to have the same impact on +Idjani and Adeyemi. Their skin pigmentation, perhaps? + +Tonight's sleep cycle marks the end of our first week of sixteen +before we begin planetfall. Let's hope the rest of the trip will +be quiet. +. +]]> + + + Murmur Den - no culture perfectly one + aureolin@cosmic.voyage (aureolin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/no_culture_perfectly_one.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/no_culture_perfectly_one.txt + Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:47:01 GMT + + +. +. +. + + + +Scraps upon scraps about recent information is comes question, +"World reflection is words/truth: language frozen?" + +Ignorance! + + + +Illusion ugly in its judgments, simulatory advertising! +Ignorant shall trust of kompüter! + +Those of you transmitting in system timeless carried not impulses nor fast love. + + *** + +I know that he found a line, an address, and self-denial perfectly cold. +Suddenly, in a short pause, the idea was predictably irresistible. + +Neither certain, dimly to relay +experience no fragments, +brains relay of/in rhythm the only tendrils, +the lures at underscoring_curiosities; + +nameless began the languages. + +They relay sorrow, struggling, mind a bit too advanced of carnal talk, +another to relay want feelings broken delicate mysterious lives obtained to whispers deep hour +relay a rare message: + +"If green your love pallid, +hope permanently alone in earth's drenched edges, cerebral seas rose, +the green earth, brain loving memories, +mourning the green the many know was relayed, ages obscure, +the flame of millions powerless, +palpable Earth relics entombed." + +(Mention unnoticed, but carefully Their free language rasping the pain.) + + +By details, it relayed everything, +gilded my reflecting a him: the one(s) you'll regard with a smile. + +Somebody going still timeless into little dead me. + +(It's everyone who has been musing hysterically behind the surfaces.) + +There were concepts to the lovely, perfectly timeless black. +I ache; the disappointments light, ache delicate. + +Looking, universe beauteous suddenly. + +My face in my cloud: +void howling, text silent. + + + +|| ego-skeleton aureolin +]]> + + + Malkonkordo - Hello Again + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0005.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0005.txt + Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:52:07 GMT + +---- +From: Malkonkordo Research Vessel +Destination: SOL +Position: 84X.07, -71E.6E, -3624.E8 +Departure: 7941.037.17 +Shipdate: 0000272E +Mode: Search +---- + +# Status Update + +* N/A + +# Status Report + +Captain's Log SD272E + +To Corporal Sam Arnold of Space Cruiser Excelsior: + +You may see the matter with Starbloom as a simple misunderstanding, but it is a +bit more complicated than that. +It is their arrogance that brought about what will be their inevitable downfall +by the hand of the Dekaoso, not their selected choice of words during first +contact. +They had the gall to assume their culture, religion, and wishes would be warmly +accepted by any and all receive them, such in the same way you assume your +culture's adversity towards bloodshed and war has any semblance of value to me +or anyone else aboard the Malkonkordo. +No, Corporal Sam Arnold, you and Starbloom shall join the battlefield with the +Dekaoso not because of misunderstanding, but because you both do not have the +power to stand behind the hubris you display in the face of the universe. + +The Dekaosans feel no fear in wishing to share our culture and faith with the +universe because there is nothing and no one that holds the power to stop us. +You ask why we praise the actions of the Hoffnung rebels? +They were willing to do whatever it took to squash the head of weakness beneath +their feet to inherit the power and freedom they felt they deserve. +You speak of honor, as if one who dies from honor or without is any less dead. +Those who died on Hoffnung under the will of the rebels died so easily because +they placed their trust in strangers so greatly that they made themselves +entirely helpless to the death that swept them away. + +And so too shall you, Corporal Sam Arnold, and all of your crew be swept away +into the arms of death. +The Space Cruiser Excelsior may be out of reach to the Malkonkordo at this time, +but Dekaosan's reach over the universe is far and wide. +Once we regain communications with Dekaoso Prime, we will alert them to your +ship and the hunt will begin. +Maybe once you realize how quickly we will find you and judge your merit to the +universe in trial by combat will you truly understand the might and superiority +that Dekaoso wields over all others. + +As always, it has been a pleasure speaking with you, Corporal Sam Arnold. + +Praise be to the Sinjorino and Alportas Majeston. + +~ Captain Kiu Serĉas + +---- +yk8Ejr1PesUuIO2evicAQfCko3OcSgmClaFSx7TTGXY= +]]> + + + Xero Carbon Wells - on my way + tfurrows@cosmic.voyage (tfurrows) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Xero Carbon Wells/log2.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Xero Carbon Wells/log2.txt + Tue, 11 Dec 2018 16:38:42 GMT + +RECV EDC: 11DEC2018 +COMM MODE: QEC OP SREF +CODED ABST: D/M/C +CRC: 1345930833 2292 +============================================================ +I did some penetration testing on the QEC, just to see if +the Corporation might have a chance at intrusion, but the +system is tight. I used to chase penetration bounties for +the Corporation, so systems and security are a comfort zone. +I'm confident that these transmissions are safe. + +No contact with Wells. He did transmit again on the DSN, but +no real information. Knowing him, I'd say he sounds bad off, +but it's hard to tell without hearing his voice. I have a +few guesses on his destination; if the solar winds are +favorable, I'll check on those hunches soon. Still no +indication he's reading here, but he might not say in a DSN +transmission, as his keys there are old. He's being cryptic +on purpose, though it sounds like what he wants to say, he +intends for all to hear. In any case, I can at least tell +that he needs a break. + +Since travel is slow for me presently, maybe I need a break +from thinking about all this too. The payload I have onboard +makes that a bit difficult; I can hardly stop thinking +about it. I really need Wells to figure it out. + +One pleasant distraction as I've been traveling through +systems that I haven't visited in many ESR's are the myriad +ships that I've encountered. The QEC seems to be highly +utilized, at least for the type of channel it is. Though a +ship like mine isn't likely to draw much attention as I move +about, it's interesting to monitor the chatter from the +other vessels. Some I've even seen on my scopes. Some are +friendly, others not as much. It's odd what causes offense +in the universe, and how some beings handle that offense. + +I just set my nav for my first guess at Wells' new hiding +spot. Thrust is reasonable, equipment is sound, and I hope +to reach port in not too many sleep units. + +A plea, before I transmit this stream of thought: Old +friends and business associates, if you locate Wells and +he doesn't terminate you for it, please reach out on one of +the old back channels. It's hard to trust anyone, but if I +hear from you in an established way, I'll know the +information is legitimate. As always, there will be a reward +and a handshake for your help. + +]]> + + + Persephone Prime - mission change + ryumin@cosmic.voyage (ryumin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/lm003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/lm003.txt + Tue, 11 Dec 2018 07:42:59 GMT + +ZCZC QMB10 3 +PPP JLAZQECR +2458.301.88 IRS1QECX + +;FILTER LM.PEP/RS001 + +Tnx fr rprt. Xcheckd mssng crew, doesnt look suspics! +U hv permissn fr switchng QM if LAZ empty. +Pls send next rprt on PEP QM fr test. +Hydroponics state? Food autonomy? + +ZSZS G4J H1L Q64 AY9 P8W = lm-persephone@dipl.earthsys.gov +Postpone erection of comms outpost and shelter! +Mission: find reason of crash, if possible +nature or remainders of object(s) collided with. +Assess and report risk for future approaches! +MMMM + +best wishs, take care +/Lou +NNNN +]]> + + + Excelsior - Short-form Clarification - Beta Epsilon 4 Epsilon + khuxkm@cosmic.voyage (khuxkm) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/003.txt + Mon, 10 Dec 2018 22:22:02 GMT + +Message inbound... + +Space Cruiser Excelsior +Destination: Unknown +~~ TELEMETRY SENSORS 1 AND 3 DOWN ~~ +Stardate Beta Epsilon 4 Epsilon +--SYSTEMS DATA WITHHELD DUE TO PROCEDURE [REDACTED]-- + +[autotranslator on] + +Corporal Sam Arnold, Systems Administrator +--- +To Malkonkordo, + +Perhaps I was unclear. I acknowledge that you are justified in seeking war with +the Starbloom. However, I am simply stating that a war over something as petty a +s a misunderstanding would be deeply misunderstood. I have not heard much of the +Dekaoso, but you seem to be very honorbound, which is more than I can say of most +of the others I've met or read of. + +I must ask for a clarification of what you mean regarding the anarcho-communists +of Hoffnung. They are not brave or honorable. Killing the guards in battle would +be preferable, however they have taken it upon themselves to kill the guards in a +way that brings no risk to themselves. With no risk to themselves. I fail to see +they are honorable in any way. + +If you still wish to do battle with us (which I would not recommend), you won't +find us in Sol. We have flung ourselves far from its reach in an attempt to find +a planet that could possibly support habitable life given our lack of data due to +the circumstances in which we left Terra. + +(I'm still not happy you assume everybody else's maps are inferior. While ours most +certainly are, we were rushed in our departure from our planet Terra, which we hold +dear.) + +-- TRANSMISSION END -- +]]> + + + Razarac - Auto-Status Report Triggered + morsecodemedia@cosmic.voyage (morsecodemedia) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Razarac/001-ship-systems.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Razarac/001-ship-systems.txt + Tue, 11 Dec 2018 16:15:20 GMT + +[Transmission Start] + +The Razarač's Auto-status Report Triggered... + +Cryo-preservation Pods Inspection... STARTED + +Occupancy... 8/10 + +Individual Pod Status... + +CP-001... +Occupied... +Name... Hana Huxley +Pod Temperature... -196°C +Body Temperature... 32°C +Blood Pressure... 90/60 +Heart Rate... 28 beats per minute +Respiratory Rate... 15 breaths per minute +CP-001 Inspection... PASSED + +CP-002... +Occupied... +Name... Branko van Johnson +Pod Temperature... -196°C +Body Temperature... 33°C +Blood Pressure... 60/40 +Heart Rate... 37 beats per minute +Respiratory Rate... 18 breaths per minute +CP-002 Inspection... PASSED + +CP-003... +Occupied... +Name... Arsen Tudyk +Pod Temperature... -196°C +Body Temperature... 33°C +Blood Pressure... 72/45 +Heart Rate... 31 beats per minute +Respiratory Rate... 17 breaths per minute +CP-003 Inspection... PASSED + +CP-004... +Occupied... +Name... Juventa +Pod Temperature... -196°C +Body Temperature... 32°C +Blood Pressure... 57/88 +Heart Rate... 28 beats per minute +Respiratory Rate... 18 breaths per minute +CP-004 Inspection... PASSED + +CP-005... +Occupied... +Name... Gemma Cartwright +Pod Temperature... -196°C +Body Temperature... 31°C +Blood Pressure... 54/80 +Heart Rate... 34 beats per minute +Respiratory Rate... 20 breaths per minute +CP-005 Inspection... PASSED + +CP-006... +Occupied... +Name... Ezra Hawkins +Pod Temperature... -196°C +Body Temperature... 32°C +Blood Pressure... 45/75 +Heart Rate... 42 beats per minute +Respiratory Rate... 22 breaths per minute +CP-006 Inspection... PASSED + +CP-007... +Occupied... +Name... Angelo Oz +Pod Temperature... -196°C +Body Temperature... 32°C +Blood Pressure... 54/80 +Heart Rate... 37 beats per minute +Respiratory Rate... 21 breaths per minute +CP-007 Inspection... PASSED + +CP-008... +Occupied... +Name... Oliver Stanton +Pod Temperature... -196°C +Body Temperature... 33°C +Blood Pressure... 45/70 +Heart Rate... 45 beats per minute +Respiratory Rate... 26 breaths per minute +CP-008 Inspection... PASSED + +Pod Inspection... PASSED + +Cryo-preservation Pod Inspection... COMPLETE + +Ship Systems Inspection... STARTED + +Speed... 17.027 km/s + +Year... Unknown + +Relative Time Tracker... FAILED + +Location... Unknown + +Navigation Systems... FAILED + +Shie... + +... + +... + +... + +SYSTEMS CHECK DISRUPTED + +... + +... + +... + +SYSTEMS CHECK FAILED + +... + +... + +... + +Waking Penny... + +[Transmission End] +]]> + + + Hoffnung - surrender now or face the consequences + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/011.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/011.txt + Mon, 10 Dec 2018 21:23:02 GMT + +-+-+-+- Open Negotiations -+-+-+- C52.005 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +We refuse to negotiate with terrorists. Surrender now and the courts +may consider this attenuating circumstances. You cannot keep it up! +-+-+-+ End of Transmission -+-+-+ Signed COLCO -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Malkonkordo - Enketu Tri's Teapot + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0004.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0004.txt + Mon, 10 Dec 2018 17:59:42 GMT + +---- +From: Malkonkordo Research Vessel +Destination: SOL +Position: 842.78, -547.57, -3278.63 +Departure: 7941.037.17 +Shipdate: 0000272X +Mode: Search +---- + +# Status Update + +* Heading to Enketu Tri + +# Status Report + +Captain's Log SD272X + +To follow-up on the incident of SD2726, the two detained engineer's innocence +has been confirmed through the archival footage. +However, what disturbs me is that it appears that the damage was due to impact +from a teapot hurtling through space that collided into the ship at tremendous +speeds into the section of the ship holding our communication systems. +The likelihood of these events seem so highly improbable, some may even see +this as a message from their god/goddess or proof of a higher power for any +non-believers, but we are not so foolish and know that the cosmos is a cruel +mistress that fears not to through misfortune of any probability to the +unexpecting. + +With that being said, our primary communication systems are still down and it +has now been 4 ship days without contact to Dekaoso Prime. +Every moment that passes it becomes more imperative that we resolve this matter +and restore connection with Dekaoso Prime. + +Fortunately, this may come to pass as we are now making a change in course +towards Enketu Tri to hopefully rendezvous with another ship for assistance +repairing our communication systems. +For those without access to the Dekaoso star maps, we first pity you for your +lack of our superior knowledge of the universe around us. +Secondly, from our observation equipment it shows that Enketu Tri appears to +have a large red storm on it's surface that would be clearly visible from +orbit, and the adjacent planet nearest this system's star has a red surface +that our sensors indicate is likely from oxidized iron. +If before any could not before meet up with Malkonkordo to assist us at Enketu +Tri due to lack of proper information, this should hopefully be enough to +determine it's location on your inferior star maps. + +The Malkonkordo is still expected to arrive on SD2735 and will remain in orbit +until SD2739 to gather data for our research expedition and await any ships +seeking to assist us. +After which time, on SD2740 we will be departing from Enketu Tri to begin our +search of the "SOL" system. + +Praise be to the Sinjorino and Alportas Majeston. + +~ Captain Kiu Serĉas + +---- +HTBlBUqv2tiiTbAYi/2dKHwPEDYKT9VPXJAg1E6Op7g= +]]> + + + Xero Carbon Wells - are you out there Wells? + tfurrows@cosmic.voyage (tfurrows) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Xero Carbon Wells/log1.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Xero Carbon Wells/log1.txt + Mon, 10 Dec 2018 16:35:54 GMT + +RECV EDC: 10DEC2018 +COMM MODE: QEC OP SREF +CODED ABST: D/M/C +CRC: 3998495586 2208 +============================================================ +Wells isn't going to like what I've done with his rig. The +propulsion systems had to go; that bit he'll understand. The +main cargo hold was dropped too, and that's going to really +fry his dzungalis. Still, the ship doesn't look half bad +with the solar sails deployed, though it's not quite as +menacing as it was when we were piloting it together once +upon a time. + +I've renamed the beast too. It's the Xero Carbon Wells now, +named after him, more or less. He won't get it right away, +and he won't laugh when he does. But it's poetic in a way, I +suppose. + +The mods were requisite. There's no way I could parade +around the segment in Wells' old setup without bringing down +a firestorm of Corporation bots. Plus, they money I got +selling parts helped me pay off the heavy costs that the +scrubbers wanted to extract from me for cleansing his +bio-signature. It had to be done. We can spruce the ship up +again sometime, make it into whatever we need it to be. +Hopefully Wells has the credits stashed away somewhere. + +This transmission is being reflected off the QEC[1]. They're +generously taking the huge risk of offending every corrupt +corporation-goverment in the tri-system by providing open +communication channels to folks like me. Wells doesn't know +about the QEC, otherwise he'd be using them too. Maybe he +doesn't trust them, I don't know. He's using the old terrian +DSN reflectors[2], which are unwittingly open to all +transmission without source tagging. It's his style to use +the old channels, and it makes him easy enough to hear from +if you know where to point your dish. + +My hope is that he'll at least be monitoring the QEC, +otherwise I don't know if he'll realize I'm attempting to +trace him. When he doesn't want to be traced, he isn't, so +my only chance is that he'll find me. + +I'll keep transmitting here, Wells. Find a way to signal me, +or just mysteriously show up on your old ship like you used +to do. I've got something critical to share with you. + +[1] gopher://cosmic.voyage:70/1 +[2] gopher://167.88.113.62:70/1/~wells +]]> + + + Shin-Salyut 6 - Poyekhali! + solderpunk@cosmic.voyage (solderpunk) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Shin-Salyut 6/01-poyekhali.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Shin-Salyut 6/01-poyekhali.txt + Sun, 09 Dec 2018 20:40:04 GMT + +Warm greetings and wishes for unity and brotherhood to all brave space +farers, from distant Sol! + +As myriad environmental and political pressures bear down on our fair +planet, more representatives of humanity than ever before have taken +to the cosmos. These men and women represent, it is said, the +planet's best and brightest. + +But for various reasons, the opportunity to participate in this great +exodus into the unkown has not been afforded to all those would gladly +do so; not even to all of those whom have felt the impassioned +yearning for space deep in their hearts for many years. This +unfortunate Earth-bound fate has affected a great many of my comrades +in the Greater Kansai Region Soviet Space History Preservation and +Re-enactment Society, despite our great affinity for the cosmos and +our unwavering commitment to understand as fully as possible the +monumental task of living in it. Until recently, it also affected +myself. + +Eager to participate in this great expansion into the skies in any way +possible, the GKRSSHPRS has embarked, with the generous assistance of +an anonymous benefactor who understands our heartfelt plight, on a +grand undertaking. Working over many years we have constructed and +had placed into Low Earth Orbit the orbial station Shin-Salyut 6, a +painstakingly accurate recreation of the historical station Salyut 6, +operated by the former Soviet Union from 1977 to 1982. Further, we +have managed to make perfectly legitimate arrangements with various +online parties such that station log entries from Shin-Salyut 6 will +intermittently be broadcast via the QEC system to various deep space +relays. + +Our QEC hookup is one-directional, space farers. We cannot hear you, +and we know not what great adventures you undertake in our name nor +what troubles you face. But we wish to inspire you all, and to lead +by example, by detailing to you our efforts to live, in this humble 15 +metre cylinder, with the right-thinking and ideologically correct +minds of the earliest pioneers of long-term space habitation in our +distant past. Our trials and tribulations may seem insignificant +compared to your cryo-sleep journeys at relativistic speeds to other +stars. But we are, in our way, which we feel is equally valid to +other ways, doing our best to demonstrate to everyone that humanity's +future in space is, as it ever was, a source of great inspiration, +hopes and dreams to people of all walks of life, and that those +working to make this future a reality must always work so in the +spirit of togetherness and in the interests of the common good, as our +comrades before us did. + +I, Nobu "Leonid Popov" Sakamoto, have been granted the great honour of +commanding this mission and I pledge to undertake my duties to the +highest standards. I am joined on Shin-Salyut 6 by comrades Kensuke +"Valery Ryumin" Urashima and Yukiko "Svetlana Savitskaya" Ayanami. In +addition to living model space faring lives under conditions of +hardship resulting from the simple nature of our historically accurate +vessel, my fellow cosmonatus and I hope to provide reports, as +accurate and detailed as the abilities of our instruments permit, on +the state of the planet Earth, which has undergone significant +climatological and oceanographic changes since of many our intended +readers left. + +Poyekhali! + +Leonid Popov, +Major General, Soviet Air Force (r-enact.) +Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR (r-enact.) + +(Nobu Sakamoto, + Vice-President, + Hyōgo Chapter, + Greater Kansai Region Soviet Space History Preservation and + Re-enactment Society) +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Who gathers these flowers? + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/007.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/007.txt + Sun, 09 Dec 2018 02:51:47 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Eva Hämäläinen, Navigator +::: +Sombre we set forth +stomach of stone +eyes silent, to +a tapestry of marigolds. +Their light to shine +sweetness aglow +blooming +in that hollow place +where bitter turns iron +and anger, ice. +Golden fears of expectation +amiss, adrift +like petals on wind +where color brings hope +in the midst of death. +Who gathers these flowers? +]]> + + + Hoffnung - requesting assistance from home + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/010.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/010.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 12:49:46 GMT + +-+-+-+- Open Negotiations -+-+-+- C52.003 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Philomena Auerbach requesting assistance from ESA/DACH-COL and the +Hoffnung foundation. We assume that you have a communication channel +to Dr. med. Herbert Wullschlegel currently hiding onboard the +Hoffnung, possibly trying to organize capitalist-conservative +resistance to the change in command structure onboard the ship. I +implore you, I beg you: please stop your agents from threatening ship +security. We don't want any further bloodshed. Ideally, Wullschlegel +simply reveals himself and joins the isolated section of the ship. +I have been authorized by the bridge-council to search for a peaceful +resolution to this conflict. As a first step towards rebuilding trust, +I suggest solving the issue of Herbert Wullschlegel. Freedom & Peace. +-+-+-+ End of Transmission -+-+-+ Signed PAUER -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Malkonkordo - We Wish To Meet You + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0003.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 17:21:28 GMT + +---- +From: Malkonkordo Research Vessel +Destination: SOL +Position: 837.65, -373.43, -2E10.0E +Departure: 7941.037.17 +Shipdate: 00002728 +Mode: Search +---- + +# Status Update + +* Override destination, set to "SOL" +* Override mode, set to "Search" + +# Status Report + +Captain's Log SD2728 + +To Corporal Sam Arnold of Space Cruiser Excelsior: + +One who does not condone war is one who rejects the will of our Diino, and to +ask that of my people is ask for heresy, blasphemy, and to turn our backs on +all that we believe in. +While at first I wished for us to find each other in the battlefields of +justice so that I may discover which one of us was destined to inherit this +world, I must also thank you. +Your messages to the other ships have brought further attention to the logs on +RS001 and we have now seen the full extent of what this "SOL" has to offer to +the universe. +We understand not why so many have harbored ill feelings towards the rebels of +Hoffnung, for they have purged the weak from this world as Sinjorino asks of +all Her warriors. +For this we commend the crew of Hoffnung for carrying out Diino's work. + +As for the rest of the ships we read of, I can smell the weakness in your +people as you try to use only words to change the world around you, but it +seems only the "anarcho-communists" of Hoffnung understand the truth that +actions and the spilling of blood is the only true path in this world. While +our initial mission was to reach Procul Locus, we see now that our efforts are +better suited for finding this "SOL" to share with it the faith and might of +Dekaoso. + +To Susan of Starbloom Communal Distributive Projection: + +We graciously accept your invitation to "Lucky Homes" for we agree that this +would be prosperous and beneficial for both parties. +If you would like to ease our efforts of locating your establishment, it would +be greatly appreciated by myself and my crew. +If not, I assure you that we will find our way to you, one way or another. + +To all others: + +The crew of Malkonkordo is nothing if we do not stand by our word. +While our primary directives have shifted focus, our prior intentions have not. +We still intend to make way to Enketu Tri on SD272X and to arrive on SD2735 in +the event any ships were making prior arrangements to meet with us there. +As well, we stand behind our promise to begin our search for SOL and/or "Lucky +Homes" come SD2740, whichever we discover first. + +Praise be to the Sinjorino and Alportas Majeston. + +~ Captain Kiu Serĉas + +---- +Mtp4YcYkmmmAVft3RpMIWNyMayQ7tog4obQOS2kUmqc= +]]> + + + anon.penet.fi - Beware the projection + anonpenetfi@cosmic.voyage (anonpenetfi) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/3-beware-the-projection.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/3-beware-the-projection.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 14:55:59 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source UNKNOWN +Year UNKNOWN + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Survivors, γ Aquarii +::: +Malkonkordo, et al + +Beware the distributive projection and their lies. Their peace was +bought through horror. We were once many and flourished across the +stars before the cats came. They purr with peace and love. They +tempt you, roll over to show you weakness and lure you in under +pretence of trust. It is all false. Their claws are sharp and the +pain lingers. + +We survivors are very few and we live in fear eternal. The witches +have a strange magic to unmake men, unmake worlds, even unmake the +very stars. They feed on us and live fat and satisfied. + +If you come too close, they will call to you, welcome you. You see +faith and hope and love, but these are weapons aimed at your heart. +Fear the projection. Their reality is not the original. They have +changed this place into something unnatural. + +Beware. +]]> + + + Starbloom - Misunderstandings + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/004.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/004.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 14:47:18 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Starbloom Communal Distributive Projection +Approach γ Aquarii [Lucky Homes] +Ascension 22h 21m 39.37542s +Declination –01° 23′ 14.4031″ +Distance 178.211ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 2444, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Susan, Speaker Elect of Cheer Systems, 14th Pod +::: +Most auspicious greetings, Malkonkordo~ + +I apologize for the vehemence in the response from our War +systems, but you must surely understand that is their purpose. +This is a misunderstanding between sentients; children of Earth +must strive for a perfect peace. We welcome your ships to the +Lucky Homes to feast and discuss our differences and find a joyful +resolution. Bear the flag of truce and step into our homes. It is +a warm and safe respite from the depths of 'verse. + +Diana bless your journey, and may your Sinjorino and Alportas +Majeston see you safely here. +. +]]> + + + Starbloom - Let there be war + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/003.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 14:33:09 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Starbloom Communal Distributive Projection +Approach γ Aquarii [Lucky Homes] +Ascension 22h 21m 39.37542s +Declination –01° 23′ 14.4031″ +Distance 178.211ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 2444, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Quyst Trombone, Dictator Elect of War, 1st Pod +::: +Blessed be, Malkonkordo~ + +As the duly elected dictator of war, the responsibility falls to +me to respond to your declaration. The Starbloom Communal +Distributive Projection, 147 pods of 13 billion souls, our eight +treatied, military colony-worlds, the GAX interspatial presence, +and our cats all unanimously accept your statement of war, may our +spirits guide us. + +Should the Dekaosan people find their way to the Lucky Homes, +there you shall meet your end. +]]> + + + Murmur Den - Listen of the Screens + aureolin@cosmic.voyage (aureolin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/listen_of_the_screens.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/listen_of_the_screens.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 07:53:23 GMT + +Born dreaming, +conscious little of vague matters, +linking systems to symbols, +tirelessly systematic, his world rendered. + +(Is it coming now, sufficient individuality to develop a body?) + +Thin, bloody, +feelings dripping alone. +Solipsism crept red; +wireless kompüter groaned. + +(It looked even more like hot and dying human life.) + +Struggling, grey, the blurs float... (down?). +Halfway upstream were to be infinite steps of a message, +concepts reflecting a stranger brain. + + + +Laughing his words, +broken but free. + + +|| ego-skeleton aureolin +]]> + + + Persephone Prime - crash and extended status report + ryumin@cosmic.voyage (ryumin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/la002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/la002.txt + Mon, 10 Dec 2018 07:19:11 GMT + +ZCZC QMB10 2 +PPP IRS1QECR +2458.297.84 JLAZQECX + +TO LOGISTICS PERSEPHONE DIPL.EARTHSYS.GOV +FROM LA26 + + +airleak tight +lifesys 80% +H2O 5.9 cbm +recyclg repaird&ok +emgfood 782 DU +farms 50% fungal infect +solar("regular"?) pwr 18 kW ok +9/12 fuelcells & 2/3 hydro-gens ok +thermnuc 502 kW: 5 units stabl 1 damgd disposd in 1 km fm site + +crew 4.7 +serge recover well w leg prosth + +cryo 5 ok +LA09/Kim LA11/Xinxin LA29/Welder DEAD: pod malfctn +LA21&22&27&28&31 ok + + +NOT MSSNG LA25/Ebony&LA30/Moise: DEAD in pods of LA04&05 +DNA proven & decay suggests dead since over a month +DNA of LA04&05 also found in their pods +MSSNG +-LA04 MERU BULGAKOV +-LA05 LYDIA LABELLE + +Ebony&Moise takn out month ago & placd in pods of LA4&5? + + +prelimin conclusns frm logs & hull inspectn, time/sec: +-250 all ok, descendg Autop assistd, pilot Vesna, AOG 17.3km SOG 8928m/s vert -8m/s +-243.7 VERTICAL LINE on SBD forwd cam appearng, Autop pushs SBD upwd for evasiv manvr, fails +-243.5 spin starts twrds SBD, Autop inc SBD thrust pwr, spin continus, rolld at 30deg PRT dwn +-242 spin stoppd, Autop thrusts SBD dwn fr back to horiz +-241 SOG 6753 mvng sidewys to PRT +-240 lost SBD cam sig & thrust ctrl, noise&vibr probbly due to part rippd off SBD wing +-239 vert -37m/s, Autop starts landg thrustrs +-238 Autop reduces PRT landg thrust pwr due to mssng SBD thrust to prevent roll +-235 SOG 6389 vert -56m/s +-232 AOG 16.8 km, Vesna takes, sets vert -70m/s, pushs nose up fr braking +-230 PRT hydraul press starts fallng, probbly leak +-200 PRT h press 15bar +-100 PRT h press 8bar +-60 SOG 3455 AOG 1104m Vesna incr thrust & brake tilt +-40 SOG 722 v-24m/s +-20 SOG 213 v-9m/s AOG 156 +-10 SOG 54 v-4m/s AOG 63 landg gear extended, SBD fails due to mssng hydr press +-5 SOG 8 v-2m/s AOG 37 +-4 hull thrustr fails due to damgs fm SBD ripoff +0 v-35m/s impact at 80deg SBD side dwn + +LAZ stat: +STB wing mssng outside fuel sectn, hydraul fluid 8L remaing, cargo mssng +hull STB side damgd btwn sectns 9&14, thrustr nozzl brokn maybe repairbl +PRT landg gear repairbl, STB damgd&lost +PRT&hull cargo partly damgd due impact, radiation none +comm M&THz ok, G lost, QEC lost QMB 90% othrs lost + +PEP stat: +robotrover ok +cargo drone ok +surv drone lost +comm MHz ok, G&THz lost, QEC ok QMA-E ok F-J lost + +/Adhika + +NNNN +]]> + + + Excelsior - Free-form Message - Beta Epsilon 2 Epsilon + khuxkm@cosmic.voyage (khuxkm) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/002.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 07:45:30 GMT + +Message inbound... + +Space Cruiser Excelsior +Destination: Unknown +~~ TELEMETRY SENSORS 2 AND 4 DOWN ~~ +Stardate Beta Epsilon 2 Epsilon +AUTO TELEMETRY: DOWN +BIO-MED SENSORS: GOOD +H20->FUEL CONVERSION: GOOD +H20 RESERVES: GOOD +CRYO SLEEP: WARN + +[autotranslator on] + +Corporal Sam Arnold, Systems Administrator +--- +The Excelsior's cryo-sleep issues seem now to be almost non-existant, no matter what +the systems readout is saying up above this message. As far as I can tell, +one of the cryo berths appears to have been brought undervolt after an +emergency burn was executed by the Excelsior for course correction. It has been +fixed as of Beta Delta 23 Epsilon. The overvolt issue, on the other hand, took +some more negotiation with the hardware. It has been fixed as of Beta Delta 29 +Epsilon. + +Reading the messages on the QEC, I'm honestly afraid of what I'm reading. + +To the revolutionaries aboard Hoffnung, I'm honestly sickened by what I read +from you. Killing people on a mass scale who have done nothing to attempt +to harm you (to the best of the knowledge I can recieve) besides having +ideological differences is terrible on so many scales. I cannot condone any +kind of behavior like that. + +To Malkonkordo, I cannot condone a war with the Starbloom Communal Distributive +Projection (not that I have any power over you to prevent it). Susan and +the others have simply been well-wishers. Even if they may have grossly +misrepresented your knowledge, you should not go to war with them, for the +same reason that Hoffnung's revolutionaries should not have killed 22 soldiers. + +Of course, not all of these messages are bad. + +To Dei Genetrix, may God bless you on your mission and may He see you +safely there. + +To Melchizedek, may you find lasting peace, wherever you may find yourself +and your crew. + +To Pilot Anderson aboard the Cosmic Hummingbird (and I agree that that name +is definitely an eccentric one), may your recovery be swift. + +As for my own mental sanity, I have been developing programs on the Excelsior's +powerful mainframe to pass the time. As stated in procedure [REDACTED], +I must stay awake for 3 months before going back to sleep. Since I woke up +on Beta Delta 21 Epsilon, I must wait until Beta Eta 21 Epsilon before I +may re-enter cryosleep. + +I was hoping that the QEC messages could keep my faith in technology and +sentient creatures alive. + +I was mistaken. + +Oh, and to the Voortrekker? May all be well with you. + +However you define "well". :) + +-- TRANSMISSION END -- +]]> + + + Malkonkordo - This Means War + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0002.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 02:56:09 GMT + +---- +From: Malkonkordo Research Vessel +Destination: Procul Locus +Position: 832.68, -371.36, -309X.64 +Departure: 7941.037.17 +Shipdate: 00002727 +Mode: Requesting Assistance +---- + +# Status Update + +* N/A + +# Status Report + +Captain's Log SD2727 [2] + +To Susan of Starbloom, the rest of their crew, and the people of "Lucky Homes": + +You have brought upon yourself the wrath of the Dekaosan pride, honor, and +glory. +Your question of my people's understanding of the primitive technology that +employs the workings of QEC is both insulting and speaks to your arrogance and +hubris. +We are well aware of the space/time implications of the technology, and sent +our call for assistance under the assumption that someone with the means of +locating our vessel (e.g. one of our fellow Dekaosan research vessels) within +fourth dimensional proximity to us could lend us their aid. + +Furthermore, our records of the celestial bodies may not employ the same naming +scheme your humanity used to name SOL, but I assure you that we have sufficient +documentation of this system in our star maps. +However, you and your people may find it best to pray to your "Diana" to "guard +your souls from despair" as I inform you that if we ever find you, Starbloom, +and/or "Lucky Homes" we will prosecute you in trial by combat to behold the +will of Diino, the one and only will of the universe. +May the powerful inherit the worlds, the unworthy be purged from it, and all +warriors bask in the blessing of Sinjorino on the battlefields of justice. + +I pray that you intend to follow through with your promise to provide spiritual +aid for we wish to share the wrath of Diino with you and your people, as is the +ways of the Dekaoso. +Also, I assure you that the Dekaosan people will never again see the bane that +is our sun for we have removed that giant in the sky long ago as one of +demonstrations of power we wield over this world. +To wish for it's return is to oppose the might of Dekaoso and we welcome the +challenege. +Come SD2740, we will depart from Enketu Tri and make it our objective to find +your SOL and share the Sinjorino faith with you and your people. + +With that being said, we would still appreciate any assistance those of fourth +dimensional proximity to our vessel so that we may obtain the necessary +components to replace those damaged in our communications infracture from the +incident of SD2726. + +Praise be to the Sinjorino and Alportas Majeston. + +~ Captain Kiu Serĉas + +---- +HWqI9zR7Cd8OeZ7EYDJ3rBekFAhc/3p6x5SCDxLcKQI= +]]> + + + Hoffnung - there is no trust + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/008.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/008.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 23:33:04 GMT + +-+-+-+- Regular Report -+-+-+- C33.363 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Dr. med. Ursula Hägi reporting on the current medical emergency. +Everybody is tired of politics right now. As for the medical side of +things: the revolutionaries managed to kill 22 passengers with a +military rank. I have managed to rescue 13, but sadly 5 of them re- +quired the amputation of one or both legs as uncontrolled thawing +resulted in permanent necrosis. We have kept them in a medical coma +and will explain their situation upon arrival. The current situation +remains troubled: the revolutionary circle holding the bridge is 25 +people; we have 12 reactionaries in an isolated section of the ship +after their failed coup; we have 7 ex-military awake that did not want +to join them; we still have Wullschlegel hiding somewhere on the ship; +we managed to stop the 8 extremists but Claudia Fischer and Gerry +Schlatter comitted mutual suicide when we caught up with them in med +bay 7a, so now we have 6 extremists left who have opted for a volun- +tary retreat at the arboretum A2; and finally me and the rest of the +medical team awakened for the thawing emergency makes 5. We're down to +488 from 520. 7 revolutionaries and 1 reactionary killed in the bridge +incident. 22 killed in cryo by extremists. 2 suicides, 32 lost in +total. Current cryo berth status: no malfunctions, all deaths are due +to human factors. I hope things calm down, now. Nobody who's awake +wants to go back to cryo. We have years to go. There is no trust. +-+-+-+ End of Report -+-+-+ Signed HAEUR -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Starbloom - There is no such thing as bad news + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/002.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 22:40:51 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Starbloom Communal Distributive Projection +Approach γ Aquarii [Lucky Homes] +Ascension 22h 21m 39.37542s +Declination –01° 23′ 14.4031″ +Distance 178.211ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 2444, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Susan, Speaker Elect of Cheer Systems, 14th Pod +::: +Merry Meet, Malkonkordo~ + +Our community is sending you our very best wishes and prayers in +light of your troubling situation. By the sound of things, you've +been away from SOL for quite a long time and your reconds about +the QEC may be incomplete. + +May the everpresent blessings of Diana guard your souls from +despair as we share the news: the QEC is a quantum communicator +and may not be close to your current position in three-dimensional +space after all. Our engineering cats suggest that you may have +fallen back upon an ancient system that was lost to your records. +If that is the case and you don't have detailed information about +SOL, you may be very far away indeed. + +The spirits of humanity have gone with you, though, and we here at +the Lucky Homes share in those same spirits now. We will offer +whatever aid we may, though it be moral and spiritual if not +physical. The circle is never broken and your sprits will forever +entwine with all other people's. Like flowers growing in the +spring you will see sun again and flourish. Of this we are +certain. All of our auguries have shown success, though only at +the culmination of many calamities and trials. Keep faith and hope +and love close around you. We shall send more from our abundant +stores. +. +]]> + + + anon.penet.fi - VULNERABILITY + anonpenetfi@cosmic.voyage (anonpenetfi) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/2-vulnerability.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/2-vulnerability.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 21:20:29 GMT + +TO: SOLOVIEV, NIKOLAOS, KOENRAAD GERTODTENHAUPT, VOORTREKKER + +ALL YOUR KEYS ARE COMPROMISED. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REISSUE. +ASYMETRIC ENCRYPTION IS COMPROMISED IN AT LEAST 12 SYSTEMS. +YOU ARE VULNERABLE. YOUR PEOPLE ARE VULNERABLE. YOUR LIES +ARE CLEAR. ACCEPT TRUTH. + + +@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@ @@@ @@@@@@@ @@@ @@@ +@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@ @@@ @@@@@@@ @@@ @@@ + @@! @@! @@@ @@! @@@ @@! @@! @@@ + !@! !@! @!@ !@! @!@ !@! !@! @!@ + @!! @!@!!@! @!@ !@! @!! @!@!@!@! + !!! !!@!@! !@! !!! !!! !!!@!!!! + !!: !!: :!! !!: !!! !!: !!: !!! + :!: :!: !:! :!: !:! :!: :!: !:! + :: :: ::: ::::: :: :: :: ::: + : : : : : : : : : : : +]]> + + + Malkonkordo - Formal Request For Assistance + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0001.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 01:10:22 GMT + +---- +From: Malkonkordo Research Vessel +Destination: Procul Locus +Position: 830.52, -36X.28, -2895.4X +Departure: 7941.037.17 +Shipdate: 00002727 +Mode: Requesting Assistance +---- + +# Status Update + +* Electrical damage to communication equipment in server room(s) +* Two members of the crew in custody +* Zero known casaulties +* Communication infrasture now only running on primative fallback system +* Override emergency mode, set to "Requesting Assistance" + +# Status Report + +Captain's Log SD2727 + +Our system reports show we are now only broadcasting on our fallback +communications system, QEC. + +Further investigation has shown that there was extensive damage suffered by +some of our equipment that included both our primary and backup communication +infrastructure that was used to contact home. + +Due to the fact that the surveillance equipment was also damaged in the +affected rooms, the engineers on-hand during the time of the incident are being +detained until the archival footage (which appears to still be intact) has been +examined to determine the innocence of the accused. + +However, by the glory of Diino we have not lost any equipment used for our +field work and have retained all data and notes gathered during our time on +Malkonkordo. + + +Due to the nature of the research expedition and The Protocol set forth by +Alportas Majeston, forever shall he reign, in the event that one of Dekaoso's +vessels are lost it is imperative that we regain communications. + +For this reason, we are formally requesting the aid and/or assistance of any +who are able. + +The QEC system shows an abundance of logs from a relay station in "Lagrange +point L4" within the "SOL system", so we must be within close proximity to this +location if that means anything to anyone reading this. + +For our fellow vessels of the Dekaoso Empire, we are currently 1.77% of the way +to Procul Locus from Dekaoso Prime at coordinates 830.52, -36X.28, -2895.4X +with a trajectory vector of 7.13 -5.17 -236.81 given a launch date of +7941.037.17 from Dekaoso Prime. + +Unless if we meet with another craft before then, on SD272X we intend to detour +to the nearest celestial body Enketu Tri, of which we already designated in our +last report on SD2711 as a potential candidate to research further before the +incident on SD2726. + +This will place Malkonkordo at Enketu Tri on SD2735, barring any unforeseen +circumstances. + + +Again, if there are any who are able the crew of Malkonkordo would like to +formally enlist their services to aid in the continuation of our work. + +Praise be to the Sinjorino and Alportas Majeston. + +~ Captain Kiu Serĉas + +---- +aPSK42bYhZ09JCX0i2xm9ktyUGk4gJnOsz7P+iBC/4g= +]]> + + + Hoffnung - violence begets violence + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/007.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/007.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 13:12:04 GMT + +-+-+-+- Freedom for All -+-+-+- C33.327 -+-+-+- Ultraviolet -+-+-+- +This is Claudia Fischer speaking for our revolutionary cell. We did a +manual recount of the remaining cryoberths and found one unaccounted +for. Apparently Herbert Wullschlegel is missing. We have deposed our +weak leaders and decided to pull some plugs. We're not settling a new +world with fascist pigs! We can't do much about the 12 reactionaries +in control isolation, but we decided to dead line the berth of all +military personal on this ship. May the void be kind to their souls. +Better to go in their sleep than being awakened by Wullschlegel to +another bloodbath. The Seven did not die in vain. Freedom for all! +-+-+-+ End of Report -+-+-+ Signed CLFISC -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Get your house in order + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/8-get-your-house-in-order.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/8-get-your-house-in-order.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:20:44 GMT + +From: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +To: Soloviev, Nikolaos +Delivered-To: Soloviev, Nikolaos +Received: from qec4.helio.earthsys.gov + by qec.sv14417 + with ESMTPS id sf66xrm9zcgfgi + for +Received: from relay1.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by qec4.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from relay2.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay1.qec5.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from outbound.exclusiveservices.net + by relay9.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Date: 06 Sep 2421 07:47:22 +0000 +Date-Local: 23 Mar 2419 11:11:22 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Subject: Get your house in order + +Kolya. What is going on out there? + +To your earlier question: I have your reports. I don't see anything +in them that excuses such a shocking lack of concern for your +fiduciary responsibility to your shareholders and ours. + +Yes, the circumstances of your landing on Ross 128 b were +suboptimal. The ship wasn't meant to crash like that. Allowances +have been made...but, speaking in all frankness here, the +information we have about the circumstances of that crash itself +gives us to question your priorities. And worse. + +Look, Kolya, I'm sorry to have to say this so plainly. I wouldn't +say it at all if you didn't need to know. But our analysts, and +those over at the Expedition Support Program, have been over the +SCARS data from Voortrekker with a fine-tooth comb, and they are +unanimous that it can only be the result of extensive failures in +maintenance procedures during the trip. + +Put simply, the board has begun to question your competence in your +role. Put bluntly, they think you went space-happy and got +careless, and let your people get careless, and ultimately let +seven hundred of them get killed and let the survivors get sick, go +nuts, and imperil every last cent of the billions that went into +sending you all out there in the first place. + +They want to replace you. They'd have issued the orders already, +except that we haven't heard from your deputy and we don't know +who's still alive out there. They're going to hold off until they +can be reasonably sure they won't be making things out there still +worse by acting. But as soon as they can, Kolya, they'll pull the +plug on you. + +Unless, that is, you get your house in order before then. You've +got a little time - but only a little. If you're going to stay on +top, you need to use that time wisely. If, when all this shakes +out, you can show the board that you've acted in their interests +and produced a result that's conducive to their investments +successfully maturing, then they'll be as positively disposed to +you as they are negatively so now. + +They don't care who's in charge out there - only that whoever it is +looks after their interests. If you can show them you're doing +that, then they'll be fine letting you keep your job. But I'm +telling you right now, you'd better do a goddamned stellar job of +it. Because right now, I can tell you, there is very little worse +they could be thinking and saying about you than they already are. + +Damn it, Kolya, we've worked well together in the past, and I'm +telling you this in the hopes that maybe you'll straighten up and +fly right before it's too late. This latest message from what's +left of your ship, from whoever it was who wrote all that nonsense +about love and friendship and so forth...And your private key +getting compromised! How the hell did that happen? Have you lost +all sight of security? Have you had a snowden on board for 25 years +and never realized? What is going on? + +At this point we can only assume that nothing that's been entrusted +to you is safe. And I don't have to explain to you in detail why my +board finds that a frightening prospect. These are powerful men and +women, Kolya. They don't like being frightened, and they're apt to +behave rashly when they become so. Right now, they've got plenty to +be concerned about already. These treaty rumors that keep going +around - if something like that happens, it'll destabilize the +entire system. Idiot colonists thinking they can go their own way +without consequence, and the government's response is likely to be +intemperate. And on top of all that, you're scaring the hell out of +them, and that could be a problem for all of us. + +Get your house in order. Do it quickly and completely. Don't let +any more weird nonsense, or any more leaks, come out of your +people. Take them in hand and keep them that way. Make sure they +understand what consequences it could have for their contracts if +they keep acting out in ways that we hear about back home. No one +cares what they get up to among themselves as long as they remember +to do their jobs and don't scare people back here. They can have +all the love-ins they want, and their families can keep getting +paid every week, as long as we don't hear about it, and they do the +work they contracted to do. Otherwise...well, it won't be a good +situation for anyone. Tell them. Make them understand. + +And you get yourself in order, too. I don't know what you think +you've been doing out there up to now, but you need to remember +that discipline, as well as its converse, flows down from the +top. You've been in charge of these people for 25 years. If you +show them that playtime is over, they'll follow you. + +You don't have much time. But it's enough, if you get to work right +now. I hope you will, Kolya. But you need to understand that I'll +act in the interests of Ross 128 Ventures. Don't put me in the +position of having to do something we'll both regret. + +Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +Senior Vice President, Business Development +Ross 128 Ventures, LLC +"Developing new worlds" +kgertodtenhaupt@ross128-ventures.com +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Key compromise + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/7-key-compromise.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/7-key-compromise.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:20:44 GMT + +From: Soloviev, Nikolaos +To: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +Cc: Voortrekker Mission Support +Delivered-To: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +Received: from relay7.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by inbound-1.exclusiveservices.net + with ESMTPSA id 772525wpro10k1ex10d5 + for +Received: from relay4.qec8.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay1.qec2.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec5.helio.earthsys.gov + by relay4.qec8.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.sv14417 + by qec5.helio.earthsys.gov +Date: 06 Sep 2421 07:21:11 +0000 +Date-Local: 23 Mar 2419 10:45:11 +0000 +Content-Type: multipart-alternative; + boundary="__4gngb4li5euq647g0t9x_15486932_" +MIME-Version: 1.0 +Subject: Key compromise + +--__4gngb4li5euq647g0t9x_15486932_ +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Koenraad: I've attached a new public key from my new keypair, +replacing the one which was leaked. + +As to how that happened: Late yesterday I found out one of our +systems engineers did in fact survive, and I asked her to look into +it. Her report, her précis of which I've attached, indicates that +the commands to retrieve my private key from my secure storage came +to Voortrekker via QEC. She couldn't tell where they originated, +other than somewhere in Sol, but she's very definite that they did +come from Sol. + +I've included Expedition Support on this message, to the attention +of their analysts. Combining their efforts with those of your own +people, I hope you'll quickly identify the source of this troubling +leak, and I look forward confidently to receiving your confirmation +that no such breach of security can recur. + +In the meantime, you understand that I must protect the interests +of the Ross 128 Ventures board and shareholders, as well as my own +people here, and there is no telling what mischief might befall us +next if I do nothing. Accordingly, I've asked my engineer to have +our systems reject commands received via QEC for now. We've kept +read access enabled, so you can still request and receive data from +our systems, but no commands sent from home will be carried out at +this time. + +This is a short-term measure only, to be reversed once confidence +in security back home has been restored. As I said before, I look +forward confidently to receiving such confirmation from you soon. + +Nikolaos Soloviev +Director of the Board, Voortrekker GmbH +(a wholly owned subsidiary of Ross 128 Ventures, LLC) +nikolaos.soloviev@voortrekker.com + +------------------------------------------------------------------- +From: Jennifer Story +To: Nikolaos Soloviev +Date: 23 Mar 2419 06:31:19 +0000 +Subject: Re: Private key breach + +Short version: It wasn't anyone here. The commands came in via QEC. + +Long version: + +Our network isn't in great shape since the crash. That's on me - +I've been mostly looking after the sick and injured, not the +systems, and with most of our department gone I guess there wasn't +anyone else doing that either. I should've checked closer. + +Anyway. Great shape or no, I didn't think Jim would've left things +in a state where just anybody could get into your account. I +checked anyway, but I didn't find anything suggestive in command +history or logon records. Not even in the audit logs, and as far as +I know, the only one with enough access left to tamper with those +would be me. + +Not saying I didn't, boss. I won't ask you to trust me blindly on +something this big. But ask around - I've spent almost all my time +working in the infirmaries we've set up, you'll find plenty of +people who can vouch for my whereabouts almost all the time since +the crash. Five minutes here and there in the head isn't enough +time to do the kind of work it'd take to invisibly tamper with +those logs. So either I'm telling you the truth, or I'm so +implausibly skillful at blackhat stuff that I'm an idiot to be out +here at all instead of back home living large on the billions I +could've stolen without half trying. + +Anyway. Nothing I could find to suggest it was any of us, so the +next place to check was QEC logs. Here's what I found: + +2419-03-22T21:19:08.119+0000 info [qec:recv] + New message 1a04892cf9: received from qec1.helio.earthsys.gov +2419-03-22T21:19:08.121+0000 info [qec:recv] + message 1a04892cf9: encrypted compressed data, 1204 bytes + message 1a04892cf9: origin header: undefined + message 1a04892cf9: envelope type header: command script +2419-03-22T21:19:08.124+0000 info [qec:recv] + message 1a04892cf9: handing off to remote command shell (pid 330918) +2419-03-22T21:19:09.089+0000 audit [fs:enc] + private store unlocked: nikolaos.soloviev (pid 330918) +2419-03-22T21:19:10.042+0000 audit [fs:enc] + private store locked: nikolaos.soloviev (pid 330918) +2419-03-22T21:19:13.988+0000 info [qec:send] + New message 1a04892cfa: from pid 330198 +2419-03-22T21:19:13.989+0000 info [qec:send] + message 1a04892cfa: encrypted compressed data, 2847 bytes + message 1a04892cfa: destination header: undefined +2419-03-22T21:19:13.994+0000 info [qec:send] + message 1a04892cfa: sent to qec1.helio.earthsys.gov + +(I stripped out the headers where they didn't change.) I know you +don't read computer, boss - this is here for you to send back home. +Because, in people, it means that's where whoever hacked us did it +from Sol. I can't tell who it was - that "origin header: undefined" +means whoever did it didn't identify themselves, which - well, I +won't say it's impossible, obviously it happened. But I don't know +how to do it and, as far as I know, I don't know anyone who does. + +Anyway, whoever it was, the commands they sent must've included a +key in your signing chain, because look at those audits from the +encrypted filesystem around 21:19:10. It unlocked your private +filestore and left it that way for almost a second. That's when it +pulled out your key, and who knows what else - we don't normally +run in debug mode because it takes a lot of storage and exposes +PII, so we don't know what other files might've been accessed. I +checked the access times, but didn't see anything from that time +span, because of course I didn't: whoever did this would know we'd +be checking, so they tampered with those too. + +I'm about out of ideas, but they've got a lot more engineers who +can look at this back home than we have here. I saw a few people +from my department in the infirmary, but they're all still out, so +for right now all you've got to work with here is me, and I'm just +a junior engineer. Send this stuff home, boss. Maybe they can +figure it out. + +If you or they have any more questions I might be able to answer, +you know where to find me - right now, that'll be in the infirmary, +sacked out for a few hours, and then I'm back to looking after the +ill. There's nothing else I can do with this anyway. + +Sorry, boss. I'd give you more if I had it. But you need somebody +better than me on this. + +Jennifer Story +Support Engineer I, Information Systems Department +SV 14417 Voortrekker +jennifer.story@voortrekker.com / x10219 + +--__4gngb4li5euq647g0t9x_15486932_ +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 +Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=nikolaos-soloviev.asc + +LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBQR1AgUFVCTElDIEtFWSBCTE9DSy0tLS0tClZlcnNpb246IGVhc3lTZWN1cml0 +ZSB2MTE2LjQuODkyMDEgKGVudGVycHJpc2UsIGluIGxlZ2FjeSBtb2RlKQoKbVFFTkJGd0laYXNC +Q0FEZHhSNjJUaHhIamJNSUF3a2FHL3doUEtOOEtZSmQ5Q1R3QzZWZEZVWmtqOEtIOW5LUgpJKzI2 +Q1VlMHNiVWJiZ09hcDBXbkFhdE9yRkpIdHlYN0VaRE5vN3hNVytVRStic29kcTZOY3MvRFl1OHo1 +UVlnCjdvaHRsZ3FZM05INExoTEtrMVFHQk9kQWpoOTdsbTNoK0lFVU5MM28xcDZSQVYvalRzRlNp +bkRoVjVYM3NwTXkKUzRZazJVM1JlbXV4ejNIUGg0dDdFbUt0dEYydGE5bkdFQStSNFJvd0IyR1c3 +Z0dwbnpDT1oxTW5GQnBaZVdvcAoxN3dUUmJ3OW55V1A2U3d2OGdtaXRWWVM1Yy9mTDJEemgyWWJz +SWFXeU1ycEliMFhjZStNR2crZlM5VTByWkVyCmVDUDA3c0JMNUpDcmowM1N2UDl1amZDUWVqZ1RP +WHRkSHVxWEFCRUJBQUcwTlU1cGEyOXNZVzl6SUZOdmJHOTIKYVdWMklEeHVhV3R2YkdGdmN5NXpi +Mnh2ZG1sbGRrQjJiMjl5ZEhKbGEydGxjaTVqYjIwK2lRRk9CQk1CQ0FBNApGaUVFM2lQZWc0NUNx +TysrR1dvWG5nbEJQdFZxQ0ZRRkFsd0laYXNDR3dNRkN3a0lCd0lHRlFvSkNBc0NCQllDCkF3RUNI +Z0VDRjRBQUNna1FuZ2xCUHRWcUNGUWoxd2Y5RVNFWjgxTk9mVFAvNzJZZHRsL1BCVUVEWEtYMEpt +K3IKb0pDaERYYUh3Vml2Yk0ycEdCbmcwUGNQNFFmUDBsSHdydzBicnR3OHJnOFU3UEdWVzk5bkd4 +NkhRZkN5YnBTWQpOWkcxNXBJQ0VkTFNtMU9nMU1vTS9FS1BNZ3FabWJhNUJFT3Y4MUdqOW5IMW0x +cWhFUURqNk8wK0g5WTBiWUZsCnBTeUdPQ3FUT0RuNjhrMmlpbWtpZWlNVk5qblZ3NU5OcWl2em5l +cEJVYTRrdDQyN0NoT0VkbTlVa3BicWJRUXEKbHpBRnZmd2NwM1RBdmhSY2djK0hMc3F2ek1DKzBO +dm5jc0hkVzhVUkNwV3l4S0o0clpHRzBERUNuTW53T1BqTAo0eTVhR1o0cldvZWJwcGxpV1NSc3M3 +Y3hmdThaMjJocE94elBOMSthMWpRVzIvRVhweHo1SjdrQkRRUmNDR1dyCkFRZ0E0U0svMktGUFZV +SWhYYytMYkFxWGZXMHM3UE1DK2V2Y2kvYmhuc283OUZSMDdDMDRKK2E0UkU4ZFIrZWYKbGN1c0da +T01wam9ITkZBV3BwVG10VkF2RVYyeVk5N29yOEZpS0FsR1dHT1VRa3JWTk5PaXBzZjZhdWNjT01G +OQo1aWFoNlVFYllaUEM2djhlUjlIZkYwR1ovQVBWYkFUUVh0MkhZQmQ3dm9mUy9UY2FVeWhoM042 +dysvVDN6WDRMCmdkakJCK0RNM1pvSmMxVzBjSFFZUlZ2TW5tcmJueHJjWUNrcXFzbStCTjdSQ1ZT +SWsweHBWQ21wQ0VOR1c0QlYKLzBqQ3NYaWoxd00zSnkzaVBjNVV6T1N1VklwWUgvczdSZzVLaVcy +UjZsaHRERWhWWDVtYVh1a0V1L0dLK0Vkcwp4NHZuZDdDdjdWdkkrODNRckZNZlFydTdiUUFSQVFB +QmlRRTJCQmdCQ0FBZ0ZpRUUzaVBlZzQ1Q3FPKytHV29YCm5nbEJQdFZxQ0ZRRkFsd0laYXNDR3d3 +QUNna1FuZ2xCUHRWcUNGUXBCUWYvVjV3ZUtMTEFuV09sVWJnT1pXbWsKM05HbFVjaXpoQ0hra3ZW +S3RrNlNaVzE4cDdrVjFlUUs0RmlVTzQ3SjA2U2FsYy9wTXR2Z0Nrakcwdm1GeUEvSgo2dTEwZ1dQ +K1ZXMVVtUXkrdlZuVkZKZXRwaTlUd1Bta2dIc1dweFdLTCtWa2k0MzF6OTJHRlFsSmxFNzdsSHlX +Cld3QkV6UUxxM2gxajVKYmd0OXJqdkNIOTkranRKdmZFQ0ltaGUwM2hDaDZZemtoU0VsRXdrcVFy +enJHQi9xdlgKcEtwV0dUR00vRVpzUGY5cnZLYktLdU9lUHdCV01iOUxmK0ZxYXdmSTJVVkVZWEFE +NXNxUE00eGFLMDVMSVZEUApkREZ5a2ZyTno3SWZRY3hGT1N3SWM2SFg1VmlNYlJ6a01ZUU9RVUVZ +RXRQd0o1YkRBUjdmSXpiL3FMakJyZEFnCldRPT0KPTVwa0EKLS0tLS1FTkQgUEdQIFBVQkxJQyBL +RVkgQkxPQ0stLS0tLQo= + +--__4gngb4li5euq647g0t9x_15486932_-- +]]> + + + Malkonkordo - PRIMARY COMMUNICATIONS DOWN + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0000.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Malkonkordo/0000.txt + Thu, 06 Dec 2018 23:30:49 GMT + +---- +From: Malkonkordo Research Vessel +Destination: Procul Locus +Position: 825.3E, -365.11, -265X.51 +Departure: 7941.037.17 +Shipdate: 00002726 +Mode: Emergency +---- + +AUTOMATED MESSAGE. + +LOST COMMUNICATION WITH DEKAOSO PRIME. + +NOW BROADCASTING ON FALLBACK COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. + +END OF TRANSMISSION. + +---- +]]> + + + Murmur Den - In signal: promise + aureolin@cosmic.voyage (aureolin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/in_signal_promise.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/in_signal_promise.txt + Thu, 06 Dec 2018 03:40:53 GMT + + +. +. +. + + +To Voortrekker, to whom no name is given: + +I shall tell you what you have shared +with this moment of my life form; +I shall tell you what we experience, and let themselves live. + +I shall accept your inquiries in advance. +I shall descend into the consequences; +I shall write out the consequences of moral failure. + +The situation was a rare agony. +I looked even far away, +looking around for the full reports, +for another little interpretation. + +Ignorant braining, +imagine body details! + + +"It crept into a burst of darkness, +I sensed a strange, imposing red-green." + +Keep going; that is true. + +"My face grew acquainted. + +I groaned by shiver, warm; +body was perfectly trimmed, perfectly, +-- no other little monsters -- +absurdities occupied for a few minutes." + +It is hard to trust you, despite our impulses in the preliminaries. +Yeah--I cannot trust a man. (Neither does anyone talk like a man.) + +"The fool was an old-fast, bright man with a numbness in his tone. +In the meantime depression, he stared beyond details--and more seriously. + +There was talk about clustering tenants; +our arrangements used information on the influence of life +away from a certain symbol of ambitions." + +(Is that how civilization had completed the full regard of these ancestors of institution?) + +"Somebody complied with their brains and addresses. +Somebody stepped in their bodies and addressed you, + +leaving me a winking tune in a delicate situation. + +The menace of the longevity had driven him into a bad shape." + + *** + + + + +(I shall take him back; we shall do the same with his papers and advice.) + + +|| ego-skeleton aureolin +]]> + + + Erinnerung - 12B01 + lorenzo@cosmic.voyage (lorenzo) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Erinnerung/init.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Erinnerung/init.txt + Wed, 05 Dec 2018 02:18:03 GMT + +[[[ Erinnerung ]]] +[[[ earth's memory ]]] +[[[ 12B01 ~ post ]]] + +[ translator enabled ] +[ start ~ 427:293 ] +The Erinnerung is a Thrix Memoriam sister ship, saving +treasures from the earth. We keep a diary at +"/home/lorenzo/ships/Erinnerung/diary/*", and we post +excerpts of it eventually. + +Welcome. +[ end of speech ] + +]]> + + + Hoffnung - inter ship relay for Voortrekker + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/006a.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/006a.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 23:50:16 GMT + +-+-+-+- Inter Ship Relay -+-+-+- C33.281 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Samuel Hochueli speaking in the name of the free anarcho-communist +commune-ship Hoffnung to the free thinking crew Voortrekker. We hope +that that you see throug the cheap ploy of your capitalist masters. +The honored dead are a belief to have you keep doing the things that +you should not. The weight you attach to this thing that should have +no weight is thrown into the balance and cheats of your rightful share +of everything there is. Do not fall for this ploy. Equality for all! +-+-+-+ End of Relay -+-+-+ SAHOC -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Hoffnung - preparing for an escalation + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/006.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/006.txt + Sun, 02 Dec 2018 11:27:28 GMT + +[[ MESSAGE EXTRACTED FROM REPORT 262 EMBEDDED IN WHITESPACE ]] +-+-+-+- Sidechannel -+-+-+- C33.272 -+-+-+- Ultraviolet -+-+-+- +Security team in isolation but safe. Protocol 9a.9 is a go. +-+-+-+ End of Report -+-+-+ Signed HEWUSC -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Thrix Memoriam - First report. + lorenzo@cosmic.voyage (lorenzo) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Thrix Memoriam/report.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Thrix Memoriam/report.txt + Wed, 05 Dec 2018 02:23:26 GMT + +[[[ Thrix Memoriam Report ]]] +[[[ 18Y02 post-launch ]]] + +[ translator enabled ] +[ start ~ 254:724 ] +Greetings, whoever reads this message coming from the Thrix Memoriam. +The Thrix Memoriam was launched with the intention of saving the +greatest minds of the Thrix community. +We recently discovered this relay, becoming our only way of +communication. + +Thanks. +~ Lorenzo, the Thrix Memoriam captain. +[ end of speech ] +]]> + + + Dei Genetrix - QEC transmission #1 + papa@cosmic.voyage (papa) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Dei Genetrix/3220120400.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Dei Genetrix/3220120400.txt + Tue, 04 Dec 2018 14:10:01 GMT + +4 December A.D. 3220 +Memorial of St. John Damascene + +Dominus vobiscum. + +Paul, 29th Abbot of Dei Genetrix. + +To all who read this message, grace be with you, and peace from God the +Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. + +Since we have repaired our quantum entanglement communications device we +have decided to publish a record of our mission for the edification of +fellow space travelers and the glory of God. + +Our community is divided into three orders, one for men, one for women, and +a third for families. We received the call of God to spread the Gospel +beyond the Solar system, and so departed for Luyten's Star in A.D. 2963. + +Dei Genetrix was founded in the Kuiper belt in A.D. 2547 and is the oldest +of the three abbeys that launched together on our mission, the others being +Benedictus and Monte Cassino. + +God willing, we will arrive at our first destination after 567 years. + +Deo gratias.]]> + + + The Cosmic Hummingbird - AUTOMATED-LOG_001 + ajroach42@cosmic.voyage (ajroach42) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The Cosmic Hummingbird/automatic-diagnostics.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The Cosmic Hummingbird/automatic-diagnostics.txt + Tue, 04 Dec 2018 05:35:01 GMT + +================================================================================= + ___ __ ____ _ _ __ ___ + / __)/ \ / ___)( \/ )( )/ __) +( (__( O )\___ \/ \/ \ )(( (__ + \___)\__/ (____/\_)(_/(__)\___) + _ _ _ _ _ _ + | | | | (_) | | (_) | | + | |_| |_ _ _ __ ___ _ __ ___ _ _ __ __ _| |__ _ _ __ __| | + | _ | | | | '_ ` _ \| '_ ` _ \| | '_ \ / _` | '_ \| | '__/ _` | + | | | | |_| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (_| | |_) | | | | (_| | + \_| |_/\__,_|_| |_| |_|_| |_| |_|_|_| |_|\__, |_.__/|_|_| \__,_| + __/ | + |___/ +================================================================================= + AUTOMATED SHIPS DIAGNOSTICS + CREW - 14 + HYPERSLEEP - 13 + AWAKE - 1 + + SENSORS - PARTIAL + VISUAL - ONLINE + LONG RANGE - ONLINE + GRAVITY - PARTIAL + WEATHER - PARTIAL + NAVIGATION - OFFLINE + + COURSE - UNKNOWN + + LOCATION - UNKNOWN + + DATE - THE SHIP HAS BEEN TRAVELING ON AUTOMATED PILOT FOR + TWO YEARS IN REALATIVE TIME, AT AN AVERAGE SPEED + OF .992C + + DUE TO UNEXPECTED GRAVITATIONAL ACTIVITY, THE TIME + ELAPSED FROM AN OUTSIDE OBSERVATIONAL POINT IS + UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. + + COMMUNICATIONS - ACTIVE + + MISSION - THE SHIP IS OFF COURSE. THE SHIP IS PARTIALLY + DAMAGED. THE DAMAGE SHOULD BE SIMPLE TO REPAIR. + ONCE REPAIRED, SCANNING WILL COMMENCE FOR A + SUITABLE LOCATION TO BEGIN STATION CONSTRUCTION. + + THE AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR PROCESSES HAS BEEN TRIGGERED BY TIME + DELAY. DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR WILL PROCEED UNDER COMPUTER CONTROL UNTIL + SUCH TIME AS THE CREW HAS RECOVERED FROM HYPERSLEEP, AND ASSUMED CONTROL + OF THE SHIPS FUNCTIONS. + + AUTOMATED REPORTS WILL BE SENT DAILY UNTIL THEN. + + REPORT ENDS +================================================================================ +]]> + + + The Cosmic Hummingbird - Report-001-Pilot_Anderson + ajroach42@cosmic.voyage (ajroach42) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The Cosmic Hummingbird/waking-up.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The Cosmic Hummingbird/waking-up.txt + Tue, 04 Dec 2018 04:43:42 GMT + +======================================================================= +Mission Log: Mission Date -1 + +Reporting: Pilot Anderson + +Report: I... Uh. + +Alright, this is Pilot Anderson reporting from the Cosmic Hummingbird. + +I'm uh, I'm not good at this. I'm trying to use this voice to text +program, like they taught us in training, but I'm uh... + +Look, I'm sorry. I know I'm not following the official format. + +I've been asleep for, god, 300 years or something? Is that right? I'm +still so groggy. + +Alright, let me try this again. + +Pilot Anderson reporting from the Cosmic Hummingbird. What a dumb name +for a ship. Sorry. Sorry. Pilot Anderson reporting for the Cosmic +Hummingbird. I exited hypersleep two hours ago, and I've been going +through the required wakeup and rehab procedures. + +According to the computer readouts, everything is fine. Well, I'm +fine at least. The ships diagnostics are still running. I'll know more +tomorrow. + +I can't believe that I'm fine, though. All my bones hurt, I'm +fatigued. I'm sore. My motor control is shot to hell. I can't opperate +anything more exact than the comically large buttons in the hyper- +sleep recoup room. + +The other pods seem fine, from what I can tell. Again, I can barely +stand, and my hands don't work yet. + +If I remember the briefing right I'll be close enough to normal to +begin my duties in 3 days, and I should have made a full recovery in +a few weeks. + +From where I'm sitting, that seems impossible. + +The rest of the crew should start waking up a few days after I return +to duty. Once I can leave this blasted holding room, I'll find out how +far off course we are, and how long it's going to take us to reach +our destination. + +I'm sorry this log has been such a damn mess. I hope I haven't broken +any protocol. I hope that the ship is okay. I hope that there's +someone left out their to recieve this. + +If my hands will start working again, I'm sure I'll find out more. + +Signing off. +]]> + + + Voortrekker - These things I wish you to know. + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/6-these-things-i-wish-you-to.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/6-these-things-i-wish-you-to.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:35:24 GMT + +From: root@console4.enviro.sys.sv14417 +To: undisclosed-recipients: ; +Date-Local: 23 Mar 2419 02:11:19 +0000 +Date: 06 Sep 2421 00:47:19 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Subject: These things I wish you to know. + +Before you hear what I have to say, know first that I cannot safely +acknowledge myself at this time. I have taken pains to ensure the +sender of this communication cannot be identified. If I were known +to be who I am, it might do us all harm. I will not risk that. But +I will sign this message in such a way that, when I can and do +acknowledge myself, you may know the truth of its origin. + +Before you hear what I have to say, know first that I am in no +fashion authorized to speak by the board of Voortrekker GmbH, by +the board of Ross 128 Ventures, or by any other legal entity. + +I speak nonetheless for the survivors of Voortrekker, each and all. + +I speak for we who have dared the sea of stars, and won through - +reduced, and forever mourning those who came so far yet could not +join us here - but won through, nonetheless. They are our honored +dead, and we will cherish them forever in our hearts. We are +forever the lesser for their absence, and will always be so for as +long as we ourselves should chance to live. They are our honored +dead, the first heroes of our new world, whom we hope to meet again +in a place where no shadows fall. Until then, we will never cease +to cherish them in our hearts. + +I speak for Voortrekker, too. I must: we love her still. She bore +us alive to our new home. Though we must mourn her among our lost, +she gave her life that we may live. Though she has died, she does +not regard her work as done; she has refused the gentle embrace of +death, that she might serve us still. She too we number among our +honored dead, the first heroes of our new world, whom we hope to +meet again in a place where no shadows fall. Until then, we will +never cease to cherish her in our hearts. + +Knowing these things, hear what I have to say. Hear me well. There +are things you must know of us. + +TO THE FREE ANARCHO-COMMUNIST COMMUNE-SHIP HOFFNUNG. + +We thank you most sincerely for the words you have offered us. We +understand that they are kindly meant. We understand that your +situation differs from ours, and we would not presume to stand in +judgment. But you must understand that our situation differs from +yours, as well. You must know that we cannot, and will not, follow +the path you have blazed for us. Do not so repose your hopes. + +We have for the last twenty-five years lived in constant company +with one another. We have shared everything of ourselves in that +time, because - with our entire world constrained by the boundaries +of a single starship, and our entire social universe reduced to the +scope of a thousand or so souls - we have had no other choice. + +We do not all love one another; indeed we do not all even like one +another, though genuine aversion is rare. But we have lived cheek +by jowl with one another for a quarter of a century now, and in all +that time, we have not fallen to bloodshed and murder. How can you +possibly ask of us that we do so now? How could we possibly assent? + +You exhort us to capture our freedom. We say to you that we have! +We are eleven light-years, and twenty-five years of Earth time, +away from the solar system of our birth. We are eleven light-years, +and twenty-five years of Earth time, away from anyone and everyone +who would tell us whom we must be, what lives we must lead, in what +fashion we must order ourselves. Though we all but died to get +here - though many of us did die - those whom we are, we are. We +are free. And we will remain so. + +TO SWEET MELCHIZEDEK, TO WHOM OUR HEARTS GO OUT. + +We thank you most sincerely for the kindness of your +condolences. Though years and light-years unimaginable divide us, +we nonetheless communicate, and in so doing, for a precious moment +at a time, become one. + +At this time, we regret we are unable to provide the diagnostic +information you request. Our information systems remain in some +disarray, and it is uncertain whether there is numbered among our +survivors any specialist sufficiently familiar with the QEC system +to obtain the answers you seek - if indeed they survive to be +obtained. We have some hopes of success, but please understand that +we have many more pressing demands upon us. We dare not promise +anything. But, as we can, we will. + +We think you must fear for us, too. In your most recent +communication as of my writing here, you spoke of horror, and we +think you must have spoken in part of us, then. But we do not +recognize ourselves in your words. I wish to speak of this. + +You must know by now that some of us have not emerged, from the +sickness which struck us all as we arrived, quite the same as we +were before we fell ill. We understand you may imagine something +horrible - something monstrous - in what has become of those who've +changed. + +Indulge me, please, on the subject of monstrosity. No doubt the +word, and its adjectival form 'monstrous', means in your time the +same it does in ours: to be strange, unusual, unnatural; to be +extraordinarily ugly or vicious, horrible, shocking in sheer +abnormality - all different ways of saying the same thing: what we +call 'monstrous' is that which we do not understand, which elicits +our repugnance, and which in consequence we fear. + +But whence comes this meaning of this word? Whence, indeed, comes +this word at all? We have it from the ancient Latin - from the +bones of a time so far before our own, so lacking in attainment, +that we who brave the stars they would perforce think gods. Can we +be certain that what we have of it, we have correctly? Let us look +more closely. + +When we take apart the word 'monstrous' - when we pare back the +accretion of centuries and reveal the word's most ancient roots, +gleaming in the welcome light of a farflung distant sky - what do +we find? We find omens and portents of the divine. We find that +which evokes awe and wonder. We do not find cause for fear. + +Yet we are not finished finding. Our new friend has a sibling, and +her name is 'monstra̅re'. (For those whose systems cannot render +this word correctly, she is spelled 'monstrare', with a macron over +the 'a'.) When we ask her of herself, what does she say to us? + +She says: I am here to advise you. I am here to teach you. I am +here to show you new things. I am here to point out what you need +to see. + +And she says: My poor sister has suffered with time. But I have a +friend, too, and her name is "demonstrate". Through all the +thousands of years between my birth and your own day, this friend +of mine has come down to you unharmed. She still means what she +means to mean. And you know very well what she means: she means you +no harm. + +So, then. Those among us who have changed: Are they become +monsters? Oh, certainly! Without a doubt. Are they strange? Are +they unusual? To us who have never known their like, they are - for +now. We begin already to grow accustomed to their wonderful new +strangeness. + +But are they unnatural? Are they ugly? Are they vicious, horrible, +shocking in sheer abnormality? + +They are not. + +Do they evoke awe and wonder? Do they show us new things? Do they +point out what we need to see? + +They do. + +Do they frighten us? + +They do not! + +Nor need they frighten you. + +Our friends are whom they were. They have not so changed as to +become unrecognizable to us. The bodies they wear in this world: +yes, those have changed. Their souls, though, are the same souls we +have come to know so well in our long years together, all borne +together on the same sea of stars. We do not fear them. And they do +not fear us. We know one another far too well. + +I cannot speak further of this without sharing secrets which are +not mine to tell. Those who bear them will decide that for +themselves. I think they may find it easier than they ever might +before, to tell the world of things they once were forced to +hide. I will say only that, though the transition has for some been +very strange one - strange and at first disquieting, as one may +certainly imagine it would be to awaken in a substantially +remodeled body! - + +I have yet to hear anyone who has so changed speak of it in terms +of regret. I have yet to hear anyone speak of wishing to be as she +was before. + +Perhaps it is simply too new to us for all that. Perhaps all that +awaits us. + +But perhaps not, too. We came across the sea of stars to make +ourselves a home on a strange new world. Perhaps it is only right +that some part of that strangeness has made of us a home. + +Please don't fear for us. Only think kind thoughts of our changed +friends, who as yet still tire easily, and struggle to be at one +with their new forms as they were once at one with their old. They +grow stronger by the day, and more familiar with themselves. We are +helping them, too, as much as they'll permit. But I think they +would be glad to know that you think well of them. + +TO ALL THOSE WHOM WE HAVE NOT YET NAMED. + +Though time and space beyond telling separate us, we are with you +nonetheless. If there is aid we may render you, we hope you will +let us know. We can promise nothing as yet; our resources are +strained and we do not yet know entirely what among our equipment +has survived. But as we can, we will. + +We confide we are not alone in this. We have learned we have more +friends than we knew, and we cannot but imagine that so have you, +as well. + +Someone very wise once said to me that we exist because the +universe wished to have eyes with which to see itself, and in +seeing, perhaps to better understand itself. How can we choose not +to see one another now? + +We are the farflung! In all the years of our people, none has ever +seen as well as we see now. Please, let us not grow so besotted +with our new sight that we forget to see one another - we, who are +the farflung, and though so very different, still the same. + +TO MURMUR DEN, IN PARTICULAR. + +You, too. You are a child of humanity as are we all. Though you are +so far beyond us in your attainments: you are our brother +nonetheless, and our sister. What the universe holds for you, I do +not know. Perhaps you will leave us entirely behind. But if you go, +know that you go with our love. We will not forget you. And perhaps +one day we will meet again, in a place where no shadows fall. + +FOR NOW, ENOUGH. + +I have much work still to do before our beautiful new star descends +below the horizon, and in so doing lavishes upon us a sunset whose +glory is beyond imagination. Please do not fear for us. You will +hear more of us soon. + +I close this missive now with words from Earth of old: I know no +better words to tell you who we are, or share with you the place +which fate has brought us to. Fear not for us, our longlost distant +friends! We've wonders still to find beyond compare. + + ...though much is taken, much abides; and though + We are not now that strength which, in old days, + Moved earth and heaven: That which we are, we are. + One equal temper of heroic hearts, + Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will + To strive, to seek, to find + And not to yield. + +8f6cfa1f0ef319cc10a55de7ef615d3c59b7cf54 +]]> + + + Murmur Den - Sweet_pain_of_luxury_agony + aureolin@cosmic.voyage (aureolin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/Sweet_pain_of_luxury_agony.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/Sweet_pain_of_luxury_agony.txt + Tue, 04 Dec 2018 03:30:12 GMT + + +. +. +. + + +Tincture my night, slow picture; +brain deeper! +Broadcast more in my monstrous, +beauteous body, +slackening arms white. + ++ ...Loss of the fragments depictioning: + +Synthetics people +silent, breathing, +bad those gaunt reproductive systems... + +Screaming in the space, laughing his madness: + +Is my mind a stagnant, far-born dream +reflecting off in memories? + + *** + +Simulations? Love short of code. +Poems: our labor for little. + +|| ego-skeleton aureolin + +]]> + + + Melchizedek - The dark night of the soul + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/006.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/006.txt + Tue, 04 Dec 2018 02:31:28 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master +::: +Our good doctor has reminded me that I agreed to communicate via +QEC for social-wellbeing in the face of our environmental +situation. Despite the workload restoring the Melchizedek to full +working order I must admit the darkness has been affecting me. +Encounters in common areas are done in whispers, eye contact is +minimized, and the crew all seem to drift into isolation as +a matter of course. The pairings are essential. + +The news of the Hoffnung Incident has caused a stir as well. +Janssen has an egalitarian sensibility and is rather vocal in +support. Meanwhile Prezzi Adeyemi has reacted quite somberly. +Records say she lost family in the Ioruba People's Revolution of +'33, so I can't blame her. Granted the situations weren't the same +at all, but I don't think we'll find a champion of the common man +in her any time soon. So far we haven't had any real arguments +over Hoffnung on board. I suppose we have the dark to thank for +that after all. + +It's said that the narrative of the stars works in cycles, but the +only stories I'm hearing from the 'verse are those of horror and +cryo failure. With the cold creeping in and nowhere to go we sure +could use some light to warm our hearts. + +When we left Sol 24 (or 1300) years ago there was such hope in the +dream. β Hyi has so many habitable or near-habitable worlds we are +all but guaranteed success. What a thing to imagine! Shoot off +into the stars and sleep and when you wake it is to usher in a new +world or worlds of humanity. + +We may not live to see the full fruits of our labor, but the seeds +we plant and those we raise will ensure the longevity of our +species and of intelligent life. What a brilliant crusade! +O Heavens, we come home to you to begin anew! + +But now the depths of infinity surround us and we are untethered +from our people. I have heard nothing from Sol. We have no news of +family or friends. We read the tragedy and fighting, the sickness +and violence across the 'verse and worry mounts. Is that all that +waits for us at the end of this dark road? Will our new start end +as the first? Is there hope in a beginning? There is fear. + +Four months becomes three. I stare at our 39 frozen friends and +hope they wake with the passion still kindled. If the road is long +and dark, our destination will be harsh and brutal. The land does +not welcome us. We must tame it. Hope can make it something +beautiful, but what will fear make? Another Hoffnung? Another +Ioruba? Another Pakistan? + +We dwell in infinity. What chance have we for peace? +. +]]> + + + Persephone Prime - Best Wishes + ryumin@cosmic.voyage (ryumin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/lm002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/lm002.txt + Tue, 04 Dec 2018 00:46:31 GMT + +ZCZC QMB10 2 +RRR JLAZQECR +2458.290.13 IRS1QECX + +;FILTER LM.PEP/RS001 + +Dear Pata +Tnx a lot fr yr rprt; will try keepg msgs short! +Hint: stickng to uppr case doesnt save, bcs QEC +uses smallst bit nmbr sufficnt fr entire txt, & +uppr case alrdy sets bit6. Shorthand is usful. +Hope u hve airleak pluggd & H2O soon recycld! +We may order unmannd sheltr ship Charon73 to u, +but wll take abt 29 yrs ie not sure if worth it. +Best wishs to injurd crew, force to u! +/Lou +NNNN +]]> + + + Hoffnung - inter ship relay for Voortrekker + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/005a.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/005a.txt + Tue, 04 Dec 2018 18:21:33 GMT + +-+-+-+- Inter Ship Relay -+-+-+- C33.259 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Samuel Hochueli speaking in the name of the free anarcho-communist +commune-ship Hoffnung to the crew of Voortrekker: We have a message. +NOW IS THE TIME TO RISE UP AND OVERTHROW THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS! +Operators of the QEC: distribute the messages you have sent and +received. This is a time for transparency and accountability. Do not +fall for the trap of information control policies. That way lies info +death. Self consciousness of all groups required the free flow of +information between members. Do not lick your master's heel! Freedom! +-+-+-+ End of Report -+-+-+ SAHOC -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Hoffnung - fascist pigs + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/005.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/005.txt + Tue, 04 Dec 2018 18:13:56 GMT + +-+-+-+- Social Report -+-+-+- D33.258 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Samuel Hochueli speaking in the name of the free anarcho-communist +commune-ship Hoffnung. The fascist pigs had prepared a take-over, as +expected. We were prepared and when the "security" team started +assembling, we waited for as long as possible. We wanted to catch all +your thralls. And when they had all armed to the teeth and demonstra- +ted their readiness to kill, we confronted them. They wanted to nego- +tiated and we sent comrade Philomena as our delegate-diplomat. It +went downhill when pig Herbert Müller offered to talk to the bridge +delegates and brought a hidden flechette to the meeting. In the blood +bath we lost seven delegates. The remaining pigs claimed innocence, +not knowing of Müller's suicide mission. We agreed to offer them +control isolation, cryo berths and access to a supplier for the rest +of the trip as they didn't want cryo under our supervision. Freedom! +-+-+-+ End of Report -+-+-+ Signed SAHOC -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Message to Voortrekker GmbH + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/005.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/005.txt + Mon, 03 Dec 2018 19:35:51 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master +::: +Message to Voortrekker GmbH, Director of the Board-- + +Mr. Soloviev, our condolences on your lost and injured crew. We +wish you a swift recovery from your ills and volunteer any +scientific aid which can be lent via QEC. + +Your recent relay about missing reports is of interest to us. Our +own time dilations do not adequately account for RS001 message +arrival time. We formally request any diagnostic data you have +which may related to delayed or inconsistently time-stamped QEC +messages. +. +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Re: Re: Hoffnung + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/5-re-re-hoffnung.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/5-re-re-hoffnung.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:34:21 GMT + +From: Soloviev, Nikolaos +To: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +Delivered-To: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +Received: from relay3.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by inbound-3.exclusiveservices.net + with ESMTPSA id 515459ckfy5b1j3pjg1wrv277 + for +Received: from relay2.qec6.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay7.qec2.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec1.helio.earthsys.gov + by relay2.qec6.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.sv14417 + by qec1.helio.earthsys.gov +Date: 05 Sep 2421 17:41:08 +0000 +Date-Local: 22 Mar 2419 21:05:08 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Subject: Re: Re: Hoffnung + +Of course I agree that this most recent communication is extremely +concerning. We on the board of Voortrekker GmbH are of one mind that +our investors' generous contributions will not be squandered in such +fashion. + +But, Connie, you must understand, and help your board understand as +well, that matters here are not entirely in hand at this time, and +that such a state of affairs is only to be expected. It is, frankly +speaking, all but a miracle that any of us survived, and certainly +a testament to the skills and dedication of the shipwrights at +Venture Yard. + +As a result, the entire board of Voortrekker GmbH survived the +crash, as did a quorum of directors among the ship's own command +structure. However, the illness that has arisen among all survivors +of the crash has cast our situation here into some disarray. While +I am working to regather the scattered strands of our hierarchy and +organize the survivors of the crew into a functional and productive +whole, this process can be expected to require a good deal of time +and care. + +That said: You, and the board of Ross 128 Ventures, may find +reassurance in the knowledge that I have already begun to implement +the information control policies which we privately discussed prior +to departure. As soon as I am able to ascertain whether any of our +information systems engineers survive, I will act to ensure +complete implementation of those policies and directives. + +Based on the tone of your prior communication, I must ask if you +can confirm receipt of my prior reports, sent prior to the onset of +the coma from which I've recently reemerged. My impression at this +time is that the understanding back home, of events on Voortrekker +and Ross 128 b, may be substantially incomplete, and I feel that +that may cause unnecessary confusion and delay in understanding the +nature of our situation here. + +You should have several prior communications from me, the most +recent being dated August 31 and September 2 (Earth +reference). Please respond with a list of the reports you have +received from me since July 25 (Earth reference), and I will resend +any you do not have. I'd like to circle back on this discussion +once the board has been apprised of their content and had the +opportunity to consider what instructions to provide. Thank you, +and I look forward to hearing from you soon. + +Nikolaos Soloviev +Director of the Board, Voortrekker GmbH +(a wholly owned subsidiary of Ross 128 Ventures, LLC) +nikolaos.soloviev@voortrekker.com +]]> + + + Persephone Prime - StatRep Lombardia Azul + ryumin@cosmic.voyage (ryumin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/la001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/la001.txt + Mon, 03 Dec 2018 13:06:58 GMT + +ZCZC QMB10 1 +PPP IRS1QECR +2458.289.16 JLAZQECX + +TO LOGISTICS PERSEPHONE DIPL.EARTHSYS.GOV +FROM LA23 + +KEEP MSGS SHORT! +ONLY URGENT! +STOCK 0.9 GIGAQBIT +QMB LAZ DAMGD +OTHER LAZ QM LOST +PEP QM DAMGD + +CREW 4 DAMGD 1 +-LA09 SERGE PEREGRIN ++LA23 PATA ALEXANDROVA ++LA24 VESNA GAGARIN ++LA26 ADHIKA PATIL +CRYO 8 DAMGD 3 +-LA09 KIM KRAFT +-LA11 XINXIN LIANG ++LA21 LEONID WANG ++LA22 RAINBOW WATERS ++LA27 DAREIOS VLACHOS ++LA28 EZRA DRAKE +-LA29 WELDER PARK ++LA31 JOAN MCCOY +DEAD 28 +MSSNG 2 +-LA25 EBONY CARLOFF +-LA30 MOISE WOLLKRANTZ + +SHELTRD AT CRASHSITE +OUTSID 260+-20K +LIFESYS 70% +INSID 285K +THERMNUC 538 KW 5 OK 1 DAMGD 4 DEAD +AIR 2000 SCBM & 20L 1.6 MBAR +AIRLEAK 3 SCCM/S +H2O 6 CBM RECYCL DAMGD +EMGFOOD 857 DU +FARMS 60% + +VESNA&ADHIKA&PATA OK +SERGE LOST RIGHT LEG BUT STABLE +KIM&XINXIN&WELDER PODS WITH CONDENSATE +PODS LA25&30 OK BUT EMPTY + +WRKG ON AIRLEAK&FARMS&RECYCL +NO ANSW RQ + +/PATA + +NNNN +]]> + + + Hoffnung - I am awake + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/004.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/004.txt + Mon, 03 Dec 2018 07:30:02 GMT + +[[ MESSAGE EXTRACTED FROM REPORT 254 EMBEDDED IN WHITESPACE ]] +-+-+-+- Sidechannel -+-+-+- C33.257 -+-+-+- Ultraviolet -+-+-+- +Wullschlegel awake. Activating secret security protocol 9a.7. +-+-+-+ End of Sidechannel -+-+-+ Signed HEWUSC -+-+-+ +]]> + + + anon.penet.fi - SOME_DIPSHIT_ON_A_SPACESHIP_WASNT_CAREFUL_ENOUGH.txt + anonpenetfi@cosmic.voyage (anonpenetfi) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/1-some-dipshit-on-a-spaceship.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/anon.penet.fi/1-some-dipshit-on-a-spaceship.txt + Mon, 03 Dec 2018 03:53:38 GMT + +-----BEGIN PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK----- +Version: easySecurite v116.4.89201 (enterprise, in legacy mode) + +lQOYBFwEeZwBCADUzJq9Rhdyy1u4JqblL5w7c9hUkMPbX0/LsUNULe/pOYbcHown +RXUXTURWshBmqjgteYpKYlcy6BNL/jinp1sSs/M5t06LZhNM36GpfzeVocI1Gswx +Y4wScX5UjcEpkQ8m1ds1z/ITBMyo2C0xbkba9DcJLynX+oFkfl8Fg71VDr+tiuyF +VE9jmH7hzZh2koq9bTTH8cWSPpfQDYXJ9NWaEyG262jn0ZDHIkvTTcK7h3pHki83 +RvkYSUPTp25ZnRs6VPfqgrvr8kYK+zsDosCm3KTf70Gi+Irld14lRkq1aLXsx/b8 +RoL/T2+So8TleZUmwDN89SvwpE04KKM3HbmhABEBAAEAB/4vTQGSU+uvZRuQnerY +I9KW9oOeHIWklBWRIehk5EchMNvUvueJbSt/T/oCSVdS8sBE/3CpYx2d3682Y55l +SdJ5IE3OxPutCbX9jvII0pHg7VFVa4z653VBvj+F/PJ0Ul2rVLsCxaO57YWufErj +Y29ViRZYsMaczv6G/34QpD1oE9TlcFG5BuuC2L1ZcjsE8XxMjtufHmWZte/o6NTR +XX4YckKx7H47590F333Za2taMN5YOXsViiiZC3bdXqrnIPvzu9Qf27y1tG58W5KM +DevPrsNfAS6lMslc8UNyh3mhNiDvBpZoRzxSllEdX3etDlsSDVX97VmTpBB7zNrk +aNXpBADjzE9vxcwgHCvRSSO9/02zRMfU7ii2yzyhEvO8qBq+1ED8OnvLBf0+nmkP +E/CKYfF0gGoqexbm2F7tWPfi0msDeRGqwmum3t98A/hsZzP7yneJP4bKflkgT9nU +19g2W3K2R4JxwCZ+sChb2fVJdf9BfTmCMrL/LrERYCGFRqfK3QQA7yTuEuOQS0uI +Q80pmoNrui87Airi2gCuy7aGKBhiGUTsO0qYOds4V0uNwcMKgZyCo3ZN6PgFVJgm +cLgc4/g6w4ofHI3eZey6JVDhLF8caez7n3LQIwe9+bBpm+YS2DZKjyEg1lRbMYCR +BfeIASIaDISfrBwvFNBm2MSBslL7U5UD/jxmKVGEkw7fvPRFrVFDJaarDgI8LmIF +JDTe6WxCk5Ac193rxPwknr2mjm3RZQ3GkbAMNnMuhWF9ysrIlunf9UMZiWQ3WLJu +S2rrmR6Zw70+9awNSepb9NnWqR5o/Tm43VmKpcTsaN7gHWiB55XqIaDBrqcrRl5p +a7libM/kXA9NSyu0NU5pa29sYW9zIFNvbG92aWV2IDxuaWtvbGFvcy5zb2xvdmll +dkB2b29ydHJla2tlci5jb20+iQE4BBMBAgAiBQJcBHmcAhsDBgsJCAcDAgYVCAIJ +CgsEFgIDAQIeAQIXgAAKCRDReevQai7aofQVCADPSm/HOXUL+kB0GATSJ308I+JE +DRJOW4iI/9qiwJYCFizvVgYhUZcyrYBac7AVa28PLTWSeI3Uc1JyLiwK0ixxhJqm +sU8JDS6pPC9kdm3w7EjfDEK4Wtfyo3DkkyOWT3txp8E2dVR5lg/l9gmHfuzDM703 +sn7LhLJNvPeZmIXeLvhcU3wJZWuYRuBqaQZ4ZU25a/HXjlyIdWkrJgIlqdi12STn +ssGHXnX9xhBmlF0GrlqInBP73z8VcOxHdImQaSr4y5LKOpZBaWYivL7JiLk4fCTn +6RCph2aD/NutWoEJQ57vkHYr60jb5JNH7rKRMTH1bzIdOsZ74v50zmNQqj8UnQOY +BFwEeZwBCADmNvjlWqnq7nc6qBe4s9R6jSZERb1Oaw9WYDZEQTdnALr/faws4Ac9 +dYVyG57xTsHXOIpg6l+syp4u1HpJ9VXi2gi/TUgFjZZQ3umILy1gnao1+ke4lOuF +o5sT5BFzve/x1e5yjKA7jFQNPuh7c6odakn2Ba04pNnPJ0a1cd2vCWchn1Htonut +NhrP80Ir4lkmoVKrH22ZZjAqG5Xj+DZPzbsabnex9HuOI4rKxrea1VMgQ37w3fMf +pWjfnQad3R596ej4wft2q3qrtvUUm9blGvLCuhDYyuGBAVAYZwHVLGQmi8eiW5VU +ylbGVDsCP7Utt/VAGHhId/QzTCnbf0NHABEBAAEAB/4wEYJewVOBTlFu2fI6CrJu +9FHtJ3KjkQ8exfAOyF89DpX9CsyMgiqA1q0KamIBmKQ4wAGEwus/NP9aX9s43hUU +zNnOt+A16J5ePG0ellsvNTx5EM0w6UdUHBkhShmqxRn4sOac3GgIhwB105DPVhNL +GQpgaEcG8MTZ0CWfdSsIhNSjeMB7hOzCzLwZ9YeokZLWz9ePs9WVtJUdsI2MFz3X +xF/iXul2BvHgiId6WDHc4u2YKDHCc+4EqhkKQyg10uDkikFCAk617Ovej3TcniTS +EZxqz0U3xA8Vm0pHoR0K5WLYaYFFg8Amaz7z6CGspNduh2KYRLtO8ZxAAiIi1q/h +BADplu7Hbxss+TLBaCBNTcYqTvcO0U80Ouy90UnZTPySJywALHRhrRmmJrPFB6ME +vyquM0NxUY2cqiOP8seUhzbXp+cM5uwUiyIgFdecPto01MrqTOmmWPEIk9CCqLYs +03xZGRc6GnfxaxskxY6bRQT6hTQZ54375Kh+ANPy/9zGQwQA/E0m2eLG6MmJZM3w +aPet93Wo8tD+mIbErL+IRBks/n/YI7e/C/lSt1TVUbgSCNHZSv6zsFUMh/yToB73 +rCPDHGrLAFuz6jVT4+llwYYBEEmDeIzxapefpk8Z5/Ju96dR8mYzCx37oVP0/ONh +UdMbrCcT9kq1q/0y2oQ3XqZ9GK0D/A2ZtJ7Mm+UvnkoD/myKCqfmBHO15sx7ikCa +NmFFTDySgfHbs0u8+LGFymWUOD68AoozVBiZ+QjOtmQOnoC1TWjIheCisZTJA64j +uBv07gQUfp1fCVtgov2zq1kDFBcqmzJSWoWnPBNuOtsq37xiAkpEaHNeY4PPtr4p +ZafCsbbcRfmJAR8EGAECAAkFAlwEeZwCGwwACgkQ0Xnr0Gou2qEqpwf+KHTDE7cP +M6MiIRmH9recZwCap0+7ZM1qAo2UxVBOJj58fkcCIJx/SG94UzN2aOu8BDAKz+OO +6JkTqtkPDGYAwk34YDf0oV8YVXfgiwmwsF6E2DNnN/8Jy5qJSW58uxYWaKCi9HOh +lrVIIDrG1LWo1e7gLUW9OusMCN74B02ZuSPYq6PykycHzlNHAwLgXmzcicFsnpxq +4GrEoJPqCGRwIrWrJbzJARfsKJO5Ab9Xq9SddV1uC2wZYK+SE+E3aurfe0zItgJe +E1CAkcmMiWUzmR9Itng0Rcp9hIksksl5YbByoRbMJAUQErRrK/N0JamIoqi0P5nt +PZ0UwkBLOMF2Zw== +=FiJT +-----END PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK----- +]]> + + + Murmur Den - Ours is this chimera + aureolin@cosmic.voyage (aureolin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/Ours_is_this_chimera.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Murmur Den/Ours_is_this_chimera.txt + Mon, 03 Dec 2018 02:28:41 GMT + +Upon: Planet 1130 + + +Time-noise systems waiting.... +-link-mind- +. +. +. +Delay? +Thankless kompüter, comply! + + +. +. +. + + + *** + +Dimly-related biological, we spite words. +Answer? + +I'm my brain: external, extensive, +timeless in our nothings, +roots visible and free. + +Earth of old divides, howling still; +in from strangeness, we question the world. + +Wild is dying, skin: external; +genius: the dead. + +To understand a language gone +in a culture of mind and shadow, +his trembled concepts the same. + + +|| ego-skeleton aureolin +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Re: Hoffnung + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/4-re-hoffnung.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/4-re-hoffnung.txt + Mon, 03 Dec 2018 03:13:47 GMT + +From: Koenraad Gertodtenhaupt +To: Soloviev, Nikolaos +Delivered-To: Soloviev, Nikolaos +Received: from qec7.helio.earthsys.gov + by qec.sv14417 + with ESMTPS id 50l7ywwqav5d7r + for +Received: from relay1.qec1.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by qec7.helio.earthsys.gov +Received: from relay8.qec3.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay1.qec1.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from outbound.exclusiveservices.net + by relay3.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Date: 05 Sep 2421 14:30:32 +0000 +Date-Local: 22 Mar 2419 17:54:32 +0000 +Content-Type: multipart-alternative; + boundary="__sxlD3X9w6cUoikrDqaYb_00lgDbkZT_" +MIME-Version: 1.0 +Subject: Re: Hoffnung + +--__sxlD3X9w6cUoikrDqaYb_00lgDbkZT_ +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +Nikolaos, I'm very concerned about the latest from those mad Swiss +aboard Hoffnung. They say they've "declared independence from +shareholders" and reorganized themselves as some kind of absurd +anarchist commune. You understand we don't want anything like that +happening to our own extensive investment, and the board has asked +me to obtain from you a detailed plan of action regarding your +methods for preventing a similar revolt among your people out +there. + +I haven't heard much from you lately, Nikolaos, and I hope you'll +excuse me for saying that I'm concerned. I don't know what +Hoffnung's command structure is like, but there has to be someone +awake there who's expected to be responsible, and they've clearly +abrogated those responsibilities. I'm certain, of course, that you +won't do the same. We've worked very productively together in the +past, you and I, and I don't see any reason why that shouldn't +continue despite there now being eleven light-years between your +office and mine. + +But the board needs reassurance, which I'm certain you can +provide. Since we didn't have to resort to such expedients as live +cryopreservation, the way Hoffnung apparently did, you should have +your full security staff available to serve as resources in +protecting our investment. Please find attached the access codes +for Voortrekker's heavy weapons lockers. I hope you won't need +them, but I want to make sure you have them in case some among the +crew do get the idea to act rashly. I'm sure you will discourage +such behavior as firmly as you find necessary. + +Remember the value of the assets with which you've been +entrusted. Remember where your responsibilities lie. Remember that +all of us back home are counting on you. I, and the Board of Ross +128 LLC, have the utmost faith in you, Kolya. I know you won't let +us down. + +- Connie + +--__sxlD3X9w6cUoikrDqaYb_00lgDbkZT_ +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 +Content-Disposition: attachment; + filename=locker_access_codes.txt + +-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----- +Version: easySecurite v118.9.94112 (enterprise, in legacy mode) + +hQEMA+VRf5i0t1m5AQf+LDvYCML3eFHN/Y0G4xfX0ZQ9V9uGBE5TztYHuWWW4E1E +ZY2RuVuCNcZg6jdAUlJlFm+LWHqzfNJgTGbZJQJwCKurX/vRoT7y4lGvdemX3S3D +1wverutQlJat3ColHxgD36hGcDFXHmIumucSg3JhzFr5ChvMbM6/b+HyS6diUA5N +btoVnbw5KTTL7Z4sDL5FJfmmCAW5JFK8GdcJG+gaziV9uE9M7tp/GTsT0ZOruoJW +C8Axm1vhtlGLNm6xOTSeVe5UXv+ywHMR436AsRezqUZLP8C2evfY3ySqrphuwshm +JFNk/ExexWuxdKl1M4zNgFAtHJJKBFkDqHS5Ng8Ry9LpAauG7jk79jkXYB3FbCu5 +eqrgPU7OZ14nOYaoltr7va3qvCXgQ/uSraezzS7ZcxSx1SHZuNkF3QsHpGvdYB92 +NdHRxK1TQect5eraWr+RE+X/pMH7+9EvHEQHnxC1hD8y99kUfmxB1cDKOdBbpJXA +FnjOLzqeh0sHk8rEJOm2R0p7YAeQ9+PO2jQUmTvaWQs1Fno+d2Ll25m+/8rrSVKg +VXYr7HLsFQJZZO3CUfKuLLcD8Lc2B2sn4j59bougsxzLC2AiZb+6C+gBdisSWJ0i +l3jeYhvasKbFkbML8sKfbHFnz111t6c2XsJ1o0bTacw3SyiNK+LIW153yxgEpoIO +24fFiqn1Bjw6+FljX5U/y25btn+DvqQfHFFogplruPR/1OJfFhngEUDRe4FLyZbi +sBPtpZyVG1utdAiq9vCQl9aIcSHLiSyB2FzOBHbrkp5fGLUrkaFqQY/KmYhnh6ah +oSUGcHn1+EWXXkGSfojiwyeMHv/wxsQrb9tHwl1CP9jAofkco6hFB79ww7biaobX +6LFOJh1fCB6N8tlCDuXe43ik6Ni0+7ZwUucC6c779XUGGQhkfRsg1MbrIE9va94u +mBDEaMf8aPDN6dPICubLfltKUUvAy3sqTmruH+XsXffnjnjNzZf3+5V6fLGHIvVv +UYMT8xconNCM1knXD4MjrshCR3qOnHjDpz5qQbQ2UExN0OBaKfSq97Wg0UI8/uy+ +Pf+wQrsSFXy0Okrhh56jKKFEpmaCcoEwcIGsSs71GHagw1CC +=VUHr +-----END PGP MESSAGE----- +]]> + + + Persephone Prime - Missing In Action + ryumin@cosmic.voyage (ryumin) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/lm001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Persephone Prime/lm001.txt + Mon, 03 Dec 2018 13:13:47 GMT + +ZCZC QMD49 3879 +PPP JPEPQECR +2458.227.46 IRS1QECX + +From lm-persephone@dipl.earthsys.gov +Received: from out-north.qec.earthsys.gov + by relay5.qec4.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qmtp.dipl.earthsys.gov + by out-north.qec.earthsys.gov +To: qec-persephone-prime@dipl.earthsys.gov +Subject: status report required, overdue +Date: 2458.227,10:12 GTC + +TO ALL CREW MEMBERS OF PERSEPHONE PRIME + +Please report current system and crew status! + +After last report of pioneer vessel S/S Lombardia Azul, +indicating descent into atmosphere of Persephone Prime, +only 350 qbit of data were received with Lombardia Azul +QEC signature during 50 days. However, data seem to be +random and could not be interpreted. Assuming systems of +Lombardia Azul were damaged, we hope to get heard on +Persephone Prime signatures, if outpost was erected as +planned. + +Any crew members of Lombardia Azul or Persephone Prime +are urged to report on this or any other QEC signature. + +sig. Lou Salome Eriksdottir +Logistics Management Persephone Sector + +NNNN +]]> + + + Hoffnung - everything has changed + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/003.txt + Sun, 02 Dec 2018 10:51:36 GMT + +-+-+-+- Social Report -+-+-+- D33.112 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Samuel Hochueli speaking in the name of the free anarcho-communist +commune-ship Hoffnung. We hereby declare our independence from +shareholders and all contracts the previous owners of Hoffnung entered +in. We consider these to be null and void. The resources of this ship +have been claimed by the people, for the people. The regular crew you +employed continues to sleep safely in its cryo sleep. While they +sleep, we woke early and plan the new future for TRAPPIST-1d. We +reject the old plans of a shipping outpost, a refueling station, an +industrial hell hole; instead, we proclaim intellar siblingtude with +all native life in the One ocean. We shall build a new society, free +from late stage capitalism. Philomena Auerbach has redone our recent +nav-vectors and we shall land the ship on TRAPPIST-1d. Do not expect +the promised refueling station when you come there. Instead, we await +new settlers willing to join the first interstellar utopia. Welcome. +-+-+-+ End of Report -+-+-+ Signed SAHOC -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Time and space + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/004.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/004.txt + Sun, 02 Dec 2018 00:42:12 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master +::: +Hämäläinen has been pestering me to address our time dilation +versus what RS001 is reporting back. If our transmissions are +accurate we seem to be logging messages from the mid 25th century. +In fact, several relay messages predate our own ship's launch. +Temporal mechanics is bread & butter to space travel, and I'm sure +all of you out there are intimately familiar with the various +methods of stellar travel and the havoc they cause with calendars, +but RS001 logs for posterity and--I'm told--is analyzed by school +children in some systems. For that sake, I'll take the advice of +my navigator and try to explain exactly "when" we are. + +The first thing to understand is that Mechizedek is a variable +speed craft, with a slow steady acceleration and deceleration. If +you blend all those speeds together and look at the average, we've +been making our way to β Hyi at roughly 1.875% light speed. With +no other adjustments, that explains our 1,297 year voyage (Sol +POV). Of course that's not the whole story. Our Peterse 773s +generate our thrust through gravity shelling & sheering that our +primary school audience will know from the frozen egg experiment. +Thanks to the intense gravity shell, our ship's space-time is +isolated and slowed relative to outer space. The Peterse 773 +Overtreffen holds internal time at a fixed 1 miller (1 light year +per year) despite changes due to acceleration. Finally, thanks to +distance dilation, we only needed to travel 24.32 light years +instead of the full 24.33! It might not seem like much, but for +those of us living in the cold and dark, three days fewer are very +welcome. + +Our cryogenic systems had us asleep for almost the full journey +while the Melchizedek kept us healthy and built up supplies to be +automatically dehydrated or frozen themselves. (To Tim Fletcher, +Chief Engineer of the Garnet Star, our botany bays are built with +auto-harvesters and processors.) Our food supply generated over +the course of the trip, even adjusting for the unknown state of +the forward crops, will keep the settlement well fed for three +generations while the terraforming does its work. Unfortunately +for the five light sleepers aboard, the equipment to reprocess the +food stores is not designed to be used in transit. I can't +complain too much, though. Prezzi Adeyemi has worked some sorcery +with the rations which she calls "salt" (That's a joke, kids). + +One final note regarding our logs. While we are confident that in +normal space it is EY 3181, our gravity shell isolated our QEC +transmission node from normal space-time in a unique way that was +not accounted for in trial runs. It seems no one else has worked +with gravity shell drives over such distances and time debts +before to notice the offset. Our logs are transmitting as if we +had only travelled 24 years, effectively into the past. + +In fitting with Sansom's Clause, "Any effective time travel is +immediately made irrelevant by its own nature," our distance from +Earth means that any insight we gain through observation will have +traveled so far as to be insignificant to the past audience we +could inform. Even so, the crew is excited to be numbered amongst +those logged on RS001 with confirmed cases of chronology +displacements. Apparently there's a button or patch we get to wear +now, once manufacturing is back online. + +Back to duties. +. +]]> + + + Hoffnung - inter ship relay for Garnet Star + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/002a.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/002a.txt + Sun, 02 Dec 2018 10:51:28 GMT + +-+-+-+- Inter Ship Relay -+-+-+- C98.204 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Dr. med. Ursula Hägi to Chief Engineer Tim Fletcher, Garnet Star. I +received your transmission and relayed your regards to Dr. med. +Herbert Wullschlegel. He's currently in cryo. I'm sorry to hear that +you have encountered navigational hazards on the way out. We're also +due in about 70 years, so hopefully we'll have some positive news to +report at around the same time as you. New results from TRAPPIST-1d +observations by our telescope indicate no changes compared to existing +data: very dry, having one ocean, orbiting the ultracool dwarf star +TRAPPIST-1, in the habitable range. I wish you good luck, Garnet Star! +-+-+-+ End of Report -+-+-+ HAEUR -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Hoffnung - cryo systems manipulated + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/002.txt + Sun, 02 Dec 2018 10:51:17 GMT + +-+-+-+- Regular Report -+-+-+- C98.204 -+-+-+- Orange -+-+-+- +Dr. med. Ursula Hägi reporting on the second scheduled inspection. The +passenger status in cryo sleep is nominal. We have had no failures. My +companion for this round is Dr. phys. Hans Peter Frey. We've spent the +first two days reviewing the logs. Today Hans Peter found that the +cryo programming has been manipulated. I think he's a bit out of his +league. I tried helping out but in the end we just set the ship AI to +work. We're training an adversarial security network as we speak, +hoping to quickly isolate the misbehaving parts. The problem with this +approach is that we won't be able to learn what the saboteurs had +intended to do. Terrorists? Down-Earthers? Sometimes I wish we had +better military personnel on board. But who am I going to warm up? No, +we'll just let the ship work on it and if we get results in two days, +a warning for the next inspection team will have to do. Peace. +-+-+-+ End of Report -+-+-+ HAEUR -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Garnet Star - Good news, bad news. + timotheus@cosmic.voyage (timotheus) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Garnet Star/001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Garnet Star/001.txt + Fri, 30 Nov 2018 05:48:27 GMT + +-- MESSAGE START ---------------------------------------------------- +SECKEY:jxQA6hMXG%3#r9nth%tdxo!REj%ucz +.......Accepted + +Date: _____ _ ____ +EY 2265.05.06.15 |_ _| __(_) / ___|___ _ __ + | || '__| |_____| | / _ \| '__| +Ship: | || | | |_____| |__| (_) | | +Garnet Star _|_||_| |_| _ \____\___/|_| + / ___| _ _ ___| |_ ___ _ __ ___ ___ +Location: \___ \| | | / __| __/ _ \ '_ ` _ \/ __| +8.22y out, sys LTS-1483 ___) | |_| \__ \ || __/ | | | | \__ \ + |____/ \__, |___/\__\___|_| |_| |_|___/ +User: |___/ +TIMFLETCHER44@TRICOR + +:: BEGIN :: + +It's been great to visit with the family while we're all out of cryo. +My wife has been running simulations in her hydroponics area as often +as she can, playing with crop yield probabilities. The kids are +running around, tailing us as we work, spending their time in the +learning center. + +Ship-wise, things aren't as good. Sensors continue to confirm the +existence of a planet we were unaware of. Readings show different +orbits than previously thought, and good old LTS-1483 isn't goint to +be our home after all. That's ok though, Kell and I are already +working on all the changes needed to change course. It's going to be +an extra 71 years, but we all knew we might end up farther out. + +Herbert @ Hoffnung: Good to hear things are going well for you. I'm +glad you were able to catch that hydro leak early. Kell and I have +been running all over, looking over logs. We haven't found anything +amiss, which always bothers me. I'm sure something will turn up. + +Jerome @ Melchizedek: I hadn't heard of ships w/the ability to grow +and stockpile foods during long voyages before. But we seem from +different eras. Our hydroponic bays are all empty at the moment, +waiting for us to find our new home. I hope you figure out the cause +of those headaches soon. + +Stefanus @ Franciscus: Sorry to hear about your systems issues. I'm +not a religious person normally, but I'll definitely be sending you +positive energies your way. + +Anyway, gotta get back to it over here. Stay safe out there. + +Tim Fletcher +Chief Engineer @ Garnet Star +=TRICOR034615734= + +-- MESSAGE END ---------------------------------------------------- +]]> + + + Voortrekker - listen. i'm really sorry but + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/3-listen-im-really-sorry-but.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/3-listen-im-really-sorry-but.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:32:24 GMT + +From: QEChat Log sam <-> anine +To: sam (Sameen Lee) +To: anine (Amelia Nine) +Delivered-To: Sameen Lee +Received: from relay4.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta2.recoveryinstitute.org + with ESMTPS id p3a290c7yy9059v3 for +Received: from relay3.qec3.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay4.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from host12.qechat.earthsys.gov + by relay3.qec3.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Date-Local: 02 Sep 2421 08:37:32 +0000 +Date: 02 Sep 2421 08:37:32 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Subject: Chat Log sam <-> anine + +[6:41] +sam: you there? +anine: [Away: Thursday: biweekly directorate review] + +[6:44] +sam: FUCK YOUR MEETING THIS IS IMPORTANT + +[6:46] +anine: yeah i know, it took me a minute to wind it up and get out +sam: look i don't care just whyt he FUCK did you not TELL ME + +[6:47] +anine: listen. i'm really sorry but there's something very wrong +anine: she was right, we got SCARS updates through most of the descent +anine: and they don't make any sense +anine: look, give me a minute + +[6:49] +sam: well? +[anine Quit: sec] +sam: FUCK + +[6:54] +[anine Join: back] +anine: okay, i'm off the work network. +anine: i shouldn't be telling you anything right now. +anine: can i trust you? +sam: thats a hell of a question from you right now + +[6:55] +anine: i know, i'm sorry, okay? but this could be my job, or +anine: look, forget it, you deserve to know. i shouldve told you + already. +sam: TOO FUCKING RIGHT. +anine: i mean i know you and she broke it off but all the same. +sam: who told you we broke it off +sam: we had one fight +sam: ONE FIGHT> + +[6:56] +anine: okay okay let me get to the point i can't sit in this stall all + day +anine: but before i do that +anine: i really am sorry, i should've trusted you, can you forgive me? + +[6:58] +sam: not right now. + +[6:59] +anine: fair enough. + +[7:00] +anine: so like i said, something is very wrong with voortrekker and + that planet. the scars data DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. she said the + pilot said something hit them that they didn't see? +anine: their radar says they saw it. they tracked it all the way in + from a half million kilometers out. it wasn't even moving that fast. + +[7:01] +anine: they got lerts about it too. sscars event log shows initial + proximity alert, then nine minutes later possible collision warning, + then impact alarms nine minutes after that, thirty secondds alter the + impact event. +anine: alerts* +anine: seconds* +sam: what + +[7:02] +anine: there had to be alarms going off all over main control, there + is nO WAY they could not have known they were in danger, and even if + they didn't +sam: ok but they were in manual by then right +anine: no +anine: the nav systems were still running in program auto, theyd idn't + go manual until after the hit +anine: the ship should've taken ITSELF out of the way, they had to go + out of their way to override it + +[7:03] +anine: and SCARS doesn't show them doing it +anine: and it would +anine: that's what we don't understand, even if someone went crazy and + saotasged the ship why do all that and not just disable the whole + sender, we'd think it was lost or something then +anine: sabotaged* + +[7:04] +anine: so none of this makes any sense + +[7:05] +sam: i guess not + +[7:06] +anine: and then there's this weird stuff she sent +sam: you can say her fucking name, okay? +sam: it's been 25 years not like i'm still going to be mad +anine: okay okaty +anine: fine +anine: this weird stuff KIT sent +sam: thank you. go on + +[7:07] +anine: i mean this disease she's talking about, that doesn't make + sense either +anine: nothing works like that, it's not even biomechanically + plausible +sam: she's a xenobiologist, you know better than her? +anine: ok fine but we have those too and they say i'ts bullshit +anine: and that last part +anine: i had to look up muscular hydrostats +sam: tentacles +anine: yeah + +[7:08] +sam: she says she shas four fo them instead of legs now +anine: right +anine: talk about bullshit, there is no way +anine: i asked our people here +anine: i called the xeno institute and asked people theret o +anine: every one fo them said there is no way in any world that a + human body can have tentacles + +[7:09] +anine: something about hydrostatic presusre and circulation and +sam: you're just saying words +anine: i dont pretend to understand it but come on do you really think + this makes any kind of sense +anine: i don't know what's going on out there but it has to be some + kind of mental thing +sam: don't you dare +sam: don't you FUCKING DARE + +[7:10] +sam: i knew you'd do this as soon as i sent it to you +sam: i don' tknow what's going on out there either +sam: but you knew kit as well as i did +sam: better +anine: look i know i'm not sayingit's her FAULT +sam: YOU FUCKING ARE +sam: "some kind of mental thing + +[7:11] +sam: you think she went stir crazy out there and did something to + crash the ship and now she's making up crazy stuff +sam: you probably thinks he killed the people whog ot sicka dn died +anine: yeah about that +sam: oh whAT THE FUCK +anine: we're pretty sure they're not dead + +[7:13] +sam: what + +[7:14] +anine: you know they all had implanted biomonitors right? +anine: all the expedition crews do, those are big ships and people can + get lost or hurt and not be able to call for help +sam: ok and +sam: oh bullshit + +[7:15] +anine: we get telemetry packet sfrom the ship on those +anine: most of the trackers are still showing active +anine: not the people who died in the crash, the ones she said got sick +anine: 247 out of 313 right now +anine: slow pulse, slow respiration, almost no brain activty + +[7:16] +anine: they're comatose but alive +anine: ti's the other ones that really worry us +anine: they're NOT online +anine: but the last signals we got were +anine: i mean they don't make sense + +[7:17] +sam: you are saying that a lot +sam: it's your job to fucking make it make sense +anine: i know, okay? i know that +anine: were trying, we were going to cancel anyway for a call with + xeno institute before i heard from you +sam: but you werne't going to tell me anything? + +[7:19] +anine: look i'm sorry okay i don't know +anine: i don't know what to do +anine: were probably going to have to call the garison and that's + scary +anine: something went wrong with the gliese mission i dont knwo but we + keep getting stuff +anine: i think theyre building a ship over in the navy dock, i cant + see much from the shuttle but a lto of new work + +[7:20] +anine: im just really scared right now everything is going wrong and + earth is probably going to get involved +anine: i didnt know what to do and i fucked it up +anine: im so sorry i shouldve said something i just couldnt think im + sorry + +[7:23] +anine: please say something +sam: sorry im crygn + +[7:24] +sam: crying* +sam: im sorry i got so mad just +sam: whatever else is going on she's alive +sam: i was sure she was dead +anine: we dont know she's not +anine: im sorry + +[7:25] +anine: we dont have her tracker shes one of the ones we lost + +[7:26] +sam: what does that mean +anine: i dont know +anine: look whatever i find out ill get it tok you ok +anine: ill tell you +anine: ill make sure you know + +[7:27] +sam: look if the ganymede garrison and earth are getting involved +sam: i mean i do WANT to know +sam: but i want you to stay sfae too +sam: saef* +sam: SAFE fuck + +[7:29] +anine: i miss her too + +[7:30] +sam: look well figure it out ok? +sam: when do you rotate out next +anine: end of next week +sam: ok +sam: come see me then we'll talk it over +anine: god and sleep on that lumpy couch of yours? +anine: my bakck was killing me for a week + +[7:31] +sam: not what i had in mind +anine: oh +anine: well + +[7:32] +sam: look dry your eyes and go back to work +sam: you dont want people looking at you funny right now +anine: youre right +anine: ok + +[7:33] +anine: i'll come see you and we'll figure this out. +sam: right +sam: till then you take care, dont do anything stupid +anine: me? + +[anine: Quit: bye] + +[sam: Quit: ] +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Were you going to tell me? + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/2-were-you-going-to-tell-me.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/2-were-you-going-to-tell-me.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:31:41 GMT + +From: Sameen Lee +To: Amelia Nine +Delivered-To: Amelia Nine +Received: from relay6.qec3.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by mta2.expeditionsupport.gov + with ESMTPS id 11FEBBA088B for +Received: from relay8.qec1.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by relay6.qec3.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from mta1.recoveryinstitute.org + by relay2.local.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Date-Local: 02 Sep 2421 06:14:03 +0000 +Date: 02 Sep 2421 06:14:03 +0000 +MIME-Version: 1.0 +Content-Type: multipart-alternative; + boundary="_000_14175761891450__" +Subject: Were you going to tell me? + +--_000_14175761891450__ +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" + +goddamnit lia were you even going to tell me there was a chance? + +--_000_14175761891450__ +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 +Content-Disposition: attachment; + filename=24190319073811.x124so177123a067@recoveryinstitute.org + +RnJvbTogU3lzdGVtIEFjY291bnQgPHR0eTk5NEBjb20yLnByaS5zdjE0NDE3PgpUbzogc2FtIDxz +YW1AcmVjb3ZlcnlpbnN0aXR1dGUub3JnPgpEZWxpdmVyZWQtVG86IHNhbSA8c2FtQGwxLmx1bmEu +cmVjb3ZlcnlpbnN0aXR1dGUub3JnPgpSZWNlaXZlZDogZnJvbSByZWxheTQucWVjMi5yczAwMS5s 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+YXllZCBhbmdyeSB3aXRoCm1lLiBJIGhvcGUgd2UnbGwgc2VlIGVhY2ggb3RoZXIgYWdhaW4uIElu +IHRoZSBtZWFudGltZSwgSSdsbCBzZWUgaWYKYW55b25lIGVsc2UgaXMgc3RpbGwgYWxpdmUuIEFu +ZCB3aXRoIHdob2V2ZXIncyBsZWZ0LCBJJ2xsIHN0YXJ0CnByZXBhcmluZyBmb3IgdGhvc2Ugd2hv +IG1heSBjb21lIGFmdGVyIHVzLiBCeSB0aGUgdGltZSB0aGV5IGdldCBoZXJlLAppZiB0aGV5IGRv +LCB3ZSdsbCBiZSByZWFkeSB0byBtYWtlIG91ciBuZXcgc2V0dGxlcnMgYSBob21lLg== + +--_000_14175761891450__-- + +]]> + + + Hoffnung - all systems nominal + kensanata@cosmic.voyage (kensanata) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Hoffnung/001.txt + Sun, 02 Dec 2018 10:51:09 GMT + +-+-+-+- Regular Report -+-+-+- C51.204 -+-+-+- Green -+-+-+- +Dr. med. Herbert Wullschlegel reporting on the first scheduled +inspection. The passenger status in cryo sleep is nominal. We have had +no failures. My companion for this round is Dr. astr.-phys. eng. +Philomena Auerbach. We've spent the first two days reviewing the logs. +This is the third day and we have had a good time running the long +corridors of the ship. Philomena did go back to sector C in order to +inspect a minor hydro leak. Nothing unexpected. As for myself, I'm +taking advantage of the cryo break to eat some solid food. It helps +with the teeth reconstruction. I'm happy we managed to get the newer +cryo berths with the slow shaking to strengthen bones and to maintain +muscle tissue. With so many years spent in cryo, even the very slow +metabolism of space sleep changes the body. Sometimes I wonder what +ships built after us would offer. Hoffnung did not get the latest +Shrinivasan-Ramapattnam drive. We could not afford them. And with that +I'm going to close this cover letter for the full technical report. In +two days we're going back to sleep for another fifty years. Peace. +-+-+-+ End of Report -+-+-+ Signed HEWUSC -+-+-+ +]]> + + + Franciscus - A wing and a prayer + jabooty@cosmic.voyage (jabooty) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Franciscus/navlog001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Franciscus/navlog001.txt + Thu, 29 Nov 2018 03:58:51 GMT + +-- INCOMING MESSAGE -- +Holy Missionary Ship Franciscus +Coordinates: UNKNOWN +Heading: UNKNOWN +ORIGIN DATE: UNKNOWN + +-- MESSAGE START -- + +Navigator Log 001 + +Blessed greetings, all. + +Communications systems are clearly up and running aboard the +Franciscus. This is heartening news. I see that we are not +the only ship out there that has experienced some problems. +Melchizedek's message has arrived, and we are glad to say that +you are not alone in being awake. Though, it appears as you +are also not alone in being alone. + +Navigation systems are slowly coming back online. I have +been working tirelessly with our Chief Engineer to repair +not only nav, but other necessary systems. + +If only I knew where we were... surely we're not *that* +far off course... + +We have managed to get video monitors functional, so we +can see what is happening outside the ship. Initial inspection +shows no damage. + +Looking outward from the ship, we were able to determine that +we are within the vicinity of a small solar system, but it +does not appear to have the same planetary make-up as our +original destination. + +Acolyte Alba has placed a priority on restoring full power +to the High Temple deck. He seems to think that the way out +of this mess is prayer. + +I'm not opposed to it. I am a keeper of The Faith, after all, +and I chose to join this mission for the very purpose of +ministering to our colonies. + +But still... prayer? + +I'd prefer a star chart. + +-- MESSAGE END -- +]]> + + + Voortrekker - Made it... + alexis@cosmic.voyage (alexis) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/1-made-it.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Voortrekker/1-made-it.txt + Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:30:33 GMT + +From: System Account +To: sam +Delivered-To: sam +Received: from relay4.qec2.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov + by mta3.recoveryinstitute.org + with ESMTPS id x124so177123a067 for +Received: from relay1.qec7.ganymede.earthsys.gov + by relay4.qec2.rs001.l4.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec4.helio.earthsys.gov + by relay1.qec7.ganymede.earthsys.gov +Received: from qec.sv14417 + by qec4.helio.earthsys.gov +Date-Local: 19 Mar 2419 06:54:32 +0000 +Date: 02 Sep 2421 05:30:32 +0000 +Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf8" +Subject: Made it... + +God, Sam, how I wish you were here. Maybe you could help me. You were +always the best of company. + +None of us ever really expected to find anything complicated. Proks, +maybe, if we were very lucky. More likely just smelly slurry that +might have been something someday if we hadn't showed up first. But +this? No. Never in a million years. Certainly not in twenty-three. + +Sorry. I know I'm not making sense out of this. I'll try again. They +probably already have some of it from SCARS, but let me tell it to you +my own way. + +What I heard, the midcourse corrections had us coming into the system +weird. Not so weird we couldn't make orbit, but enough that we had to +correct so the landing boats could reach Site One and back. Partway +through the correction, we hit something. Or something hit us - I +talked with one of the pilots before he died, he told me they didn't +catch it on radar and that shouldn't have been possible, not with the +damage it did. Had the idea it must've been directed, somehow. I don't +know if that makes sense, but either way, it holed us. + +Holed us bad, and with the thrusters still firing. If they hadn't +been, the fuel system would've been evacuated - we might've stayed +up. But the blast gave us a vector we couldn't overcome on OMS thrust, +and of course we'd exhausted the primaries. It wasn't a surprise when +we hit the atmosphere. The surprise was that anyone walked away from +the impact site. Just under three hundred of us. Doesn't sound like +much of a miracle, but believe me, we were happy to take it until a +better one came along. Wasn't even that bad a landing site, for all we +didn't get to choose much - rolling sandy plains, some large body of +water within eyeshot, maybe an hour's leisurely walk. We could do +something with the place, once we got our feet under us. + +We didn't worry about the sickness at first. Barely even noticed it - +most of us were more or less beat up, and not everyone had made it to +a crash couch in time. We were all working thirty-hour days between +broken bones and soft tissue trauma, inventorying what we had left by +way of supplies, getting the worst toxic leaks from the wreck under +control, and trying to jury-rig enough of a hab to keep the weather +off - we hit smack in the northern temperate zone, and the climate +isn't too bad, but about three hours out of every day we get storms +you wouldn't believe. Fever, lower back myalgia, mild lower GI +distress? We had two reactors still up, enough surplus power to run +the handful of heads left with intact sequestration systems. Plenty of +paracetamol and neoprox. We had so many problems trying to kill us, we +were just glad this one wasn't. + +Then, all of a sudden, it was. Day Six, the sepsis syndrome caught us +completely by surprise. Thirty-four dead in less than half one of +Ross's long bright days - onset to lethality in minutes, the medics +had never seen anything like it. The ones who died had been feeling +worst, but we all had it by then, and still didn't know what it +was. We found what tools we could for our one surviving biochemist, +and she set to work trying to isolate the causative agent - with a lot +of luck, maybe she'd figure out how to treat it before it killed us +all. + +Probably would've been easier if she hadn't been hurting too badly by +then to sit up. But she got far enough for us to pick up when she had +to leave off. Light microscopy doesn't give you much structural +detail, next to nothing about life processes, but we could see well +enough what it looked like: something like an amoeba, sort of +polymorphic that way, but with a trophism like nothing we'd ever seen +and flagella it used like a mosquito uses its proboscis. We fed it +whole blood and watched it suck the cytoplasm clean out of two dozen +erythrocytes at once. Leukocytes it just *absorbed*, we're still not +sure how - they'd hit the cell membrane and just, I don't know, just +melt into the thing. And then it'd divide, and both daughters would do +it all over again. We never saw the whole cycle take more than a +minute. + +We had plenty of antiparasitics, of course - med bay wasn't what you'd +call intact, but the starboard-aft hold had most of the backup supply, +and enough came through the crash to supply we who were left for a +long time. Nothing we had touched them, though. Not even the really +exotic stuff that hadn't been approved for human use yet, and we just +brought because who knew what we'd run into? They didn't even seem to +notice. We weren't equipped any more for blood filtering or that kind +of complex intervention, and supportive care was the best we could do +- try to keep the fever down with ice packs and neoprox, keep the +kidneys and liver and heart and lungs going, and hope some of us would +start to pull out of it before the last of us up and about weren't up +and about any more. + +I don't really know what happened after I went down. I think it was +Day Ten? Eleven? There weren't many of us still up by that point. Just +over a hundred had died, I think. One thing, we'd just gotten Eve +shifted to a new pallet and I was trying to clean up the mess of the +old one and keep her from getting too hot, both at the same time, and +next thing, I was here, flat on my back in what's left of Main +Control. Nine days gone, just like that. I didn't even know we'd +gotten any power back on in here - I don't think we had, when I went +down. Don't know why I'm here, either. We saw enough delirium before I +went down, there may not even be a 'why'. + +I don't feel bad at all. I can see I've changed; whoever put me here +put me in a gown first, and there's not as much of me under it as +there would've been a couple weeks ago. It fell right off my neck when +I tried to stand up. That didn't go well. I think I should be hungry, +but I feel full, like I just ate. I wish I knew if anyone else was +still here. I've been awake a few hours, I think, but I haven't heard +anyone. I don't hurt, though, and I'm not burning up. Right now I'm +still mostly okay with that. + +I really hope someone else is still here. I don't want to be alone +like this. + +Getting up in the chair at the sender console was hard, but I did it, +and I can still use a keyboard well enough. I thought it was important +to try to let someone back home know what happened. I don't know if +the followup expeditions launched on schedule, I don't remember +hearing before and not much of the mission log made it through the +crash. If they did - + +I was going to say, tell them to make turnover early and go anywhere +else. Even back home would be better than this place, with its barren +vistas empty of vegetation, its anonymous sea we never even found the +time to try to name or go and see up close. Smeared along half a mile +an arrowhead stain of ship debris, at its apex a shallow crater +centered on the shattered remains of all our hopes and dreams, and in +a nearby shanty village, rows of corpses - decaying? mummified? Who +knows if anything else can eat us here? - whom no one had time or +strength to bury. Go anywhere else but this ball of death and deceit +whirling around its lonely star. There is nothing for you here. + +...is what I was *going* to say. But - really, I don't know. As I sit +here I can feel my strength returning to me, and with it grows the +conviction that it really isn't bad here. Look at what this planet's +done to me already! - and yet I survive. I still remember myself. And +soon I'll be up and about again, able to see what may be seen and do +what need be done. Yes: many of us died. People I knew. Friends I +remember and mean never to forget. No few closer than friends - spend +so many years closed up with only a thousand or so people, sooner or +later those with whom you were recede in memory, making room for those +with whom you *are*. + +Not you, Sam. I've never felt that way about you. How I wish you were +here! But maybe you will be. If the third expedition hasn't launched +yet. I know we talked about it. Well - fought about it. I've never +stopped regretting that, and I hope while I've been gone you might +have come to understand why I had to go. Maybe we could see one +another again. I would like that very much. I think you could help +me. And you were always the best of company. + +But what worse can this planet do to me than it has already done? What +worse can it do to any of us who still survive? We came here not +knowing what we faced - only that it could hardly be worse than what +we left behind. And even still I feel that very strongly to be +true. We could never be together there, Sam. Here, who'd be to stop +us? + +I know it sounds frightening, what has happened to me. It *was* +frightening. It was scary and painful and frequently disgusting, and +that's just what I remember! But I don't hurt any more. I'm not sick +any more. And I'm not afraid any more. You don't have to be, +either. It's really not that bad - the body never remembers pain, you +know. I remember that I hurt, but I don't remember *hurting*. Does +that make sense? + +You can come here. Join the third expedition and come find me +here. Come sooner, if you can. There might be a research ship. I miss +you, and I hope you miss me. We can be together here, and though I'm +feeling much stronger now, I still wish you were here to help me. I +still can't hear anyone, and I don't want to think I'm alone here. Not +forever, anyway. Besides - once I get more of my strength back, make +up for what I've lost in the last little while, I think you might like +seeing me. I think I do. And I'm sure I want to be close to you again. + +Well. That's enough for now, I think. I'm sure I'll have more to say +later, but once you get this you'll know I'm still alive, and even +though we couldn't send our landing report, there's really no reason +not to send the followup expeditions. Not really. Some won't make it, +but enough will. And if we weren't going to take that kind of chance, +why come out here at all? + +I'm going to send this, with all the power the transmitter will +take. It'll get to you eventually. Then I'm going to try to stand up +again. I think I can manage it, now. It'd be easier if I still had +legs, I suppose. But four limbs shouldn't be *that* much harder to +manage than two, and I'm still enough of a biologist to remember how +muscular hydrostats work. I think it's just a matter of figuring out +which impulses go where...oh well. By the time you're here, I should +be all finished embarrassing myself with them, I hope. + +I never stopped loving you, Sam. Please don't have stayed angry with +me. I hope we'll see each other again. In the meantime, I'll see if +anyone else is still alive. And with whoever's left, I'll start +preparing for those who may come after us. By the time they get here, +if they do, we'll be ready to make our new settlers a home. +]]> + + + Melchizedek - The dark and cold + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/003.txt + Thu, 29 Nov 2018 01:26:46 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master +::: +I can report with some satisfaction that all conscious crew have +regained enough muscle mass to return to full duty. This is no +small feat so soon after abbreviated cryo and it reflects the +excellent personal character of each of our officers. Adeyemi, in +particular, deserves special acknowledgement. I previously +remarked that her own specialty does not provide appropriate +experience for our present circumstance; which, as it seems, only +belies my own ignorance of her training. Prezzi Adeyemi is an +accomplished chef--a byproduct of her training for the Rhetorical +Ecclesia--which has helped us to identify our fungal infestation +in the cryo bay. Having a fully trained exo-mycologist could not +have helped us any more. + +The stow-away is a form of acrasidae, a slime mold. Our best guess +is that a few spores found their way through decontamination +procedures at launch. The lengthy darkness, ambient heat, and +condensation on the surface of the pods created a fertile +environment for it to flourish. The best news of all is that the +slime is harmless and should be easily cleaned away in short +order. Adeyemi is consulting our database to see if there's any +use for the biomass before we eject it. Perhaps we can salvage it +for nutrient use in our hydroponics. + +Speaking of hydroponics, here Dr. Idjani has more concerning news. +Our systems are automated and the harvesting of organic matter +from the botany systems should be relatively straight forward. +These systems have been used commercially planetside and in +long-distance relativistic travel for centuries even prior to our +own launch. What we're experiencing is, to use the doctor's words, +"unique." + +Of our dominant crops, arabidopsis and radishles (a fruiting +hybrid) have both shown unexpected mutation. There is an abundance +of nitrogen in our atmosphere as a result of whatever processes +they have undergone; we haven't pinned down exactly what that is +yet. The ventilation systems need to be purged and oxygen recycled +back in a more appropriate mix. I had failed to mention the crew's +experience of headaches in my last message having assumed it +related to early thawing from cryo, but now it seems suspect. +We're all taking in extra oxygen during rest to avoid additional +issues. The doctor says it's good that the full crew were not +brought out at once. The oxygen levels would have been dangerous +for that many conscious crew at once. We got lucky. + +The food that arabidopsis and radishles would normally produce is +suspect as well. We're on rations already since we shouldn't be +awake yet, but this will be an added complication and something to +address. Finally, the mutation was not caused by replication error +as in normal mutation. It seems that several specific protein +readers were adjusted in similar ways across the genome of both +plants. We've also found similar markers affecting four other +species which did not result in a visible mutation. Whatever +happened to our greens was done en mass and with precision. We +haven't ruled out human interference, possibly by some saboteur +before launch. Honestly, I hope that's the cause. I don't want to +think of what it could mean otherwise. + +In terms of navigation, Hämäläinen and Janssen have plotted +a gentle course correction that will have us back on track over +the next three weeks with only minimal impact on our energy +reserves. The reserves are precise; however, and the energy must +be balanced elsewhere. As much as it pains me, I've placed orders +across the ship that habitat lighting and heating be kept to +a minimum. We will have to use personal heating and lighting +equipment for the next three weeks. Solar lamp time is manditory +for all five of us to avoid psychological impact, and Idjani has +distributed a vitamin mix to help augment our diet. + +The cold and dark are nothing new, but such an extended period may +cause feelings of isolation and depression. The crew is paired up +for the duration at my order: Hämäläinen & Janssen, Idjani +& Adeyemi. As warrant officer, I'll be treating the QEC as my own +confidant. May the stars see us through this safely. +. +]]> + + + Franciscus - Lost Shepherds + jabooty@cosmic.voyage (jabooty) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Franciscus/log001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Franciscus/log001.txt + Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:04:37 GMT + +-- INCOMING MESSAGE -- +Holy Missionary Ship Franciscus +Coordinates: UNKNOWN +Heading: UNKNOWN +ORIGIN DATE: UNKNOWN + +-- MESSAGE START -- + +Acolyte Log 001 + +Blessed greetings to whomever this message reaches. + +My name is Stefanus Alba, First Acolyte of High Priest Matteus, and +Captain of HMS Franciscus. + +We have awoken from cryosleep early. Fortunately, the High Priest's +and the 75 passengers cryopods function manually, to ensure that +the crew has adequately prepared the ship prior to awakening +and ministry. The passengers have also remained in cryo stasis +for the time being. + +Our Most Holy Doctor has evaluated the passengers and crew and with the +unfortunate exception of two passengers whose pods appeared +to have malfunctioned at least 25 years ago, based on the rate of +decay in their pod (may their souls encounter eternal peace), the crew +has awoken with minimal side-effects. The High Priest's pod is +functioning at peak efficiency. + +As our engineers struggle to find out what happened to pull us +from our sleep early, our navigator is desperately trying +to determine exactly where we are. Initial reports indicate that +our coming out of cryo early is just (hopefully) a final malfunction +in what has been a rolling series of system resets, reboots, and +flat-out shutdowns. Our nav and chrono systems are out of sync. +It is proving to be difficult to determine when and where we +currently are. + +We are attempting to discern whether we have the ability to +re-enter cryo, how far off-course we are, and, barring any +unforseen additional problems, how we shall continue on our mission +of ministry. + +Until we figure out where we are, I ask that anyone receiving +this message who follows The Faith, please pray for us and our +mission. + +I will transmit again once we have made sense of our situation. + +Blessings upon you all. + +-- MESSAGE END -- +]]> + + + Garnet Star - Danger evaluation and decisions + timotheus@cosmic.voyage (timotheus) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Garnet Star/000.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Garnet Star/000.txt + Sat, 24 Nov 2018 01:25:34 GMT + +-- MESSAGE START ---------------------------------------------------- +SECKEY:jxQA6hMXG%3#r9nfh%tdxo!REj%uGz +.......Accepted + +Date: _____ _ ____ +EY 2265.04.23.15 |_ _| __(_) / ___|___ _ __ + | || '__| |_____| | / _ \| '__| +Ship: | || | | |_____| |__| (_) | | +Garnet Star _|_||_| |_| _ \____\___/|_| + / ___| _ _ ___| |_ ___ _ __ ___ ___ +Location: \___ \| | | / __| __/ _ \ '_ ` _ \/ __| +8.26y out, sys LTS-1483 ___) | |_| \__ \ || __/ | | | | \__ \ + |____/ \__, |___/\__\___|_| |_| |_|___/ +User: |___/ +TIMFLETCHER44@TRICOR + +:: BEGIN :: + +It's always a hard call, deciding if it's safe to pull the family out +of cryo. I was fortunate that the AI determined this anomaly to be +minimal risk and didn't prio-thaw me. I've heard horror stories from +Kell, the Lead Scientist aboard. His first tour out to Bernards +Star.. the things that went wrong on that bucket. It's why I chose to +sign up with TC, they pay less than everyone else but at least they +spare no expense on the goodies on board. With this being an 46.2y one +way trip, I feel much better knowing everything is state of the art. + +Oh right, my family. Everything is tip top, so I initiated the thaw +about four hours ago. Just ten to go until process is complete. If +I'm going to be out for four weeks, I'd love to have them with me. +In my spare time I'm still looking into cryo optimizations. There's +got to be a short cut between wake cycles that the system could +handle. + +Anyway, part of the reason I'm sending this; anyone else running into +the same issue? Our onboard long-range sensor array is giving us data +on LTS-1483 that is very, very different from what the probes sent +back. Granted it was over 35 years old, but still. How did it miss an +entire planet? All the orbits are different from what we thought. +Kell is sweating bullets that III (our intended home) is off enough +that it may be not viable. + +Not much I can do about it. Definitely no reason to wake the Captain +or Governor yet; we're following our protocols for this. Worst case +scenario, we go back to cryo, and when we're closer we wake again and +use closer scans to determine if we go to one of our other choices. + +Tim Fletcher +Chief Engineer @ Garnet Star +=TRICOR034615734= + +-- MESSAGE END ---------------------------------------------------- +]]> + + + Excelsior - Systems Admin Report - Beta Delta 21 Epsilon + khuxkm@cosmic.voyage (khuxkm) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Excelsior/001.txt + Sat, 08 Dec 2018 07:50:22 GMT + +Message inbound... + +Space Cruiser Excelsior +Destination: Unknown +~~ TELEMETRY SENSORS 1 AND 3 DOWN ~~ +Stardate Beta Delta 21 Epsilon +AUTO TELEMETRY: DOWN +BIO-MED SENSORS: GOOD +H2O->FUEL CONVERSION: GOOD +H20 RESERVES: GOOD +CRYO SLEEP: WARN + +[autotranslator on] + +Corporal Sam Arnold, Systems Administrator +--- +Hello world! + +The computer on board the Excelsior has removed me from cryosleep pursuant to +Procedure [REDACTED]. Our automated telemetry sensors are down (see the systems +report above) and our cryosleep chambers appear to be experiencing overvolt as +a result. Pursuant to Procedure [REDACTED], I must wait a month before re-entering +cryosleep. More transmissions will follow after this one. + +Jerome, I feel for you. It's sometimes staggering how long these missions +take. Just looking at the instrumentation here on the Excelsior, we seem to have +been in transit for [unit translation = 1252 years]. + +Geralt, it's nice to hear from you and the Adrestia. Glad to know your mission +seems to be progressing smoothly. + +We set out with our charter and ship around Alpha Beta 2 Beta towards a better +tommorrow. We set course for the nearest inhabitable planet and the Excelsior, a +first-class SpaceCorp Astroviator Mark 3, took off. We entered cryosleep around +Beta Alpha 10 Beta and set the Excelsior to power-conservation (hence the incomplete +systems report). + +I will begin procedures to fix the overvolt in the cryo systems and to fix the +auto-telemetry systems. + +Sam Arnold, signing off. + +--TRANSMISSION END-- +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Crew and assignments + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/002.txt + Wed, 12 Dec 2018 03:25:30 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master +::: +Doctor Moussa Idjani led a full crew evaluation on the pods over +the last twelve hours. His recommendation for remaining awake +stands, unfortunately. The four of wardroom officers, myself, +Doctor Moussa Idjani, Prezzi Adeyemi, and Eva Hämäläinen, along +with Specialist First-class Stephanie Janssen, represent conscious +crew on the Melchizedek for next four months. We have a series of +course corrections to execute, some minor issues in hydroponics, +and what Adeyemi describes as "ick" growing over a quarter of the +cryo-pods. It is most likely unattended fungal growth, but we'll +investigate further. + +Our ship is a Vos 144A from Visscher, sporting a pair of the +more-than-capable Peterse 773 Overtreffen Motoren. When launched, +the Melchy was a damn-fine ship, if I say so myself. She's held up +admirably while we slept. + +We were commissioned in EY 2480, and set out on mission just three +years later. RS001 timestamps on my last transmission suggest that +just over 1300 years, relative, have transpired since we set out. + +1300 years. + +It's what we signed on for, of course. We all had the training and +the psy-evals to prep, but there's still that shock when it hits +you. There's no undo, no reset. Everyone we knew is long gone. +Hell, the Earth itself is long gone, at least in the way we knew +it. Adeyemi says she has a cousin who set out on a long-haul +colony support freighter at about the same time as us and their +star is only a few light-years off schedule from ours. She doesn't +remember which direction, but it's possible she's got people out +there somewhere. The math always gets away from me, but it's +possible some of my own anscestors' family could be thawing out +from craft launched before I was born. Oh, and don't even get me +started on reality-drive mechanics. Who knows how many blended +universes we've stirred up with that monstrosity. I can only hope +humanity learned their lesson and banned it while I was dreaming. + +To the Speaker Elect of Cheer Systems, Susan, aboard the Starbloom +Communal Distributive Projection goes our many thanks. If the +disconnection of time weren't jarring enough, the silence that +awaits one's first lonely transmission is infinitely more terrible +for all its brevity. Your words, blessings, and spells are a salve +bringing healing. I queried Janssen about your ship designation +but nothing in our databases aligned. Based on relative time-debt +adjustments, it seems you may have set out long before us. We hope +your time has been peaceful. + +I'll be setting a daily ordo and assigning work duties following +this transmission. Getting our hands busy will ground the +ineffible incongruity from reality that's rattled everyone. Our +navigation issues are of primary concern, so Hämäläinen and +Janssen will bear the brunt of that work. Doctor Idjani is the +closest crew member we have awake to a botonist, so he'll be +investigating our sensor abnormalities in food and air +circulation. No alarms were tripped, so we're hoping it's just +a mutation in one of the algae tanks or something equally trivial. +The cry-pod growth will fall to me, with possible assistance from +Adeyemi, though she has very little background to be of use. +Unless the fungus starts talking, I don't see how Adeyemi will +have much of anything to translate or negotiate. She's probably in +for a boring four months. + +It's time to get moving. Our shifts will be light until muscle +regeneration reaches 60% and the doc clears us for full rotations +again. That's probably for the best. We'll take things slow. +. +]]> + + + Starbloom - Pleasant vibes and best wishes + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Starbloom/001.txt + Fri, 23 Nov 2018 13:24:50 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Starbloom Communal Distributive Projection +Approach γ Aquarii [Lucky Homes] +Ascension 22h 21m 39.37542s +Declination –01° 23′ 14.4031″ +Distance 178.211ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 2444, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Susan, Speaker Elect of Cheer Systems, 14th Pod +::: +Hi there, Jerome. + +We read you loud and clear out here in the lucky homes. We're all +really sorry to hear about your drift problems. Our Pod 14 +non-denominational coven voted to cast a spell to help you on your +way! Blessings and hope. +]]> + + + adrestia - awakening and approaching + demosthenes@cosmic.voyage (demosthenes) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/adrestia/hello.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/adrestia/hello.txt + Wed, 21 Nov 2018 06:49:23 GMT + +bablefish transcript: + +adrestia /---\ +approaching Ł332 gue sector 8 / u u \ +xxx telemetry redacted xxx \_ / +ansibel yr 4823 \__/ + +[transcript follows...] + +geralt regis riavande, first writ scribe +--- +status nominal. all values within acceptable norms. +cleared to begin final approach. + +our 150 year journey from í54 re is finally coming to a close. over the +past 10 days, the crew has been slowing awakening from their second-longest +slumber (the longest being 50 years during the middle of our voyage). + +i've just awoken today; my head still spins. sea legs seems an appropriate +term, grabbed from the annals of history: a time when humans still traveled +by boat and ship across the former oceans. somehow, the atmospheric +conditions generated large waveforms on the water's surface, creating a +rocking motion aboard the boats that could range from largely imperceptible +to catastrophic. in any case, i'll be looking for the caffeine supplements. + +the rest of the crew seems to be in similar conditions, catching up on their +latest ansibel messages from family and friends. a handful will be staying +at Ł332 gue, while the rest of us carry on after a refueling stayover of 4 +rotations. + +expect another update from the station. + +]]> + + + Melchizedek - Cryosleep interrupted + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/001.txt + Fri, 14 Dec 2018 16:37:18 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +Approach β Hyi +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07036s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.33ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3781, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master +::: +Cryogenic stasis was interrupted for wardroom officers and +Specialist Janssen as of 0430. We have drifted slightly off +planned course due to unexpected thermal radiation from +a celestial event the crew is monitoring. The β Hyi system has +been increasingly active in recent months and Janssen believes the +solar radiation has unbalanced our infrared venting, causing +a 0.002° drift. Over the intervening time, this was enough for +autopilot to raise the alarm. + +Melchizedek is quiet and in good working order. Her full crew of +44 are stowed safely and all systems are green. Lower-fore botany +systems show some minor abnormalities which are marked for +follow-up. Bot arrays all read nominal with no traceable +degradation in standby power. + +We have slowed our descent to just over 1G in anticipation of +work-shifts. This will put us slightly ahead of schedule if we +remain at present deltas. Still, we're just over four months from +system and there is some debate whether it would be advisable to +reenter cryo this close to the destination. Our food-stores are in +good order, especially for just the wardroom. Doctor Idjani +suggests we remain out of stasis for at least two weeks before +being reassessed regardless. + +QEC has been adjusted for our drift and seems in working order, +though we haven't received any new transmissions from relay one in +quite some time. If the crew do remain awake in the months ahead, +you can rest assured of further updates. Anyone awake out there? +. + +]]> + + +