The Mnemosyne Crew (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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thememesyne2024-10-27 02:16 am
mnemosynecrew) wrote in thememesyne2024-10-27 02:16 am
Entry tags:
TDM 02
TDM 02
WAKING UP
WARNING
WARNING
cryo bay malfunction
cryo bed error
loading
emergency override accepted
It's nothing like it was in training, waking up from cryo sleep. The sterile, cold quiet you were conditioned to expect is shattered. Alarms blare violently, ricocheting off the walls of your pod as if they're trying to crawl into your skull. Red lights pulse like a failing heartbeat, and for a moment, your entire body refuses to obey you - can't breathe, can't move, can't think.
...and then, with an almost violent shudder, force rips through your diaphragm. A brutal jolt, like being kicked from the inside out. You cough, heaving for air as the cryo pod's systems drag you unwillingly out of torpor. There is no slow, gentle awakening - this is an emergency.
Your vision is blurred and swimming in the red strobes. Emergency. The word itself seems lodged in the air, floating around your fractured mind like some distorted mantra. Something's wrong. Very wrong.
When you stumble out of the pod, your muscles heavy with the dull ache of cryo-stasis. It takes more effort than it should to move; even in the low gravity of the massive cryo bay, it's like you're fighting against the weight of your own body. Your hands tremble as you grab the tether, using it to pull yourself forward, toward the revival room. Everything feels too slow. Every movement, every thought, is tangled in webs of lethargy and confusion. Your brain is... wrong. It feels like it's leaking memories - images flickering and fading, like youâre seeing through a sieve full of holes.
This is not the start of your 5-year shift. No, this is something far, far worse.
A voice comes through from a speaker, disturbingly calm, cutting through the chaos around you.
hello, [crew member]
there is an issue
please join your crewmates
L3TH3 sounds unbothered by the alarms that blare around you. The AI has likely been running diagnostics for hours, while your body and mind were frozen in time.
The doors to the revival room slide open with a soft hiss, revealing dim, sterile lighting and the harsh stench of disinfectant. What awaits you are not only crew members as confused and groggy as you are, but others also arrive at the room from outside, ready to greet you. Do you ask them whatâs going on, if they feel the same gnawing wrongness clawing at their brains? Or do you just grab your gear and get ready to go, trusting the training that suddenly feels so irrelevant in the face of whatever's happening here?
One thing is clear - something's definitely off about this wakeup call.
WARNING
WARNING
cryo bay malfunction
cryo bed error
loading
emergency override accepted
It's nothing like it was in training, waking up from cryo sleep. The sterile, cold quiet you were conditioned to expect is shattered. Alarms blare violently, ricocheting off the walls of your pod as if they're trying to crawl into your skull. Red lights pulse like a failing heartbeat, and for a moment, your entire body refuses to obey you - can't breathe, can't move, can't think.
...and then, with an almost violent shudder, force rips through your diaphragm. A brutal jolt, like being kicked from the inside out. You cough, heaving for air as the cryo pod's systems drag you unwillingly out of torpor. There is no slow, gentle awakening - this is an emergency.
Your vision is blurred and swimming in the red strobes. Emergency. The word itself seems lodged in the air, floating around your fractured mind like some distorted mantra. Something's wrong. Very wrong.
When you stumble out of the pod, your muscles heavy with the dull ache of cryo-stasis. It takes more effort than it should to move; even in the low gravity of the massive cryo bay, it's like you're fighting against the weight of your own body. Your hands tremble as you grab the tether, using it to pull yourself forward, toward the revival room. Everything feels too slow. Every movement, every thought, is tangled in webs of lethargy and confusion. Your brain is... wrong. It feels like it's leaking memories - images flickering and fading, like youâre seeing through a sieve full of holes.
This is not the start of your 5-year shift. No, this is something far, far worse.
A voice comes through from a speaker, disturbingly calm, cutting through the chaos around you.
hello, [crew member]
there is an issue
please join your crewmates
L3TH3 sounds unbothered by the alarms that blare around you. The AI has likely been running diagnostics for hours, while your body and mind were frozen in time.
The doors to the revival room slide open with a soft hiss, revealing dim, sterile lighting and the harsh stench of disinfectant. What awaits you are not only crew members as confused and groggy as you are, but others also arrive at the room from outside, ready to greet you. Do you ask them whatâs going on, if they feel the same gnawing wrongness clawing at their brains? Or do you just grab your gear and get ready to go, trusting the training that suddenly feels so irrelevant in the face of whatever's happening here?
One thing is clear - something's definitely off about this wakeup call.
A BIT OF TURBULENCE
Thanks to the combined efforts of the crew, the engine is back on! L3TH3 is quick to continue in the direction the navigators had planned - before they were sanitized. The Mnemosyne moves through space easily, barely a sound as the purple nebula and distant stars light up the unknown galaxy the ship has ended up in. It's eerie but beautiful, the cosmic canvas shifting and swirling with colors that seem almost alive.
The tranquility shatters on the day after the new crew wakes up - the ship enters an asteroid field. The shields power up with a pronounced whir as the hard-light protection activates, creating a shimmering barrier to block the floating space rocks. While it's strong enough to protect the hull from taking damage, there's now a lot of turbulence. Each collision of small asteroids against the shield sends vibrations rattling through the ship, making it feel as though the very bones of the Mnemosyne are protesting against the chaos outside.
Quickly, furniture is magnetized to not fly around and a notice flashes on the CL-10, urging everyone to secure any smaller loose objects. As the asteroid field closes in, the crew can see the rocks tumbling in the void, some as large as small moons, spinning through the dark with an unsettling grace. The ship lurches to the side, casting shadows that dance like specters against the walls.
Outside, the view is still breathtaking - asteroids whizzing by, some glittering with minerals, others shrouded in dust and shadow. In the midst of the chaos, the beauty of the galaxy remains.
Thanks to the combined efforts of the crew, the engine is back on! L3TH3 is quick to continue in the direction the navigators had planned - before they were sanitized. The Mnemosyne moves through space easily, barely a sound as the purple nebula and distant stars light up the unknown galaxy the ship has ended up in. It's eerie but beautiful, the cosmic canvas shifting and swirling with colors that seem almost alive.
The tranquility shatters on the day after the new crew wakes up - the ship enters an asteroid field. The shields power up with a pronounced whir as the hard-light protection activates, creating a shimmering barrier to block the floating space rocks. While it's strong enough to protect the hull from taking damage, there's now a lot of turbulence. Each collision of small asteroids against the shield sends vibrations rattling through the ship, making it feel as though the very bones of the Mnemosyne are protesting against the chaos outside.
Quickly, furniture is magnetized to not fly around and a notice flashes on the CL-10, urging everyone to secure any smaller loose objects. As the asteroid field closes in, the crew can see the rocks tumbling in the void, some as large as small moons, spinning through the dark with an unsettling grace. The ship lurches to the side, casting shadows that dance like specters against the walls.
Outside, the view is still breathtaking - asteroids whizzing by, some glittering with minerals, others shrouded in dust and shadow. In the midst of the chaos, the beauty of the galaxy remains.
FLOATING AWAY
As the Mnemosyne continues to brave the asteroid field, L3TH3 suggests that the crew move to the holodecks for their safety. The AI reasons that it'll minimize the risk of injury, and the gravity will be turned off in there to stop the turbulence from shaking people around. It will allow the crew to float weightlessly for a while, free from the jolts that have become their new unwelcome companions.
If the crew make their way to the holodecks, the air is different inside, tinged with the scent of fresh grass and ocean salt as holographic projections spring to life around them.
In one holodeck, the program flickers to life, revealing a stunning landscape of lush green meadows dotted with vibrant wildflowers. The sun hangs low in a blue sky, casting a warm glow across the scenery. Gentle breezes rustle through the tall grass, creating a soft, soothing sound that is a stark contrast to the metallic whir of the ship. When the gravity turns off, it's like flying over the beautiful summer setting.
In the adjacent holodeck, another program unfolds - a breathtaking underwater scene. The crew members can see themselves swimming through the crystal-clear water, surrounded by colorful coral reefs teeming with life. Schools of fish dart between the corals, their scales shimmering in shades of blue, orange, and yellow. The tranquility of the ocean envelops everything, each breath a reminder of the freedom you can have within this artificial paradise.
For a moment, the crew can forget the peril of the asteroid field and the unpredictability of space travel. Here, in this floaty sanctuary, everyone can find a bit of solace.
As the Mnemosyne continues to brave the asteroid field, L3TH3 suggests that the crew move to the holodecks for their safety. The AI reasons that it'll minimize the risk of injury, and the gravity will be turned off in there to stop the turbulence from shaking people around. It will allow the crew to float weightlessly for a while, free from the jolts that have become their new unwelcome companions.
If the crew make their way to the holodecks, the air is different inside, tinged with the scent of fresh grass and ocean salt as holographic projections spring to life around them.
In one holodeck, the program flickers to life, revealing a stunning landscape of lush green meadows dotted with vibrant wildflowers. The sun hangs low in a blue sky, casting a warm glow across the scenery. Gentle breezes rustle through the tall grass, creating a soft, soothing sound that is a stark contrast to the metallic whir of the ship. When the gravity turns off, it's like flying over the beautiful summer setting.
In the adjacent holodeck, another program unfolds - a breathtaking underwater scene. The crew members can see themselves swimming through the crystal-clear water, surrounded by colorful coral reefs teeming with life. Schools of fish dart between the corals, their scales shimmering in shades of blue, orange, and yellow. The tranquility of the ocean envelops everything, each breath a reminder of the freedom you can have within this artificial paradise.
For a moment, the crew can forget the peril of the asteroid field and the unpredictability of space travel. Here, in this floaty sanctuary, everyone can find a bit of solace.
Welcome to our TDM! Please direct any questions about the game to our FAQ and check out our AU WORKSHOP. If you have questions about the prompts, you can ask below.
PLAYLIST
THIS TDM IS A GAME-CANON EVENT, SO CURRENT CREW CAN TOPLEVEL AS WELL.
ANY CHARACTERS THAT DO NOT END UP IN THE GAME HAVE GONE BACK TO CRYO SLEEP.
RESERVES OPEN THE 1ST.
APPLICATIONS OPEN THE 3RD.
THIS TDM IS A GAME-CANON EVENT, SO CURRENT CREW CAN TOPLEVEL AS WELL.
ANY CHARACTERS THAT DO NOT END UP IN THE GAME HAVE GONE BACK TO CRYO SLEEP.
RESERVES OPEN THE 1ST.
APPLICATIONS OPEN THE 3RD.
no subject
[ One vulpine ear twitches in mild alarm at the audible sound of Wolfwood's stomach. His examination had picked up signs of malnutrition, most obvious in the pallor of his skin and the bags under his eyes, but appallingly obvious in the concerning vitamin levels his scanner had logged.
The real question is; why had Wolfwood gotten that way?
Jiaoqiu picks up a bowel, and starts ladeling broth into it. Following a hefty amount of that, he starts adding food with chopsticks: a healthy dose of simmered beef, rich green vegetables, thick slices of carrot, crisp beanshoots, crispy cubes of tofu. He arranges it as artistically as only a nearly-professional chef (well, reasonably popular cooking streamer) can, and hands it through the small square gap in the barrier. ]
Typically such a recipe would call for spice, but medical recovery calls for blander food to go easy on your body and help you recover. [ Not that this pot of food is bland in any way, it's just certainly not spicy or overly rich. ] Have you been fed here? By your reaction, I'm guessing the fare here leaves something to be desired.
no subject
Even with the steaming bowl in hand, all but shaking from the good smells coming off of it, Wolfwood doesn't eat. It's for his recovery, Jiaoqiu said, and Wolfwood's known too many doctors to trust that statement. ]
And what else?
[ Damn but it smells so good! It's a form of torture to stand here holding the bowl and not doing anything but smelling the rich scent, but a lifetime of paranoia isn't dismissed so easily. ]
Sedatives? ...No, no need to knock me out when I'm already locked up, right? So mood stabilizers then? Somethin' to keep me placid so I can get put back to work?
[ It smells so good. He's going to eat it -- they both know this -- but he at least wants to know what he's eating. ]
no subject
You think I'm trying to poison you? Why-- I would never-- That's--
[ His sputtering is getting him nowhere, so he draws a breath and forces himself to pause and gather himself. Jiaoqiu smooths a hand over the front of his bodysuit, brushing off imaginary dust, mouth slanted in a disapproving line. ]
I would never ruin the food like that. Do you know how bitter most medications are? It would completely change the flavor profile.
[ Also it's, like. Immoral. But he thinks Wolfwood would more readily believe his first line of defense.
With that, he hands a pair of chopsticks through the gap in the barrier. That is, perhaps, not wise. It's not likely Wolfwood could get very far with a pair of wooden chopsticks, but he could do serious damage to himself. Ah, well, if he tries, Jiaoqiu is right here and armed with his medical kit. ]
no subject
It's almost like none of these people are actually afraid of him. Don't they know he tried to kill somebody!? ]
You're saying you aren't a good enough cook to poison somebody without messin' with the flavors?
[ He has to make a joke out of it, to cover up his shock. He's not very good at jokes, though, and his smile is more than a little crooked. But he's trying! He's really trying.
It's important that doctors don't see how scared you are, because then they try to make you not scared and that's even worse.
Hesitantly, he reaches for those chopsticks. ]
I bet you could do it. Cynanide with almonds, or oleander mixed in with the bay? It's not that hard.
[ None of these people seem worried about the very real threat outside, so maybe they don't understand danger when they're looking at it? He can help with that. ]
no subject
You're not wrong. I suppose assassins have been cleverly hiding the taste of poison in food for millennia. But, as of yet, I'm woefully inexperienced in the field, and I don't particularly intend to learn.
[ With Wolfwood served, he starts serving his own bowl, heavy on tofu and edamame. Once he's done, he drags a chair to seat himself in front of the hard-light barrier, one leg crossed over the other, chopsticks deftly scooping up a heap of steaming noodles. He watches Wolfwood thoughtfully. ]
I spoke with Zaeed earlier. We'd both prefer that you not be in this cell, because our crew is small enough as it is but we need all hands on deck. We're afraid that if you're loose, however, you'll attempt to kill Captain Drake again.
no subject
Somebody's got to.
[ He wants to get out of here, of course he does. But he never learned how to lie, and he's not going to start trying now. If he's released, he'll try again. Be sure of it. ]
You're a doctor, right? First do no harm?
[ The sarcasm practically drips from his words as he quotes that old tenet. Jiaoqiu might so far be proving to be different than every other doctor Wolfwood's known, but that's still just a single datapoint. He's known too many doctors to ever trust a doctor again, sorry.,/small> ]
As long as he's alive, we're in danger.
no subject
[ Jiaoqiu's rebuttal is mild, and he takes a bite of tofu like it's as ordinary as any other kind of conversation. He is glad to see Wolfwood eating -- his own show of taking from the same pot must have convinced him it wasn't poisoned or medicated -- and he makes a mental note to bring Wolfwood food more often. He's going to guess the man wasn't eating very well before this.
His next words are delicate. ]
Now, if you want to discuss consensual euthanasia, that's a topic that's far more palatable. If the Captain came to me and indicated that he wanted to end his own life, I would run him through a battery of psychological tests and I would likely conclude that his request was reasonable, considering his current quality of life. But I would only ever agree to aid in his death if that's what he wanted.
no subject
So he's got to come to you and ask?
[ Maybe just one more spoonful, just of the broth. ]
You know he's suffering. He said so himself, couple days back.
[ At least, Wolfwood thinks he remembers the captain saying that. Was that real? ]
Why the hell do you need him to come beg you for mercy?
no subject
[ Jiaoqiu stifles a sigh. He hadn't really wanted to get into a debate about euthanasia versus murder, but it seems he's wound up in one anyway. This is probably his own fault for bringing it up. ]
In places on Tellus where euthanasia is legal, every rule follows the same basic concept: the patient must be the one to ask. If a doctor were to start that conversation, it would be seen as coercive. If a relative starts that conversation, it would be manipulative. It's not begging for mercy, it's a calculated decision to end ones life. And it must be done with full consent and clarity.
[ How much clarity is Captain Drake capable of these days? He clearly has some, as evidenced by his last communication, but...
Jiaoqiu smiles, a silent gesture of a shrug. ]
I'm sorry, Wolfwood, but no argument you come up with could possibly convince me that murder is the kinder, more ethical option. I appreciate your urgency and your concern for the crew's safety, but I still think you should have discussed your plan with everyone before attempting it.
no subject
The idea that he'd tell everyone about his plan first is met with confusion and surprise, though, rather than annoyance. Never in his life has he been part of a team, never has he had other people to rely on. It hadn't even occurred to him to ask for help or guidance -- why would it have? ]
Sure. Next time I plan to kill somebody I'll send you a meeting invite so you can come be guilty of treason too.