RE: Sixty-four Pixel Colonists
01-31-2018, 05:41 AM
TURN 9
Colony Mood:
Suspicious
Construction Drone: BUILDING COMPACT ALGAE TANK
Compact Scouting Drone: MISSING
Compact Scouting Drone: IDLE
Projects:
Build - ???: Canceled!
Analyze Mold: 1 Turn
![[Image: map_9_cropped.gif]](https://www.deepwatercreations.com/SixtyFourPixelColonists/A/9/map_9_cropped.gif)
Mio is very concerned about the construction drone, which has started building something in the middle of the colony. Mio wasn't informed about any building jobs. They were under the impression that the colony wasn't going to build anything new for a little while, until they had enough plasticarbon to start a larger project. Mio shuts down the construction drone and drives it away from its building site.
The object that is revealed underneath is startling and unexpected:
![[Image: mysterious_building.gif]](https://www.deepwatercreations.com/SixtyFourPixelColonists/A/9/mysterious_building.gif)
Jutting up from a circular dais is a thin gray pillar of plasticarbon. The pillar is not solid, but formed from a chaotic lattice of curling tendrils that stretch upward in a series of nested, ever-tighening helices. Mio finds the style unnerving, but strangely familiar, though they can't quite place where they've seen it before. It puts them in mind of an unfurling palm frond, a messy spiderweb, or perhaps a bone's spongy interior.
The other colonists gather around to stare at it - those who haven't joined the expedition to the northeast, at least. There is a sense of muted horror. What is this thing? Why is it here? They check the drone's build order record, and find a blueprint for this very structure entered into its memory, but none have any recollection of setting the order or of designing the blueprint.
Mio has half a mind to tear down the construction drone and analyze all its systems, like the colonists did for algae tank A. They know the colony is still in dire need of resources, however, so they set the drone to build another compact algae tank.
The area around the colony's landing craft is becoming congested. Next thing the colony builds, they'll have to decide which direction to expand in, or else reclaim some of the space they're already using.
New Project: Build Compact Algae Tank (1 Turn)
-10 Plasticarbon
The jury-rigged solar array seems to be holding for the time being, but the colonists all agree that a sudden power failure would be disastrous. They begin working to design a deep-cycle battery array to hold a backup store of power.
New Prokect: Design Deep-Cycle Battery Array (1 Turn)
The colonists debate the value of converting the landing craft into a community meeting area. They could rip out all of the seats and tear off some of the panels separating the passenger compartment from the cargo storage section, but the craft was designed for function, not comfort. Even without the seats, the ceiling is too low to permit anyone to stand. Sure, it would be more resource-efficient than building a new structure, but it would also be painfully uncomfortable, not to mention a lot of effort. On the other hand, aside from a few important electrical components, such as the drone signal antenna, the landing craft isn't good for much as it is. The colonists should probably find something to do with it. Or else just dismantle the dang thing.
Since the colony has enough power for it, they send a message to GFP using the ansible:
The colonists put together a team to go in search of their wayward biologist. The geologist, who is the only one with first-hand knowledge of the area, and the medic, whose services might be needed, both join the team. The archivist and Shiva also go along. The archivist goes along because they want to talk to Shiva in private. Shiva goes along partly because the biologist was their friend, (or as Shiva insists, "best bud", though nobody else gets the joke,) but mostly because the archivist pressured them into it.
New Project: Rescue the Biologist (??? Turns)
"Shiva," says the archivist, pulling Shiva aside on the second day and touching helmets to speak privately, "I know you were messing around with the algae tanks."
Shiva is annoyed. "I keep telling people the mold has nothing to do with me," they say.
"I put up video cameras," insists the archivist. "I saw you do something to the tanks."
Shiva looks baffled. "When?" they ask. "Three turns ago? I borrowed some plasticarbon for my flag pole. Is that what you're referring to?"
"For your what?"
"My flag pole. For the flag I made. I know everyone was mad after I made that paint, but I used the computers to do some topology optimization so I could design the pole to require as little plasticarbon as possible. Is that a problem? I thought we were planning on building one anyway."
As the archivist knows, the tank that was producing plasticarbon was one of the two Shiva visited.
"Okay, but what about the other tank?" asks the archivist. "What did you do at tank A?"
"The one with the mold? Nothing, I just wanted to look at it," says Shiva. "So sue me, I've never seen alien mold before."
"It's not alien mold."
"It might be alien mold! Look," says Shiva, "Tom, we know each other pretty well by now. I know some of the others have some hang-ups about me, that they think I'm not qualified to be here just because my background's in art more than it's in science. But you, I always thought... y'know, I always thought the two of us got along. I can deal with the way everyone keeps dumbing down their technical explanations when they talk to me, I can deal with whatever those rumors were that I'm a cannibal who's going to kill everyone in their sleep or whatever the heck, and I'm honestly sorry about the paint. I didn't realize GFP sent us out here with so little food. But you, you're suspicious of me too? After all the poetry and word games during the voyage? After being paired together in training? The time we broke into the human centrifuge building in the middle of the night and took turns getting high at 4g? I have to admit, I'm disappointed. I thought you knew me better than that."
Shiva walks away after the medic and the geologist. Tom lingers behind, suddenly regretful. Did they really drag Shiva all the way out here on this expedition over nothing? Did they really think Shiva might be a saboteur? Shiva hasn't really done anything to deserve that kind of suspicion. Aside from helping themself to some algae byproducts that, let's face it, weren't being formally rationed anyway, Shiva hasn't done anything wrong or caused any real trouble. They're totally innocent.
The eerie, organic pillar stands in the center of the colony, marring its skyline, its surface a rash of jagged shadows from the ambient lighting system. The five colonists left behind can't stand to look at it, but can't bring themselves to tear it down. They go about their daily routines with shoulders hunched and gazes averted. They jump at motions in the corners of their eyes. What alien intelligence was responsible for this structure? What does it want from them? How did it compromise their drone? Where is it now? Nobody knows what to do. Nobody sleeps well.
Mood: -Suspicious +Terrified
THE NUMBERS:
Colony Mood:
Suspicious
Construction Drone: BUILDING COMPACT ALGAE TANK
Compact Scouting Drone: MISSING
Compact Scouting Drone: IDLE
Projects:
Build - ???: Canceled!
Analyze Mold: 1 Turn
Mio is very concerned about the construction drone, which has started building something in the middle of the colony. Mio wasn't informed about any building jobs. They were under the impression that the colony wasn't going to build anything new for a little while, until they had enough plasticarbon to start a larger project. Mio shuts down the construction drone and drives it away from its building site.
The object that is revealed underneath is startling and unexpected:
Jutting up from a circular dais is a thin gray pillar of plasticarbon. The pillar is not solid, but formed from a chaotic lattice of curling tendrils that stretch upward in a series of nested, ever-tighening helices. Mio finds the style unnerving, but strangely familiar, though they can't quite place where they've seen it before. It puts them in mind of an unfurling palm frond, a messy spiderweb, or perhaps a bone's spongy interior.
The other colonists gather around to stare at it - those who haven't joined the expedition to the northeast, at least. There is a sense of muted horror. What is this thing? Why is it here? They check the drone's build order record, and find a blueprint for this very structure entered into its memory, but none have any recollection of setting the order or of designing the blueprint.
Mio has half a mind to tear down the construction drone and analyze all its systems, like the colonists did for algae tank A. They know the colony is still in dire need of resources, however, so they set the drone to build another compact algae tank.
The area around the colony's landing craft is becoming congested. Next thing the colony builds, they'll have to decide which direction to expand in, or else reclaim some of the space they're already using.
New Project: Build Compact Algae Tank (1 Turn)
-10 Plasticarbon
The jury-rigged solar array seems to be holding for the time being, but the colonists all agree that a sudden power failure would be disastrous. They begin working to design a deep-cycle battery array to hold a backup store of power.
New Prokect: Design Deep-Cycle Battery Array (1 Turn)
The colonists debate the value of converting the landing craft into a community meeting area. They could rip out all of the seats and tear off some of the panels separating the passenger compartment from the cargo storage section, but the craft was designed for function, not comfort. Even without the seats, the ceiling is too low to permit anyone to stand. Sure, it would be more resource-efficient than building a new structure, but it would also be painfully uncomfortable, not to mention a lot of effort. On the other hand, aside from a few important electrical components, such as the drone signal antenna, the landing craft isn't good for much as it is. The colonists should probably find something to do with it. Or else just dismantle the dang thing.
Since the colony has enough power for it, they send a message to GFP using the ansible:
Quote:BIOLOGIST WENT OUT ALONE, STRUGGLING TO RECOVER THEM. PLEASE SEND SOYBEANS, VEGETABLE SEEDS, DRONES, BATTERIES AND PLASTICARBON.It might be a turn or two before GFP gets around to responding.
The colonists put together a team to go in search of their wayward biologist. The geologist, who is the only one with first-hand knowledge of the area, and the medic, whose services might be needed, both join the team. The archivist and Shiva also go along. The archivist goes along because they want to talk to Shiva in private. Shiva goes along partly because the biologist was their friend, (or as Shiva insists, "best bud", though nobody else gets the joke,) but mostly because the archivist pressured them into it.
New Project: Rescue the Biologist (??? Turns)
"Shiva," says the archivist, pulling Shiva aside on the second day and touching helmets to speak privately, "I know you were messing around with the algae tanks."
Shiva is annoyed. "I keep telling people the mold has nothing to do with me," they say.
"I put up video cameras," insists the archivist. "I saw you do something to the tanks."
Shiva looks baffled. "When?" they ask. "Three turns ago? I borrowed some plasticarbon for my flag pole. Is that what you're referring to?"
"For your what?"
"My flag pole. For the flag I made. I know everyone was mad after I made that paint, but I used the computers to do some topology optimization so I could design the pole to require as little plasticarbon as possible. Is that a problem? I thought we were planning on building one anyway."
As the archivist knows, the tank that was producing plasticarbon was one of the two Shiva visited.
"Okay, but what about the other tank?" asks the archivist. "What did you do at tank A?"
"The one with the mold? Nothing, I just wanted to look at it," says Shiva. "So sue me, I've never seen alien mold before."
"It's not alien mold."
"It might be alien mold! Look," says Shiva, "Tom, we know each other pretty well by now. I know some of the others have some hang-ups about me, that they think I'm not qualified to be here just because my background's in art more than it's in science. But you, I always thought... y'know, I always thought the two of us got along. I can deal with the way everyone keeps dumbing down their technical explanations when they talk to me, I can deal with whatever those rumors were that I'm a cannibal who's going to kill everyone in their sleep or whatever the heck, and I'm honestly sorry about the paint. I didn't realize GFP sent us out here with so little food. But you, you're suspicious of me too? After all the poetry and word games during the voyage? After being paired together in training? The time we broke into the human centrifuge building in the middle of the night and took turns getting high at 4g? I have to admit, I'm disappointed. I thought you knew me better than that."
Shiva walks away after the medic and the geologist. Tom lingers behind, suddenly regretful. Did they really drag Shiva all the way out here on this expedition over nothing? Did they really think Shiva might be a saboteur? Shiva hasn't really done anything to deserve that kind of suspicion. Aside from helping themself to some algae byproducts that, let's face it, weren't being formally rationed anyway, Shiva hasn't done anything wrong or caused any real trouble. They're totally innocent.
The eerie, organic pillar stands in the center of the colony, marring its skyline, its surface a rash of jagged shadows from the ambient lighting system. The five colonists left behind can't stand to look at it, but can't bring themselves to tear it down. They go about their daily routines with shoulders hunched and gazes averted. They jump at motions in the corners of their eyes. What alien intelligence was responsible for this structure? What does it want from them? How did it compromise their drone? Where is it now? Nobody knows what to do. Nobody sleeps well.
Mood: -Suspicious +Terrified
THE NUMBERS:
Spoiler
Spoiler