![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
[ DAY 005 ] audio
ATTENTION ALL CREW: This is Ripley.
[ It isn't the voice you woke up to in your pod, static and distant and harried, but the one that came later - the young girl who's meant to be whatever it is that's flying the ship. It's the same calm, almost soothing, tone that speaks from inside your head, rather than a radio or an intercom. ]
This has been far from the typical Kostka Corp HR on-boarding procedure - my apologies. The SOS protocol is a taxing process, even with fully operational systems, and we thank you for your patience while the ship was in recovery with me.
This may have led to the security breach that resulted in damage sustained to the Level 16 Maintenance Hall Airlock, which remains patched, not completely mended, at this time. From evidence gathered by feedback from your HUDs, the impact originated inside the vessel, rather than a threat from the environment. Source remains inconclusive, and under investigation. However, with only a patch, the ship will tear itself apart the next time we need to make a trans-dimensional jump, which is often and unpredictable. We'll need to explore nearby planets for materials that can be used for proper repairs.
During this time, a secondary, though less urgent, event was registered. Please review the following footage closely.
Examining your conversations from the incident, it appears roughly half of our crew was under the impression that an unknown intruder locked themselves into the Environmental Control room and adjusted temperature and oxygen settings to critical levels (which my logs show no history of). [ Is she calling you crazy? She might be calling you crazy. Or, she might just be intrigued by it - difficult to tell with the rather businesslike tone she has. ] Dementia and/or hallucinations have been known to be a side effect of extensive interstellar travel and experimental mind-save technology. Should you feel you may be questioning your reality, please contact Dimitri to schedule an appointment for VR therapy.
I would ask all crew refrain from bodily exploring the ventilation systems, as there are laser-extermination devices installed in many of the ducts to eliminate invading parasites. The lasers make no distinction between rats and small humans. Additionally, until further notice, please clear all laser-saw construction with Dimitri or myself before altering the interior or exterior structure of the ship, to protect from further risk of breach, and, as Dimitri tells me, “going to that big beautiful databank in the sky known as hell.” It sounds unpleasant.
[ Right. Okay. All that business covered, back to what you probably want from her. Explanations. There's a pause, probably more for you than it is for her, and what sounds like an inhale, despite her, you know, lack of lungs. These things, mannerisms and speech patterns, are probably picked up from years working alongside humans, perhaps some treating her more human than most AIs. ]
You stand aboard the Koskta IV, the latest model in a series of interstellar cruise ships dedicated to ferrying travelers from the stress and anxiety of polluted, over-populated hub worlds to any of the many Kostka Corp developing colonies around the galaxy. You may have noticed - we’re not currently in orbit of a Kostka Corp developing colony.
Our last voyage was interrupted by a devastating attack from an unknown assailant, leaving my data and systems corrupted, the ship crippled, and the crew decimated. What remained of us escaped just before total annihilation, through the use of as of yet untested jump technology.
This ship is all that remains of our port of departure.
[ It isn't the voice you woke up to in your pod, static and distant and harried, but the one that came later - the young girl who's meant to be whatever it is that's flying the ship. It's the same calm, almost soothing, tone that speaks from inside your head, rather than a radio or an intercom. ]
This has been far from the typical Kostka Corp HR on-boarding procedure - my apologies. The SOS protocol is a taxing process, even with fully operational systems, and we thank you for your patience while the ship was in recovery with me.
This may have led to the security breach that resulted in damage sustained to the Level 16 Maintenance Hall Airlock, which remains patched, not completely mended, at this time. From evidence gathered by feedback from your HUDs, the impact originated inside the vessel, rather than a threat from the environment. Source remains inconclusive, and under investigation. However, with only a patch, the ship will tear itself apart the next time we need to make a trans-dimensional jump, which is often and unpredictable. We'll need to explore nearby planets for materials that can be used for proper repairs.
During this time, a secondary, though less urgent, event was registered. Please review the following footage closely.
[ A video feed that swaps between several different surveillance cameras plays on the upper right corner of each character’s HUD. Focusing in on the feed will enlarge the window, giving the opportunity to view details closely. What it shows is the group of crew that went to deal with the Environment Control room issue, however... the door appears to be wide open.It stands to be reiterated: no other intelligent life remains conscious aboard the Kostka IV, aside from the AIs (Dimitri, the droids and myself), and you, the new crew.
Characters are seen doing all the same motions, even with hands that are banging on the door halting midair, as if impacting an invisible wall, but the feed clearly shows the door retracted - nothing parting the characters from the wide open Environmental Control room. The keypad is torn apart, the laser saw is flashing and burning against the door frame, there are people crawling around in the vents, but nothing inside the room that looks suspect, and nothing that appears to be barring the characters from just waltzing on in. Aside from whatever invisible nonsense is having them do an A+ pantomime job there at the doorway.
Ripley lets the footage speak for itself for a good several minutes before chiming back in. ]
Examining your conversations from the incident, it appears roughly half of our crew was under the impression that an unknown intruder locked themselves into the Environmental Control room and adjusted temperature and oxygen settings to critical levels (which my logs show no history of). [ Is she calling you crazy? She might be calling you crazy. Or, she might just be intrigued by it - difficult to tell with the rather businesslike tone she has. ] Dementia and/or hallucinations have been known to be a side effect of extensive interstellar travel and experimental mind-save technology. Should you feel you may be questioning your reality, please contact Dimitri to schedule an appointment for VR therapy.
I would ask all crew refrain from bodily exploring the ventilation systems, as there are laser-extermination devices installed in many of the ducts to eliminate invading parasites. The lasers make no distinction between rats and small humans. Additionally, until further notice, please clear all laser-saw construction with Dimitri or myself before altering the interior or exterior structure of the ship, to protect from further risk of breach, and, as Dimitri tells me, “going to that big beautiful databank in the sky known as hell.” It sounds unpleasant.
[ Right. Okay. All that business covered, back to what you probably want from her. Explanations. There's a pause, probably more for you than it is for her, and what sounds like an inhale, despite her, you know, lack of lungs. These things, mannerisms and speech patterns, are probably picked up from years working alongside humans, perhaps some treating her more human than most AIs. ]
You stand aboard the Koskta IV, the latest model in a series of interstellar cruise ships dedicated to ferrying travelers from the stress and anxiety of polluted, over-populated hub worlds to any of the many Kostka Corp developing colonies around the galaxy. You may have noticed - we’re not currently in orbit of a Kostka Corp developing colony.
Our last voyage was interrupted by a devastating attack from an unknown assailant, leaving my data and systems corrupted, the ship crippled, and the crew decimated. What remained of us escaped just before total annihilation, through the use of as of yet untested jump technology.
This ship is all that remains of our port of departure.
no subject
[ His tone is somewhat icy, but who knows? Maybe that's always how he tries to be charming. Spoilers: it's not. ]
I don't discount that we may all have simply imagined the ghosts in the halls, or the intruder in the room that, by all appearances, seemed to be closed. Still, if you admit that your data and systems were corrupted, it stands to reason that all may not be well with them. How can you be certain the error does not lie there?
[ Also, as far as he can see, Ripley is still their kidnapper here. He's not ready to simply take her word for it. ]
no subject
It's possibly, but unlikely. If the corruption to my systems were to escape the quarantine I have it confined to, it would advance rapidly and our enemy would be on us in hours or minutes.
[ thus, by virtue of the fact we aren't all dead yet, she doubts that's the case, but hey, anything's possible. ]
The only inconsistency noted was the Environmental Control room. Can you expand on 'ghosts in the halls'? I witnessed safety tethers disconnecting unexpectedly at the hull breach.
no subject
Sturmhond, actually, but I'm sure the pleasure is yours.
I'm afraid I can't expand much more than I already have. I'd assume your nutritious pod gel was disagreeing with me, but I'm afraid they're rather persistent. As for the tethers, they didn't disconnect of their own accord. Someone released them. I saw that, too.
I'm concerned there's something your scanners are missing. Not to be impolite, you understand, but the obvious solution is not always the right one.
no subject
[ no comment on pleasure being anyone's, thanks :) ]
Who did you witness release the cables? I haven't seen footage from any HOST's HUD displaying a person outside of our crew making adjustments to safety cables.
As I said, it is possible. If evidence is found, the problem will be addressed accordingly.
[ of course, evidence of it won't be found, because she already knows what the issue is. ]
no subject
Oh, I didn't say it was any of us. In fact I'm quite certain it wasn't.
Of course, you know best. All I can do is make the report, and trust you aren't the enemy here.
[ And that would be the crucial part, since he trusts in no such thing. The computer is either lying to them about what her systems show, or she's not competent to protect them from whatever else is out there. Neither option lends itself particularly well to trust. ]
no subject
If not the crew, then who? Do you recall what they look like?
My core directives mandate that protecting the lives of the crew upon this ship, as well as the ship itself, are my highest priority.
[ there's nothing offended in it, or argumentative, really, just reporting data. where you go with that is up to you. ]
no subject
And of course, as per that delightful recording, the others were dealing with what was happening inside at the time.
[ He lifts a quizzical eyebrow. ]
I've also seen shadows moving around, always at the edge of my vision. That, coupled with what did happen inside, is too much of a coincidence for me.