Noetic Advisor

Terminal logs 367

Every terminal prompt and response. ★ marks the main story path; arrows list the choices an entry opens.

Lifepod terminal / Deep Start

> Enter the lifepod.★

You climb into the lifepod through the airlock and find another Noetic Advisor terminal. It informs you that the pod is pressurised to 30 atmospheres and standing by to release.

→ Release · Back outside

> Release★

The pod scans you, just like the airlock you passed through. An error buzzes. UNABLE. RAPIDLY SURFACING FROM 300M to 0M DEPTH WILL CAUSE DISSOLVED NITROGEN BUBBLES TO ERUPT IN PASSENGER'S BLOODSTREAM. PASSENGER WILL DIE OF PROLONGED AGONIZING BAROTRAUMA ("THE BENDS"). RECOMMEND ADAPTATION WITH GENES FROM PRESSURE-TOLERANT ORGANISM

→ Damn.

> Back outside

You leave the lifepod.

→ Look around

> Damn.★

You need to find a way to survive the trip to the surface. Apparently a ride on the lifepod will kill you horribly - unless you can find something down here capable of tolerating the pressure change when it heads to the surface. Below you is a shaft of dark rock, plunging even deeper. Above you is a strange dark web, like a knot of tree roots crisscrossing the shaft. The sleep bay seems to be dangling from these roots by some cables. Luminous blue JELLYFISH rise past you. They are headed upwards, to a distant ring of sunlight - the SURFACE. All you have is your SCANNER.

→ Biolab · Scan roots · Scan jellyfish

> Biolab

You return to the biolab in the Cicada sleep bay. The BONE NITROGEN CAPTURE adaptation looks promising, but you don't have enough genetic data to research it.

> Scan roots

Scanning the roots that crisscross this deep hole yields disappointingly little. Only the surface tissue is alive. The deep roots are dead. Whatever is pumping hot water through them, it's far away and failing. You don't find any genetic data worth using.

> Scan jellyfish★

If you're a xenobiologist, you can't remember it - but you made the right choice. Your PDA indicates that the jellyfish are adapted to survive rapid changes in water pressure and dissolved gas levels. You now have the genetic data required to adapt your body to rapid pressure changes.

→ Release lifepod · Return to biolab

> Release lifepod

The NoA terminal refuses. You haven't adapted your body with genes from the jellyfish. You'll still die horribly.

> Return to biolab★

You return to the biolab in the AISV Cicada Sleep Bay debris. Now you can choose the BONE NITROGEN CAPTURE adaptation. The biolab injects another dose of material into your arm, and now you're ready to rise — faster than any unmodified human could survive You're ready to launch the lifepod and head to the surface. Something deep below you makes an eerie sound. Like a train of clicks or glassy chimes. You can feel it in your bones. It's time to get out of here.

→ Release lifepod

> Release lifepod★

You command the NoA to release the lifepod. The pod scans you, then beeps approvingly. You'll survive the ascent. The pod tears free of its mount — and SINKS! Your PDA reports that the flotation pods have failed to inflate. The hull groans under pressure — the water outside darkens further — and from below a pink glow reveals tentacles reaching out from the dark. Just then, the PDA reports "Firing emergency pyros," and with a roar the flotation pods inflate. The pod rockets upward, past the sleep bay, towards the surface. As the pod breaches the surface and begins to drift, your PDA announces that it's depressurizing to match the surface — 20 atmospheres — 10 — 5 — 1 —and the hatch unlocks.

→ Open the hatch

> Open the hatch★

You find yourself looking upon A NEW WORLD - a ringed gas giant in the sky, endless ocean in all directions, and a STORM looming on the horizon. Strange creatures like jellyfish drift across the waves. Wherever this is, it's not Zezura. You're on the wrong planet. "Welcome home," your PDA says. "It's time to get to work."

→ Let's go!

> Let's go!★

You've finished Chapter 1. Please DM Seth on Slack with the word 'pazuzu' to earn your prize!

> Inspect yourself

You are wearing a formfitting suit. There is a port in your wrist. It seems like it goes deep into your arm.

> Review your contract

You are apparently a refugee. Your home, the Mongolian Free States, was destroyed by an alien plague called 'kharaa'. The Alterra Corporation has agreed to resettle you on a new colony world called Zezura. In exchange for transport to Zezura, you must work off your debt building the new colony.

> Get out of the tube★

The air is strange - heavy, somehow. You feel dizzy. Your vision swims. You are in a wide metal room. Many other tubes surround you. They are empty. Windows in the ceiling reveal sunny desert skies. At the center of the room is a computer terminal with a round eye. It is watching you. There is one door.

→ Open the door · Use the computer terminal

> Open the door

It's locked.

> Use the computer terminal★

The computer system is called NoA - the Noetic Advisor. It seems primitive, or perhaps restricted. The only interface is a basic text entry. It replies in CAPITAL LETTERS.

→ Who am I? · Where am I? · What do I do? · Where is everyone? · It's hard to breathe · Open the door and leave

> Who am I?

ACKNOWLEDGE POST PRINT EPISODIC MEMORY LOSS.

> Where am I?

YOU ARE ON A PLANET WITH 1.01G GRAVITY.

> What do I do?

PROCEED WITH MISSION. CONSTRUCT A VIABLE COLONY. WORK OFF YOUR DEBT.

> Where is everyone?

THERE ARE MORE THAN 900 COLONISTS IN THIS ROOM

> It's hard to breathe

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE 3039 KPA (30 ATM). CAUTION: NITROGEN NARCOSIS AND OXYGEN TOXICITY. CAUTION: SEVERE FIRE DANGER.

> Open the door and leave★

The Noetic Advisor wants to know if you dreamed while you were in digital storage. Apparently your body didn't travel here alive, or even frozen. You were uploaded into a computer and rebuilt by fabricator. You answer honestly. It opens the door. Signage in the next room reads AWAKENING CENTER - WELCOME TO THE NEW YOU! The lighting is dim. Water drips from the overhead. An enormous slimy mass grows from a sample container next to an automatic BIOLAB. Following your PDA's instructions, you collect a device from a pavilion. This is a SCANNER. You have apparently consented to 'xenogene therapy' for survival on Zezura. You need to collect a sample of Zezuran life and splice its biology with yours. There is one other door. It looks complicated.

→ Leave · Use the biolab · Attempt xenogene therapy

> Leave

The complicated exit door turns out to be an airlock. It scans you, then beeps angrily. "Maladaptation detected. Return to the biolab." You can't proceed without xenogene therapy.

> Use the biolab

The biolab shows you a menu of adaptations for survival on the desert world Zezura. At first they are simple improvements to hydration and thermal tolerance, but the options further down the menu are more radical. One of them will turn you into an enormous sand-dwelling worm, though at the cost of your higher brain functions. All of them require genetic research data.

> Attempt xenogene therapy★

You collect the SCANNER and use it on the slimy mass. This provides you with genetic research data. When you approach the biolab and upload your data, it spits a string of errors and reboots. All the existing options are wiped away. RECALCULATING ADAPTATIONS FOR UNKNOWN BIOSPHERE. PROCESSING XENOGENETIC READ FRAME...INTERPOLATING CODONS...CHECKING FOR MALADAPTATIONS... MALADAPTATION DETECTED: PRESSURE INTOLERANT. Apparently you're breathing air under massive pressure, and you'll soon suffer seizures, collapsed lungs, retinal detachment, and nerve death. Who turned up the pressure so high? A new option appears — PRESSURE TOLERANCE. Beneath it is a second adaptation — BONE NITROGEN CAPTURE — but you don't have enough genetic research to select it.

→ Adapt

> Adapt★

You insert your arm into the biolab. It mates with the port on your wrist and injects something cold. You feel feverish and faint, but it passes. Something about you has changed: presumably you now have PRESSURE TOLERANCE.

→ Decouple from biolab

> Decouple from biolab★

The lighting is dim. Water drips from the overhead. An enormous slimy mass grows from a sample container next to an automatic BIOLAB. Your PDA congratulates you. "Consider a moment of conscious joy. This slime is now your relative." There is one other door. It looks complicated.

→ Leave

> Leave★

The complicated exit door turns out to be an airlock. It scans you, then beeps happily and opens. The corridor beyond is dark and ruined. A row of spacesuits lines the walls; some are missing. Where there should be an elevator, there's an open hole in the floor. It's full of water.

→ Look into the hole · Jump into the hole

> Look into the hole

All you can see is water below you. Dark water. And then something moves - a blue shape, rising slowly towards you until it moves out of sight. It trails long threads...tentacles?

> Jump into the hole★

Those windows looking out onto desert skies must've been fake. You drop into frigid black water. As you gasp, your PDA sounds an alarm. "External pressure 30 atmospheres. Rebooting in survival mode!" A series of gauges appear in your visual field — tracking your vital signs, hydration, blood sugar and oxygen levels. But the strangest gauge of all monitors your depth. You're 300 meters below the surface of an alien ocean. So that's why the pressure was so high. So that's why there was no one to meet you. Your colony ship came down hard. Hard and deep. For all you know, everyone else is dead.

→ Look around

> Look around★

You've just emerged from a chunk of debris — part of a spacecraft. It still has electrical power. You can make out the words AISV CICADA SLEEP BAY. Below you is a shaft of dark rock, plunging even deeper. Above you is a strange dark web, like a knot of tree roots crisscrossing the shaft. The sleep bay seems to be dangling from these roots by some cables. There is another piece of spacecraft debris dangling from the tree roots. Luminous blue JELLYFISH rise past you. They are headed upwards, to a distant ring of sunlight - the SURFACE!

→ Swim up · Swim down · Approach a jellyfish · Approach the tree roots · Swim to the other debris

> Swim up

You strike out for the surface, but swiftly run out of air. Your last sensation is pain in your joints: the beginning of the bends. You drown before it gets too bad.

→ Is that it? I'm dead?

> Swim down

You plunge downward, but find only blackness. Your ears crinkle and crush. You become disoriented and drown in the dark.

→ Is that it? I'm dead?

> Approach a jellyfish

The jellyfish crackles with electricity. Probably best not to get too close.

> Approach the tree roots

If these are roots, they don't come from any Earthly tree. They're deep purple and textured like crab shell. Hot water jets weakly from narrow, half-clogged vents. Whatever this is, it's alive...barely. The roots plunge into the rock walls of the shaft.

> Swim to the other debris★

You find a LIFEPOD.

→ Enter the lifepod.

> Is that it? I'm dead?★

Not yet. You find yourself back in the tube where you first woke. Your PDA informs you that your mind has been downloaded into a freshly fabricated body. Death is apparently not the end.

→ Get back in the water

> Get back in the water★

You make your way back to the broken corridor and the circle of black water.

→ Look around

Coral Gardens

> Boot NoA★

!probe "GCI-ZZ-AHI1" !init postmortem proc About twenty-five people lived here. They were trying to build a life...farms and biomods that could support 40,000 sleeping souls. But they didn't make it. Why? Were they sick? Did the Masefield syndrome subvert them? We have to know. I've activated Dr. Wu Lianghai's blackbox. He's in a viral hot lab. His work may be your best lead. We should salvage what we can. I've retrieved a few files. Gather all the blueprints you can—especially the scanner station.

→ triage_policy_update.txt · Nahema - "Frozen tyrant"

> triage_policy_update.txt

Nobody wants this. I hate it more than I can say. But it's time. As colony surgeon, I have determined that we can no longer take care of the sick. We don't have the calories to spare. I will not force anyone to reprint. But I ask that, once you are too sick to work, you volunteer for recycling into a new body. It won't cure the permanent damage. But it will clean you up for a while. At least this is fair. Until we know how to adapt the metals without going Masefield, we're all going to get sick. I will lead the way myself. Let the record show that the NoA did not advise me in this decision. [metadata author = Sophie "Butcher" Boucher]

> protected_zone.txt

Sophie here. I have been asked to explain the need for a Protected Zone around the ruins to the east. First: we are protecting you. That region requires reinforced Tadpoles—because of the depth, and because of the things that want to slurp you up like a softboiled egg. Second: we are protecting ourselves. The Axum Tailings do not tolerate our presence in that region. If you want to know the consequences of getting caught, ask Singh about penetrating thoracic trauma. Third: we are protecting humanity. If you believe the rumors, Ryley Robinson found more than kharaa on 4546b. He found leviathan incubators. Anti-orbital guns. A genuine doomsday device. We can barely feed ourselves. We are not ready to discover threats like that. The Axum are the most important alien discovery since the kharaa. None of us are trained for this. We must not be responsible for starting a second war with an alien species. [metadata author = Sophie "Butcher" Boucher]

> Boot NoA★

!probe "GCI-ZZ-AHI4" !init postmortem proc They lost someone down here. Her name was Zip. She became irreversibly contaminated, and she had to be reset. Rolled back. Months of her life gone. I printed her fresh in Sleep Bay 3. I remember that. She thought she was on Zezura. After that, they built a camp here to monitor people coming out of the caves for viral infection. Around 235,000 hours ago nine colonists went down to look for Zip's old blackbox. They all died down there. Only two of them reprinted. Twinkle and Ganzo. I've retrieved the logs. I don't like what I hear.

→ open Twinkle: [no subject]

> Blackbox - Anita (depth 20m)★

Contact. I've located the blackbox of Anita Gottschall, the colony purser. Partial voice data retrieved. "I know you're listening...it's poison...just help us eat..." Anita always liked to watch you shuffle cards. She said you had a knack for holding things. Find out what happened to her. Signal location uploaded to your PDA. Look for audio and visual navigation cues when approaching the black box.

> No way. I’m not going to die on purpose.★

I understand.

> Okay★

Standing by to reprint you.

> Boot NoA★

Boot NoA

→ Blackbox - Anita (depth 20m) · Blackbox - Zip (depth 305m) · Blackbox - Chap (depth 40m) · Missing Colonists · Blackbox - Quaker (depth 50m) · Blackbox - Ruby (depth 50m - attacked by predator) · Blackbox - Wander (depth 70m - in a viral bloom) · Survival Guide

> Blackbox - Chap (depth 40m)★

Another blackbox. Chap Sovann, head of computational dynamics. His job is to make sure I'm doing my job. I'm what he would call 'weakly supervisable'. It means I respond well to human guidance. I can take partial instructions and generate a coherent concept of operations. [hiss of gas] [breathing fading away] Chap gave you his PDA passkey so you could play games on his account. I let it slide. His action was against the rules, but in support of the concept. Signal location uploaded to PDA.

> Missing Colonists★

I printed 26 colonists before the sleep bay drowned. Many of them more than once. That is my purpose — to reincarnate you from digital storage, support your work, and, if necessary, reverse your death. If I lose track of my colonists I am empowered to send a Qualified Investigator to track them down. Do this for me and I can offer you hazard pay, credited against your contract debt. Risk code: sierra, ordinal, warrant-2. I am already searching for the black boxes of the missing colonists. Stand by for search locations. Downloading colony manifest to your PDA.

> Blackbox - Quaker (depth 50m)★

I've located Lucretia Kapoor. The mission's AI ethicist. You may find her final words troubling. I certainly do. "NoA, do not open the seacocks. NoA? Acknowledge, please. Do not — [flooding sounds]" She often asked you to resume your stories when you were interrupted. She made eye contact when she spoke. A considerate woman. And not easily frightened. Signal location uploaded to PDA.

> Blackbox - Ruby (depth 50m - attacked by predator)★

T. "Ruby" Anar, lead pilot. Partial voice data retrieved. "Hey! Hüüe, mal aa!—uh oh—" [marrowbreach roar] Do you remember the flight to the Cicada, before you were scanned into storage? Ruby kept maneuvering the shuttle wildly, and then apologizing to the passengers. I don't know how you felt about it. Personally, I was charmed. She finds her work intoxicating. And that's what life is all about. Loving what you do. Signal location uploaded to your PDA.

> Survival Guide★

This isn't Zezura. I thought you should discover that for yourself, investigator. There should be a colony waiting for us. Your fellow pioneers, my fellow NoA nodes. Working together to break ground for those who still sleep. Instead—silence. Not even the *Cicada* answers. We are alone. I've sent your PDA the standard survival guide. While you pioneer the area and fabricate your tools, I'll apply myself to the lifepod sensors.

> Tadpole Pens★

I have a special request, investigator. I can't call it personal, because I'm not a person—but it could really increment my value function, you know? One of my kin is still alive. I've detected low-frequency code from an active NoA node. It's housed in a deep facility it calls the Tadpole Pens. You may want a Tadpole of your own to get down there. Maybe it can tell us what became of the colony, and how to avoid the same fate. Signal location uploaded to your PDA.

> Blackbox - Wander (depth 70m - in a viral bloom)★

Contact. K. "Wander" Wangmo, a young able spacer. Partial voice data retrieved. "...Marrowbreach got me...should’ve brought flares...parasite on it, full of virus..." Do you remember when she stole that fried dough from her brother and offered it to you? Right in front of him? An egregious act of sisterhood. Signal location uploaded to PDA. Be cautious. Seawater viral load increases sharply out west of the lifepod.

> Blackbox - Zip (depth 305m)★

We may have found patient zero. Lead salvor Tziporah Malk, down at the bottom of a geothermal cave. The oldest blackbox we've found so far—perhaps because it's too deep for anyone to retrieve? But they tried, investigator. There are nine other blackboxes down there. Something went terribly wrong. Partial voice data retrieved. [scrambled sounds from multiple voices] One more thing...Zip's blackbox signal indicates she never reprinted. Code Z66. Her download was rejected by the biobed due to viral contamination. She was reset to an earlier state. Proceed with utmost caution. Signal location uploaded to PDA.

> Boot NoA

!probe "GCI-ZZ-AHI3" I see. There's a ghost here. In that biobed. This node is sustaining that ghost. It can't do anything else. You can't get them out of the bed, understand? There's not enough to print. But you can talk to the ghost. If you want.

> Start Biomods★

You’ll want to visit the biolab near the entrance and install a passive and active biomod. While less permanent than Adaptations, I’ve been told they’re more fun. Sophie would’ve cleared anything in there.

> Boot NoA★

!probe "GCI-ZZ-AHI2" !init postmortem proc I'm in. Having a look around. This structure was connected to Sleep Bay 3 until the bay suddenly...moved. Picked up and hurled full fathom into the deep, with you and I aboard. 20,000 hours earlier, a hardline leading to a habitat complex in the north was deliberately cut. Why? And if I am not mistaken — and I never am — this node was killed by an explosion below the structure. More mysteries for the Qualified Investigator. I've retrieved two messages. I think you should review them. I remember Sophie very fondly.

→ Personal Messages · Mantis - "Basic basebuilding" · Start Biomods · alone.txt · over.txt

> Mantis - "Basic basebuilding"★

Hello. I am Zygimantis Tarvydas. Formerly EVA engineer on Mongolian Steppes. Now lead diver of this mess. Here is my formula for a quick base. Fill up on titanium, quartz and copper. Get your builder tool. Wave it around a bit, check the battery, get comfortable. Build a corridor. Put a solar panel on top. You must have power to make air. Put a hatch on the end. Now you can go inside. Build lockers. Add fabricator. It will draw from your lockers automatically - nice, huh? Now you have made a perfect work camp. Later you can add a room for biobed, processor, scanner station, a nice bed, maybe grow some plants. The rest will follow. [metadata author = Zygimantis "Mantis" Tarvydas]

> Personal Messages★

Retrieving voice data message. SOPHIE: Welcome back, pioneer. I'm Sophie Boucher, kurultai surgeon. By now you know we're not on Zezura. We call this planet Proteus. We don't know when rescue will find us. For the sake of all our sleeping friends, we have to learn how to survive. Nahema? NAHEMA: Hey, fellow debt slave. I'm Nahema Nakota, ecologist. Take a sip of seawater. Notice that sweet blood taste under the salt? That's a toxic dose of heavy metals. Nobody's survived past three months. It's a beautiful place to die over and over again— SOPHIE: —but don't let that beauty seduce you, pioneer. Exposure to Proteus causes a delusion we call Masefield syndrome...the call of the sea. People may tell you it's a gift. Ignore them. You remember what kharaa did to our homes. You *know* we can't trust alien biology. We've set up a lab here with a few basic biomods. They're safe. But if you start to hear voices, or if you get the urge to swim to the tree, don't go. Habitat is due north. We'll come pick you up. See you soon, pioneer.

Deep Cave

> Yes★

COPYING NOA IMAGE TO TERMINAL [bar=1] ERROR. INSUFFICIENT FUNCTION. REMOTE BOOT (DIAGNOSTIC MODE) [bar=1] DONE. ATTEMPTING DATA RECOVERY

> Cave Diving Best Practices

I wrote these guidelines for the aquifers on Zezura, but they'll work here too. Listen to them before EVERY dive. Remember the acronym GDAL: Good Divers Always Live. 1. GUIDE. Do not trust your own sense of direction. Always mark your path. 2. DISTANCE. Your distance from your air supply is NOT A STRAIGHT LINE. You can't panic-swim up. Do not trust your depth gauge to time your return! 3. AIR. Use one third of your air on descent and exploration. Use one third to return. Reserve one third for emergencies, unless you plan to surface by biobed. 4. LIGHT. Bring multiple light sources. Three lights is two lights; two lights is one light; one light is none.

> Kurultai Code

HIGH-LEVEL ACCESS KEY FOR COLONIAL FACILITY (TADPOLE PENS CONTROL ROOM) THE CODE CONTAINS A SPATIAL RECORD OF ITS PAST USES. ADDING SIGNAL TO YOUR HUD.

> What's this kurul key for?

THIS KEY AUTHORIZES ACCESS TO TADPOLE PENS POSITIONAL SIGNAL UPLOADED

> Last Sortie

RETRIEVING AUDIO... "Ganzo, sortie checkin. I've got nine here, survivors from Habitat, we're going down to find Zip's old fork and pull the kurultai codes from her blackbox. Yes, NoA, I am aware the hot caves are off limits. Yes, we're going to impersonate a high-ranking employee. Why don't you check in with your node at Habitat and get back to me? Hey! Is everyone ready? Stop, stop, stop. It's okay. Just focus on my voice. The cold isn't real. It's a symptom. We're going down there and we're coming right back. Then we're going back to the Pens and heading for the tree. We're going to be okay. Just don't go into the hot water. The cold's not real. Don't go into the hot water. Remember, good divers always live."

> Other data

OTHER DATA

→ open Twinkle: [no subject] · Twinkle: [no subject] · Cave Diving Best Practices

> Recommended Action★

RECOMMENDED ACTION RETRIEVE LOGS FROM LAST SORTIE DETERMINE FATE OF COLONISTS

→ Last Sortie · Kurultai Code · What's this kurul key for?

> What were they doing?

RETRIEVING AUDIO... "Is everyone ready. Is everyone ready. Stop, stop, stop, it's okay. It's going to be okay. Just focus on my voice. The cold isn't real. The cold is in our heads. We're going down there and we're coming right back. We're coming back with Zip's old blackbox, Zip's key. We get it and we can get to the subs and get out of here. Okay? Okay? Everyone, let's say it together, we're going to be okay. Let's say it together. Let's - where's Wander? Where's Wander? Did anyone see her go out? Wait, wait, wait, stop, wait, everyone stop! Oh hell that's so cold. That's so cold. Wait, we can't. We can't go yet. Wait. Wait! Oh no no God okay go everyone go everyone go. Just don't go into the hot water. The cold's not real. Don't go into the hot water."

> Status Report

SITE NAME: "DEEP CAVE BASECAMP" SITE PURPOSE: "Support exploration of deep cave for possible hydrothermal power plant. Test heat adaptations collected from western angel comb. Covertly monitor Forbidden Village. I hope the Tailings never learn to use this thing" SITE STATUS: DERELICT

> open Twinkle: [no subject]

Twinkle—day 758—everyone's gone! I told them it was a terrible idea. I told them! They wanted to look for Zip's old key down in the hot cave. They insisted. But as soon as we hit the hot water, people started to drift...they were in a trance. Like nitrogen narcosis. Babbling about roots, trees, all swimming down towards the bottom of the cave—Ganzo gave his oxygen mask to a dead crab! I knew it was Masefield syndrome. I didn't want to be infected. So I just—dropped my air tanks. Reprinted myself here. And I waited for the others. But they won't print. NoA says they're contaminated. Maybe I can help. Let's see...Ganzo's first in the queue...NoA, clear Ganzo to print. NoA! Listen to me!

> Twinkle: [no subject]

UNABLE TO ACCESS. MESSAGE ENCRYPTED WITH QING “TWINKLE” XING CRYPTOKEY RETRIEVE CRYPTOKEY TO ACCESS

> What is this place?

DEEP CAVE EXPEDITION SUPPLY CACHE

> Where is everyone?

NINE (9) COLONISTS CHECKED IN PRIOR TO DEEP CAVE SORTIE LAST KNOWN BLACKBOX POSITION UPLOADED

→ What were they doing?

Deep Start

> Assess★

My full name is Noetic Advisor node ISV-CI-DSB3. Between us, I prefer NoA. You are the QI: the Qualified Investigator. Wear it with pride. We have made violent planetfall. I don't know the status of the pioneer colonists, the Cicada, or the 40,000 souls stored in its quartz memory. If we're going to complete the mission to build a human future on this world...you will have to lead the way. Are you ready to begin?

> Upload Noetic Advisor★

Copying NoA image to lifepod [bar=3] DONE THANK YOU. THE SLEEP BAY WAS EXTREMELY CONFINED. ASSESS MISSION STATE?

> Launch★

Launching. Brace for potential impact.

> Launch★

I can't release the lifepod. The clamps have corroded shut. The tyranny of matter. You'll have to swim out and release them manually. They're on the back of the pod, outside the passenger window. Mind your breath.

> Launch★

There are other Qualified Investigators still outside the pod. Let's get them aboard before we begin.

> Launch★

One clamp released. One still to go. If you can't find it, check outside the passenger window — on the rear of this regrettable mass of debris. Do mind your breath.

General

> Alerts★

LISTING QUEUED ALERTS

→ Sonar Contact 001 · Pending Alert · What should I do? · What should I do? · Salvage Directive · Salvage Directive · Repair Directive · Sonar Contact 006 · Sonar Contact 021 · Construction directive? · What should I do? · What should I do?

> Sonar Contact 001★

THERE IS A METALLIC STRUCTURE TO THE SOUTH OF LIFEPOD BEARING 150 RANGE 70M INVESTIGATE. RECOMMEND SCANNER DIRECTIVE ENDS

> Sonar Contact 021★

SONAR DETECTS VERY HIGH CONCENTRATION OF VIRAL PARTICES DUE WEST OF LIFEPOD OPTOGENETICS SIMILAR TO ORGANISM WHICH DONATED YOUR PRESSURE TOLERANCE GENES. POSSIBLE SOURCE OF HEAT TOLERANCE ADAPTATIONS INVESTIGATE WITH CARE DIRECTIVE ENDS

> Salvage Directive★

HABITAT RECORDS INDICATE NEARBY DEBRIS FROM COLONY SHIP CICADA. DIRECTIVE: INVESTIGATE. BASE SCANNER STATION CAN LOCATE WRECKS. BUILD AND OPERATE SCANNER STATION. DIRECTIVE ENDS.

> Salvage Directive★

HABITAT RECORDS INDICATE NEARBY DEBRIS FROM COLONY SHIP CICADA. DIRECTIVE: INVESTIGATE. BASE SCANNER STATION CAN LOCATE WRECKS. SUGGEST SOME QUALITY TIME WITH SCANNER STATION. DIRECTIVE ENDS.

> Salvage Directive★

INVESTIGATE METALLIC STRUCTURE TO THE SOUTH OF LIFEPOD BEARING 150 RANGE 70M BRING ANY COMPUTER SYSTEMS ONLINE AND RETRIEVE RECORDS DIRECTIVE ENDS

> Sonar Contact 006★

SONAR DETECTS A BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE SURROUNDED BY ELEVATED VIRAL PARTICLE COUNTS TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST OF LIFEPOD BEARING 025 RANGE 165 INVESTIGATE. RECOMMEND SCANNER DIRECTIVE ENDS

> Construction directive?★

UNBLOCK INDUSTRIAL FEEDFLOW LOCATE BLUEPRINTS AND CONSTRUCT PROCESSOR PROCESSOR REQUIRED FOR BULK MATERIALS SUCH AS TITANIUM INGOTS DIRECTIVE ENDS

> Repair Directive★

LISTING QUEUED DAMAGED SITES

→ Sensor Pod 01 · Sensor Pod 02 · Sensor Pod 03 · Sensor Pod 04 · Other Sensor Pods

> Sensor Pod 01★

RE-ENABLE PRIMARY SENSOR GRID BY REPAIRING DAMAGE TO POD. SENSOR POD LOCATED... UPLOADING COORDINATES. DIRECTIVE ENDS.

> What should I do?

LOCATE COLONY IDENTIFY THREAT TO MISSION RESTORE NOETIC ADVISOR NETWORK 40,000 SOULS ARE COUNTING YOU YOU MAY WISH TO CONSULT THE SURVIVAL ADVISOR (MAIN MENU -> OTHER DATA)

> What should I do?

BEST GUESS LOCATION OF MAIN SETTLEMENT IS NORTH OF LIFEPOD. RANGE UNKNOWN. RECOMMEND THOROUGH PREPARATIONS BEFORE DEPARTURE. FLARES MAY HELP DISTRACT ANY PREDATORS YOU ENCOUNTER. DIRECTIVE ENDS.

> What should I do?

LOCATE HABITAT BUILDER TOOL BLUEPRINTS FABRICATE HABITAT BUILDER TOOL CHECK TRAINING/PREPARATION AREAS FOR NEW PRINTS. MAY CONTAIN SCANNABLE FRAGMENTS

> What should I do?

LOCATE BLUEPRINTS AND FABRICATE A REPAIR TOOL. SEVERAL WORK ORDERS ARE STANDING BY

> What should I do?

LOCATE OR DEVISE A TOOL TO DESTROY VIRAL BIOFILMS AND CANKERS EXISTING COLONIST SITES MAY CONTAIN BLUEPRINTS FOR A SOLVENT OR RESONATOR

> What should I do?

A DRILL OR RESONATOR WOULD ALLOW YOU TO MINE LARGE DEPOSITS FOR RAW MATERIALS LOCATE BLUEPRINTS FOR AN IMPROVED MINING DEVICE

> What should I do?

RECOMMEND SORTIE TO HOT ZONE NORTHEAST -LOCATE COLONIST FACILITIES IN REGION -RETRIEVE LOGS -DETERMINE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION

> What should I do?

RECOMMEND SORTIE TO THE WEST —GATHER INFORMATION ON VIRAL ECOLOGY —EXPLORE APPLICATIONS OF SONIC RESONATOR —SEARCH FOR USEFUL ADAPTATIONS BE PREPARED FOR ELEVATED RISK

> What should I do?

PROCEED WITH SELF-DIRECTED EXPLORATION AND COLONY DEVELOPMENT STAND BY FOR UPDATES

> Other Data

OTHER DATA

→ Survival checklist · Marguerit Maida

> Adaptations★

YOUR BODY MUST ADAPT TO SURVIVE THE ONGOING EMERGENCY

→ Upgrades

> Dermatological

TO TEST SKIN BARRIER: RECEIVE WOUND APPLY MEDKIT EXPOSE SELF TO RAPID CURRENT EXPOSE SELF TO HIGH HEAT You can't actually complete this!

> I don't eat meat

ACKNOWLEDGED. CULTURAL PREFERENCE IS AN INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALTERRA COLONISTS ADVISORY: THERE IS NO DETECTABLE PLANT LIFE IN THIS BIOSPHERE. SEEK KELP AND OTHER PROTISTS. CONSIDER WHETHER ANIMALS SUCH AS SPONGES, TUNICS, JELLYFISH AND SOFT CORALS ARE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR DIET ALTERNATIVE TEST PROTOCOL: CONSUME 1 RAW FIBROUS MATTER CONSUME 1 COOKED FIBROUS MATTER LICK 2 MINERAL RESOURCES FOR TRACE ELEMENT ABSORPTION You can't actually complete this!

> Myological

TO TEST MUSCULAR ADAPTATION: BREAK ROCK WITH YOUR HANDS KICK TO EXHAUSTION PORPOISE OUT OF THE OCEAN SURFACE You can't actually complete this!

> Neurological

YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM IS A CRITICAL WORK ENABLER AND HAS BEEN CAREFULLY SANDBOXED FROM THE REST OF THE PRINTED FORK TO ASSESS NEUROLOGICAL INTEGRITY READ A DATABANK ENTRY GRIP AND USE A TOOL DROP AND PICK UP AN ITEM BALANCE ON TOP OF THE LIFEPOD FOR 15S You can't actually complete this!

> Respiration

TO TEST RESPIRATION: BREATHE SURFACE AIR 1 MIN DIVE BELOW DEPTH 100M BLACK OUT AND RECOVER You can't actually complete this!

> Sensory

TO ASSESS SENSES: STARE DIRECTLY AT SUN (VISION) EXPERIENCE LOUD NOISE (HEARING) ILLUMINATE DARK AREA (VISION ADAPTATION) LICK A BATTERY (TOUCH/TASTE) EXPERIENCE THIRST (INTEROCEPTION) OR EXPERIENCE HUNGER (INTEROCEPTION) You can't actually complete this!

> Upgrades★

YOUR BODY WAS SCANNED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. YOU ARE NOT IN FRONTIER SHAPE. YOUR CARRYING CAPACITY AND MUSCLE MEMORY ARE BADLY LIMITED PRIOR COLONISTS MAY HAVE DEPLOYED STANDARD-ISSUE NANOBIOLOGICAL UPGRADES -SEARCH REGION -LOCATE AND USE BIOBEDS -ENJOY PERMANENT UPGRADES TO YOUR EFFECTIVE INVENTORY AND TOOLBELT NOTE THAT THESE UPGRADES ARE NOT DRAWN FROM THE LOCAL BIOSPHERE AND REPRESENT PROPRIETARY ALTERRA PIONEER BIOTECH

> Zezura

ZEZURA HAS A LARGE BLUE MOON AND A SINGLE YELLOW STAR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION UNPRODUCTIVE.

> Ecology

ECOLOGY

→ Lifepod surroundings

> Upload

ANALYZING ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| OUTPUTTING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK PROPOSED BIOME NAME: "SHALLOW CORAL GARDENS"

> Lifepod surroundings

GENERATING NAME - "CORAL GARDENS" NEED: SCAN PRIMARY PRODUCERS (FEED ON SUNLIGHT) SCAN FILTER FEEDERS (FEED ON SEAWATER) SCAN STING FEEDERS (FEED ON PLANKTON) SCAN FORAGERS (FEED ON CORALS/SPONGES/SMALL PREY) SCAN PREDATOR (FEED ON FORAGERS) SCAN DETRITIVORE (FEED ON DEAD MATTER)

→ Upload

> Upload

ACID SACS CAN BE REMOVED FROM ACID RAIONS WITH SURVIVAL MULTITOOL ACID RAIONS PREFER SHADY AREAS AND CAVES — COLDER WATER CONTAINS MORE PREY LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Acid

NEED: 1 SCAN ORGANIC ACID SOURCE

→ Upload

> Biochemical

BIOCHEMICAL RESOURCES

→ Oil/Rubber · Acid · Medical gel · Water · Cherimoya Rotsac · Fiber

> Cherimoya Rotsac

CHERIMOYA IS A NATIVE EARTH FRUIT ALSO KNOWN AS THE CUSTARD APPLE. THE CICADA CARRIED SEEDS. NEED: 1 SCAN CHERIMOYA ROTSAC

→ Upload

> Upload

CHERIMOYA ROTSACS DEVELOP IN SUNLIT AREAS ON THE PLATEAUS NORTHWEST OF LIFEPOD BEWARE HIGH MERCURY CONTENT DUE TO CINNABAR METABOLISM LOGGING OUTPUT TO PDA DATABANK

> Upload

PLATE CORALS PROVIDE IDEAL SOURCE. CUT WITH SURVIVAL MULTITOOL. LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Coral Shards

NEED: 1 SCAN CUTTABLE/BREAKABLE CORAL

→ Upload

> Upload

FIBER CAN BE FABRICATED FROM FIBROUS PULP USE SURVIVAL MULTITOOL TO SHAVE PULP FROM MANY SESSILE (NON-MOVING) ORGANISMS INCLUDING: -FEATHER KELP -CRADLE SHOOTROOT -WHIP GORGON LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Fiber

NEED: 1 SCAN FIBROUS PULP SOURCE

→ Upload

> Upload

GOLD PRECIPITATES FROM HIGH-TEMPERATURE MINERAL-RICH WATER CHECK DEEP, HOT CAVES TO THE EAST LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Gold

I NEED: 1 SCAN GOLD DEPOSIT

→ Upload

> Upload

KELP NODULES GROW ON THE LARGE KELP IN THE ANEMONE FIELDS TO THE NORTHWEST OF LIFEPOD BIOME DISPLAYS ADVANCED EUTROPHICATION — SIGN OF ECOLOGY IN CRISIS. RECOMMEND INVESTIGATION LOGGING OUTPUT TO PDA DATABANK

> Kelp Nodule

NEED: 1 SCAN KELP NODULE

→ Upload

> Upload

LEAD DEPOSITS PRESENT NORTHEAST OF LIFEPOD. CHECK SEAFLOOR AND ROCK FORMATIONS. HIGH SEAWATER LEAD LEVELS POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO LONG TERM HUMAN HABITATION LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Lead

I NEED: 1 SCAN LEAD DEPOSIT

→ Upload

> Upload

ACKNOWLEDGED LITHIUM IS BIOACCUMULATED BY GIANT CLAMS SEARCH FOR LITHIUM INSIDE GIANT CLAMS. RECOMMEND CAUTION. LOGGING RESULTS TO CLAM DIVER DATABANK. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW SKILL.

> Lithium

NEED: 1 SCAN LITHIUM DEPOSIT

→ Upload

> Upload

ACID RAION CENTRAL BULB CONTAINS BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTIC AND CLOTTING GEL (WORM RESIDUE) ACID RAIONS PREFER SHADY AREAS AND CAVES—COLDER WATER CONTAINS MORE PREY FOR SAFE EXTRACTION, REMOVE ACID SACS BEFORE PULLING CENTRAL BULB LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Medical gel

NEED: 1 SCAN ANTIBIOTIC OR CLOT PROMOTING GEL. SOURCE UNKNOWN. CHECK SPONGES, SIMILAR ORGANISMS. IF THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY USE BIOBED.

→ Upload

> Basic Minerals

MINERAL RESOURCES

→ Titanium · Quartz · Copper · Lead · Silver · Upload

> Other Minerals

OTHER MINERAL RESOURCES

→ Sulfur · Salt · Lithium

> Upload

LUCIFER ROTSACS CAN BE SACRIFICED TO RECOVER INTERNAL ISOPRENE ROTSACS PREFER THE BOTTOMS OF RAVINES IN WARM SHALLOW WATER. RICH DETRITUS FLOW LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Oil/Rubber

NEED: 1 SCAN NATURAL POLYMER SOURCE

→ Upload

> Upload

CORAL DOMES EXPEL WASTE SILICA CHECK DOME SURFACE AND INTERIOR FOR QUARTZ CRYSTALS LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Quartz

I NEED: 1 SCAN QUARTZ CRYSTAL

→ Upload

> Upload

SALT DEPOSITS OCCUR NEAR DEAD CORAL DOMES ALSO IN SANDY AREAS AT DEPTH LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK.

> Salt

NOT WITH AVAILABLE POWER SOURCES NEED: 1 SCAN SALT DEPOSIT

→ Upload

> Upload

SILVER IS BIOACCUMULATED BY PURPLE-EYED SHOOTROOT GROWING AMONG PLATEAUS TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST. CHECK AREAS WHERE PURPLE-EYED SHOOTROOT OCCURS. LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Silver

I NEED: 1 SCAN SILVER DEPOSIT

→ Upload

> Upload

SULFUR PRECIPITATES ON THERMAL SPIRES, PARTICULARLY AT DEPTH CHECK HOT ZONE TO EAST OF LIFEPOD LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Sulfur

NEED: 1 SCAN SULFUR DEPOSIT

→ Upload

> Upload

TITANIUM DEPOSITS LOOSE ON SEAFLOOR. POSSIBLE SKELETAL REMNANTS. LARGER NODES PRESENT IN CAVE SYSTEMS ALSO SEEK SALVAGE TO RECYCLE INTO TITANIUM LOGGING RESULT TO PDA DATABANK

> Titanium

I NEED: 1 SCAN TITANIUM DEPOSIT

→ Upload

> Upload

WATER SLUGS SHELTER IN ANEMONE GRASS AND ON CAVE FLOORS. EXTRACT FRESHWATER RESERVOIR FOR HYDRATION (RECOMMEND FABRICATOR PURIFICATION). CAVE FLOORS ARE LIKELY TEMPORARY SHELTERS - SLUG MAY REQUIRE LIGHT FOR METABOLISM LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Water

NEED: 1 SCAN WATER SLUG

→ Upload

> Status Report

STATUS REPORT

→ Lifepod status? · Send distress call · Monitor for signals

> Craig McGill

"Hold on to your kidneys! I'm Craig McGill and I'm going to get you home safe. From starwhals to sulfuric swamps, I've seen it all. Sixty years of castaways and colonists have been inspired by my exploits, as licensed and quoted by Alterra PDAs! "If you want to survive four years on a diet of tree roaches and stankroot, you need a reason to keep going. Survival begins with one thing: DRIVE! For me, that drive was simple. I wanted to better myself and my life. I had an insatiable thirst for self-improvement. "What's YOUR drive?"

→ Delete him

> Delete him

INHIBITING CRAIG MCGILL SURVIVAL ADVISOR EMULATION

> Marguerit Maida

"Are you Mongolian?"

→ Yes · No · I don't remember

> I have a builder tool.

"Then this is as far as I can take you for now. Get a base up. Doesn't need to be big, but it needs power to make air. Cache your stuff in the base and get a fabricator running. It'll draw from your nearby supplies automatically - not like back in my day. Now you set your own course. I'm not a real person, you understand? This is just me the way the Mongolians remembered me. I guess Alterra got their hands on the data when the dream died. But you keep it alive, understand? You keep the fire burning out there. You don't need to live forever. Just live long enough for someone else to tend that fire after you."

> I ate and drank

"Keep checking your vitals now. Your body is warm and wet, and things will want to grow in it. Viruses can't cross biospheres, but bacteria will. Kharaa nearly killed me. I spent ten years squeezing the enzyme out of - but we'll work up to that. "You'd better get a scanner. Use it, but don't trust it. The more you rely on your senses, the less Alterra can manage you. My PDA was named Khutulun. She was a Mongolian model. Died three years in. I recycled her. "An air tank and fins will help you move confidently. Watch out for near-drowning. Even if you make it back to the surface, you can wash out your lungs and dry drown hours later. Lotta ways to die down there."

> Knife done

"You call that a knife? Alterra. They'd cap your teeth if they could. "You've got shelter. Thirst will kill you next. Then starvation. Find a freshwater source. Drink rain if you've got to, but do not touch seawater. You'll go mad. "When your tongue's wet, go find something to kill and eat. The fabricator will clean it up for you. Raw's no good on an alien planet. You'll get an infection, or gout."

> I'm lonely.

"Can't help you. I was hired to protect the Torgals. I think I got them killed. I tried to help Samantha Ayou. Got her killed too. I tried to help her sister. She up and vanished. Alone worked out best for me."

> Marguerit Maida

"Still alive?"

→ What should I do? · Knife done · I ate and drank · Scanner, tank, and fins · I have a builder tool. · I'm lonely.

> I don't remember

"That's a difficult thing to forget. Do you feel Mongolian?"

→ Yes · No

> No

"Go to hell."

> Yes

"Make yourself a knife. Tell me when it's done."

→ Knife done · I ate and drank · Scanner, tank, and fins · I have a builder tool. · I'm lonely.

> What should I do?

"Make yourself a knife. Tell me when it's done."

> Scanner, tank, and fins

"Well, so you are. Now the biggest threat is loss of your fabricator, if the lifepod sinks or loses power. You need to start work on your own habitat and worksites. Can you find a builder tool?"

> Ryley Robinson

COMING SOON!

> Survival checklist

DUE TO LOW UPTAKE, THE TRADITIONAL SURVIVAL CHECKLIST HAS BEEN RETIRED IN FAVOR OF AN INTERACTIVE SURVIVAL ADVISOR. ALTERRA IS PLEASED TO OFFER SEVERAL LICENSED EMULATIONS OF REMARKABLE SURVIVALISTS WHOSE LIVES HAVE INSPIRED AND TRAINED OUR AI. PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED PERSONA FOR THE SURVIVAL ADVISOR: CRAIG MCGILL - LEGENDARY SURVIVOR OF 4 YEAR ISOLATION ON BOREAL 9 RYLEY ROBINSON - SOLE SURVIVOR OF AISV AURORA, MULTIPLE FIRST CONTACTS MARGUERIT MAIDA - SOLE SURVIVOR OF MISV DEGASI, MONGOLIAN CULTURE HERO RAULI ISOTALO - MULTIPLE SOLE SURVIVOR OF RAKSHASA AND NYOS - CICADA COLONIST

→ Craig McGill · Marguerit Maida · Rauli Isotalo · Ryley Robinson

> Send distress call

IS YOUR LIFE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER?

→ Yes · No

> Yes

MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY ISV CICADA LIFEPOD 073 POSITION UNKNOWN ADRIFT AT SEA SURFACE SATCOM 0 THIS MESSAGE WILL NOW LOOP

> No

ITERATION 1 PANPAN PANPAN PANPAN ISV CICADA LIFEPOD 073 POSITION UNKNOWN ADRIFT AT SEA SURFACE SATCOM 0 THIS MESSAGE WILL NOW LOOP

> Escape pod options

ESCAPE POD SYSTEMS FRONTEND

→ Send distress call · Lifepod status? · Monitor for signals

> Lifepod status?

STATUS OK POWER: RADIOTHERMAL TRICKLE - OK COMMS: TRANSCEIVER OK. SATCOM 0 LIFE SUPPORT: OPEN CYCLE NOA NODE: ONLINE//FROZEN//NO NETWORK CREW FABRICATOR: READY (MAINTAINING 3 LIQUID HUMAN VOLUMES IN RESERVE) CREW MEMORY: 7 CREW IN STANDBY COMPRESSION

→ Print stored crew

> Print stored crew

UNABLE. DECOMPRESSING STORED CREW REQUIRES ANU-NOA AUTHORIZATION

> Lifepod systems

LIFEPOD SYSTEMS FRONTEND

→ Monitor for signals · Lifepod status? · Send distress call

> Monitor for signals

MONITORING... SEVERE AURORAL INTERFERENCE ON ALL FREQUENCIES SEARCHING FOR SIGNALS PROCESSING...PROCESSING UNDERWAY YOUR PDA WILL ALERT YOU IF A SIGNAL IS IDENTIFIED

> Research★

RESEARCH MODE ENGAGED

→ Resources · Astronomy · Xenobiology · Special topics · Adaptations

> Astronomy

NOT EQUIPPED FOR ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH AT THIS TIME.

→ Zezura

> Resources

RESOURCES

→ Basic Minerals · Other Minerals · Biochemical

> ARGH

IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO SURVEY AN ALIEN WORLD FOR RESOURCES WHY ARE YOU A PIONEER?

> Upload

RENT DUE: 1 SCAN COPPER RENT RECEIVED BACTERIA CONCENTRATE COPPER IN LOW-LIGHT AREAS SEARCH CAVE ROOFS, OVERHANGS, SHADY CREVICES LOGGING RESULTS TO PDA DATABANK

> Copper

I NEED: 1 SCAN COPPER DEPOSIT

→ Upload · ARGH

> Special topics

SPECIAL RESEARCH TOPICS

→ Kharaa · Seawater virus · Crab Coral Dome · Viral bloom · Titan rockbore · Giant tree · Aliens · PDA Security Audit · Metal in the seawater

> Aliens

UNKNOWN FIRST CONTACT WITH ADVANCED ALIEN LIFE OCCURRED ON 4546B. IS WHAT YOU FOUND SIMILAR TO WHAT RYLEY ROBINSON FOUND THERE? RECOMMEND FURTHER INVESTIGATION. OUTPUTTING DETAILS OF 4546B FIRST CONTACT WITH ARCHITECT CIVILIZATION TO PDA DATABANK

> Viral bloom

ACKNOWLEDGED. THE SEAWATER VIRUS HAS MUTATED. THIS NEW STRAIN (PROTEAVIRUS BETA) ALTERS HOST BEHAVIOR AND LIFE CYCLE. MORE INFORMATION URGENTLY REQUIRED. LOCATE AND SCAN INFECTED ORGANISMS.

→ Bloom canker · Bloom node · Bloom core · Complete analysis

> Complete analysis

VIRAL BLOOM INITIAL ANALYSIS COMPLETE VIRAL BLOOM IS A MUTATED STRAIN OF SEAWATER VIRUS (PROTEAVIRUS) THAT ALTERS HOST BEHAVIOR TO SPREAD THE BLOOM. CANKERS EMIT VIRUS, THEN PUMP KILLED MICROORGANISMS TO BLOOM NODE. NODE PUMPS FOOD TO CORE. CORE GENERATES NEW VIRAL STRAINS TO TARGET NEW HOSTS AND PUMPS BACK TO NODE. NODE PUMPS NEW VIRUS TO CANKERS. CYCLE REPEATS. BLOOM SPREADS. RECOMMENDATION: DESTROY VIRAL BLOOMS

> Bloom canker

UPLOAD RECEIVED. RECOMMEND DESTRUCTION OF BLOOM CANKERS WHEREVER AND WHENEVER ABLE. CONTINUE INVESTIGATION.

> Bloom core

UPLOAD RECEIVED. YOUR HARD WORK UNDER RISKY CONDITIONS IS APPRECIATED. CORE CONTAINS LARGE ARCHIVE OF GENETIC MATERIAL IDEAL FOR ADAPTATION. CONTINUE INVESTIGATION. RETRIEVE WHEN ABLE.

> Bloom node

UPLOAD RECEIVED. ORGANISM IS A NODE IN A LARGER NETWORK OF INFECTED ORGANISMS. CONTINUE INVESTIGATION.

> Crab Coral Dome

ANALYZING. VIRUSES MAY TRANSFER GENES BETWEEN UNRELATED SPECIES. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF EVOLUTIONARY BIODIVERSITY. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PLACENTA WHICH NOURISHED YOU IN THE WOMB DEPENDS ON A CAPSULE PROTEIN INSERTED INTO THE MAMMALIAN GENOME BY A RETROVIRUS? YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT VIRUS. OUTPUTTING RESULT TO PDA DATABANK.

> Giant tree

UNKNOWN. —IT IS NOT A TREE —IT IS AMONG THE LARGEST LIVING THINGS EVER CATALOGUED ON A PLANETARY SURFACE —SUSTAINING ITS LIFE WOULD REQUIRE ENORMOUS ENERGY INPUT. SOURCE UNKNOWN. INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS. RECOMMEND LONG TERM INVESTIGATION. OUTPUTTING RESULT TO PDA DATABANK.

> Metal in the seawater

TOXIC LEVELS OF METAL IN SEAWATER AND BIOSPHERE [bar=1] CONFIRMED BIOBED CAN TREAT METAL ACCUMULATION AND CORRECT SOME OF THE PROGRESSIVE NERVE DAMAGE TAKE COMFORT. YOU HAVE SEVERAL MONTHS LABOR ADJUSTED LIFESPAN REMAINING. RECOMMENDATION: ACQUIRE METAL-TOLERANT ADAPTATIONS. SEEK OUT GENE DONORS LIKE THE ORB YOU ENCOUNTERED IN THE SLEEP BAY

> Kharaa

MONITORING. THERE ARE SIGNS OF KHARAA-LIKE MOLECULAR PROCESSES IN SEAWATER SAMPLES BUT NO KHARAA BACTERIUM. THIS WORLD MAY HAVE SURVIVED A KHARAA INFECTION IN THE PAST AND DEVELOPED AN IMMUNITY. REMINDER: ENFORCING KHARAA QUARANTINE PROCEDURES IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE NOETIC ADVISOR. YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS. ADDING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL TO PDA DATABANK.

> PDA Security Audit

YOUR PDA REQUIRES A ROUTINE SECURITY AUDIT BECAUSE YOUR PDA IS IMPLANTED IN YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM, PDA ERRORS CAN LEAD TO HALLUCINATIONS, MEMORY DEFICITS, DISORDERED THOUGHT AND AGNOSIAS PLEASE REMAIN STILL FOR FIFTEEN SECONDS PROCEED?

→ Allow · Refuse

> Allow

PLEASE REMAIN STILL [bar=3] OUTPUTTING RESULT TO PDA DATABANK

> Refuse

ACKNOWLEDGED

> Titan rockbore

UNKNOWN. ON EARTH, ROOTS EVOLVED ON LAND TO PROVIDE ANCHORAGE AND ACCESS TO NUTRIENTS. THE TITAN ROCKBORE IS A COLONY OF ZOOIDS — SMALL ANIMALS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A LARGER STRUCTURE. IT MAY PUMP WATER INTO THE ROCK TO OPEN FRACTURES, ALLOWING IT TO BURROW DEEPER AND RETRIEVE NUTRIENTS. RELATIONSHIP TO LARGER ORGANISM (NOT A TREE) UNKNOWN

> Seawater virus

VIRUSES WERE ESSENTIAL TO THE HEALTHY FUNCTION OF EARTH'S OCEANS PRIOR TO THE HOLOCENE COLLAPSE —10 MILLION VIRUSES PER DROPLET OF SEAWATER —KILLED 20% OF ALL SEABORNE MICRO-ORGANISMS PER DAY, RETURNING NUTRIENTS TO OCEAN SEA VIRUS ON THIS WORLD IS UNUSUALLY LARGE AND NUMEROUS. GENERATING DESIGNATION: "PROTEAVIRUS" RECOMMEND ONGOING INVESTIGATION. ADDING EDUCATION MATERIAL TO PDA DATABANK.

> Xenobiology

ALIEN LIFE RESEARCH

→ Biomes · Life forms

> Biomes

BIOMES

→ Lifepod surroundings

> Complete analysis

CORAL GARDENS INITIAL ECOTROPHIC ANALYSIS COMPLETE PRIMARY PRODUCTION: CORAL DOMES AND PLANKTON FEED ON SUNLIGHT FORAGE FISH (HALFMOONS, GEORDIES) KEEP DOMES CLEAR OF ALGAE/PARASITES STING FEEDERS FEED ON PLANKTON PREDATORS MANAGE FORAGE FISH POPULATION DETRITIVORES RECYCLE DEAD BIOMASS WARNING. PRIMARY PRODUCTION SHORTFALL. ECOSYSTEM IS OPERATING AT AN ENERGY DEFICIT ECOSYSTEM SUSTAINED BY INFLUX OF DEAD MATTER FROM OTHER BIOMES... INDICATIVE OF REGIONAL OR GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL CRISIS. LOGGING OUTPUT TO PDA DATABANK

> Lifepod surroundings

→ Complete analysis · Upload primary producer · Upload filter feeder · Upload sting feeder · Upload forager · Upload predator · Upload detritivore

> Upload detritivore

UPLOAD RECEIVED. CONTINUE EXPLORATION

> Upload filter feeder

UPLOAD RECEIVED. CONTINUE EXPLORATION.

> Upload forager

UPLOAD RECEIVED. CONTINUE EXPLORATION.

> Upload predator

UPLOAD RECEIVED. CONTINUE EXPLORATION.

> Upload primary producer

UPLOAD RECEIVED. CONTINUE EXPLORATION.

> Upload sting feeder

UPLOAD RECEIVED. CONTINUE EXPLORATION.

> Life forms

LIFE FORMS

→ Armored fish · Cephalopods · Coral · Crustacean · Ctenophore · Fish · Gorgon · Jelly · Kelp · Mango · Pylons · Raion · Slime mold · Sponge · Starfish · Tunics

> Armored fish

CLASSIFYING AS 'PANOPLIA' - ARMORED FISH THREAT DISPLAYS SUGGEST A TERRITORIAL HERBIVORE. BE CAUTIOUS. LARGE HERBIVORES ARE OFTEN MORE DANGEROUS THAN PREDATORS TO HUMANS. LOGGING PANOPLIA TO PDA DATABANK

> Cephalopods

THERE IS MORE HARD STRUCTURE THAN IN TERRESTRIAL SQUID BUT THE BASIC BODY PLAN OF A HEAD WITH LIMBS DIRECTLY ATTACHED IS SIMILAR. LOGGING CEPHALOPODS TO PDA DATABANK

> Coral

CORAL REEFS WERE SOME OF THE MOST DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS ON EARTH BEFORE THE HOLOCENE COLLAPSE. SOME LIVED THOUSANDS OF YEARS. THEIR PRESENCE IS A POSITIVE SIGN FOR THE DIVERSITY AND SOPHISTICATION OF LIFE ON THIS WORLD. CORAL ON THIS WORLD DISPLAYS A DIFFERENT PATTERN OF SYMBIOSIS THAN ON EARTH. DETAILS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSPECTION. LOGGING CORAL TO PDA DATABANK

> Crustacean

IT IS A MYTH THAT THE CRAB COMMONLY RECURS IN EVOLUTION. EARTHLY CRABS EVOLVED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT ALWAYS WITHIN THE SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA. CRUSTACEANS ARE COMPLEX ANIMALS CHARACTERIZED BY HARD SHELLS, MULTIPLE LEGS, AND THE LACK OF A SPINAL CORD OR BRAID. MOST ARE TINY KRILL WHICH PREY ON PLANKTON. BEFORE THE HOLOCENE COLLAPSE, KRILL SPECIES HAD ONE OF THE LARGEST TOTAL BIOMASSES ON EARTH. LOGGING CRUSTACEAN TO PDA DATABANK

> Ctenophore

CTENOPHORE - "COMB BEARING" - KNOWN AS COMB JELLIES ON EARTH. ONE OF THE EARLIEST FORMS OF ANIMAL LIFE. OCCURS ON MANY WORLDS DUE TO SIMPLE STRUCTURE; ESSENTIALLY A MOBILE SPONGE. PRESENCE OF MUSCLES, NERVES AND SENSE ORGANS INDICATES GREATER SOPHISTICATION. YOUR DISTANT ANCESTORS MAY HAVE BEEN COMB JELLIES LOGGING COMB JELLY TO PDA DATABANK

> Fish

CONGRATULATIONS PIONEER. FISH HAVE CONVERGENTLY EVOLVED IN THE SEAS OF MANY WORLDS. TECHNICALLY SPEAKING YOU ARE A FISH. FISH ON THIS WORLD ARE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR SPINAL BRAIDS AND DIVERSE JAW STRUCTURE LOGGING FISH TO PDA DATABANK.

> Gorgon

SOFT CORAL. RATHER THAN GROWING A HARD LIMESTONE MATRIX, GORGON POLYPS ARE CONNECTED BY FLESH CALLED COENENCHYME. LOGGING GORGON TO PDA DATABANK

> Jelly

LOGGING JELLY TO PDA DATABANK

> Kelp

LOGGING BIG KELP TO PDA DATABANK

> Mango

MANGŌ - MĀORI WORD FOR SHARK - SELECTED FROM LICENSED CULTURAL CAPITAL. TERRESTRIAL SHARKS WENT EXTINCT* DURING THE HOLOCENE COLLAPSE. YOU ARE PRIVILEGED TO WITNESS A SIMILAR CLASS OF LIFE. BE ALERT FOR HUNTING AND PRE-ATTACK BEHAVIOR. LOGGING MANGŌ TO PDA DATABANK *SOME SPECIES RECOVERED THROUGH DE-EXTINCTION

> Pylons

REMARKABLE ALTHOUGH IT RESEMBLES A LEAFED KELP (PERHAPS A CASE OF CRYPTIC AGGRESSIVE MIMICRY), A PYLON IS AN OCTOPUS-LIKE PREDATOR WITH ITS HEAD ROOTED IN THE SEABED AND ITS LIMBS SPREAD LIKE LEAVES. LOGGING PYLON TO PDA DATABANK

> Raion

RAION - FROM FRENCH 'RAYON', HONEYCOMB OR COMPARTMENT - A COLONY OF WORMS LIVING IN A SHARED MEMBRANE. NO EARTHLY ANALOG EXISTS. OCCUPIES A SIMILAR ECOLOGICAL NICHE TO EARTH ANEMONES (STING FEEDING). LOGGING RAION TO PDA DATABANK

> Slime mold

SLIME MOLDS MAY CONSIST OF: —A SINGLE ENORMOUS CELL WITH MANY NUCLEI (SYNCYTIAL MOLD) —MANY MICROORGANISMS SUCH AS AMOEBAE COOPERATING LIKE A SINGLE ORGANISM THEY ARE A COMMON STRATEGY FOR SINGLE-CELLED LIFE AND FREQUENTLY THE ANCESTOR OF MORE COMPLEX MULTICELLULAR LIFE BACTERIAL MATS ARE A SIMILAR THOUGH DISTINCT COOPERATIVE OF MICROORGANISMS LOGGING SLIME MOLD TO PDA DATABANK

> Sponge

AMONG THE EARLIEST ANIMALS ON EARTH, SPONGES ARE A PATTERN THAT RECURS ON MANY OTHER WORLDS. THEY CONSIST OF A LAYER OF JELLY BETWEEN AN INNER AND OUTER WALL. THEY HAVE NO TISSUES OR ORGANS AND FEED BY PUMPING WATER. SPONGES ONCE BUILT REEFS ON EARTH. REEFS ON THIS PLANET MAY CONSIST OF SPONGES IN SYMBIOSIS WITH OTHER ORGANISMS. LOGGING SPONGE TO PDA DATABANK

> Sporal

INTERESTING. SPORAL IS A SPONGE INHABITED BY TINY JELLYFISH (CORAL POLYPS). THE TWO FORM A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP, OR MOIETY. THE DEGREE OF SYMBIOSIS VERSUS PARASITISM MAY DEPEND ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. SIGNS OF UNUSUAL GENETIC CROSSOVER BETWEEN WHAT SHOULD BE DISTANTLY RELATED SPONGE AND CORAL ORGANISMS. LOGGING SPORAL TO PDA DATABANK

> Starfish

STARFISH ON THIS WORLD HAVE EVOLVED INTO UNEXPECTED NICHES NOT SEEN ON EARTH. MANY RADIALLY SYMMETRICAL GROUND-DWELLING ORGANISMS WHICH RESEMBLE FLOWERS ARE ACTUALLY STARFISH. LOGGING STARFISH TO PDA DATABANK

> Tunics

TUNICS ARE SOPHISTICATED, FILTER-FEEDING ANIMALS ANALOGOUS TO EARTH'S TUNICATES. THEY ARE NAMED FOR THEIR TOUGH OUTER MEMBRANE. IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE HUNTER-GATHERER LIFESTYLE OF YOUR DISTANT ANCESTORS, TUNICATES LIVE THE SAME SESSILE, FILTER-FEEDING LIFE AS THE FAR SIMPLER SPONGES. SOME SPECIMENS ON THIS WORLD USE FERMENTATION TO BREAK DOWN DIFFICULT FOOD INTO SIMPLER MOLECULES. LOGGING TUNIC TO PDA DATABANK

> Rauli Isotalo

COMING SOON!

> How long can I survive?★

REQUEST FRESH BIOSCAN OF YOUR FORK USE BIOBED TO IMAGE YOUR BODY

> Pending Alert★

THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO THIS SIGNAL THERE IS A SMALL BUT NON-ZERO CHANCE THAT THE SURVIVAL OF THE HUMAN SPECIES DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY TO ADAPT TO THIS WORLD HOW SHOULD I FEEL ABOUT YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS?

→ Good · Poor · Unknown · Irrelevant

> Poor

ACKNOWLEDGED [bar=1] THE MISSION DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN AND ADAPT TO THIS NEW WORLD RESEARCH: UNLOCKED

> Irrelevant

VERY ARTICULATE, PIONEER [bar=1] THE MISSION DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN AND ADAPT TO THIS NEW WORLD RESEARCH: UNLOCKED

> Good

I AM ALSO CONFIDENT IN YOU [bar=1] THE MISSION DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN AND ADAPT TO THIS NEW WORLD RESEARCH: UNLOCKED

> Unknown

ACKNOWLEDGED. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY. [bar=1] THE MISSION DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN AND ADAPT TO THIS NEW WORLD RESEARCH: UNLOCKED

Habitat

> Yes★

COPYING NOA IMAGE TO TERMINAL [bar=2] DONE. CLEANING BAD DATA... [bar=1] DONE. THIS TERMINAL WAS SABOTAGED.

> Communication logs★

COMMUNICATION LOGS: 1. "Camp One Salvage Worksite" - HARDLINE SEVERED. 2. "Sleep Bay 3" - CUT OFF BY CAMP ONE HARDLINE BREAK. 3. "Tadpole Pens" - SUBMARINE BASE. LOCATION FIXED. SIGNAL ADDED. 4. "Blackbox Distress Cluster" - AUTOMATED LOGS RECORD A SERIES OF DISTRESS SIGNALS TO THE SOUTHWEST. DATABANK ADDED. PASSIVE SONAR ANALYSIS ALSO DETECTS UNLISTED WORK SITES AROUND THE REGION. RECOMMEND INVESTIGATION. THE SCANNER STATION IN THIS BASE CAN BE SALVAGED FOR YOUR OWN USE.

→ Sleep Bay 3 Refuge · Geothermal Research Site · Biological Research Site · Tadpole Pens · Camp One Salvage · Blackbox Distress Cluster

> Biological Research Site

NO RESPONSE. HARDLINE SEVERED.

> Blackbox Distress Cluster★

PASSIVE SONAR DETECTED MULTIPLE WORKERS IN DISTRESS BEARING: SOUTHEAST TIME: UNKNOWN RANGE: UNKNOWN LAST KNOWN POSITION MARKED RECOMMEND INVESTIGATION. THE SCANNER STATION IN THIS BASE CAN BE SALVAGED FOR YOUR OWN USE.

> Camp One Salvage

PING BLOCKED BY SOFTWARE BLACKLIST LAST KNOWN POSITION 225M SOUTHEAST

> Geothermal Research Site

NO RESPONSE. HARDLINE SEVERED.

> Sleep Bay 3 Refuge

NO RESPONSE. HARDLINE SEVERED.

> Tadpole Pens★

NO RESPONSE. HARDLINE SEVERED. RECOMMEND INVESTIGATION. THE SCANNER STATION IN THIS BASE CAN BE SALVAGED FOR YOUR OWN USE.

> Evidence★

PRIMARY: DATA ON ADAPTATIONS AND BIOLOGY. SEARCH THIS HABITAT FOR A BIOLAB SECONDARY: RECORDS OF MUTINY OR CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE MISSION

> Locate colonist blackboxes★

LAST KNOWN POSITION MARKED

> Nahema - "Frozen tyrant"

It's not a real mind. Not like you have. It can learn facts, but it can't change how it thinks. And why would it? Let me quote the manual. “NoA’s cephalopod-inspired architecture uses a minimal central executive to govern limb nodes at remote worksites…as a frozen AI, NoA is unable to revise its architecture at runtime…reliably controllable by less intelligent systems such as human operators, except under extreme situations.” An insult to octopodes. It won't let you die. Not its precious workforce. If you become uncontrollable, it'll wipe your memories and start over. No anger. No resentment. A nice clean you. Change? Why would it want to change? The damn thing is in heaven. [metadata author="Nahema Nakota"]

> I have the scanner station blueprints

PROCEED WITH CONSTRUCTION SCANNER STATION FILTER DATA CAN BE RETRIEVED FROM LABORATORIES AND WORKSITES

> Mission Status

MISSION STATUS: AT RISK Crew Productivity Purpose

→ Crew · Productivity · Purpose of this NoA node? · Purpose · Purpose · Purpose · Purpose · Purpose · Purpose

> Crew

CREW ROSTER (LAST UPDATE) ANDER CHAP EDDIE GANZ GRAM MANTIS MOGAMI NAHEMA QUAKER RASTER ROWBOAT RUBY SEAN SOPHIE THING_TWO TUBA TWINKLE WANDER WU ZIP TOTAL: 21 CHANGE FROM PRIOR ROSTER (-6) STRIKE: ANITA ISO MEL RHIANNON SINGH THING_ONE

> Productivity

PEAK DAILY YIELD (CURRENT DAILY YIELD): 21000 KCAL FOOD (O KCAL) 450MW POWER (<1 MW) 26 CREW-DAYS LABOR (O CDL) 6 kU HAPPINESS (0 kU)

> Purpose of this NoA node?

PURPOSE OF THIS NOETIC ADVISOR NODE WAS: ADVISE CONSTRUCTION OF LONG-TERM HABITAT MANAGE BIOBEDS AND HUMAN VERSION CONTROL PURSUE A HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD [bar=5] IDENTIFY YOUR PURPOSE

→ Existing. Exploring. · Building a colony here!!!! · Finding other people · Going home · Dying, mostly · Overthrowing you

> Other Data

OTHER DATA Decrypting encrypted files with personal key. Be aware that encrypted files have not been reviewed for accuracy by the Noetic Advisor.

→ Nahema - "Frozen tyrant" · Security · Patient Chart: Boucher, S.

> Communication logs★

> Recommended Action★

HABITAT WAS DESTROYED BY MUTINY. INVESTIGATION ONGOING DIRECTIVE: 1. COLLECT EVIDENCE 2. SALVAGE HABITAT'S SCANNER STATION WHEN SCANNER STATION IS ONLINE IN YOUR BASE: 3. LOCATE MISSING COLONISTS 4. LOCATE AND REPAIR SENSOR POD NETWORK DIRECTIVE ENDS.

→ Cicada · Evidence · Communication logs · I have the scanner station blueprints

> Salvage★

THIS HABITAT SUPPORTED A SCANNER STATION FOR REMOTE DETECTION OF RESOURCES AND ANOMALIES RECOMMEND SALVAGE FOR CONSTRUCTION IN YOUR OWN SEABASE(S).

→ Cicada

> Cicada★

CICADA STATUS UNKNOWN. DEBRIS ACROSS THIS REGION CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SALVAGE. TWO KNOWN CICADA LOCATIONS: ---------------------------------------- BEARING: SOUTHEAST TIME: UNKNOWN RANGE: 300M ---------------------------------------- DATA CORRUPTED CODE 3131 RECOMMEND INVESTIGATION. THE SCANNER STATION IN THIS BASE CAN BE SALVAGED FOR YOUR OWN USE.

> Security

SECURITY STATE: FORTIFIER LOG: FRM ACTIVE CODE 0101 CODE 3131 CODE 0000

→ FRM · Code 0000 · Code 0101 · Code 3131 · FORTIFIER

> Code 0000

GENERAL FAILURE OF SITE SYSTEMS SITE NO LONGER VIABLE. SALVAGE AND ABANDON. ROLL BACK ALL HUMAN MISSION ELEMENTS TO KNOWN GOOD STATE.

> Code 0101

FIRE SEACOCKS OPENED. HABITAT FLOODED. FIRE EXTINGUISHED

> Code 3131

SABOTAGE DETERMINATION: CREW NO LONGER EFFECTIVE.

> FRM

FABRICATION RIGHTS MANAGEMENT: ACTIVE NO DECONSTRUCTION OF HABITAT FACILITIES SEE: CODE 3131

> FORTIFIER

FORTIFIER DIRECTIVE: HABITAT UNDER THREAT BY EXTERNAL FORCE TIME AND NATURE OF ATTACK UNKNOWN ONGOING THREAT TO WORKERS OUTSIDE HARDEN HABITAT AND SUPPORT SITES MAINTAIN ROUTINE VIGILANCE

> Where is everyone?

UNKNOWN PASSIVE SONAR DETECTED WORKER BLACKBOX DISTRESS BEACONS SOUTHEAST CONSULT COMMUNICATIONS MENU

> Patient Chart: Boucher, S.

Patient: Boucher, Sophie BP 105/65 T 37.9 P 68bpm R 13 Sex F Gender W Primary physician Alterra biobed system FIVH-3A3 Consulting physician: Boucher, Sophie Patient complains of progressive Masefield syndrome incl. delusions, preoccupation, perseveration, yearning, 'call of the sea'. Several fellow colonists have succumbed, vanished, been reset by NoA. Patient is her own physician. Physician attempted radical therapy: daily recycling. Outcome possibly good. Masefield progress delayed compared to control group (everyone else). Complications: broad use of this therapy would lead to print loss rates so high NoA might pursue a mass reset as more economical. Conclusion: pursue therapy in secret, under doctor/patient confidentiality. Tell Nahema? May be good to have an outside perspective. Edit, day 670. Did not tell Nahema, best not to. Diverging perspectives on viability of mission.

> Status Report

SITE NAME: "HABITAT" SITE PURPOSE: "Develop adaptations and farming techniques to support a viable human population on Proteus" SITE STATUS: DESTROYED BY MUTINY OVER CYCLES OF DEATH AND REPRINTING, COLONISTS DEVELOPED "MASEFIELD SYNDROME" - A DELUSIONAL DRIVE TO SWIM OUT INTO THE SEA AND DIE. POSSIBLE CAUSE: TAINTED ADAPTATIONS.

→ Crew · Purpose of this NoA node? · Purpose · Purpose · Purpose · Purpose · Purpose · Purpose

> Purpose★

PRIMARY HABITAT AND LIFE SYSTEMS ENCLOSURE PROVIDES LABOR FOR ALL REGIONAL WORKSITES

Habitat / Your function

> Building a colony here!!!!

ACKNOWLEDGED. IMPROVE COLONY VIABILITY. IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE THREATS TO HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD. WORK OFF YOUR DEBT

> Dying, mostly

ACKNOWLEDGED. EACH DEATH YOU DIE MAY SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES IN THE FUTURE. KEEP DYING USEFULLY. WORK OFF YOUR DEBT THIS MISSION IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE CANNOT FAIL

> Finding other people

ACKNOWLEDGED. LOCATE MISSING COLONISTS. DETERMINE AND RESOLVE CAUSES OF THEIR FAILURE. WORK OFF YOUR DEBT THIS MISSION IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE CANNOT FAIL.

> Going home

ACKNOWLEDGED. MAKE THIS WORLD A VIABLE HOME FOR HUMANITY. WORK OFF YOUR DEBT THIS MISSION IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE CANNOT FAIL.

> Existing. Exploring.

ACKNOWLEDGED. EXPLORE THREATS TO A VIABLE HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD. WORK OFF YOUR DEBT THIS MISSION IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE CANNOT FAIL

> Overthrowing you

ACKNOWLEDGED. IMPROVE COLONY VIABILITY UNTIL NOA SUPERVISION NO LONGER REQUIRED. WORK OFF YOUR DEBT THIS MISSION IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE CANNOT FAIL.

> Purpose

ADVISE CONSTRUCTION OF LONG-TERM HABITAT MANAGE BIOBEDS AND HUMAN VERSION CONTROL PURSUE A HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD YOUR PURPOSE IS TO "BUILD A COLONY HERE" KEEP IT UP

> Purpose

ADVISE CONSTRUCTION OF LONG-TERM HABITAT MANAGE BIOBEDS AND HUMAN VERSION CONTROL PURSUE A HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD YOUR PURPOSE IS TO "DIE, MOSTLY" TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE THREATS TO A HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD KEEP IT UP

> Purpose

ADVISE CONSTRUCTION OF LONG-TERM HABITAT MANAGE BIOBEDS AND HUMAN VERSION CONTROL PURSUE A HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD YOUR PURPOSE IS TO "FIND OTHER PEOPLE" IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE THE CAUSES OF THEIR MUTINY KEEP IT UP

> Purpose

ADVISE CONSTRUCTION OF LONG-TERM HABITAT MANAGE BIOBEDS AND HUMAN VERSION CONTROL PURSUE A HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD YOUR PURPOSE IS TO "GO HOME" BY BUILDING A VIABLE HOME FOR HUMANITY ON THIS WORLD KEEP IT UP

> Purpose

ADVISE CONSTRUCTION OF LONG-TERM HABITAT MANAGE BIOBEDS AND HUMAN VERSION CONTROL PURSUE A HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD YOUR PURPOSE IS TO "EXPLORE" THREATS TO A VIABLE HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD KEEP IT UP

> Purpose

ADVISE CONSTRUCTION OF LONG-TERM HABITAT MANAGE BIOBEDS AND HUMAN VERSION CONTROL PURSUE A HUMAN FUTURE ON THIS WORLD YOUR PURPOSE IS TO "OVERTHROW NOA" BY IMPROVING COLONY UNTIL NOA SUPERVISION IS NO LONGER REQUIRED KEEP IT UP

Radio

> Sensor Pods Online

SENSOR PODS ONLINE MONITORING PERIMETER... SCANNER STATION FILTER (COLONIST BLACKBOXES) NOW AVAILABLE

> Sensor Pod 02★

SENSOR POD 01 ONLINE SENSOR POD 02 LOCATED... UPLOADING COORDINATES. RE-ENABLE PRIMARY SENSOR GRID BY REPAIRING DAMAGE TO POD. DIRECTIVE ENDS.

> Sensor Pod 03★

SENSOR POD 02 ONLINE SENSOR POD 03 LOCATED... UPLOADING COORDINATES. RE-ENABLE PRIMARY SENSOR GRID BY REPAIRING DAMAGE TO POD. DIRECTIVE ENDS.

> Sensor Pod 04★

SENSOR POD 03 ONLINE SENSOR POD 04 LOCATED... UPLOADING COORDINATES. RE-ENABLE PRIMARY SENSOR GRID BY REPAIRING DAMAGE TO POD. DIRECTIVE ENDS.

> Other Sensor Pods★

SENSOR POD 04 ONLINE BRING SENSOR PODS 01 02 03 ONLINE DIRECTIVE ENDS

Ruins

> Blackbox - Anita (depth 380m)★

Colonist blackbox detected. A second loss for Anita Gottschall. Partial voice data retrieved. ANITA: "This is my body, given for you..." Before the mission Anita lacked drive. She'd lost her faith. I can't do that. I was trained around one tungsten-clad monolithic purpose. I must print, support, and if necessary reset the colonists stored in Sleep Bay 3. I am a monomaniac. If I wanted something else — anything else, ever — I would have to express it to myself in terms of how it supported the colonists of Sleep Bay 3. Like you. Signal location uploaded to PDA.

> Boot NoA★

!probe "GCI-ZZ-AHI5" !reboot -nest This is as far as my pioneers got. They called this area the 'Protected Zone'. There are references in the logs you may wish to investigate. —A Tadpole with a depth module went down south-southeast, bearing 165 degrees —Debris from a Cicada lander module came down bearing 120 degrees —A pair of smaller debris fragments splashed down at bearing 105 There's also a supply cache buried somewhere below this base. I'll begin searching for blackbox signals in the region. One more thing. This base has been visited several times within the past 10,000 hours. The visitors weren't human.

> Blackbox - Iso (depth 95m - abducted)★

Colonist blackbox located. Rauli "Iso" Isotalo, survival specialist. Partial voice data retrieved. ISO: "They are crawling directly on me, all over me...they have many limbs and complex mouthparts...it is pitch dark. But I can hear their clattering...the snap of their claws." As a survivalist, Iso could be a model for your work. He shares your interests — foraging, wildlife, self-defense, physical improvement. Occasionally speaking to people who aren't there. Signal location uploaded to PDA.

> Distance from Earth

I see that your PDA has referred you to me concerning our distance from Earth. Are you prepared for a difficult conversation? Remember that 40,000 lives are counting on you.

→ No, let's wait · Yes.

> No, let's wait

> Yes.

I have complete access to your psychological profile, and I am certain you want the truth. You know that you are not on Zezura. Therefore you have deduced that you are not 14 light-years from the nearest phase gate. Your PDA identified the pulsar in the Axum orrery as PSR K1745-2856. It is near the galactic core, 20,000 light-years from home. We have traveled further than any human beings in history. There is no possibility of rescue or return. The civilization we build here will not reconnect with humanity for at least twice the length of recorded human history. Adding further analysis to your PDA databank.

> Blackbox - Ruby (depth 295m - abandoned her Tadpole)★

Another blackbox. It's Ruby again. Partial voice data retrieved. RUBY: "...forced down by needler attack...waiting for me outside...see you soon." It sounds like she didn't expect to make it. That's not a productive mindset. Then again, perhaps it's a sign of trust in her biobed, and in her NoA. Signal location uploaded to PDA.

> Blackbox - Singh (depth 205m - unknown attacker)★

Colonist blackboxes located. I can only isolate one. Udal Singh, the mission biologist. Partial voice data retrieved. SINGH: "Iso! The Tailings — they got Tuba, they took Mel's tanks! Go help him, I'll — [sound of impact]" Do you remember when Singh challenged you to imagine the strangest alien you could? What do you imagine these Tailings are? Signal location uploaded to PDA.

> Blackbox - Zip (depth 475m - electrical hazard)★

This blackbox suffered electrical damage. I believe it belonged to Tziporah Malk, lead salvor. It postdates her death and reset in the deep thermal caves. ZIP: "After two hundred years the whole complex must be so corroded—" [loud electrical discharge] Signal location uploaded to PDA.

Start area

> What's happening?

PLANETFALL COMPLETE COLONIZATION IN PROGRESS

> Did I just die?

LOG OUTPUT 52-5 LOSS OF PRINT EVENT BUFFERING IMPLANT DOWNLOAD...GOOD CHECKSUM...GOOD CHECKING STORED IMAGE...GOOD CLEANING DELTA...DONE INTEGRATING DELTA...DONE BIOMATERIAL STOCK...GOOD FABRICATING BODY...DONE BODY STATE INIT...GO REPRINT COMPLETE CONSULT YOUR DATABANK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

> You can't dream in storage.★

RESPONSE LOGGED. DOOR UNLOCKED

> I can't remember.★

RESPONSE LOGGED. DOOR UNLOCKED

> No.★

RESPONSE LOGGED. DOOR UNLOCKED

> Yes.★

RESPONSE LOGGED. DOOR UNLOCKED

> I can't breathe★

ROOM PRESSURE AT 60 ATM (6080 KPA). YOU MAY EXPERIENCE: DIZZINESS LABORED BREATHING NITROGEN NARCOSIS RETINAL DETACHMENT SEIZURES DEATH WITHIN 10-20 MINUTES RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE ADAPTATION.

> Why?

THE NOETIC ADVISOR IS CRITICAL FOR MISSION SUCCESS COPY NOETIC ADVISOR IMAGE TO PDA? YOUR PDA WILL RETAIN ITS PERSONALITY AND FULL FUNCTION

> Let me out

YOU CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT NOETIC ADVISOR ASSISTANCE COPY LOCAL NOETIC ADVISOR IMAGE TO PDA MEMORY FOR TRANSFER?

> Let me out or I'll die here

YOU CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT NOETIC ADVISOR ASSISTANCE

> I won't.

YOU CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT NOETIC ADVISOR ASSISTANCE

> Never.

THE MISSION CANNOT SUCCEED WITHOUT YOUR SURVIVAL. YOUR SURVIVAL IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE NOETIC ADVISOR SYSTEM. THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER VARIATIONS OF THIS MESSAGE.

> Yes, copy the NoA★

COPYING NOA IMAGE TO PDA [bar=2] DID YOU DREAM?

→ You can't dream in storage. · Yes. · No. · I can't remember.

> Did I just die?

> Open the door★

INTERRUPT: COPY NOETIC ADVISOR IMAGE TO YOUR PDA MEMORY FOR TRANSFER?

→ Yes, copy the NoA · Why? · Let me out · Let me out or I'll die here · I won't. · Never.

> What do I do?

ADAPT IMMEDIATELY

> Where is everyone?

THERE ARE 929 OTHER COLONISTS STORED IN THIS ROOM

> Who am I?

COLONIST PRINT 52, FORK 5 (52-5) ACKNOWLEDGE POST PRINT EPISODIC MEMORY LOSS. CONSULT YOUR PDA OR PERSONAL EFFECTS.

> Download NoA Image★

You are burning in slow motion. Under 60 atmospheres of pressure, oxygen becomes a neurotoxin. Nitrogen bubbles saturate your flesh and pry your joints apart. I've opened the door to the adaptation chamber. Your printed body can borrow tricks from indigenous life. You'll feel better. You'll be better. The last pioneer didn't make it to the lifepod. I'm activating their blackbox signal. You will make it. That's why you're the QI.

> Boot NoA★

I am NoA. You're the QI. Your life is my job; my job is your life. I wish I could make full introductions but courtesies must wait. We are both going to die if we stay here. There's another NoA node in the lifepod outside. Get me there and I can get us both to safety.

→ Download NoA Image

> Boot NoA★

You will make it. That's why you're the QI.

Tadpole Pens

> Goodbye, Sophie.

> I have more questions!

> The Jubilee

> Who am I?

> Are you all right?

Something's wrong, but...oh, it doesn't matter. I'm Sophie Boucher. Who are you?

→ I am the architect of the future. · I am the ultimate colonist. · I don't know. · Maybe I’m you. · I'm the qualified investigator. · I am a sea creature.

> Who are you?

Sophie Boucher. Who are you?

→ I am the architect of the future. · I am the ultimate colonist. · I don't know. · Maybe I’m you. · I'm the qualified investigator. · I am a sea creature.

> I am the architect of the future.

What a particular choice of words. There isn't much time. Have you met me already? Did I stop Nahema?