The Narrative Archives

Internal Log: Day 34 Transcender System MasCon: /SYSTEM- Conduct Mission Status Check System: Transcender: Power plant reports functional Ship systems all report functional Cryopods and crew systems all report functional Beta II Ground Bases: Broadcasting Status Queries… … 1 base reports all functional … 2 bases report all functional 3 bases report all functional 5 bases report all functional … … 6 bases report all functional 5/6 bases requesting repair operations Ground base status check complete Stellar Mission 1: Projected Mission Progress: 60% Broadcasting Status Queries… … … Replies received Recorded Mission Progress: 61.4% Pioneer status: All systems report optimal Crew healthy and active Base pod status: All systems report optimal All cargo secure Mission status check complete MasCon: /SYSTEM- Log all repair requests, designate resources for all requests System: Calculating resources required… MasCon: /SYSTEM- Ping location of final base bod ping received System: Pinging… No loc...

It’s been a rather bumpy ride so far, but I think I’m hanging in there. I am taking solace in the fact that this will not be the bumpiest ride today. If anything, this would be akin to one of those rocking rides in the arcades, or so I’m told by the people who have been through the turbulence, such as it is referred to, of passing through a vile vortex. We will be landing soon. Chloe was sitting next to me and she looked just as apprehensive about this as I did. As these feelings of anticipation stewed inside both of us, I could feel our Osprey slowing down. We were almost there. “Well, ladies and gentlemen,” our pilot called out, “this will be your last chance. If anyone thinks they are no longer up for the trip you have until this plane takes off again to reconsider.” “Thanks for the concern, Relay, but we’ll manage,” someone further inside called back. “Is that you Bozo? Hah! When did you come back out? I figured you were gone!” “It’s been about 3 months and you know I don’t die eas...

This doesn’t make sense. It cannot make sense. Nothing I have done warrants the position I find myself in. I mean, put yourself in my shoes. I’ve played this game about as smoothly as you can expect. And from what I can tell, the computer has played about as smoothly as I have. So, how the heck has our position transposed like this? All I have to do is trade my queen off the board, which will lead to a rook trade, and I should be golden. I’ll supposedly be the one with the advantage here- a knight and a bishop are supposed to be stronger than a single rook. But I’m playing against a computer. Computers are devious little machines that will find a loophole in any position. So, now I’m thinking to myself- If I make all of these trades, who’s actually on top? The computer is… because it has more pawns. Ooh, that was trouble, that was almost big trouble. Well, technically it’s only one pawn up, but that pawn is standing beside two others and the three of them are collectively staring at on...

Dear Director,             I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to you as I continue my current assignment out in the Pacific Ocean. As you may be aware (or not, how would I know what reports you’re looking at?), Shen was detected out at sea and I was sent to monitor his movements aboard one of our naval vessels. It has come to my attention that an expedition is being planned for Station 1, through the Antarctic Vortex. I would like to volunteer myself and my assistant, Chloe Janes, as science personnel for the trip.  Why, you ask? Well, I would like to carry out a simple cartography mission. The hollow earth remains a vastly unexplored domain. To use an analogy that is well-known already- we know more about the Moon than we do about the hollow earth. This is not to say that the hollow earth is an easy place to access, I understand that the process is far from it and a lot of specialized equipment is required.  Nonetheless, the more we d...