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[eripui]

Boy, that was a close one! That gas formation was a clever trick.

Hello there.

I know I've already spoken to some of you—I had hoped to do this individually—but it appears we need to move things along more quickly than we'd realized. That ship of yours seems eager to shake us, and we simply can't let that happen.

My name is Lina Barnez. The rest of the team and I have been working on contacting the Tranquility for some time. Unfortunately, our tech isn't perfectly compatible with what you're running on. It hasn't been easy, but we're managing. I don't know how long we'll have.

We're here to help you, but in order to do that, we'll need you to help us. You've been through a lot on this ship: it's a miracle so many of you are still with us. We'd like to make sure you stay that way, but we can only do that if you're completely honest with us.

We know about the events on Strela, the Cyllene and Arima, as well as the Scylla. What happened to those poor people was not your fault, and you have my word that we have no plans to hold you responsible for those events.

But we need to work together to make sure it doesn't happen again. The more you tell us about what's been going on aboard the Tranquility, the more we can do.

[ NOTE: All conversations will be cut off before too long by the engines suddenly powering back up, and the jump alarm sounding to alert characters to proceed to medbay immediately. ]

Comments

[eripui]

To the same degree, no, but in another capacity? I would like to hear about your incidents which were experienced, and your thoughts on them - sir? I'm afraid I've no good way in which to address you, though we know one another.

We are unsure as to what occurred on Arima, though past landings from the Tranquility have resulted in the same type of destruction.

We're unsure if you're at risk, or not - we would endeavor to prevent such happenings to occur to you, though we're unsure as to how we can help, and as such we are requesting more information about events that passengers here have experienced. Please be assured that you are not categorized as a risk. You have all been quite helpful.

[circumitus]

apologies. name is rey.
after certain experiences, have felt more "connected" to some of the people here. arima, for example: although some of us had wanted to, a handful endured this need to return to the tranquility despite our best efforts to escape it.

and what same type of destruction would that be? apparently strela is some ghost story after an alleged failure in its life support, but you're implying that this ship could have had something to do with its end.

it's possible that the previous crew went insane. those people are likely all - or mostly - dead. killed each other. think some of them have been turned into monsters. the same thing may be happening now. there's a possibility you may not be able to help us at all. it wants to keep us.

[eripui]

Rey, it is! Hello. I'm Joshua Sachin, as I believe you do know at this time. I'm very pleased to formally introduce myself to you.

I'm quite sorry this is so rushed, but you see, I don't think we have much time to speak. I must mostly ask questions at this point in time.

Can you describe this connection to me in more detail? What other times has it occurred? Were the same needs experienced, by either you or others? How would you describe this "need", as you call it?

All residents of Strela and Arima are deceased. It is not known how, fully. Again, any information you may have regarding

I'm sorry -- monsters? Information regarding said monsters, and any information you may have as to whether they remain a threat, is more important. Our foremost interests are involved with the lives of those on the ship.

[circumitus]

understood. can't stay on for much longer, either.

don't know. it's really hard to concentrate right now. sometimes it feels like something wants us to stay. wants us to think this place is home.

fine. just need to know one thing about the cyllene, though.
were you able to go there? need to know if you saw anything.
in the hallways.
please.

yes. monsters. they're in some parts of the ship - usually the hallways. don't know much about them, except that it seems they somehow have a way of surviving the jumps. they are occasionally a threat, but not in the more inhabited locations.
most of us can usually handle them. don't worry.

[eripui]

I still have many questions, but for now I will answer yours. Thank you, Rey.

The Cyllene's condition was discovered after the Tranquility had passed through, it does seem. We at first did not receive a distress call, and we're unsure as to the time that transpired between your ship landing and our knowledge of the event occurring. Upon boarding, we encountered upon figures who -- we're not quite sure as to what they were. Any information there would, again, be quite helpful. Our best approximation is that they were the 'ghost' figures that some from the Tranquility seem to speak of, or perhaps hallucinations. The condition of the ship itself was unusual as well.

[circumitus]

then ask them at a later time, if we're allowed to speak again.

[She knows that's a horrible idea, but she has just as many questions she'd like to ask, if not more.

[Oddly, she finds herself relieved by his answer, though. Maybe they're not all crazy. Yet.]

thank you for answering, joshua.
so you did see them?
it was like that when we got there. assumed it'd been like that for a long time.
almost didn't make it out because of the traps. damn things nearly took off a whole arm.
have you ever seen anything like that happen before?