From 7ce2c4d736c3236e7b4071c322e204870c725635 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: James Tomasino Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2020 00:00:02 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] backup --- gopher/Dodecapolis/00002.txt | 80 ++++-- gopher/Dodecapolis/00003.txt | 31 +++ gopher/Melchizedek/028.txt | 4 + gopher/The DeLorian/0000.txt | 59 +++- gopher/The DeLorian/0001.txt | 131 +++++++++ gopher/listing.gophermap | 5 + gopher/rss.xml | 516 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 7 files changed, 805 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-) create mode 100644 gopher/Dodecapolis/00003.txt create mode 100644 gopher/The DeLorian/0001.txt diff --git a/gopher/Dodecapolis/00002.txt b/gopher/Dodecapolis/00002.txt index 45a8fdd..53604f2 100644 --- a/gopher/Dodecapolis/00002.txt +++ b/gopher/Dodecapolis/00002.txt @@ -1,40 +1,80 @@ Fleet Commander Log 00002 ========================= -=> dodecapolis.png SRU Dodecapolis Banner +Fleet Commander Amanda Rivers +SRU Dodecapolis -Amanda Rivers -SRU Dodecapolis, Commander -Rising Dawn, Squad Leader -USS Timberwolf, Captain +--- -Preperations are nearly complete. We are scheduled to depart JOVE-1 next -tenday. +Preperations are complete. -The final fleet manifest for SRU Dodecapolis: +We are scheduled to depart JOVE-1 at the start of next tenday. + +Each individual starship has been outfitted with cryotech, and has had its +navigation and propulsion modules upgraded with the parts needed to get to the +Far Reaches. + +The new cryotech will enable the crew to be suspended for 4_096 jovannos. The +vastly extended period of suspension, combined with the new FTL module, should +put us just inside the Far Reaches by the time AI starts to download us. + +--- + +The final fleet manifest of SRU Dodecapolis did indeed turn out much as I had +initially planned on, save for one exception: Captain Avery of the USS Kraken, +my first pick to lead the Twilight Dusk Squadron, turned out to be far +outclassed during evaluations by Singh of the USS Jerakeen. A surprise to be +sure. + +Singh is still early on his career, and displays much of the bravado and +idealism of the inexperienced. Still, his composure and effectiveness during +the Edsmith Protocol surpassed some captains with twice again his years of +experience. Including, significantly, Avery, who became ineffective and +inactive when faced with the simulated crisis. + +While Avery is by far the more experienced and more skilled of the two, Singh +has proven himself the better leader. Singh and the Jerakeen will take command +of Twilight Dusk, and will benefit from having Avery at his right hand. + + +--- + +Speaking of ones right hand, I have furthermore decided to place Gustav Wash of +the Nicodemus at my right hand and shall expect him to manage most of the day +to day operations of Rising Dawn Squadron while I focus my attention and +resources on the needs of the fleet. I have the utmost confidence in Wash. He +will likely lead his own fleet some day--ah, but I forget myself: none of us +shall have another assignment after this one. The establishment of Dodecapolis +is both our mission and our fate. There will be no coming back from this one. + + +SRU Dodecapolis Fleet Manifest +------------------------------ 1. **Rising Dawn Squadron** - - [Squad Lead] USS Timberwolf | Captain Amanda Rivers - - USS Nicodemus | Captain Gustav Wash - - USS Sköldpadda | Captain Ainslee Martin + - [!] USS Timberwolf | Captain Amanda Rivers + - USS Nicodemus | Captain Gustav Wash + - USS Sköldpadda | Captain Ainslee Martin 2. **Daylight Squadron** - - [Squad Lead] USS Kuniklo | Captain Hazel Adams - - USS Harpy | Captain Samantha Drake - - USS Beagle | Captain Charles Teach + - [!] USS Kuniklo | Captain Hazel Adams + - USS Harpy | Captain Samantha Drake + - USS Beagle | Captain Charles Teach 3. **Twilight Dusk Squadron** - - [Squad Lead] USS Jerakeen | Captain Ganesh Singh - - USS Kraken | Captain Enzo Avery - - USS Shardik | Captain Detroit London + - [!] USS Jerakeen | Captain Ganesh Singh + - USS Kraken | Captain Enzo Avery + - USS Shardik | Captain Detroit London 4. **Midnight Sun Squadron** - - [Squad Lead] USS Flying Fox | Captain Katarina Russo - - USS Aslan | Captain Loren Canon - - USS Rocinante | Captain Cole Gruber + - [!] USS Flying Fox | Captain Katarina Russo + - USS Aslan | Captain Loren Canon + - USS Rocinante | Captain Cole Gruber + +[!] - Squadron Leader EOF diff --git a/gopher/Dodecapolis/00003.txt b/gopher/Dodecapolis/00003.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bc8ecd --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/Dodecapolis/00003.txt @@ -0,0 +1,31 @@ +USS Kraken, Captain's Log 00001 +=============================== + +Captain Enzo Avery +USS Kraken + +The dodecads received their final assignments today. + +A bit of a surprise if I'm being honest: the Kraken is to join Twilight Dusk +under Ganesh Singh of the Jerakeen. + +I must say I don't care much for Fleet Commander Rivers's brand of leadership. +Her loyalties are unpredictable. She shows no sense of allegiance, nor does she +hold to our customs and traditions. + +For many of the same reasons, nor am I especially crazy about her right hand +man, Wash. + +Nevertheless, I'm not above saying that Singh was most impressive during the +evaluations, especially considering his relative inexperience. + +And so I readily accept my role and will ensure that Kraken and Shardik serve +Jerakeen well, and that if SRU Dodecapolis fails because of Rivers's chaotic +whims, it will not be because of Twilight Dusk. + +Furthermore, experience has shown me time and again that I need not necessarily +be in the seat of power in order to exert my will. With me at his side, I'm +sure that Singh will be an exemplary squad leader, and that Twilight Dusk will +be the pride of Dodecapolis. + +EOF diff --git a/gopher/Melchizedek/028.txt b/gopher/Melchizedek/028.txt index bb275fe..ab71186 100644 --- a/gopher/Melchizedek/028.txt +++ b/gopher/Melchizedek/028.txt @@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ 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] [Retroactive transmission of work-log enabled...] Maureen Hendrix, Staff Sergeant diff --git a/gopher/The DeLorian/0000.txt b/gopher/The DeLorian/0000.txt index 3fbff6b..4f163d5 100644 --- a/gopher/The DeLorian/0000.txt +++ b/gopher/The DeLorian/0000.txt @@ -51,4 +51,61 @@ vanished. Left only with my new, unusual gifts I decided to read through in full the notes that were jotted upon the first and only inscribed page within the book. It began explained the location of the craft I would using, where in the craft the -smuggled contents are, the coordinates +smuggled contents are, the coordinates of the rendezvous, who I would be meeting +there, and how much I will be selling it all for. It went on to entail that I +would be keeping the proceeds from the exchange and upon completion would be +assigned my next task. While I found all of this to be quite generous, I was far +more concerned with the everything else that followed from The Elder's notes. + +According to what was written here, that bizarre remote I was given is +apparently a device that can manipulate the fabric of space and time in a very +specific way. The device has a screen in the middle, a dial beneath it, and a +button on either side. If I press the left button it will set a "checkpoint" of +sorts that gets stored to the memory of the device and I can search through +those checkpoints using the dial to cycle through them on the display as a +counter that goes up and down (coorsponding to the checkpoints in order of +creation). That is all fine, but what is baffling is the alleged function of the +right button. That, when pressed, it will send the user of the device back to +the exact position in time that the selected "checkpoint" was created. After +reading that section over a few times to make sure I was understanding it +correctly I decided I needed to prove that this device worked. + +I started with a few simple experiments. First, I checked the time and set a +checkpoint followed by walking a few steps away and waiting. After a few minutes +passed I set the dial to my checkpoint and pressed the button that should +trigger the jump in space-time. Sure enough, I was standing in the same spot but +the time read the same time as when I set the checkpoint. Amazing! The potential +that this holds is beyond comprehension but I am going to try and do so anyways! +Which is what led to my second test, to determine once and for all how time +worked in our universe. This test is simple: I will create a checkpoint and then +after a few moments I will take a few steps back followed by flipping the coin I +was given. If it lands on heads, I go back and punch myself in the right eye; +and if it lands on tails, I go back and punch myself in the left eye. A bit +violent, but it is all in the name of science and gets the job done. With the +checkpoint set, I flipped the coin. + +What followed next left me a bit confused. Instead of being punched in the face +by a future version of myself, I was approached by two versions of myself that +both punched me (one to my right eye and the other to my left eye). After given +it some thought, here is what I think happened: the unvierse we exist in obeys +the multiverse theory so after the coin was flipped there were two universes +created where one has the coin landing on heads and the other the coin lands on +tails. Since both occurred, the respective future versions both went back in +time and punched the eye they were supposed to punch. However, that now leaves +us in the awkward situation where there is now three of me. It looks like the +universe has no problems with us all being here, so I guess all those who +believed this would "violate the laws of space-time" were wrong since the +universe did not explode when they punched me in the face, but my eyes sure do +feel that way now. After the awkward moment passed the one who punched me in the +right eye suggested we read the rest of the book. It explained how part of my +employment will require detailed documentation of the series of the events that +unfold as a means to audit my work to trigger receiving my next assignment. I am +to do this using communications over QEC, but due to the nature of the work I am +to not use my real name nor the name of my craft. I am also meant to do so for +today, hence the reason I am right this message. For "The Elder" to identify my +messages I am to refer to myself as "The DeLorian" and for my craft I can call +it whatever I want here as long as it does not give away anything. Since I +cannot think of anything good right now I'll just pick a placeholder name and +come back to it later. So for now, I emback on my voyage into the unknown as a +smuggler to enact revenge against the empire that has forsaken me aboard my ship +Boaty McBoatface. diff --git a/gopher/The DeLorian/0001.txt b/gopher/The DeLorian/0001.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca0abd2 --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/The DeLorian/0001.txt @@ -0,0 +1,131 @@ +* The DeLorian * + +----------------------------------- + Captain's Log: Stardate 0000 0002 + Clone Code: 0 +----------------------------------- + +Once Me, Myself, and I embarked out to our journey we ran into an issue very +quickly. With there being three of us who were (as far as I can tell) all the +same person, we ran into the communication issue of what to call each other. +After some discussion, we came to the agreement that I would be "Captain", the +version of me that was created from the universe where the coin landed on heads +would be "Heads", and of course for the same reason the other would be "Tails". +After that was agreed we decided to take inventory of what we have to work with +within Boaty McBoatface while we wait for the autopilot to take us to the +rendevous point with the client. Heads and Tails went to search opposite ends of +the ship, but I decided I might try to make use of my new time device (which +according to The Elder is called the "Deus Ex Machina") to save myself some time +(ha, get it?) by trying to find some more exploits like the coin trick that +created Heads and Tails. I set a checkpoint and decided that I would go search +the ship, and after doing so I would return to that checkpoint and give myself +the report so that I don't need to do all of the work! With the checkpoint set +I immediately received a tap on the shoulder to find a slightly exhaused version +of myself standing behind me. They informed me they were going to go take a nap +since they have completed taking inventory and left towards what I can only +assume the location of the sleeping quarters were at. A bit miffed that my plan +backfired I asked them why they would not simply tell me what they found so I +could skip the boring chore. They informed me that when they were me they were +not told anything either and their future version simply left to go take a nap +as well, so if they did not get to skip doing the work than neither do I. With +that, they completed their journey out of the room and left me alone again. The +nerve, I cannot believe I would be such a jerk to myself! ...Well, on second +thought, this is not too shocking. My first experience meeting my time clone was +being punched in the face by them. At least when I am done with this I can a nap +and get back at myself by making the previous version of myself do all this work +too. That will surely teach myself a lesson from being so stubborn. + +After going back in time to enjoy my nap I decided to go look for Heads and +Tails since they should be finishing up with their search of the ship by then. +Finding Heads was easy enough since they were on their way back, so we decided +to head out together to find Tails. We each took notes in our respective copies +of the book we received from The Elder, so I just copied down Heads's notes into +mine and then swapped so they could do the same. By the time that was done we +found Tails, but also a lot more. Apparently I was not the only one who decided +to try more time shenanigans since we stumbled upon a large crowd of time clones +all arguing with each other. After it was clear from watching the chaos unfold +for a few moments, I decided that since I am the captain of Boaty McBoatface it +was my job to try and get to the bottom of what happened here and try to restore +order. With a sustained, high-pitched whistle I drew the attention of the Tails +clones and requested for the audience of the original Tails. This seemed to +trigger the same arguing from before so I let forth the same whistle again and +this time just grabbed the closest one and asked them to explain what is going +on here. Apparently Tails discovered that we have a weapons system aboard the +ship, but not enough crew to make effective usage of it. So, the logical +conclusion was to create perform the same experiment that created the initial +clones a few times. However, since I forgot how quickly exponential growth can +get out of hand, this very quickly created way too many time clones. It was +suggested that we can fix the problem by ejecting the extras into space, but +that meant that there needed to be some sort of system to determine who would be +getting ejected. Since no one wanted to volunteer another suggested that they +could flip coins to decide, but the others disagreed since that is what +originally got them into this mess. The last suggestion of removing the clones +in order who who was created last and working backwards is what triggered the +fighting since the newer clones found this unfair since this system was not +agreed upon before their creation, as well as the older clones had no way to +determine who was the newest clones and none of them wanted to identify +themselves. + +It is moments like this that are quite humbling as you realize just how much of +a moron you can be. Fortunately, from what Heads found during their search of +Boaty McBoatface we had a better compromise for the Tails army. Aboard the ship +are some cryostatis pods, so instead of needing to evacuate the excess clones we +can just have them sleep in there until they are needed or we are in a better +situation for having that many clones of myself around. After some murmuring it +looked like the clones were find with agreeing to this plan. Before Heads guided +the excess clones to cryostatis chamber I called forth for a meeting since we +really needed to sort out this time cloning business to make sure something like +this does not happen again. This meeting went on far longer than I would have +expected since we are all the same person, but the previous threat of death via +ejection into space and not being a good team player with other versions of +myself was enough to already begin splintering off differences in the +personalities of the clones (definitely something to think about later and +probably keep me up at night). Eventually we all agreed to the seniority system +where older clones will get to make the final decision on any disagreements +along with creating an identification system using our books. The identification +system works as follows: + +Since I am the original DeLorian, on the last page of my book I will right a +zero. For each clone that follows, if they were created with a heads flip they +will append another zero to their sequence and if they were created by a one +they would instead append a one. Since we did not do this originally, each clone +had to manually catch up by writing in their sequence from their respective +memory. However, for all future versions they need only append to the end of +their sequence since their book should be a copy of the version that created +them. Then, to handle if additional sets of clones are created (e.g. if I +decided to make additional clones from myself) we simply use the next pair of +digits (e.g. in the previous example this would be 2 and 3 instead of 0 and 1). +We were all fine with this until one of the Tails clones, who identified +themself as "01019", asked about what we plan to do if one of us makes a 6th set +of clones (the set after 8 and 9 are used). This had us stumped for a bit and we +almost decided on a rule to never make a sixth pair of clones to avoid this +(which left a few clones with a nervous look in their eye), until another Tails +clone brought up something The Elder wrote in their original notes. Across the +bottom of the page the following was written: +01234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-_ + +At first I (or should I now say we?) throught this was just some weird way of +testing out their penmanship on the page, but upon further inspection it looks +like this would be the perfect solution for continuing on our clone code +sequence past six sets. Now, we could make a full 32 sets of clones until we ran +into a "roadblock" again. Since we all felt far more comfortable with the idea +of having 32 as the hard cap on clones, we agreed to using this system moving +forward and finalized our agreement by all writing down these rules into the +last page of our books as our formal way of acknowledging our consensus. With +that out of the way the extra clones were filed to the cryostatis chamber and +order seemed to be restored at last. I met up with Tails (now also known as +"01") to get their notes for the inventory of the ship to add to my notes. Once +that was done Heads (now also knowns as "00") returned back from escorting the +clones to complete their set of notes as well. It was after doing so and +reviewing everything together that we came to a concerning revelation: we did +not have enough food for all of the mouths we now had to feed. However, from my +own search of the ship I found a hangar filled with lesser crafts and came up +with a plan. I explained to Heads and Tails my plan of sending out some of the +remaining Tails clones in one of the vessels to acquire more supplies and meet +back with us at the rendevous point. They agreed with this plan so we tracked +down "0100", "0110", "0101", and "0111" to do handle this mission for us. The +four were not thrilled with the news, but they liked the idea better than us all +starving to death so early into our life among the stars. With that we sent them +off on "Mini Boaty McBoatface I" and the rest of the DeLorian time clone crew +continued its journey to meet with our first clients as smugglers against the +Federation. diff --git a/gopher/listing.gophermap b/gopher/listing.gophermap index b730b4e..fce59c3 100644 --- a/gopher/listing.gophermap +++ b/gopher/listing.gophermap @@ -1,3 +1,8 @@ +0Melchizedek - So I'm Crazy I Guess /Melchizedek/024.txt +0The DeLorian - Getting To Know The Crew /The DeLorian/0001.txt +0Dodecapolis - USS Kraken, Captain's Log 00001 /Dodecapolis/00003.txt +0Dodecapolis - Fleet Commander Log 00002 /Dodecapolis/00002.txt +0The DeLorian - Embarkment /The DeLorian/0000.txt 0Melchizedek - Jerome Pasani - Personal Letter 2 /Melchizedek/023.txt 0Melchizedek - Jerome Pasani - Personal Letter 1 /Melchizedek/022.txt 0Melchizedek - Rhetorical Ecclesiastic Report /Melchizedek/021.txt diff --git a/gopher/rss.xml b/gopher/rss.xml index 0adef6a..65cd964 100644 --- a/gopher/rss.xml +++ b/gopher/rss.xml @@ -2,6 +2,522 @@ Cosmic Voyage gopher://cosmic.voyage Messages from the human stellar diaspora + + Melchizedek - So I'm Crazy I Guess + tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/024.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Melchizedek/024.txt + Sun, 01 Nov 2020 14:15:48 GMT + +Message Incoming... + +Source Melchizedek.0294 +β Hyi, 3rd Planet +Ascension 00h 25m 45.07037s +Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″ +Distance 24.37ly +Equinox J2000.0 SOL +Year 3782, QEC adjusted + +[Autotranslator enabled...] + +Stephanie Janssen, Specialist First-class +::: +Doctor Nguyen (the medical one, not the biologist) thinks I'm +crazy. No, seriously. She actually said that in our session today. +So, either I'm certifiable or she's the worst psychologist on the +planet. Actually, it's probably both. She's only one of five +people on the planet after all, and the only psychologist, so that +makes her the worst one. Yes it also makes her the best, shut it. + +According to the worst doctor on the planet it's not okay to break +things or throw things at doctors when you are angry. That's +apparently a problem, which I think is just ridiculous. I mean, +they have special hospitals and stuff back on Earth for people +like that and I bet those doctors get things thrown at their heads +all the time. And I'll bet they don't call their patients crazy +and run out of the room. I mean, seriously, it wasn't like it was +a knife or anything. A microscope can't hurt that bad. She's such +a drama queen. + +So in good news I have this habitat to myself now. In the bad news +category I'm not allowed to leave it without an escort. I'm not +sure how that's fair to the escort, though. I mean, it's going to +be Eva cause they make her do everything where I'm concerned and +Eva didn't do anything wrong at all. She's perfect. And what sort +of punishment is that for throwing a microscope, anyway? "You, +stay in this tent and you're only allowed to spend time with this +hot science lady on this totally foreign world where there's like +nobody around. No duties, just private tent time." Okay, I think +I might like the sound of this, actually. + +Jerome, though. First Dr. Idjani and now Jerome and that +cold-hearted bitch won't even go look for him. There's something +out there eating our crew and she just wants to mess around with +a machine that sprays man juice all over the ground. If you ask +me, she's the one that's sick in the head. That's like totally an +Oedipus complex, or Odysseus complex or one of those old Greek +dudes that was into spraying man juice all over. I dunno, I'm not +a historian. Yeah, we're here to bring life to the galaxy, +awesome. And what's the count on that so far? OH, NEGATIVE THREE!? + +No, this is all wrong and I'm going to fix it somehow. I've got to +get off three and over to four, though. All the equipment is on +four, unless I'm going to laser-measure my way into saving Jerome +from an interstellar octopus or whatever is out there. Range-find +him right into oblivion, yeah. No, for real, we have actual stuff +on four that could help. Probes and whatnots. We don't actually +need to risk a ship! I told her this and still she pulls this +rank-and-file shit as if there's some echelon of command waiting +to check in on us. THEY ARE ALL DEAD! YOU ARE ALL DEAD! Or might +as well be. 1300 years? Yeah, is the Rhetorical Ecclesia even +around anymore? We haven't heard a peep out of Earth since we woke +up. Plenty of sad sappy screaming from all the other ships out +there, though. This universe hates us and wants to kill us all and +I am the only one who wants to god-damn fight back! + +Eva. She's with me. Or, well, she's like physically with me. She's +sleeping on the cot right now and I snagged her tablet to write +this. I'm encrypting this shit too, so it doesn't echo back to the +rest of the team. One-way QEC messages, bitches. Didn't know you +could do that, did ya, Prezzi? Yeah, the fascists forgot I'm +actually on this mission cause I know shit. At least when I'm not +drunk. And I'm sober as anything right now. + +Oh my god, Sandy. Holy shit, I'm a horrible person. Jerome is like +my ship dad or something, so I talked about him and I totally +skipped over Sandy. She's a gem. I met her before she started +transitioning and it has been the best decision ever. She's +a god-damned inspiration. Live your truth, be who you are meant to +be. She deserves better than this, not just from me. I'm not going +to let her down, or Jerome. They're out there, I know it. + +"Oh Stephanie, that's nonsense. You read the transcript, something +happened to them. They were hallucinating. Bullshit bullshit +bullshit." No. I've heard it all. Prezzi's logic is Right and Just +and Holy and it's utterly wrong. I HEARD the recording when I read +it. I can feel it and hear it in my head. I know the sound those +alarms make. I know the voice of the computer speaking and there's +no way to confuse that with Dr. Idjani. There's no way the captain +would confuse it. And even if he did, even if both of them heard +some crazy stuff or their nitrogen mix was wrong, the transcript +finished. It came through! + +"Autodisconnect after 5 minute silence". That's what it says. +That's what it did. Something happened and they stopped talking +for five full minutes and THEN the ship relayed the message. That +shuttle is out there and they need us. They need help, and I'll be +damned if I'm going to leave them to the black. + +Eva will help. She knows what's at stake. I trust her, but I need +more. If I do this, whatever this is, I'm not jumping in without +a plan. The Vos 144A has 6 shuttles and they can peer-dock without +an umbilical, but only if someone is awake on both sides to link +the seals. That's a problem. Also it sounds like Jerome was doing +his funny math to backtrack to the spot we lost the doctor. I'm +a fair whiz at maths but those sort of transverse orbitals +accounting for stellar drift will need a proper navigator. Lucky +me I've got best navigator for 20 light years drooling on my +pillow. So gross. So cute. What else? Oh, right, I'm on the wrong +planet. + +That's not so bad, as far as plans go. Get Eva, get others, get +a ship, get to four, get more stuff, find Jerome and Sandy, bring +our people home, punch Prezzi in her dumb face, make out with Eva. +This is doable. I can do this. We can do this. Please let me be +able to do this. +. +]]> + + + The DeLorian - Getting To Know The Crew + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The DeLorian/0001.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The DeLorian/0001.txt + Mon, 02 Nov 2020 18:39:11 GMT + +* The DeLorian * + +----------------------------------- + Captain's Log: Stardate 0000 0002 + Clone Code: 0 +----------------------------------- + +Once Me, Myself, and I embarked out to our journey we ran into an issue very +quickly. With there being three of us who were (as far as I can tell) all the +same person, we ran into the communication issue of what to call each other. +After some discussion, we came to the agreement that I would be "Captain", the +version of me that was created from the universe where the coin landed on heads +would be "Heads", and of course for the same reason the other would be "Tails". +After that was agreed we decided to take inventory of what we have to work with +within Boaty McBoatface while we wait for the autopilot to take us to the +rendevous point with the client. Heads and Tails went to search opposite ends of +the ship, but I decided I might try to make use of my new time device (which +according to The Elder is called the "Deus Ex Machina") to save myself some time +(ha, get it?) by trying to find some more exploits like the coin trick that +created Heads and Tails. I set a checkpoint and decided that I would go search +the ship, and after doing so I would return to that checkpoint and give myself +the report so that I don't need to do all of the work! With the checkpoint set +I immediately received a tap on the shoulder to find a slightly exhaused version +of myself standing behind me. They informed me they were going to go take a nap +since they have completed taking inventory and left towards what I can only +assume the location of the sleeping quarters were at. A bit miffed that my plan +backfired I asked them why they would not simply tell me what they found so I +could skip the boring chore. They informed me that when they were me they were +not told anything either and their future version simply left to go take a nap +as well, so if they did not get to skip doing the work than neither do I. With +that, they completed their journey out of the room and left me alone again. The +nerve, I cannot believe I would be such a jerk to myself! ...Well, on second +thought, this is not too shocking. My first experience meeting my time clone was +being punched in the face by them. At least when I am done with this I can a nap +and get back at myself by making the previous version of myself do all this work +too. That will surely teach myself a lesson from being so stubborn. + +After going back in time to enjoy my nap I decided to go look for Heads and +Tails since they should be finishing up with their search of the ship by then. +Finding Heads was easy enough since they were on their way back, so we decided +to head out together to find Tails. We each took notes in our respective copies +of the book we received from The Elder, so I just copied down Heads's notes into +mine and then swapped so they could do the same. By the time that was done we +found Tails, but also a lot more. Apparently I was not the only one who decided +to try more time shenanigans since we stumbled upon a large crowd of time clones +all arguing with each other. After it was clear from watching the chaos unfold +for a few moments, I decided that since I am the captain of Boaty McBoatface it +was my job to try and get to the bottom of what happened here and try to restore +order. With a sustained, high-pitched whistle I drew the attention of the Tails +clones and requested for the audience of the original Tails. This seemed to +trigger the same arguing from before so I let forth the same whistle again and +this time just grabbed the closest one and asked them to explain what is going +on here. Apparently Tails discovered that we have a weapons system aboard the +ship, but not enough crew to make effective usage of it. So, the logical +conclusion was to create perform the same experiment that created the initial +clones a few times. However, since I forgot how quickly exponential growth can +get out of hand, this very quickly created way too many time clones. It was +suggested that we can fix the problem by ejecting the extras into space, but +that meant that there needed to be some sort of system to determine who would be +getting ejected. Since no one wanted to volunteer another suggested that they +could flip coins to decide, but the others disagreed since that is what +originally got them into this mess. The last suggestion of removing the clones +in order who who was created last and working backwards is what triggered the +fighting since the newer clones found this unfair since this system was not +agreed upon before their creation, as well as the older clones had no way to +determine who was the newest clones and none of them wanted to identify +themselves. + +It is moments like this that are quite humbling as you realize just how much of +a moron you can be. Fortunately, from what Heads found during their search of +Boaty McBoatface we had a better compromise for the Tails army. Aboard the ship +are some cryostatis pods, so instead of needing to evacuate the excess clones we +can just have them sleep in there until they are needed or we are in a better +situation for having that many clones of myself around. After some murmuring it +looked like the clones were find with agreeing to this plan. Before Heads guided +the excess clones to cryostatis chamber I called forth for a meeting since we +really needed to sort out this time cloning business to make sure something like +this does not happen again. This meeting went on far longer than I would have +expected since we are all the same person, but the previous threat of death via +ejection into space and not being a good team player with other versions of +myself was enough to already begin splintering off differences in the +personalities of the clones (definitely something to think about later and +probably keep me up at night). Eventually we all agreed to the seniority system +where older clones will get to make the final decision on any disagreements +along with creating an identification system using our books. The identification +system works as follows: + +Since I am the original DeLorian, on the last page of my book I will right a +zero. For each clone that follows, if they were created with a heads flip they +will append another zero to their sequence and if they were created by a one +they would instead append a one. Since we did not do this originally, each clone +had to manually catch up by writing in their sequence from their respective +memory. However, for all future versions they need only append to the end of +their sequence since their book should be a copy of the version that created +them. Then, to handle if additional sets of clones are created (e.g. if I +decided to make additional clones from myself) we simply use the next pair of +digits (e.g. in the previous example this would be 2 and 3 instead of 0 and 1). +We were all fine with this until one of the Tails clones, who identified +themself as "01019", asked about what we plan to do if one of us makes a 6th set +of clones (the set after 8 and 9 are used). This had us stumped for a bit and we +almost decided on a rule to never make a sixth pair of clones to avoid this +(which left a few clones with a nervous look in their eye), until another Tails +clone brought up something The Elder wrote in their original notes. Across the +bottom of the page the following was written: +01234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-_ + +At first I (or should I now say we?) throught this was just some weird way of +testing out their penmanship on the page, but upon further inspection it looks +like this would be the perfect solution for continuing on our clone code +sequence past six sets. Now, we could make a full 32 sets of clones until we ran +into a "roadblock" again. Since we all felt far more comfortable with the idea +of having 32 as the hard cap on clones, we agreed to using this system moving +forward and finalized our agreement by all writing down these rules into the +last page of our books as our formal way of acknowledging our consensus. With +that out of the way the extra clones were filed to the cryostatis chamber and +order seemed to be restored at last. I met up with Tails (now also known as +"01") to get their notes for the inventory of the ship to add to my notes. Once +that was done Heads (now also knowns as "00") returned back from escorting the +clones to complete their set of notes as well. It was after doing so and +reviewing everything together that we came to a concerning revelation: we did +not have enough food for all of the mouths we now had to feed. However, from my +own search of the ship I found a hangar filled with lesser crafts and came up +with a plan. I explained to Heads and Tails my plan of sending out some of the +remaining Tails clones in one of the vessels to acquire more supplies and meet +back with us at the rendevous point. They agreed with this plan so we tracked +down "0100", "0110", "0101", and "0111" to do handle this mission for us. The +four were not thrilled with the news, but they liked the idea better than us all +starving to death so early into our life among the stars. With that we sent them +off on "Mini Boaty McBoatface I" and the rest of the DeLorian time clone crew +continued its journey to meet with our first clients as smugglers against the +Federation. +]]> + + + Dodecapolis - USS Kraken, Captain's Log 00001 + dozens@cosmic.voyage (dozens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Dodecapolis/00003.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Dodecapolis/00003.txt + Mon, 02 Nov 2020 03:27:48 GMT + +USS Kraken, Captain's Log 00001 +=============================== + +Captain Enzo Avery +USS Kraken + +The dodecads received their final assignments today. + +A bit of a surprise if I'm being honest: the Kraken is to join Twilight Dusk +under Ganesh Singh of the Jerakeen. + +I must say I don't care much for Fleet Commander Rivers's brand of leadership. +Her loyalties are unpredictable. She shows no sense of allegiance, nor does she +hold to our customs and traditions. + +For many of the same reasons, nor am I especially crazy about her right hand +man, Wash. + +Nevertheless, I'm not above saying that Singh was most impressive during the +evaluations, especially considering his relative inexperience. + +And so I readily accept my role and will ensure that Kraken and Shardik serve +Jerakeen well, and that if SRU Dodecapolis fails because of Rivers's chaotic +whims, it will not be because of Twilight Dusk. + +Furthermore, experience has shown me time and again that I need not necessarily +be in the seat of power in order to exert my will. With me at his side, I'm +sure that Singh will be an exemplary squad leader, and that Twilight Dusk will +be the pride of Dodecapolis. + +EOF +]]> + + + Dodecapolis - Fleet Commander Log 00002 + dozens@cosmic.voyage (dozens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Dodecapolis/00002.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/Dodecapolis/00002.txt + Mon, 02 Nov 2020 03:29:45 GMT + +Fleet Commander Log 00002 +========================= + +Fleet Commander Amanda Rivers +SRU Dodecapolis + +--- + +Preperations are complete. + +We are scheduled to depart JOVE-1 at the start of next tenday. + +Each individual starship has been outfitted with cryotech, and has had its +navigation and propulsion modules upgraded with the parts needed to get to the +Far Reaches. + +The new cryotech will enable the crew to be suspended for 4_096 jovannos. The +vastly extended period of suspension, combined with the new FTL module, should +put us just inside the Far Reaches by the time AI starts to download us. + +--- + +The final fleet manifest of SRU Dodecapolis did indeed turn out much as I had +initially planned on, save for one exception: Captain Avery of the USS Kraken, +my first pick to lead the Twilight Dusk Squadron, turned out to be far +outclassed during evaluations by Singh of the USS Jerakeen. A surprise to be +sure. + +Singh is still early on his career, and displays much of the bravado and +idealism of the inexperienced. Still, his composure and effectiveness during +the Edsmith Protocol surpassed some captains with twice again his years of +experience. Including, significantly, Avery, who became ineffective and +inactive when faced with the simulated crisis. + +While Avery is by far the more experienced and more skilled of the two, Singh +has proven himself the better leader. Singh and the Jerakeen will take command +of Twilight Dusk, and will benefit from having Avery at his right hand. + + +--- + +Speaking of ones right hand, I have furthermore decided to place Gustav Wash of +the Nicodemus at my right hand and shall expect him to manage most of the day +to day operations of Rising Dawn Squadron while I focus my attention and +resources on the needs of the fleet. I have the utmost confidence in Wash. He +will likely lead his own fleet some day--ah, but I forget myself: none of us +shall have another assignment after this one. The establishment of Dodecapolis +is both our mission and our fate. There will be no coming back from this one. + + +SRU Dodecapolis Fleet Manifest +------------------------------ + +1. **Rising Dawn Squadron** + + - [!] USS Timberwolf | Captain Amanda Rivers + - USS Nicodemus | Captain Gustav Wash + - USS Sköldpadda | Captain Ainslee Martin + +2. **Daylight Squadron** + + - [!] USS Kuniklo | Captain Hazel Adams + - USS Harpy | Captain Samantha Drake + - USS Beagle | Captain Charles Teach + +3. **Twilight Dusk Squadron** + + - [!] USS Jerakeen | Captain Ganesh Singh + - USS Kraken | Captain Enzo Avery + - USS Shardik | Captain Detroit London + +4. **Midnight Sun Squadron** + + - [!] USS Flying Fox | Captain Katarina Russo + - USS Aslan | Captain Loren Canon + - USS Rocinante | Captain Cole Gruber + +[!] - Squadron Leader + +EOF +]]> + + + The DeLorian - Embarkment + aewens@cosmic.voyage (aewens) + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The DeLorian/0000.txt + gopher://cosmic.voyage/0/The DeLorian/0000.txt + Mon, 02 Nov 2020 01:35:29 GMT + +* The DeLorian * + +----------------------------------- + Captain's Log: Stardate 0000 0001 +----------------------------------- + +I began this morning thinking that my life has reached a dead end. Ever since I +was a youngling I dreamed of journeying among the stars and yesterday I tried to +follow that dream. I went to enlist my services to the space force of the +Federation's, but I was informed that I did not meet their standards and my +offer was declined. I had no idea what I would be doing now since I was banking +my whole future on being able to live my life out in space. After my enlistment +was rejected my love for the Federation was replaced with resentment and anger. +How DARE they destroy my dreams, to so easily discard my services just because +my current phsyique is not "up to par" with their quality of "standards"! I know +my around a starship better than any of those morons, and if they just gave me a +chance I could have been an invaluable asset! I wish I could show them, all I +would need is a ship. I don't need a crew, I could handle it all myself... But +what good would that do? I am just one person, and they are an entire fleet. How +could I do anything to something so much larger than myself all on my own? + +So you can imagine my shock when I was approached by a shrouded, mysterious +figure that would only disclose themself as "The Elder" showed up offering me a +means to do exactly that. Their offer was simple: +I will be given the task of smuggling weapons and intelligence documents +past the Federation and to deliver them to their enemies. In payment, I would be +given a space craft and a device that it promised to give me an edge over any +adversarial force I may encounter if used properly. While I did not plan for my +life as a space captain to be working as a smuggler, it is the only option I +have left. And if I am being honest, I would really enjoy right now to help make +the lives of the Federation more difficult after what they did to me. + +After taking a moment to consider this stranger's offer I accepted it. They +bestowed upon me three items: a fairly banged up coin, a leather bound book, and +an odd looking remote. Upon handing me these items I was told that inside the +book will hold the answers to all of my questions. On first inspection the +leather cover appeared to be quite worn out from what I can only assume to be +from years of age, but the papers inside looked to be brand new. The fact that I +was being given a book at all was quite strange since they have not been used in +years now that everything is digitized these days. Affixed to the outside of the +cover is a simple pencil and eraser which I assume is meant for writing in it. +When opening the book I found that the pages were removable and bound only by an +elastic band inside the book, which would suggest that one could add more pages +later as well as remove sections as well later on. The pencil made more since +after skimming over the first page since everything was hand written, but that +was also the only page with anything on it. Every following page was left blank. +Confused by this I looked up from the book to ask how that single page could +somehow answer all my questions, but only to find that my cryptic employer had +vanished. + +Left only with my new, unusual gifts I decided to read through in full the notes +that were jotted upon the first and only inscribed page within the book. It +began explained the location of the craft I would using, where in the craft the +smuggled contents are, the coordinates of the rendezvous, who I would be meeting +there, and how much I will be selling it all for. It went on to entail that I +would be keeping the proceeds from the exchange and upon completion would be +assigned my next task. While I found all of this to be quite generous, I was far +more concerned with the everything else that followed from The Elder's notes. + +According to what was written here, that bizarre remote I was given is +apparently a device that can manipulate the fabric of space and time in a very +specific way. The device has a screen in the middle, a dial beneath it, and a +button on either side. If I press the left button it will set a "checkpoint" of +sorts that gets stored to the memory of the device and I can search through +those checkpoints using the dial to cycle through them on the display as a +counter that goes up and down (coorsponding to the checkpoints in order of +creation). That is all fine, but what is baffling is the alleged function of the +right button. That, when pressed, it will send the user of the device back to +the exact position in time that the selected "checkpoint" was created. After +reading that section over a few times to make sure I was understanding it +correctly I decided I needed to prove that this device worked. + +I started with a few simple experiments. First, I checked the time and set a +checkpoint followed by walking a few steps away and waiting. After a few minutes +passed I set the dial to my checkpoint and pressed the button that should +trigger the jump in space-time. Sure enough, I was standing in the same spot but +the time read the same time as when I set the checkpoint. Amazing! The potential +that this holds is beyond comprehension but I am going to try and do so anyways! +Which is what led to my second test, to determine once and for all how time +worked in our universe. This test is simple: I will create a checkpoint and then +after a few moments I will take a few steps back followed by flipping the coin I +was given. If it lands on heads, I go back and punch myself in the right eye; +and if it lands on tails, I go back and punch myself in the left eye. A bit +violent, but it is all in the name of science and gets the job done. With the +checkpoint set, I flipped the coin. + +What followed next left me a bit confused. Instead of being punched in the face +by a future version of myself, I was approached by two versions of myself that +both punched me (one to my right eye and the other to my left eye). After given +it some thought, here is what I think happened: the unvierse we exist in obeys +the multiverse theory so after the coin was flipped there were two universes +created where one has the coin landing on heads and the other the coin lands on +tails. Since both occurred, the respective future versions both went back in +time and punched the eye they were supposed to punch. However, that now leaves +us in the awkward situation where there is now three of me. It looks like the +universe has no problems with us all being here, so I guess all those who +believed this would "violate the laws of space-time" were wrong since the +universe did not explode when they punched me in the face, but my eyes sure do +feel that way now. After the awkward moment passed the one who punched me in the +right eye suggested we read the rest of the book. It explained how part of my +employment will require detailed documentation of the series of the events that +unfold as a means to audit my work to trigger receiving my next assignment. I am +to do this using communications over QEC, but due to the nature of the work I am +to not use my real name nor the name of my craft. I am also meant to do so for +today, hence the reason I am right this message. For "The Elder" to identify my +messages I am to refer to myself as "The DeLorian" and for my craft I can call +it whatever I want here as long as it does not give away anything. Since I +cannot think of anything good right now I'll just pick a placeholder name and +come back to it later. So for now, I emback on my voyage into the unknown as a +smuggler to enact revenge against the empire that has forsaken me aboard my ship +Boaty McBoatface. +]]> + Melchizedek - Jerome Pasani - Personal Letter 2 tomasino@cosmic.voyage (tomasino)