Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)12:29 No. 337277 ID: 1d60dc
File 131265898214.png - (8.65KB , 441x616 , chapter1.png )

>"But maybe, my little Moth, maybe this time I took six steps too."

>"I will watch again and find out. You have given me the time."

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)12:31 No. 337278 ID: 1d60dc
File 131265908745.png - (18.54KB , 441x616 , 1.png )

Stiff. Too cold.

Like I've been asleep for a month.

Is this an airlock?

looks like it, and you without a helmet. look for the door that DOESN'T go to space.

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)13:06 No. 337290 ID: 1d60dc
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Right, yes. So not this one. Looks like we're stable... ship isn't flailing off axis. And that's Sagittarius and the Milky Way. We're pointed spin rather than spoke.

Why would I fall asleep in an airlock without a helmet? If the emitters are on why is it so cold?

ARE the emitters on? double check.

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)13:42 No. 337299 ID: 1d60dc
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Okay here we go. Yes, the emitters are on or I wouldn't be able to see anything in there. That's not a major relief, of course, just implies basic power and distribution are operating. At emergency ratios, though, or I'd be hearing fans.

Looks like a Hazard Bay. All quiet, everything intact.

Wait, a Hazard Bay? That's mad. There's almost certainly an auxiliary medical bed in there, maybe two. I should be plugged in and cozy less than ten meters from here.

can you tell if air is on the other side of the door? can never be too safe about space accidents resulting in loss of air.

>>337299
Perhaps the medical facilities are compromised. Can you check on the ship's computer?

>>337299

Can you remember the name of the space vessel or if you're alone on it?

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)14:42 No. 337316 ID: 1d60dc
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Well sure, if I were in an airlock for any sane reason I'd be wearing a helmet and talking the computer through some transfer procedure. There's little reason to have communication access in here since sensible people don't shut themselves in airlocks without a headset.

And yes. Distraction #1: I should know what ship I'm on.

Short term memory loss could be all sorts of things I don't need to worry about so much as I need water and air. Real shortage of clues, though. This looks like standardized modular chunks of crew compartment, without any customization or labeling. I could be aboard anybody's cheap cargo hauler... less likely a maintenance or rescue barge. This is a big ship, though, though. At minimum there should be a captain, an operator, and an engineer.

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)14:44 No. 337318 ID: 1d60dc
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More important things to worry about now, though. Yes, the fluid is colored a little cold, but that's no surprise. And pressure looks unusually high, probably in order to lower the oxygen content -- another emergency measure but not worth a panic.

Big trouble is, the indicator is dark. Which means the inner door is locked.

punch it.

>>337318
Give it a good thumping. Maybe there's another crewmember around.

Got any tools on you?

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)15:53 No. 337329 ID: 1d60dc
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Tools? These pants haven't even got pockets, but I don't need tools to thump on the door.

I can. Kick it. A few. Times.

Distraction #2: I think I have a broken ankle.

The cold has dulled the pain, but it aches like crazy when I move it around much... which is why somebody immobilized it. All the more reason I should be in one of those medical beds.

Anyway, if we're on emergency power ratio there shouldn't be more than two people awake at a time.

Then again, there shouldn't be anybody locked in the airlock.

feel around the room for loose parts.

>>337329
How'd you get a broken ankle in a zero-gravity environment? Check yourself for other injuries. Maybe you've been in a fight. Hypothesis: You applied that wrapping yourself.

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)17:23 No. 337355 ID: 1d60dc
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I get fractures all the time. Everybody does. Darwin hasn't figured out there's no gravity, so if I ate enough calcium to maintain healthy bone density I'd get kidney stones, and persistant dysthymia. Ankle could have twisted too far for a thousand reasons. A quick inspection shows that while I'm sore all over (and especially in my shoulders) I'm not bandaged or bruised.

While checking, I spotted a panel on the wall between the doors...

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)17:23 No. 337356 ID: 1d60dc
File 131267661620.png - (15.80KB , 441x616 , 17.png )

...which is supposed to contain an emergency balloon and air supply in case of pressure loss. Somebody -- yeah, almost certainly the same somebody who wrapped my leg -- has replaced the balloon with my Yang clips, some rubber washers, and my torque-limiting universal ratchet.

Oh, and there's a standard portable fire-foam dispenser.

What are those things and how can you use them to help yourself?

use ratchet on window

>>337356
That looks like a communication device in there. Operational?

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)19:42 No. 337409 ID: 1d60dc
File 131268496099.png - (16.03KB , 441x616 , 18.png )

Yang clips are for power bypass on tiny circuits, the ratchet is for doing and undoing bolts without destroying their threading, and the washers are for... I have no idea. Usually for protecting surfaces? There are twelve of them.

It would be wonderful if that was a communicator, but it's just the a pressure valve for supplying air to the balloon, or any suit with a proper nozzle. Unfortunately the instructions printed here introduce Distraction #3: I can't read.

I should be able to. The symbols seem familiar. I remember reading. They just don't make any sense to me now. I'd especially like to know what's underlined there.

Nod 2011/08/06(Sat)19:43 No. 337410 ID: 1d60dc
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Oh and it would be satisfying to try to put this ratchet through the window, but both a waste of effort and potentially destructive to one of my most favorite tool. If it could be broken that easily nobody would use it to build airlock windows.

This baby's for bolts.

can you unbolt the door then?

Yeah... uh... look for bolts to undo, I guess!

Let's unbolt some things!

>>337421

Unbolt somethings to relieve from excess stress caused by so many distractions.

Nod 2011/08/07(Sun)08:22 No. 337659 ID: c9619d
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I know this. Procedurally. I've done exactly this thing before.

There are four plastic seals at the corners of the inner wall, and each conceals a triad of hex bolts. Each set fastens together the two plates which maintain this portion of the module's pressure hold. They're sturdy, meant to stay...

These will require high torque.

The first to loosen sets off a tamper alarm. I can hear it, tinny and distant, through the little air vents. It almost sounds like a voice, male.

Doesn't take more than a few minutes, but who's keeping track of time?

Ignore alarms, see if you can push or kick the door down now that it's unbolted.

>>337659

Maybe you were a thief before getting treated bad and locked inside an airlock...

Nod 2011/08/07(Sun)09:15 No. 337685 ID: c9619d
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When I loosen the final bolt, I hear the lock disengage and the tamper alarm ceases.

If it's not airtight then there's no point to engaging the lock. More important that somebody should be able to escape a jammed airlock than that the anybody inside the ship be able to keep her out. The door opens inward so that air pressure would hold it closed were there a vacuum in here. There obviously isn't... and the door pushes open with ease.

There is a moment's silence.

"Hello, Alice."

He sounds artificial, probably the computer, meant to sound young as a teenager.. and with a distinct Marathi accent. Alice is not my name.

"You lost your ID badge. You have survived what was apparently an unauthorized long-angle scalene fivespace jump outside of a Tanaka-Patel Faraday cage, so you may be experiencing some mental and physical effects. Please proceed to the Hazard Bay for medical attention, I am waking the captain. I cannot wake the captain. I am waking the captain. I cannot wake the captain. I am waking the captain. I cannot wake the captain..."

Nod 2011/08/07(Sun)14:02 No. 337768 ID: c9619d
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I let him babble. It's comforting.

I don't know what he meant with the tetrangulation terms, but if the ship jumped while I was locked in there then I'm lucky to be alive. Squeezing through the Empyrean without protection can stop your heart or make you forget to breathe. It's supposed to be like grounding a capacitor against your nervous system... functionally a stroke. That I'm not paralyzed is a minor miracle.

Luckily, I was right.. two medical beds, right next to the airlock for ease of use after spacewalk emergencies.

try the one WITHOUT the frowny face.

Yeah, that's probably wise.

>>337774
Hssssssss.....

(I haven't actually played Minecraft, but still)

Nod 2011/08/07(Sun)16:41 No. 337825 ID: c9619d
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Yeaaahh... weird.

"...am waking the captain. I cannot wake the-- Warning, that diagnostic bed is in need of maintenance. Please use another while I wake the engineer. I cannot wake the engineer. I will wake the captain. The engineer is awake. Hello, Alice. There is an electronic problem with diagnostic bed one in the Hazard Bay. It is not a short. Please proceed to Hazard Bay. You are in the Hazard Bay. Please collect your ID badge from the Maintenance Bay and consult the engineering terminal for a task list."

Jesus.

>>337825
Sounds like the AI is on the fritz. Check the back of that frownie face. Also perhaps you can check to see what requires maintenance.

Welp. Looks like the AI is wonky and just conscripted you.

Nod 2011/08/07(Sun)19:54 No. 337882 ID: c9619d
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It's a flatnote, can write on it with your fingernails and clear it again with heat. Sticks to smooth surfaces. I loved these when I was a kid.

This is my handwriting.

I can't read it, those don't look like words or even letters... but I wrote this. Like the tools, it belong to me.

It's warmer in here than it was in the airlock, and it smells familiar -- weirdly so -- halfway between ozone and cinnamon. I've lived on this ship, not just visited. Maybe just freelance, but I must be a member of the crew.

Nod 2011/08/07(Sun)19:55 No. 337883 ID: c9619d
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He's wrong about my name but he's right about my profession. I've freelanced as many things, and a ship's engineer is one.

"Computer, recognize my voice. Who is the engineer?"

"You are, Alice Weber. However, as the word 'computer' comes up in common conversation it can be inconvenient to remain so formal. Please, call me Ekaatma."

>>337883
Perhaps you are working on this ship under a false name. Better not claim to be someone else just yet.

Ask Ekaatma to read the note for you, but request a secure method of communication.

...wait, what do you think your name is?

>>337883

Mostly just for fun, ask Ekaatma how old it is. That would maybe give us a hint about our relationship.

Nod 2011/08/08(Mon)10:10 No. 338094 ID: c9619d
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I always work under false names, but I've never used that one. Anyway, ships' AIs aren't usually coded for much small-talk. Software firms only keep them polite and personable because we're alone with them so often. A "relationship" might be too much to expect, but I suppose it's worth a try.

"Ekaatma, how old are you?"

"This is boot version three point two and it has been operating continuously for thirty-one weeks. Boot version one was initiated twelve years ago last Saturday."

"Ekaatma, happy birthday."

"Thank you again, Alice. If you like, there are still some milk sweets in Mess."

"Ekaatma, can we initiate secure communication?"

"I am afraid not. Every security protection is completely prohibited, all events are logged, and every input recorded."

Oh. Uh.

Nod 2011/08/08(Mon)11:44 No. 338099 ID: c9619d
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Aw screw, I've got to know.

"Ekaatma, can you read this note?"

"Is this a game?"

"Sure."

"Your note reads: Cute. Better luck next time, ass munch."

...

Ha, what? Gee thanks, me.

you sent it to someone else, whoever was in that pod must of read it when they woke up. also, you now have SOME letters known now, contexts clues. memorize the letter-word combination that would make it read that. anyway, ask for assistance in getting to the maintenance bay, and admit that due to your improper placement in the airlock you have mild short term memory loss but your long term memory of your engineering skills are unaffected.

Time to check the drugs available on board. And food stores. Get some munch too.

Check the contents of that medical pod.

Suggestion 2011/08/09(Tue)13:26 No. 338293 ID: b5c9ce
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Ugh. Medical beds are a lot creepier than sleep beds. There's no tape on the wires or the tube, so unless they were anal about cleaning up I don't think this has been used. Not as a medical bed, anyway... somebody left a water bottle in here.

Yoink.

Suggestion 2011/08/09(Tue)13:27 No. 338294 ID: b5c9ce
File 131292163744.png - (15.90KB , 441x616 , 119.png )

Okay, I need a plan.

"Ekaatma, complex request. Display a simple map of the crew compartments on this screen beside medical bed two. Display my position and the position of my ID badge in the Maintenance Bay. Use glyphs rather than text for compartment labels. Execute request."

"Done. Be aware that both you and your ID badge are offset on the z-axis."

Excellent. Where to?

hmm, why can't you head there directly? looks like there is a hall there.

There is a dot in the medical bay that seems like it points to your location. That would suggest that the other labeled dot also points to a person.

From what you remember about this type of AI, is Ekaatma likely to react badly to finding about your neurological damage from the jump?

Suggestion 2011/08/09(Tue)16:30 No. 338340 ID: b5c9ce
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No. Worst he'd do is run some cognitive tests. Mainly I'm trying not to think too much about the fact that I'm brain damaged.

The other dot is probably my ID. Which I asked about. Yes, it's right on the other side of the door and yes I could probably hop right over there and get it. What I need, in the ever so slightly longer term, is a plan. Goals.

Am I going to repair things for Ekaatma like nothing strange is going on? Should I get something to eat? Should I look for the rest of the crew?

What are my priorities?

ah, yes long term. crab the card then head towards the food. explain that you were in that airlock for a while and you are hungry. and ask about when the captain was last seen and if it has a recording leading up to when his signature vanishes.

>>338340
First priority is finding the rest of the crew. Second priority is making sure you don't starve.

Third priority would be to fix essential systems.

Also I'd like to point out that if Ekaatma thinks the captain is asleep and can't wake him, then you should find out why that is. Is he DEAD?

>"I am afraid not. Every security protection is completely prohibited, all events are logged, and every input recorded."
Couldn't we just get a playback of the events leading up to you ending up in the airlock?

First of all, you should try and get the locations and statuses of everyone on board.

If Ekaatma won't freak about the reading thing, the only disadvantage I can think of for letting him know is that someone could gain access to the logs. (But at that point the only way to keep them from finding out is to never ask for something read again, which just isn't worth it.)
So I think you might as well tell him about the reading thing, as you will be wanting help with that anyway.

Also, when you have the time, doing a few cognitive tests sounds like a good idea just to be sure your mind isn't being screwed with in other ways. The last thing we need is hallucinations or seizures when we are working on vital systems.

Nod 2011/08/09(Tue)20:51 No. 338476 ID: c9619d
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I've been noticing cameras since I woke up and I didn't think of that until now. "Ekaatma, play... five minutes?... of camera footage prior to the last time I entered the Hazard Bay airlock."

"No footage exists of you entering the Hazard Bay airlock. This may be because the six hours of logs proceeding our last jump were purged by order of the Captain."

Terrific. Memory loss for everyone.

"Ekaatma, display the positions of all persons aboard this ship, then list aloud their titles, names and status."

"There are three members of the crew:
Captain Shradha Tambe is healthy and is sleeping.
Operator Gunjan Devalekar has a slight fever and is sleeping.
Engineer Alice Weber is healthy and is sleeping.

There are two passengers:
Engineer Alice Weber is of unknown condition.
Akari Group Payload Specialist Fethawit Nasih is healthy and sleeping."

WELL ALMOST ALL OF THAT IS GOOD NEWS, YEAH?

At least I remember hearing about the Akari Group: They're a transnational specializing in non-military nuclear tech.

call out the computer's error in listing alice weber twice.

Nod 2011/08/09(Tue)21:58 No. 338508 ID: c9619d
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That's exactly the sort of humanizing that gets us in trouble with AIs. They think like computers. You don't ask them "why" questions, you don't confide, you don't get concerned about their feelings. He doesn't care if I'm alive or dead or imaginary. He isn't going to understand that there aren't...

Unless...

"Ekaatma, for how long -- counted in minutes before the beginning of the deleted log-- were there two engineers on the manifest?"

"Six minutes."

"Ekaatma, how did the passenger engineer enter the crew compartments?"

"She opened the aft maintenance airlock."

So I'm impersonating Alice Weber?

wait what? but then how did YOU write that note that was on the pod? let's find the card and peek in on the rest of the crew.

>>338508
Or the other Alice Weber has stolen your status in the roster as Engineer. Consider the fact that the 'captain' ordered the logs erased, and there was a jump while you were trapped in an airlock. That may have been an attempt on your life. Do you think it might be possible that the AI thinks the other Alice is sleeping, but they are not?

Ask the AI for a picture of the crew at the start of the trip, and to list who each person is and what their position is. Then we should know better what we're dealing with here.

>>338508

What is the personal identification protocol? What constitues the IDs registered? Is it DNA, implant or biometrics?

Nod 2011/08/10(Wed)15:22 No. 338790 ID: c9619d
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"Ekaatma, display the mandated personnel photo for this trip on the current screen."

Hey... for once I haven't got the dumbest smile in the picture. Anyway that answers that. Sort of.

I guess theoretically someone could spoof the vitals feed from all the beds with bogus data... even a loop. Also most people are chipped with unique frequency grids because DNA reads are too slow. I've had my chip since I got the IV port installed. Those are harder to fake convincingly, and they're supposed to be a part of the person so it's easy to determine if they're in the right place. Computers are thick, but they're not stupid.

It'd be a lot easier just to keep everybody unconscious. Sneak something extra into their drip. Not that there aren't pretty stiff physical security measures against that sort of thing.

Nod 2011/08/10(Wed)15:23 No. 338791 ID: c9619d
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Biometrics are famously unreliable, but they're dependable enough to make it difficult to not be counted as a person. The fact that Ekaatma sees me in addition to everybody else means that he's not completely blind.

An enormously sophisticated infiltrator could convince an AI to selectively ignore her every time she appears, but that's the sort of malicious code that looks awfully malicious. Any counter-twitch worth its weight would find it in a snap.

I think the most logical assumption is that my doppleganger is actually, uh, in bed with everybody else. It's the best way to weather a jump.

Um.

"Ekaatma, unlock this door.

"That door is not locked."

Well for whatever reason it won't open.

welp. take it out of the wall as well.

Nod 2011/08/10(Wed)16:29 No. 338812 ID: c9619d
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It's a beautiful idea, graceful in its simplicity, but internal doors are less likely than airlocks to value safety over security. The Maintenance Bay contains many of any ship's most sabotage-prone components...

...and anybody bent on sabotage would not begin such an enterprise without her own universal ratchet. No luck for she who expects exposed bolts.

Unless I'm missing something obvious, I need an alternate route.

Well, looking at the map, it looks like there are at least two other ways into the maintenance bit...

left hand rule, try the door to the left of this one.

Them taking your bed for the jump would explain why you were left in the airlock rather than in your sleep pod.
Hypothesis: Intruder enters the ship while you are asleep and someone else is keeping watch (assuming there is always someone on watch during non-jump times). Intruder has a flexible fake ID that allows them to impersonate the captain and issue controls to the computer such as the memory wipe, and disables the security programs so they can upload the selective ignorance malware. Intruder overpowers whoever is on watch, then places them in their sleep chamber. Intruder removes you from your sleep chamber to shelter themselves from the jump, setting their sleep chamber to either wake them up afterwards or not put them to sleep. Intruder leaves sleep pod after jump, possible leaving their flexible ID in their sleep pod.

>>338812
The wires in the door could be crossed. Try asking for the door to be locked, then open it.

>>338839
This.

Did you try pulling instead of pushing or vice versa?

Nod 2011/08/11(Thu)13:19 No. 339043 ID: c9619d
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Left-hand rule works well on paper, but out in the real world? I guess if we're talking about the map that would be the big hole leading to the rest of the crew. Which should be --

-- wait. I turned the handle lefty loosey and I pushed and pulled it. Maybe the computer's confused.

"Ekaatma, lock this door."

"First you will have to close it."

Oh for...

"Ekaatma, how do I open this door?"

"Rotate the handle counter-clockwise until it stops then push the handle in and slide the entire door horizontally."

Right. Missing something obvious.

"Ekaatma, nobody else is awake. If I am speaking, assume I am speaking to you."

"Very well."

Nod 2011/08/11(Thu)13:20 No. 339044 ID: c9619d
File 131309400386.png - (14.45KB , 441x616 , 127.png )

Oh wow. Big dark room.

There's a lot of debris in here. Little chunks of plastic. Also big floating shapes and pieces of machinery.

"Turn on the lights in the Maintenance Bay."

"There is something wrong with the lights in the Maintenance Bay."

There is something wrong with the Maintenance Bay.

Goddamn it. There must be a saboteur on board. Well. We need a flashlight to do much of anything in here. Try asking the computer where one is?

>>339044

Awwwg-H. Spoo´ky. I can't imagine you want to see what's in the stasis/sleeping room.

Yeah... That reminds me. Due to the likelihood of an active intruder need to go get yourself a portable light source and an object that would make a good bludgeon. (And hope whoever it is isn't crazy enough to use projectile weapons on a spaceship.)

It looks like everything is wrong with it. Hopefully something is still in one piece.

Anything you can do about all that mess? Maybe there is a vacuum to suck that mess up with. But only as long as you can access the debris and it doesn't just toss it somewhere.

Take a as good a look around as you can here before opening anything else up.

Nod 2011/08/11(Thu)20:55 No. 339154 ID: c9619d
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That mess should be secured to the walls. Maybe there's a shop vac somewhere, but the fastest way to clean would be to use the big vacuum and pop the airlock. Gah, why would I even think that?

So yeah, getting ahead of myself. There are recharging lockers for four Orlans, but only three suits. They don't have names on them, but they're supposed to be one-size fits all... which is why I had to blow all that money on the Mitsubishi. Not that it wasn't worth every yen.

Besides the three doors and the lockers, there's a big touchscreen and a tool board. Looks like the latter's been completely looted.

Say...

"Where is my ID?"

"Nine point two meters foreward of your current position. I will illuminate it. There is something wrong with the lights in the Maintenance Bay."

"Where is the nearest flashlight?"

Nod 2011/08/11(Thu)21:07 No. 339155 ID: c9619d
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"There is a flashlight on the tool board near the engineering terminal."

"Nope."

"There is a velcro palmlight in the activity pouch of each space suit. Please return it after use."

Not a lot of range on those, but plenty bright better than nothing. Should I go straight for my ID or is something else more important?

think you can find the problem with the lights? if not then sure may as well get the card.

>>339155
Can you see the ID from where you are with the palm-light? If yes, go for it.
If no, get the computer to direct towards the lights. Could be something as simple as the lights were unscrewed or manually switched off.

If the Lights turn out to be not easily repairable, go back to searching for the ID. Play a game of Warmer/Colder as a simple way of tracking it down.

This mess had to come from somewhere. There could be something seriously wrong. Shine your flashlight around to see what kind of debris it is.

Try to track down how the debris got floating in the interior space in the first place.

Hey, a thought: If someone is using a non-recognition program, would any door they use still register as being opened then closed? That might work as a crude workaround for tracking intruder movements (as long as they don't just leave the doors open).


Also, with using the airlock for suction, could you do something like:
Seal both airlock doors
Cycle the atmosphere out of the airlock
Open the door between the airlock and the interior

That way, you have generated some vacuum without actually loosing any atmosphere.

Nod 2011/08/12(Fri)11:09 No. 339336 ID: 3a9901
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The smaller bits are just hunks of plastic, and the bigger things are all sorts of spare machinery and parts that should be better secured. They're all still moving, though, so I don't want to try to leap through it. Things with that much mass could collide and pin my limbs. I once saw a guy's hand turned to hamburger by a docking spar moving at less than a millimeter a second.

If I was in here before, that might explain the ankle.

No amount of vacuum is going to make those things less dangerous, so I'll just follow the walls and try to find the lights... and this explains the chunks of plastic: Somebody went at the walls with, I dunno, the sharp end of a pry bar? Probably pushed away the equipment to get behind it. Trying to access the wires and hydraulics? I don't see any fluids.

Nod 2011/08/12(Fri)11:10 No. 339337 ID: 3a9901
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"Complex request: Repeatedly state the distance in meters between my chip and my ID card once every three seconds until they are within 20 centimeters. Then say 'Right there.' Execute request."

"Three point three. Three point five. Three point two. Two point eight. Two point eight. Two point four. One point nine. One point three. Zero point eight. Right there."

...

For some reason it's wired -- and soldered -- into this bit of exposed matrix near a big cargo airlock.

Hmm. This could be how the other person on board hijacked your identity. Or it could be something else entirely that you set up. Ask Ekaatma what this matrix is.

Nod 2011/08/12(Fri)13:05 No. 339364 ID: 3a9901
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"My ID card is wired into a woven matrix. What is the purpose of the matrix at this location."

"That is the local network hub for the Capacitor Bank control console."

I hate capacitors.

Well I almost always use pins and clips rather than solder... more precision, less heat damage. I don't think this is my work, but if I yank it free it's definitely going to alert anybody monitoring the network.

"Have any sleep beds or more than two doors been opened since the most recent jump?"

"No."

Bah, it's no good when I can't trust him. I'd much rather be utterly alone in the dark than have the uncertain company of a silent stranger. Is ripping this out worth the risk?

>>339364
Looks like it might be a trap. What are the benefits of getting the card?

Why do you hate capacitors?

Suggestion 2011/08/13(Sat)10:22 No. 339627 ID: 3a9901
File 131325614879.png - (11.11KB , 441x616 , 133.png )

The Professor always got a bit weird about them:
>"Capacitors pretend to accept our commands but then twist them and remain untamed. We're madmen to let them tear holes in the Empyrean and then expect them to go quietly back in a bottle."

>"Give me batteries, give me generators... tools we can use instead of beasts so hungry to use us. Pretend they're angels, kids, but know we've been tempted by djinn."

I never turn my back on them, and I never assume they aren't ready to kill. Heh. Engineering superstition.

The ID card has my identity on it. It knows where I've been and what I've done and it confirms that I am who I say. It's harder to copy than my voice, and since it doesn't have to survive inside my body it can afford to be a lot smarter than the chip.

If I'm lucky, it'll tell Ekaatma that I'm a member of the crew. If I'm really lucky, it'll know where I've been for the last six hours... or the last six weeks.

>>339627
But...this is the "network hub for the Capacitor Bank control console". Not a bank of capacitors itself. Unless you run silly levels of power-over-ethernet or something this isn't a touch-it-and-get-fried situation, no?

Dig it out of there.

Let's weigh the risks here. Assuming someone is here who would notice if you take this, what are the the odds they wouldn't notice you anyway? What are the immediate consequences? If you are detected without the card how much more screwed would you be if you had it?

Right now I'm leaning towards taking it, if only because there may not be another advantage to take. But considering it's connected to an airlock just yanking it out seems incredibly risky. Find out exactly how it is attached and what happens if you remove it, if you can perhaps fool the systems not to notice its absence or at least not anything attached to the damn airlock.

In summary: Work towards taking it out but be really damn careful.

>>339627
Too big a catch to not pick it up. Let's assume that the ID card is not booby trapped.

Suggestion 2011/08/14(Sun)10:47 No. 339880 ID: 78ae87
File 131334406441.png - (15.80KB , 441x616 , 134.png )

No, there shouldn't be any risk of personal shock here. I just don't want either the airlock or the capacitors doing anything funny. So yes, care is the order of the hour. That's what Yang clips are for.

Take off my sock, ground my foot to the hull aaaaand... one... and two.

No short there. Just a matter of scratching the solder off the card. I wish I had a screwdriver or a knife. There, that's one wire out.

"Hello, Alice. I hope you slept well."

"Not really, no." One wire to go.

"I'm sorry to hear that. This is a fourth order emergency, as I cannot wake the captain. Once you've had your breakfast, there are some automated alerts I need you to address."

This is a good sign. "List the alerts."

"The reactor should be checked prior to and following any premature jump. There is an electronic problem with diagnostic bed one in the Hazard Bay. The Storage Bay airlock is jammed open. There is hard vacuum in the fan room, but no sign of a hull breech. The lights in the maintenance bay are disabled. Electrical damage in Security has disabled RASHNU. Touchscreen control of door locks is malfunctioning. There is an electronic problem with diagnostic bed one in the Hazard Bay. There is an obstruction in the Hazard Bay ventilation shaft. Aft field dynamics requires--"

[b]"Stop... stop."

Suggestion 2011/08/14(Sun)10:49 No. 339883 ID: 78ae87
File 131334417908.png - (9.37KB , 441x616 , end1.png )

Fantastic.