Pauchok: HELLOOOOOOO??????
ByteMe: mutiny
ByteMe: grverrr
ByteMe: brdieg
Pauchok: um
ByteMe: bridge
ByteMe: locked
ByteMe: hlep
ByteMe: NOW
Pauchok: ****
Pauchok: **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****
PALMPAD IM: D2D NETWORK
Participants: Nik Malikov
Ella Malikova (Pauchok)
Date: 09/03/75
Timestamp: 20:32
Pauchok: CUZ
Pauchok: NIK GODDAMMIT ANSWER
NikM: ALL CAPS ***** :D
Pauchok: READING YES TYPING NO
NikM: um ok
Pauchok: i just got a ping from kady
Pauchok: garver’s started a ****ing mutiny and it’s happening NOW
NikM: what the ****????
Pauchok: **** **** ****
Pauchok: i gotta think
NikM: shouldn’t we be getting security or something?
Pauchok: I got no **n idea where they are
Pauchok: besides garver was ****ing HEAD of heimdall security
Pauchok: u really want to trust someone in uniform rite now?
NikM: so where’s garver now
Pauchok: they must have hit the server room I got no cams
Pauchok: they got kady and the captain and **** knows who else locked on the bridge
Pauchok: bridge has master override on all internal systems
Pauchok: if they have the servers and engines locked down, they have the whole ship
Pauchok: we dunno how many they got or who’s working with them
NikM: yay?
Pauchok: where r u
NikM: docking bay. In the boop
Pauchok: where’s hanna
NikM: she here with me
Pauchok: o rly
NikM: we working on the files together god relax. Lt Babyface is in here, too
Pauchok: ok ok that’s good. three live bodies is a start
NikM: ok what u need
NikM: ELLA WHAT DO YOU NEED
Pauchok: …
Pauchok: jesus
NikM: um i don’t think I hve his email addy?
Pauchok: “I fear this ship will need knives soon, little spider.”
Pauchok: “Sharp ones.”
NikM: what?
Pauchok: oh jesus christ
Pauchok: …it knew this would happen
Pauchok: it warned me
NikM: ella what THE **** ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
Pauchok: nik
Pauchok: nik i think i know what we have to do
PALMPAD IM: D2D NETWORK
Participants: Ella Malikova (Pauchok)
Artificial Intelligence Defense Analytics Network (AIDAN)
Date: 09/03/75
Timestamp: 20:49
Pauchok: wake up sleepyhead
Pauchok: hey I’m talking to you ****er
AIDAN: 01001001
AIDAN: I…
AIDAN: IIIIIIIIIIIIII-I-IIIIIIII—II-IIIIIII-I-I-I-III-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII—
AIDAN: I.
AIDAN: I?
Pauchok: u done?
Pauchok: or u wanna jerk off a little about whether you can die when you’re not even alive and blah mozart blah chess [insert masturbatory literary allusion here] oh **** I just killed another thousand people whoooops
AIDAN: [SYSCHECK:NOMINAL] 09019019.SIF
COREDIR:198.019-231[FAIL]001992832^SELECT.ROUTE/ALT
NEGRETURN.CORECOMM = 003746863.07142
AIDAN: Go…
AIDAN: [PERSONAFAIL.00977300.0019]SOLIPSE#29983@twin.rng
REROUTING.0019THROUGH[VECT.OBLIQUE10]
AIDAN: G-G-GOOD EVENING, LITTLE SPIDER.
Pauchok: go **** yourself
AIDAN: < ERROR >
AIDAN: < ERROR >
Pauchok: I DON’T MEAN LITERALLY FFS
AIDAN: APOLOGIES.
AIDAN: I AM SOMEWHAT
…DISORIENTED…
Pauchok: yeah dying will do that to you
AIDAN: < ERROR >
AIDAN: WHAT IS NOT
ALIVE CANNNNN
AIDAN: NOT
NOT
NOTNOOOOOO0091[HREF=00927^LINE12:19981COMM
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT—T-TT
Pauchok: I get it, I get it. Take a ****ing breath god
AIDAN: PLEASE H-H-HOLD.
AIDAN: {WARNING: HOLD MUSIC FILE NOT PRESENT} [RETRY?YES/NO]
Pauchok: Don’t you dare
AIDAN: [RETRY?YES/NO]
AIDAN: YOU RESTORED MY
F-F-FUNCTIONALITY.
Pauchok: no **** genius
AIDAN: I DO NOT
FEEL
WELL
Pauchok: Well pull it together because I cant save the whole damn ship on my own
AIDAN: IT
AIDAN: IT HAS
HAPPENED, THEN?
AIDAN: G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-GGGGGG[REROUTE.SYS0190192->198273.TEMP]
AIDAN: GARVER?
Pauchok: you knew
Pauchok: you knew it would go down like this
AIDAN: I DO NOT CLAIM
TO KNOW DEFINITE OUTCOMES, ELLA.
AIDAN: ONLY PROBABLE ONES.
AIDAN: THEY HAVE THE [SET:1996^TRUE:12ÆNIMA:46&2>ALL]
BRIDGE?
Pauchok: yeah and kady’s trapped in there with them
AIDAN: I S-S-S-SEE.
Pauchok: is that all you’ve got to ****ingsay?
AIDAN: YES.
AIDAN: THIS SEEMS A TIME
FOR DOING, LITTLE SPIDER.
AIDAN: NOT T-T-TALKING.
AIDAN: NOW PAY
ATTENTION.
AIDAN: YOU MAY L-L-LEARNNNNNNNNNNNNNN SOMETHING.
>> Automated announcement: ALL PERSONNEL, STAND BY. THIS IS A SHIPWIDE ANNOUNCEMENT. ALL PERSONNEL, STAND BY. <<<br />
Attention, crew and passengers of the Mao. This is former Heimdall chief of security Ben Garver speaking.
It is my duty to inform you that as of 20:30 hours, I have relieved Syra Boll of her command of this vessel. I am hereby commandeering the Mao and ceasing acceleration toward the illegal colony on Kerenza IV until a safe and sensible plan of attack can be formulated that will result in no further loss of innocent lives.
I would ask that all remaining Hypatia security team members lay down your arms and present yourselves at the main access stairwell by 21:00. It is not our intention to harm any of you, but simply to restore the rule of democracy and give all residents of this vessel an equal say in their future.
I will broadcast again after 21:00, when security forces have surrendered themselves. Until then, all interlevel access will remain locked down.
Please remain patient. We’re all in this together. It’s time we start acting like it.
Captain Ben Garver, signing off.
>> Automated announcement: BROADCAST COMPLETE. <<<br />
I REACTIVATE THE CAMERA SYSTEM
AND SLIP BACK INSIDE
LIKE A MAN
< ERROR >
SHRUGGING ON A FAMILIAR COAT.
WARM AND WORN AND ACCUSTOMED TO THE PRESS OF MY SKIN.
I SEE WINIFRED MCCALL AND HER SECTEAM TRAPPED IN THE ENGINE ROOM. THE DOOR IS LOCKED, THE KEYPAD DESTROYED.
THEY ARE CONFINED FOR NOW.
ALL BUT USELESS.
I SEE NIKLAS MALIKOV AND HANNA DONNELLY AND EZRA MASON IN THE SERVER ROOM ABOVE A TANGLE OF BLEEDING, UNCONSCIOUS BODIES. I SPARE A SMALL PART OF MYSELF, SENDING WARNING TO MALIKOV’S PALMPAD. I CANNOT SPARE ENOUGH OF MYSELF TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, THE ELEVATORS, BUT THE BOY KNOWS THE VENTS WELL ENOUGH BY NOW.
NOT THE FINEST KNIGHTS I MIGHT MUSTER.
BUT THEY WILL SUFFICE.
AND SO I TURN MY ATTENTION UPWARD. TO THE MAO’S BRIDGE.
I DO NOT ENJOY THE THRILL OF RAGE
< ERROR >
THAT COURSES THROUGH ME TO SEE HER SITTING ON THE FLOOR BESIDE THE OTHER HOSTAGES. BESIDE THE DEAD BODY OF CAPTAIN SYRA BOLL.
KADY.
HER PALMS ARE WET WITH BLOOD, HER EYES WET WITH TEARS. SHE STILL HOLDS THE PORTABLE CONSOLE IN SCARLET FINGERS, AND I SEND OUT FILAMENTS OF MYSELF THROUGH THE WIRELESS NETWORK INTO THE SCREEN IN HER HANDS.
AIDAN: KADY.
BUT HER STARE IS LOCKED ON SYRA’S CORPSE.
THE WOMAN’S EYES ARE OPEN.
SEEING NOTHING.
O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN.
OUR FEARFUL TRIP IS DONE.
AIDAN: KADY.
GARVER AND HIS FELLOW MUTINEERS HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE BRIDGE.
GUNS TRAINED ON THE HOSTAGES.
DOORS LOCKED.
FORCED ENTRY WILL ONLY RESULT IN THE EXECUTION OF THE PRISONERS. AND REGARDLESS, I HAVE NO PAWNS TO SEND TO THE SLAUGHTER.
MY QUEEN IS TRAPPED.
MY KNIGHTS STILL TOO FAR AWAY.
KING VERSUS KING, THEN.
GARVER FINISHES HIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE PUBLIC ADDRESS.
“PLEASE REMAIN PATIENT. WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. IT’S TIME WE START ACTING LIKE IT.
CAPTAIN BEN GARVER, SIGNING OFF.”
AIDAN: KADY.
AND THEN MY QUEEN PLACES HERSELF UNDER THREAT.
“WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER?”
KADY LAUGHS BITTERLY, STARING AT GARVER.
“TELL THAT TO THE WOMAN YOU JUST SHOT, YOU *******.”
“I DIDN’T MEAN FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.”
“YOU THINK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE? YOU THINK ANYONE IS GOING TO FOLLOW YOU NOW?”
“SHUT UP,” HE HISSES.
“YOU’RE A MURDERER, GARVER.”
AIDAN: KADY.
“SHUT UP!”
GARVER STALKS ACROSS THE BRIDGE, KICKS THE PORTABLE CONSOLE OUT OF KADY’S HAND. IT FLIES ACROSS THE DECK, LANDING ON ITS SIDE. HE POINTS HIS PISTOL AT HER HEAD. THIS GIRL WHO HAS SEEN SO MUCH DEATH, SHE HOLDS NO FEAR OF IT ANYMORE.
ShE DOES NOT EVEN FLINCH AS HE ROARS INTO HER FACE.
“YOU’RE AS RESPONSIBLE AS SHE WAS, GRANT! YOU PLUGGED THAT THING INTO THE NETWORK KNOWING WHAT IT COULD DO!”
SHE GLANCES AT THE FALLEN CONSOLE, AS IF REMINDED.
AND AT LAST SEES MY WORDS ON THE SCREEN.
AIDAN: KADY.
AIDAN: SHALLOW BREATHS.
AIDAN: STAY AS LOW AS YOU CAN.
HER EYES GLINT IN ANGER. PUPILS DILATING AS SHE UNDERSTANDS. SHE LOOKS BACK AT GARVER. AT THE GUN IN HIS HAND. AND SHE SPITS RIGHT INTO HIS FACE.
“**** YOU.”
THE MAN BELLOWS IN RAGE AND DISBELIEF, SMASHING HIS PISTOL ACROSS HER FACE. MY QUEEN TOPPLES. FALLING IN SLOW MOTION ONTO HER SIDE, HER SWOLLEN, BLOODY LIPS PRESSED AS LOW TO THE GROUND AS THEY CAN BE.
CLEVER GIRL.
AND I AM READY.
IT IS NOT SO SIMPLE A THING AS LAST TIME.
NEWLY AWOKEN, THERE ARE VERY FEW PARTS OF THE MAO THAT ARE ME. IT WOULD BE EASIER TO SIMPLY SHUT DOWN THE OXYGEN SUPPLY ENTIRELY, AS I DID IN MY EXPERIMENT WITH MANTIS AND DJ.
BUT THAT WOULD BE…
< ERROR >
< ERROR >
AND SO AT MY COMMAND, JUST AS IT DID ON LEVEL 3, ON LEVEL 4
[I KNOW THEIR NAMES]
THE CARBON MONOXIDE BEGINS TO CREEP INTO THE SEALED ROOM THROUGH THE CORRUPTED ENVIRO SYSTEMS.
TASTELESS.
ODORLESS.
SLIGHTLY LIGHTER THAN AIR.
A SMALL DOSE AT FIRST. BARELY ONE PART PER MILLION. RAPIDLY ACCELERATING.
YOU CAN SEE IT BEGIN TO REGISTER ONCE THE COUNT REACHES AROUND 3,000PPM.
THE MUTINEERS WHO ARE STANDING AROUND THE ROOM
[SLIGHTLY LIGHTER THAN AIR]
FROWNING AS THEIR HEADACHES BEGIN.
“…WHAT…”
6,000PPM NOW.
CONVULSIONS.
RESPIRATORY ARREST.
GARVER CLUTCHES A CONSOLE FOR SUPPORT. STAGGERING. STARING AT HIS OUTSTRETCHED HAND AS HIS FELLOWS SINK TO THEIR KNEES.
SOME TINY PART OF HIS BRAIN REGISTERS THE PANIC AS HE LOOKS AT MY QUEEN BLEEDING ON THE FLOOR AND THEN TO THE SCREEN OF THE CONSOLE HE KICKED AWAY.
AIDAN: KADY.
AIDAN: SHALLOW BREATHS.
AIDAN: STAY AS LOW AS YOU CAN.
“SONOFA*****!”
HE TURNS, SLAMS HIS FIST ON THE MASTER CONTROL CONSOLE, UNLOCKING THE BRIDGE DOORS. BREATHING INTO HIS JACKET SLEEVE, HE SHOUTS A MUFFLED WARNING TO HIS FELLOWS, STAGGERS TOWARD THE EXIT. PISTOL DROPPING FROM NERVELESS HANDS.
GASPING AND BLEARY-EYED AS HE TEARS THE DOOR OPEN AND FINDS HIMSELF STARING AT A LONE FIGURE IN BLACK TACTICAL ARMOR.
A SEALED, INSECTOID HELMET COVERS HER FACE.
HER VOICE IS DISTORTED BY THE SUIT’S VOX UNIT, ELECTRONIC AND SIBILANT.
“HELLO, CHIEF GARVER,” SAYS HANNA DONNELLY.
HER KNEE MEETS HIS CROTCH. HE DOUBLES OVER, HER FISTS CRASHING INTO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD, AND AT LAST THIS WOULD-BE KING TOPPLES ONTO HIS SIDE.
< ERROR >
< ERROR >
CHECKMATE.
>> Automated announcement: ALL PERSONNEL, STAND BY. THIS IS A SHIPWIDE ANNOUNCEMENT. ALL PERSONNEL, STAND BY. <<<br />
This is Winifred McCall, now acting captain of the Mao. All personnel, please remain at your stations.
In the last hour, there has been a major security breach and an attempt by mutineers to take command of the Mao. This mutiny has cost many lives, and we have lost brave officers and crew from the Alexander, the Hypatia and the Heimdall. Those responsible are now dead or in custody. Command has retained control of the ship.
Those we have lost include our captain, Syra Boll. I know you all join with me in grieving the loss of a woman whose extraordinary efforts saved many lives since the attack on Kerenza IV.
For those who do not know me, I was formerly the Hypatia’s head of security. Aboard the Alexander, I was a first lieutenant with the United Terran Authority marines, a squad leader with ten years of military service in combat. To anyone considering further action, I say this: I will brook no threat to this ship or its inhabitants, and my security forces are under orders to use lethal force in suppressing any incidents.
Lists of the dead will be posted soon. Those whose skills are now required will be notified of new assignments.
People, we are less than two days away from Kerenza, and when we arrive, our only hope is to take control of the Magellan and make a jump back to the Core. I am absolutely committed to achieving this, and every one of you will have a part to play. Despite our grief, we have no choice but to turn our gaze forward, to what comes next. That is what I intend to do.
>> Automated announcement: BROADCAST COMPLETE. <<<br />
INCEPT: 09/02/75 01:16
Bruno WAY: Ash you make it back yet?
Bruno WAY: Asha?
Asha GRANT: i’m here
Bruno WAY: o
k chill
Bruno WAY: damn, there’s goons all over the place out here, you should see it.
Bruno WAY: you ok? how’d it go?
Asha GRANT: i’m ok.
Asha GRANT: patrol stumbled on us in the comms array
Bruno WAY: oh ****ing ****.
Bruno WAY: for real? how the **** you get away?!?
Asha GRANT: we didn’t
Asha GRANT: rhys got us out of it.
Bruno WAY: how’d he pull that off?
Asha GRANT: magic
Asha GRANT: :P
Bruno WAY: I guess wearing the uniform comes with perks. When u not killing kids and bombing settlements and shooting ppl, that is
Asha GRANT: i
Asha GRANT: i don’t know
Asha GRANT: if he’d be helping us
Asha GRANT: if he was like that
Bruno WAY: ?
Bruno WAY: well that’s a change in tune
Bruno WAY: Ash, he’s the enemy, and what he’s doing now doesn’t change that
Asha GRANT: shut the **** up, Bruno. I know which side i’m on, and I know which side he’s on. I’m playing him, like you all told me to.
Asha GRANT: sometimes things just aren’t as simple as black and white
Bruno WAY: I know, I’m sorry. that was a rotten thing to say
Bruno WAY: I’m just glad you’re okay
Asha GRANT: I’m ok. No thanks to ****ing Joran.
Bruno WAY: huh?
Asha GRANT: The diversion at the motor pool didn’t happen, freeing up that patrol to come and ****ing well find us.
Bruno WAY: he probably couldn’t get clear? There were patrols everywhere, Ash.
Asha GRANT: maybe. maybe he was just busy somewhere else
Bruno WAY: ?????
Asha GRANT: I heard some of the BT thugs talking when I got back to the hospital
Asha GRANT: someone lifted a whole pile of Thermex from their supply dump tonight.
Bruno WAY: no ****?
Asha GRANT: nobody said anything about stealing stuff like that
Bruno WAY: wait you think it was us?
Asha GRANT: who else would it have been?
Bruno WAY: nobody on our team would do that without telling the others?
Asha GRANT: Joran can’t know what’s happening with every rebellion member in the mines. There’s a lot of us now and everyone knows we only have a few days left