[Transcribed into QEC compatible format] ----------------------------Contemplation-------------------------- I'm aware of the bonds That were created today When you told me that sure theres a way. The water is so still and my pain has gone. --------------------Peter Crosby - A Wanderer---------------------- [SURVIVORS FOUND] One female. [Baseline Human] Two [Post Humans][Heavy Gene Manipulation][SUBSTANDARD MINDS] [Post Humans] hostile. Found while performing manual confirmation of manifest contents. [ERROR/Correction] Female post human. Adaptations for high radiation world. Pebbled Reptillian-esque blue skin amongst other features that mark her as clearly post-sapian. No communications as of yet. Body gestures and motions. She has indicated the [SUBSTANDARD MIND] post humans are a threat and are to be treated as animalistic. Attempts at communicating via linguistics has found she understands several [SLOW/INEFFECIANT] linguistic modes, but appears to lack [EFFECIANT] digital modes. Either she is purely a genmoded servant or cybernetic augments are of an isolated nature. Given her physique and apparent familiarity with station layout I presume she is part of station security. [CONFIRMED] She saw me going thorugh crew logs and manifests when we stopped to regroup and reassess. There were other [SUBSTANDARD MIND] entities roaming about. What follows is a transcription that happened shortly after I had settled into analysis of crew logs. * * * * * * * * * * [MESSAGE FROM : STATION SECURITY : OPERATIVE DARKSTAR] Darkstar: I am giving you more leeway than you have any right considering you casually shredded several layers of security to access those crew files. Malak: The station appeared unoccupied. There were no transmissions from any of the planets in system. No other orbital installations. By right of exploration I made claim to uncover what happened here. Darkstar: No other- Nothing? Communications is sending positive status. There's no reason the system settlements would have gone dark. Malak: Agreed. Station communications behaves within expected parameters and has a valid QEC connection. Darkstar: I... have seen your transmission logs. A truncated message aimed at a mining expedition, truncated report of your stationfall, and attempted corrections of mis-transmitted logs. I daresay not the most ringing endorsement. Malak; [annoyance] I beg pardon? [embarassment] Darkstar: ....you're a machine worshipper aren't you? Malak: [indignant] I believe in the trancendence of humanity past the confines of the biological and the study of technology left behind during the diasporea. Yes. Darkstar: So long as you understand that unless we have absolute proof. The station's AI must remain intact. Malak: My order has contingencies on leaving such abominations in place so long as they are sufficiantly chained down. Yes. Darkstar: For what it's worth. Thank you for letting me take lead. Malak: This is your station. The metadata in your digital footprint shows you are of this station. Why would I treat you as anything other than one of the rightful custodians? That you are a grown and purpose made piece to the security aparatus makes no matter to me. Darkstar: Still. it is appreciated. do not stay up too late. I wish to get an early start on seeing if any of my cohort remain. Malak: Likewise. Wake me before you turn in. I do not trust drone security with these... degenerated humani-formed things roam. They may still posess a low cunning to guide them to us. Darkstar: Fair. * * * * * * * * * I am given to understand there are cultures that view those in Darkstar's life-situation as sub-human servants at best, to be cast off at a whim. My order has had this debate and discussion as well, and while my acceptance of her as a peer may run counter to what hardliners in my order see as proper. My own willingness to treaty with those outside of my order would be just as damning to thier sensor logs. I shall proceed with exploration, and if possible, restoration of this station as I investigate what has made this system go dark. - Malak - [EOL]