Notes: Target resources successfully acquired. In addition, a low- 
level anomalous object (AO- __) was identified and secured by 
crewmembers, marking the first anomaly identified and secured by 
members of this craft. 


Dispatch #: Res-0017 

Location: Planet 1-0164 "Persephone" 

Target: Plant material for study 

Status: Success 

Notes: Planet 1-0164 was identified as a potential candidate for 
extensive plant growth. FSF Delivery sent to confirm presence of 
plant life on planet, and obtain samples for study. Numerous 
samples acquired, revealing a forest ecosystem similar to those 
seen on Earth. 


Dispatch #: Res-0018 

Location: Planet 1-0164 "Persephone" 

Target: Lumber for use in construction, printing, etc. 
Status: Success 


Notes: Crew of Delivery encountered previously unnoticed native 
intelligent life forms, living in a primitive tribal structure (classified as 
LF-0019). LF-0019 demonstrated hostile behavior, resulting in the 
deaths of two crew members. 


Dispatch #: Res-0019 

Location: Planet 1-0164 "Persephone" 

Target: Lumber for use in construction, printing, etc., specimen of 
native intelligent life for study 

Status: Success 

Notes: Specimen of native intelligent life successfully recovered. 
Life form officially classified as LF-0019. 


Dispatch #: Res-0026 

Location: Planet 2-0014 

Target: Heavy metallic ore for study and use in construction 
Status: Failure 

Notes: Planet gravity higher than initial scans indicated, resulting in 
inability to secure target ore, the death of a crew member, and 
heavy damages to craft. Delivery scanners upgraded in response to 
incident. 


Dispatch #: Res-0051 

Location: Planet 2-0027 "Nemesis" 

Target: Classified 

Status: Failure 

Notes: Resulted in death of crew member. One other member 
resigned from service following incident. For more information 
regarding Res-0051, contact FSF Information Services and submit 
appropriate credentials. 


Dispatch #: Res-0059 

Location: Planet 2-0243 

Target: Radioactive isotopes, for study and use as fuel 

Status: Success 

Notes: First test of newly acquired faster-than-light travel equipment 
obtained via SCP-1822. Craft navigator lost during operation of 
said equipment and deemed unrecoverable. Return trip took longer 
than projected due to lack of navigator. For more information on FTL 
travel equipment, see Experimental Components. 


Dispatch #: Res-0066 

Location: Planet 2-0130 

Target: Unidentified material for study 

Status: Failure 

Notes: Failure to properly interpret planetary scan data resulted in 
failure to preemptively identify hazardous electromagnetic properties 
of the unidentified material composing much of Planet 2-0130. 
Material acquisition attempt resulted in death of crew member and 
heavy damages to ship. Materials analyst placed on crew to prevent 
future incidents of this nature. 


CREW-ISSUED COMPONENTS 


¢ Plasma Lash-based Handheld Scoring Device (PLHSD) - 
To aid in the excavation of particularly hard materials, the 
PLHSD utilizes the "plasma-lashing" principle recently 
discovered by FSF researcher Jeremy Cutt to produce a 
superheated edge capable of scoring most known materials. 
Each member of the Delivery is equipped with a PLHSD 
approximately 0.75 m in length. 


Known flaws - PLHSDs have been known to periodically activate 
their cutting edge without prompting. To prevent accidental burns, 
each member of the Delivery has been provided with a hip-mounted 
insulated storage device. 


VESSEL COMPONENTS 


¢ Hypervelocity coilgun kinetic output amplifier module 
(official name pending) - To compensate for the Delivery's 
reduced number of 'Naagastra' hypervelocity coilguns, the 
vessel's remaining coilgun has been outfitted with a module to 
allow firing of an ultra-high-density multipartite projectile, 
rather than conventional coilgun ammunition. This increases 
the weapon's destructive force per shot. 


Known flaws - The amplifier module significantly increases the recoil 
experienced after firing. In addition, the module has not yet been 
optimized for use simultaneously with standard Varuna-class 
gravitational spin, necessitating spindown before the weapon can be 


fired accurately. 


¢ SIDE-B multi-vector refractive targeting system - Intended 
to further compensate for the Delivery's lack of offensive 
firepower, it has been outfitted with the SIDE-B, allowing 
modified laser weaponry to direct fire from multiple firing ports. 


Known flaws - Laser fire directed via the SIDE-B system exhibits 
reduced efficacy in comparison to fire directed from default firing 
ports. Also, due to the expanded cooling systems required for the 
operation of the SIDE-B system, additional firing ports can only be 
mounted laterally. 


¢« Hyperspace-based faster-than-light travel equipment - 
During early bargaining with ScP-1822, the FSF was 
provided with a method of achieving faster-than-light travel 
and instructions for use as a sign of goodwill. 


The primary component of the set is a computer program titled 
"way_point" coded in what appears to be a heavily modified version 
of BCPL. In order to function, the computer running way_point must 
be connected to a printer and 3D scanning equipment (provided by 
SCP-1822, though investigation of peripherals has yielded no 
anomalous components), as well as given access to the autopilot of 
the ship using the program to travel. Upon entering the x, y, and z 
coordinates of a desired destination, the program prints a square 
map 30 centimeters to a side, as well as displaying an "optimal fold 
number". This number generally increases as the distance from the 
vessel to the desired destination increases. Maps produced via 
way_point may contain a variety of markings, including but not 
limited to markings resembling topographical lines, jet streams, 
weather fronts, and ocean currents. However, all maps consistently 
contain two instances of the numeral "X". 


To initiate FTL travel, the produced map must be folded such that 
the two "X"s make contact with one another, and the resulting figure 
created by the folded map must be scanned into the computer 
running way_point. The program will then plot a course using the 
ship's autopilot. Upon the activation of this course, the ship in 
question will be rendered undetectable to all Known scanning 
equipment, reappearing approximately 34 minutes later at the 


desired destination. This method can be used to navigate to any 
location within one lightweek of the affected ship, giving it the 
potential for the fastest travel speed afforded by any method 
currently known to the FSF. However, due to the unpredictability of 
this method (see below), use is restricted to the Delivery until more 
data is collected. 


Known flaws - Crew members report psychological distress, up to 
and including audiovisual hallucination, during navigation initiated by 
way_point. Initiating travel using a map folded fewer times than the 
displayed "optimal fold number" increases the severity of these 
hallucinations and may result in damage to or disappearance of 
vessel components and/or crew members (see Dispatch History). 
Consequently, basic understanding of origami techniques has been 
deemed mandatory for any navigators working with this method of 
FTL travel. 


This information has a security clearance level of: LOW. (It is 
accessible to all FSF personnel requesting relevant information, but 
is not to be disseminated to civilian residents of the FSF fleet.) 


Experimental Psychological Buffer 
Protocol: Project Strake 


Introduction: In light of the high risk implicit in assignment to the 
FSF Delivery, the use of an experimental psychological buffer 
protocol has been authorized in an attempt to mitigate the extreme 
stress levels experienced by Delivery crew members. At present, the 
use of this protocol is restricted to the crew of the Delivery. 


Protocol author: Chance Sarridge (Credentials: Bachelor's degree 
in Foundation Field Psychology, acting captain of FSF Delivery) 


Area of use: Crew members of FSF Delivery 


History: This protocol was originally proposed by Captain Chance 
Sarridge following dispatch Res-0001 and rejected by FSF 
command. It was later reexamined following dispatch Res-0006, 
when routine psychological evaluations revealed the heightened 


possibility of psychological breakdown across all members of the 
Delivery's crew. Due to the significant resource drain created by 
proposed alternatives (providing psychological counseling following 
each dispatch, placing a large pool of FSF personnel on rotation as 
crew members of the Delivery), the protocol was tentatively 
approved. 


For further documentation regarding the proposal and approval of 
this protocol, please contact FSF Information Services. 


Observed success: Use of this protocol appears to have been 
relatively successful in reducing crew stress levels. Though Delivery 
crew members still exhibit above-average stress levels for active 
FSF personnel, only one member of the vessel has voluntarily left 
service to date, far below the number predicted by psychological 
evaluations predating the protocol's approval. It is unknown if the 
protocol would see similar success on a vessel of different crew size 
or purpose. 


Details: Under this protocol, crew members are held to an alternate 
standard of operation, as specified by their captain. This is intended 
to create a semi-immersive fictional backdrop for crew members, 
reducing the emotional impact of frequent high-stress situations. The 
fictional backdrop has been drawn from widely shared cultural and 
historical background, so as to be easily-accepted. 


Modifications of FSF standard operating procedure under this 
protocol include, but are not limited to: 


« Altered command hierarchy - All crew members report directly 
to the captain with equal priority. 


* Modification of FSF uniforms 
+ Show examples 


Removal of sleeves, application of patches, addition of 
small-sized accessories, limited application of dyes, 
alternate casual headware, etc. 


« Non-conventional jargon 


+Show examples 


"Barque" (Lucifer-class vessel), "brigantine/lugger" 
(Hourmazd-class vessel), "sloop" (Varuna-class vessel), 
"Bittacle" (navigational computation area), "fo'c'sle" 
(command bridge), "dead reckoning" (vessel 
coordination using backup navigational tools), etc. 


¢ Modified FSF insignia 


+Show 


« Pitch Meeting | Straight On Till Morning Hub | Minerva 
Lifted» 


Doublehorses 


Dr. Jacobs stood at the head of the boardroom, advancing through a 
slideshow as he gave his presentation. Projected on the screen was 
a photograph of a somewhat ill-maintained livery stable bordered by 
a chain-link fence. A horse stood off to the side, gazing at the 
camera. 


"One thing to keep in mind before entering the house of inconstant 
horses is these horses simply can't be relied upon," he said. "They 
are very untrustworthy, even though they may not seem it." 


Click. The slide changed to a tilted photograph of one of the stables 
inside. Daylight shone from an opened door behind the camera, 
partially washing out the scene. A horse stood at the darkened far 
end, away from the photographer, its throat bulging. 


He continued narrating. "Also, during periods of high stress, their 
necks are known to swell threateningly and exude intoxicating 
odors." 


Click. A D-class was shown eagerly following a horse away from 
several members of a field team, all of whom were wearing gas 
masks. The D-class was not. The agents were going after the D- 
class, whose gait suggested extreme speed. 


"Men have been led to their doom by the swollen necks of terrified 
horses." 


Click. An aerial photo, most likely from a helicopter, of three D- 
classes chasing the swollen horse and eight agents chasing the D- 
classes into a mile-wide, sprawling, gnarled thicket of thorny 
branches and prickly hedges. 


Dr. Jacobs described the picture. "Men led to the center of a deadly 
maze by bored horses who are also rude." 


10@23:25 


11@00:00 


11@15:54 


demonstrated to be airguns with 
flechette-shaped ammunition. 
D-334 is struck several times in 
the head and neck and collapses, 
following which specimens swarm 
over D-334. Dr. Garcia directs 
that the body remain in the 
chamber and that the delivery of 
wood pulp, sucrose solution and 
water cease. 

Electrical failure in observation 
chamber deactivates lighting and 
prevents observation for 
approximately 35 minutes. 
Number of specimens in chamber 
is estimated to be at least 
600,000. Upon restoration of 
lighting, body of D-334 is missing. 
A textile blanket, apparently 
constructed of human hair and 
fibers from D-334's uniform, 
covers several mounds within the 
observation chamber, obscuring 
them from view. 

Personnel D-118 and D-536 enter 
chamber at direction of Dr. Garcia 
with directions to remove the 
blanket. D-118 and D-536 are 
wearing body armor. D-118 
suffers painful electrical shock 
upon touching the blanket and 
retreats. D-536 successfully 
removes blanket and both 
personnel leave the chamber. 
Colony is observed at this point to 
have constructed numerous items 
of glassware, several basins filled 
with various liquids and solid 
matter, several inflated bladders 
containing unknown gasses, 


Click. A rotting human corpse wearing a D-class uniform being 
found in a clearing in the thicket by the field team. The timestamp 
showed that only half an hour had passed. 


"Horse-pranked fools slowly starving to death in the center of a 
large, complicated bush." 


Click. The slideshow came to an end. Dr. Jacobs switched off the 
projector. The overhead fluorescent lights came back on. 


"So it's best to keep these things in mind and also probably other 
things. It sometimes seems there is no end to the things required to 
keep in one's mind, but | recommend limiting the things you bring 
with you into the house of inconstant horses, as a busy mind is 
upsetting to the horses." 


Dr. Jacobs smiled at his audience, a group of several other 
researchers sitting around a table. No one spoke for a time until a 
man near the front coughed. 


"lam entranced by the world you inhabit," said Dr. Adelie, clearing 
his throat. 


Dr. Jacobs blushed. "Thanks." 


"I will find the house. | will conquer it. | will whip these horses into 
shape, goddammit," exclaimed Dr. Taylor, on the warpath as usual. 


Every swiveling chair turned as the door to the meeting room 
opened. A black-haired woman stuck her head inside. "| heard the 
word "horses." | like that." 


"Hi Dr. Hanawalt!" Dr. Jacobs yelled awkwardly. He stuck out his 
hand, holding a fancy slip of paper. "Here is an invitation to play my 
game "DOUBLEHORSE.." It's where you draw what you think a 
doublehorse is. It's fun!" 


Dr. Hanawalt hissed through her teeth. "Oh dude, I'm working right 
now..." She thought for a second. "But | might have an hour free to 
play DOUBLEHORSE tonight!" 


"Hell yeah, a genuine Hanawalt doublehorse would be amazing!" 


"| appreciate the invite," she said. "Most people are too intimidated 
to play DOUBLEHORSE against me... 


In his awkwardness, Dr. Jacobs let his thoughts drift. "| accidentally 
just pictured Dr. Lockwood a doublehorse into battle." 


Trying to be reassuring, Dr. Hanawalt shushed him. "That was no 
accident! She's riding the main horse and I'm in the little attached 
sidecar horse." 


Dr. Kelly, who up until this point had been silent, now spoke up. 
"When | visited the house of inconstant horses, | tried to sneak a 
horse stability expert in with me, but the foothills did this little 
escalator trick and carried her away..." 


"| feel ashamed of my doublehorse," sighed Dr. Walters. "He can't 
even run. The doublehorse Dr. Taylor described could do some kind 
of little sideways sashay but mine, ugh..."