Rover's Day Out
by Jack Welch (2009)
Genres: Science Fiction

Three hundred years ago, the Brazilian Space Agency discovered a rocky exoplanet only 38 light years from Earth. With a surface temperature of 1200 Celsius and nine times Earth gravity, it's hardly the sort of place you'd take your dog walkies. Most days.

action: %
response: "There ought not to be anything in the whole universe that man can't poke his nose into - that's the way we're built and I assume that there's some reason for that."
- Robert Heinlein



Type "help" for instructions, credits, and license or just blaze on impetuously.

Janet: David, are you hooked in?
David: Ready to go. Is this the final version of the ACU,
or another beta?
Janet: A program is never finished, but I think we're ready
to go.
David: I hope so, Earth could launch any day now.
Janet: Run program.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: Alarm clock. Next to bed. Make it stop.

OPERATIONS -> STATUS : TRUE
I beg your pardon?
action: You turn the alarm off
response: The alarm clock senses the electrical activity in your brain and turns itself on and off as needed.

TEMPORAL TRANSGRESSOR -> RESET : NIL
action: About yourself
response: Lying down. Wearing pajamas. That's all the description you can handle at this time in the morning.

Rover scratches at the side of the futon.

ACU -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You wake up
response: Gathering your resolve, you slowly slide off the side of the futon, inadvertently sending the alarm clock on a death spiral off the edge of the futon. Oh well, you can find it later. Meanwhile, you slowly stand up, recapitulating millions of years of evolution in a few seconds.

As you get out of bed, you notice that your left arm tickles a bit -- must have been the way you were sleeping.

ACU -> INITIALIZE : TRUE
action: %
response: "There ought not to be anything in the whole universe that man can't poke his nose into - that's the way we're built and I assume that there's some reason for that."
- Robert Heinlein



Type "help" for instructions, credits, and license or just blaze on impetuously.

Janet: David, are you hooked in?
David: Ready to go. Is this the final version of the ACU,
or another beta?
Janet: A program is never finished, but I think we're ready
to go.
David: I hope so, Earth could launch any day now.
Janet: Run program.
*    *    *



Release beta 732 / Serial number 23920401 / Inform 10.6 build Mu-013 (I6/v.7.1 lib 7/18N)

Rover draws pensively on his stubby cigar, the tip glowing red below his dealer's hat. He paws nonchalantly at the scotch and water he has been nursing for the last half hour. Despite the tower of chips in front of him, he's either in trouble now, or trying to play the rest of the table for suckers. His tail is no longer wagging, though, and you suspect that the scotch may be getting the better of him. He can't mass more than about 30 kilos, and he's been putting them away tonight. You push all in, figuring that even if you lose it all, at least you'll get some sleep before you need to get back to the MARSpace. Elva the cleaning lady folds, as does Isaac Asimov and that boy that you kissed in fourth grade. Wait...don't go....where is everyone going?

David: You have some weird dreams.
Janet: You can't hold me responsible for the subconscious
ramblings of the ACU.
I beg your pardon?
action: You examine the picture
response: It's too far from the bed, and you're not quite awake.

DEEP MEMORY -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You wake up
response: Gathering your resolve, you slowly slide off the side of the futon, inadvertently sending the alarm clock on a death spiral off the edge of the futon. Oh well, you can find it later. Meanwhile, you slowly stand up, recapitulating millions of years of evolution in a few seconds.

As you get out of bed, you notice that your left arm tickles a bit -- must have been the way you were sleeping.

ACU -> INITIALIZE : TRUE
action: You examine the left arm
response: Darkness is great for sleeping, not so good for looking at stuff.

PORT HULL -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You turn on the light
response: That's not something you can switch.

PHOTON SENSOR -> TRIGGER : NIL
action: Look around
response: Where the heavy drapes meet, a sliver of sunlight shines into the otherwise dark living room. A framed picture hangs on the living room wall in the small area illuminated by the shaft of light.

OPERATIONS -> STATUS : TRUE
action: You open the drapes
response: You push aside the drapes.

You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is closed.

You can see an alarm clock and Rover here.

David: I see it successfully accessed the solar shield.
Janet: Yes, the status line makes it clear what work is being performed.

SOLAR SHIELD -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You look at the picture
response: A picture of the Starship Valkyrie, still under construction in drydock. There is small brass nameplate below the picture.

It feels like something is tickling your left arm.

DEEP MEMORY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Scratch arm
response: Which do you mean, the left arm, or the right arm?
action: Left
response: Ooooo. Ahhhh...slowly, the itchiness subsides. That feels so good.

David: Is the static charge neutralization part of the script?
Janet: No, that's the point of the ACU -- it isn't a set
script. As we throw malfunctions at it in these simulations,
the ACU responds appropriately. We can't, for instance,
know that Valkyrie will accumulate a static charge
in a particular area, so the ACU has to be flexible
enough to react to unpredictable events.
David: Like you would.
Janet: Subject to the resolution of the synaptic scan, yes.

PORT HULL -> NEUTRALIZE CHARGE : TRUE
action: You examine the nameplate
response: A brass nameplate bearing a short inscription. The nameplate is attached to the bottom of the picture.

PLASTIC SIGN -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You read the nameplate
response: It says, "Good luck at MARSpace! - Tomasz"

Tomasz's valediction makes you remember happier times...

Your late fianc? gave you the photo when you began working on the Valkyrie Project as a graduate student -- a happier time before the Independence War with Earth, and the attacks on Mars by Earth's Myomita Corporation. Back then, Valkyrie's experimental Casimir Drive was an exciting technological adventure, rather than a military priority. Now the Valkyrie is Mars' only chance to recover data from a recently discovered space probe marooned in deep space. For whatever reason, MARSpace feels that probe could hold information that could finally give Mars the upper hand in its competition with Earth.

David: Why did we lose audio?
Janet: I've muted the ACU's memories -- they are, after all,
a bit personal. We don't need to hear them, but
they may be useful for the ACU to come up to speed.
David: That's fine. How much can the ACU remember, though?
Janet: It's based on my own synaptic scan, so it can willfully remember a wide variety of subjects -- almost any
major component of my life, important events, and
so on. It adds depth to its decisions.
David: If you say so. I'd hate to know what it remembers
about me.
Janet: I wouldn't worry too much.

[Note: You can recall something from your past by typing "REMEMBER something", e.g. "REMEMBER casimir drive"]

PLASTIC SIGN -> READLINE : TRUE
action: You remember the mars
response: Mars has been home to your family for three generations, your grandparents having been life contractors for the Myomita corporation. Since its colonization by national and later corporate entities beginning more than two hundred years ago, Mars has been subservient to the interests of Earth. Since the Independence War, the situation has improved, and income from off-world commerce is slowly balancing the equation.

David: I think I'd like to have heard that one.
Janet: Not a chance.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE
action: You remember War
response: Five years ago, you were a graduate student in computational cognition when the situation with Earth deteriorated, and Earth ships attacked the colonial government. The fighting destroyed most of the surface installations in the first few days, but Earth backed down when Martian missiles struck Luna City, Beijing and S?o Paulo. Under terms of the treaty, the Martian government was granted autonomy, but Mars remains economically dominated by Earth, except for MARSpace.

David: I'm half tempted to decompile the code just to see
what it said.
Janet: My code is not for the faint of heart. If you wander
in there, watch out for grues.
David: Grooze?

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE
action: You remember MARSpace
response: MARSpace began as an extension of the Myomita corporation space program but was absorbed by the People's Government of Mars after the War of Independence. Before the war, MARSpace serviced almost all condensate drive vessels engaged in commerce between the Solar System and Earth's Interstellar Territories. Since the war, MARSpace has slowly rebuilt, and its first Casimir Drive ship, the Valkyrie, is nearly ready for launch.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE
action: You remember Valkyrie
response: The potential for interstellar commerce has been constrained by time and distance. Although condensate drive has allowed vessels to reach nearby stars, it is expensive and slow and holds little promise for commercial exploitation. The Valkyrie is the first ship to incorporate the Casimir Drive, giving it unprecedented speed and range. It is rumored that since the Valkyrie project fell into MARSpace hands after the Independence War, Earth's Myomita corporation has been working on a sister ship based on similar technology.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE
action: You remember Casimir Drive
response: The Casimir, or zero-point energy drive, was developed in the last ten years. By doing largely incomprehensible things to time/space, the Casimir Drive can translate a ship incredible distances in a fraction of the time and energy that would be required by a ship equipped with condensate drive.

The one drawback to Casimir technology, at least in its current implementation, is that such trips are lethal to biological organisms, hence the need for the ACU. Human test subjects exposed even briefly to Casimir gradients experienced intense dreams and nightmares; those with longer exposures died during a state of heavy REM activity. Even the ACU is not immune to the quantum distortions responsible for this effect and is expected to experience dream states while in hibernation mode during Casimir jumps.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE
action: You remember ACU
response: Your project for the last two years has been design of the autonomous control unit, an artificially intelligent agent that controls all operations aboard the Valkyrie. Originally, the ACU would have been modeled on synaptic scans of experts from relevant fields of study, but given the short time frame, you have only had time to incorporate your own synaptic scans and you have jury-rigged the ACU-to-ship interface.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE

Rover dashes back and forth like a possessed dog for no apparent reason.
action: You examine Rover
response: He's a big, happy dalmatian.

ROVER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Pet Rover
response: You rub Rover under the chin, and he cranes back his neck and twists his head from side to side in enjoyment.

ROVER -> SYNCH : TRUE
action: Scratch rover
response: You pat Rover briefly, but he lets you know that a brief pat is not satisfactory. You spend some time scratching Rover, as he repositions himself constantly, trying to get you to scratch an ever-moving itch.

ROVER -> SYNCH : TRUE
action: You remember Rover
response: Rover is your dog, a five-year-old dalmatian. When his original owners were killed during the Independence War, you adopted him as a puppy. He is a clever dog, and you have taught him to perform a number of tricks on command. Rover is house trained but loves to explore outside. He can be trusted to go out on his own, and he always comes back.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE
action: You roll over
response: Rover rolls over like a puppy. He quickly jumps to his feet again.

ROVER -> LATERAL JETS : TRUE
action: You sit
response: Rover grazes the ground with his rear end, like a suborbital glider aborting a landing.

ROVER -> PARK : TRUE

Rover seems relaxed.
action: Beg
response: There is no reply.

ROVER -> TRANSMIT : NIL
action: Bark
response: Rover barks out a meaty, "Arf! Arf!"

ROVER -> EMIT PULSE : TRUE

Rover cocks his head and ogles the front door.
action: You ask ROVER about ROVER
response: (Rover about that)
There is no reply.

ROVER -> QUERY : NIL
action: You look around
response: You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is closed.

You can see an alarm clock and Rover here.

OPERATIONS -> STATUS : TRUE

Rover paces back and forth, looking at the front door.
action: You look at futon
response: Your futon is huge, and oh so comfy. The wooden frame supports a king-size mattress that is pulled out to form a bed.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You search the futon
response: It's too early to delve into the dust-bunny infested recesses of the futon. Certainly not before some strong coffee.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> MANIFEST : NIL
action: You go to the kitchen
response: You can't really move around much because of the futon. It takes up a lot of room.

David: Isn't that a tad inconvenient?
Janet: Yeah, but it kind of made sense when I got it.

ENGINEERING -> SELECT : NIL
action: Look around
response: You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is closed.

You can see an alarm clock and Rover here.

OPERATIONS -> STATUS : TRUE

Rover appears lost in thought.
action: You enter the kitchen
response: You can't really move around much because of the futon. It takes up a lot of room.

ENGINEERING -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You move the futon
response: With a little effort, the futon folds up, snug against the wall, leaving more room to walk around the cramped cottage.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> PRESSOR FIELD : TRUE
action: You enter the kitchen
response: The kitchen is small but functional, with a space-saver refrigerator and a glass-top electric range. There is a drawer under the range. On the opposite wall there is a sink and under it, a storage cabinet.

You can see a water bowl (empty) and a food bowl (empty) here.

ENGINEERING -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You open the drawer
response: You open the drawer, revealing a frying pan.

REACTOR CORE -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You take the pan
response: Taken.

MAGNETIC BOTTLE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You put the pan on the range
response: You put the frying pan on the the cooking range.

MAGNETIC BOTTLE -> TRANSFER : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover breathing quietly (quietly for Rover, who is a heavy breather).
action: You close the drawer
response: You close the drawer.

REACTOR CORE -> DEACCESS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover dragging something around.
action: You open the fridge
response: As the fridge creaks open on its ancient hinges, Rover slips into the kitchen. He pokes his nose in the fridge and sniffs around, although he knows full well that stuff in the fridge is for people only and that he'd be in a heap of trouble if he got too curious in there.

CRYOCHAMBER -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You look in the fridge
response: You poke around in the fridge and find a white egg.

CRYOCHAMBER -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You take the egg
response: You pluck the white egg out of the fridge.

Janet: It's a shame we don't have enough heavy helium to
bring the ship back.
David: I'm afraid we've put all our baskets in one egg, as
it were. That one egg represents every bit of heavy
helium refined on Mars since Phobos was destroyed.
Janet: All Your Egg Are Belong to Us?
David: Huh? Didn't quite catch that.
Janet: Never mind.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> SELECT : NIL

Rover narrows his eyes critically, noting the lack of food in his food bowl. He looks at the food bowl. He looks at you. He looks at the food bowl. He looks at you.
action: You look in the fridge
response: You poke around in the fridge and find nothing at all.

CRYOCHAMBER -> MANIFEST : NIL
action: You close the fridge
response: You close the old fridge.

CRYOCHAMBER -> DEACCESS : TRUE

Rover notices the lack of food in his soi-disant food bowl. He paws pathetically at the food bowl, and the hollow, tin ring of the pitiful bowl echoes through the kitchen.
action: You examine the food bowl
response: A simple metal bowl. It is identical to the water bowl, except for the word "food" that appears on its side. The food bowl is empty.

FUEL RESERVOIR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

Rover contemplates the profound emptiness of the food bowl. He looks at you with imploring puppy dog eyes and then back again at his empty food bowl.

He eyes the empty water bowl thirstily.
action: You look at water bowl
response: A simple metal bowl labeled "water". The water bowl is empty.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

Rover sighs audibly and frowns at his food bowl. His stomach rumbles with hunger.
action: You take the water bowl
response: Taken.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> SELECT : TRUE

Rover outright gapes at the bowl you carry, then gently sniffs it in hope that you'll give it to him.
action: You examine the sink
response: A small, utilitarian kitchen sink. Below the sink, there is a small cabinet.

COOLANT OUTPUT TERMINUS -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

Rover tingles with anticipation as he stares at the bowl you're carrying.
action: You fill the water bowl with the water
response: Rover would not appreciate it if you put anything aside from water in his water bowl.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> TRANSFER : NIL

Rover stares longingly at the bowl in your hand.

He notices the lack of food in his soi-disant food bowl. He paws pathetically at the food bowl, and the hollow, tin ring of the pitiful bowl echoes through the kitchen.
action: You turn the tap
response: It is fixed in place.

COOLANT OUTPUT TERMINUS -> REORIENT : NIL

Rover is obviously waiting for you to give him a bowl.

He narrows his eyes critically, noting the lack of food in his food bowl. He looks at the food bowl. He looks at you. He looks at the food bowl. He looks at you.
action: You turn on the tap
response: You run the water momentarily, and then turn off the tap to conserve water.

COOLANT OUTPUT TERMINUS -> TRIGGER : TRUE

Rover is obviously waiting for you to give him a bowl.
action: You examine the water bowl
response: A simple metal bowl labeled "water". The water bowl is empty.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

Rover tingles with anticipation as he stares at the bowl you're carrying.
action: You put the water bowl in the sink
response: You're tired of stuff piling up in the sink, so you stick to your New Year's resolution and decide to hang on to the water bowl.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> TRANSFER : NIL

Rover outright gapes at the bowl you carry, then gently sniffs it in hope that you'll give it to him.
action: You examine tap
response: A small, utilitarian kitchen sink. Below the sink, there is a small cabinet.

COOLANT OUTPUT TERMINUS -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

Rover stares longingly at the bowl in your hand.
action: You turn on the sink
response: You run the water momentarily, and then turn off the tap to conserve water.

COOLANT OUTPUT TERMINUS -> TRIGGER : TRUE

Rover stares longingly at the bowl in your hand.
action: You put water in the water bowl
response: (the sink in the water bowl)
You run the sink briefly to make sure the water is cold, and then fill Rover's bowl about halfway up.

Rover looks towards the sink as you fill his water bowl.

COOLANT OUTPUT TERMINUS -> TRANSFER : TRUE

Rover is obviously waiting for you to give him a bowl.

He sighs audibly and frowns at his food bowl. He looks at you with imploring puppy dog eyes and then back again at his empty food bowl.
action: You give the water bowl to Rover
response: Rover shivers with excitement as you put the full water bowl on the ground.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> DELIVER : NIL

Rover contemplates the profound emptiness of the food bowl. His stomach rumbles with hunger.

Rover slurps the water bowl dry.
action: You open the cabinet
response: You open the cabinet, revealing a reward nugget replicator and a 20 kilo bag of dog chow.

FUEL STORAGE VAULT -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You take chow
response: Taken.

FUEL CONDUIT -> SELECT : TRUE

Rover prances past you at a convenient back-scratching distance.
action: You take the replicator
response: A dog treat rattles around in the replicator as you pick it up. Rover stares at the box of treats, successfully suppressing the urge to drool. For the moment.

TOKEN DISPENSER -> SELECT : NIL

He notices the lack of food in his soi-disant food bowl. He looks at you with imploring puppy dog eyes and then back again at his empty food bowl.
action: You open the chow
response: That's already open.

FUEL CONDUIT -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You pour chow into the food bowl
response: (first taking the food bowl)
You  empty the bag of dog chow into Rover's bowl, giving him a generous portion that should more than carry him through a day's worth of Rover antics.

Rover watches with interest as you fill his food bowl.

FUEL CONDUIT -> TRANSFER : TRUE

Rover tingles with anticipation as he stares at the bowl you're carrying.
action: You drop the food bowl
response: FUEL RESERVOIR -> DESELECT : TRUE

Rover gulps down the food, without pausing for niceties such as breathing.
action: You examine Rover
response: He's a gentle, obedient dalmatian.

Rover circles the food bowl.

ROVER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You pour the chow into the food bowl
response: (first taking the food bowl)
There are no more kibbles in the bag.

FUEL CONDUIT -> TRANSFER : NIL
action: You examine the bag
response: The open bag features a picture of a grotesquely (in your opinion) fat white husky seated at a fancy dinner table. In front of him, steak, turkey, and ham are piled high on silver dishes. He stares rapaciously at the feast, clenching a fork and knife in his paws. The bag is labeled "Fill your best friend's bowl with Happy Dogz Mix!"

FUEL CONDUIT -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You remember the happy dogz mix
response: That doesn't ring a bell.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : NIL
action: Close cabinet
response: You close the cabinet.

FUEL STORAGE VAULT -> DEACCESS : TRUE
action: You fry the egg
response: You wonder whether the egg wouldn't cook better if you actually put it in the frying pan.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> FUSE : NIL
action: You crack the egg into the pan
response: You feel kind of grimy and not entirely awake. From past experience you know that cooking before your morning shower often ends in disaster. (This is why you have your list hanging on the fridge!)
You put the egg and the frying pan aside for the moment.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> DISCHARGE : NIL
action: You look at the list
response: It is a to-do list, in your own writing.

TASK MANAGER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

Rover licks his front paws.
action: You read the list
response: Morning:
X. Get up
2. Shower
3. Breakfast
4. Take care of business
5. Let Rover go walkies

David: "Take care of business"? Is that a euphemism?
Janet: Yes. I had a heck of a time mapping the landing sequence
to my daily routine.

TASK MANAGER -> READLINE : TRUE
action: You describe your surroundings
response: The kitchen is small but functional, with a space-saver refrigerator and a glass-top electric range. There is a drawer under the range. On the opposite wall there is a sink and under it, a storage cabinet.

On the kitchen counter is a frying pan (in which is a white egg).

You can also see a water bowl (empty) and Rover here.

ENGINEERING -> STATUS : TRUE
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a food bowl
a reward nugget replicator
a dog treat
a 20 kilo bag of dog chow (open but empty)
a flight suit (being worn)

ACU -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You put the replicator on the counter
response: You put the reward nugget replicator on the kitchen counter.

TOKEN DISPENSER -> TRANSFER : TRUE
action: Bowl
response: 20 kilo bag of dog chow: Dropped.

food bowl:
*** RUN-TIME PROBLEM P31: ATTEMPT TO USE A PROPERTY OF THE 'NOTHING' NON-OBJECT.

-> DESELECT : TRUE
action: You drop the food bowl
response: You weren't holding the food bowl to begin with.

FUEL RESERVOIR -> DESELECT : NIL

Rover walks around the room, occasionally sniffing various spots on the floor.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a flight suit (being worn)

ACU -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You go to the bathroom
response: Your cottage's living room is palatial compared to your bathroom. There is a pink marble counter and above it you've mounted a mirror on the wall. To the right of the mirror is a black glass plate. Between the counter and the shower is a white, porcelain toilet.

On the marble counter are a toothbrush and a plastic box.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You look at the mirror
response: You see yourself in the mirror: a young woman with dark brown hair, high cheekbones and a look of determination.

David: Wait, is that memory usage correct?
Janet: Sure, it's fairly conservative. The system has 640
PB available.
David: That's it?
Janet: C'mon, nobody will ever need more than 640 PB.

INSPECTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the kitchen, you hear Rover chewing something.
action: You look at the glass plate
response: A glossy black plate that is just to the right of the bathroom mirror.

IRRADIATOR SWITCH -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the kitchen, you hear Rover snoring softly (in the sense that it probably can't be heard outside of the cottage).
action: You describe your surroundings
response: Your cottage's living room is palatial compared to your bathroom. There is a pink marble counter and above it you've mounted a mirror on the wall. To the right of the mirror is a black glass plate. Between the counter and the shower is a white, porcelain toilet.

On the marble counter are a toothbrush and a plastic box.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> STATUS : TRUE
action: You examine the counter
response: A counter of that pink faux marble that is so common in Martian bathrooms. On it are a toothbrush and a plastic box.

FLIGHT CONSOLE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine the toothbrush
response: A green sonic toothbrush with slightly worn bristles.

PIT SCRUBBER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine the plastic box
response: A small plastic box labeled "Tooth Floss," with a blue button just below where the floss comes out.

OBJECT LINKER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the kitchen, you hear Rover growling at something.
action: You remove the suit
response: You take off your blue flight suit and it falls to the bathroom floor. You are naked.

David: I don't think I should be seeing this. I mean, I'm
your boss. There's that whole power dynamic thing.
Janet: Don't worry: I'm not inclined to sue you for staring
at a simulation.
David: I'm not staring at the stimulation.
Janet: You said stimulation. That's funny.
David: No, I said simulation - and I'm not staring.
Janet: Alright -- you're the boss.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> DISENGAGE : TRUE
action: You examine the mirror
response: You see yourself in the mirror: a young woman with dark brown hair, high cheekbones and a look of determination.

INSPECTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the kitchen, you hear Rover entertaining himself.
action: Brush teeth
response: (first grabbing the toothbrush)
The toothbrush sprays each tooth with a fizzy foam, vibrates it into lather and rinses. Your teeth feel smooth and your breath is much improved.

HULL PLATING -> SPAWN SCRUBBERS : TRUE

From the direction of the kitchen, you hear Rover scratching himself.
action: You floss the teeth
response: You don't have any floss.

HULL PLATING -> LINK NODES : NIL
action: You open the box
response: That's not something you can open.

OBJECT LINKER -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You look at the plastic box
response: A small plastic box labeled "Tooth Floss," with a blue button just below where the floss comes out.

OBJECT LINKER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the kitchen, you hear Rover rolling around on the floor.
action: You floss the teeth
response: You floss your teeth and then swallow the tasty (and nutritious) floss. You feel so much better now.

HULL PLATING -> LINK NODES : TRUE

From the direction of the kitchen, you hear Rover walking in your direction.
action: You examine the shower
response: A utilitarian shower.

EXTRUDER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You remember the extruder
response: That doesn't ring a bell.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : NIL
action: You remember the irradiator
response: That doesn't ring a bell.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : NIL

From the direction of the kitchen, you hear Rover jumping around.
action: You enter the shower
response: The last time you walked out of the bathroom with your toothbrush, you never found it again. You toss it on the counter. The plastic box almost makes it out of the bathroom, but you remember to set it down before stepping out.

You are in your shower and water of just the right temperature is spraying down on you. Two buttons are molded into the wall of the shower stall. One is labeled "soap", and the other, "shampoo".

David: Janet, I...
Janet: David, if it were anyone but you, I would have a problem.
Just let it go.
David: Anyone else? Like who?
Janet: Can we get back to the program?
David: Okay, I'm paying attention.
Janet: Obviously.

EXTRUDER -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You go outside
response: Your cottage's living room is palatial compared to your bathroom. There is a pink marble counter and above it you've mounted a mirror on the wall. To the right of the mirror is a black glass plate. Between the counter and the shower is a white, porcelain toilet.

On the marble counter are a plastic box and a toothbrush.

You can also see a flight suit here.

ACU -> DESELECT : TRUE
action: About yourself
response: Lying down. Wearing pajamas. That's all the description you can handle at this time in the morning.

ACU -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You stand
response: You get off the futon.

David: Thank you. I can only take so many dream sequences.
Janet: No problem. So, at this point, the Valkyrie would
be at the edge of the probe's stellar system, and
ready to switch over from Casimir to condensate drive
and begin the approach.

ACU -> DEACTIVATE : TRUE
action: Look around
response: Where the heavy drapes meet, a sliver of sunlight shines into the otherwise dark living room. A framed picture hangs on the living room wall in the small area illuminated by the shaft of light.

OPERATIONS -> STATUS : TRUE
action: You open the drapes
response: You push aside the drapes.

You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is closed.

On the purple futon is an alarm clock.

You can also see Rover here.

SOLAR SHIELD -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You examine the clock
response: It's a cheap, white plastic alarm clock with fading green LEDs that read 5:34 am. A large button juts out of the top.

TEMPORAL TRANSGRESSOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You look at the button
response: Mounted almost flush with the top of the clock, you can barely make out the dimly illuminated word "snoo".

David: You could use a new alarm clock.
Janet: You could increase my salary.

MF TOGGLE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You ask the clock about itself
response: You can only do that to something animate.
action: You hit the clock
response: Violence isn't the answer to this one.

TEMPORAL TRANSGRESSOR -> OFFENSE MODE : NIL
action: You fold up the futon
response: With a little effort, the futon folds up, snug against the wall, leaving more room to walk around the cramped cottage.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> RETRACT : TRUE
action: You examine picture
response: A picture of the Starship Valkyrie, still under construction in drydock. There is small brass nameplate below the picture.

DEEP MEMORY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You go to the bathroom
response: Your cottage's living room is palatial compared to your bathroom. There is a pink marble counter and above it you've mounted a mirror on the wall. To the right of the mirror is a black glass plate. Between the counter and the shower is a white, porcelain toilet.

On the marble counter are a plastic box and a toothbrush.

Janet: Let's hope the simulation doesn't crash again. I'd
really like to run it all the way through to the Rover
release.
David: It's looked good this far.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> SELECT : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover scratching something.
action: You take the toothbrush
response: Taken.

PIT SCRUBBER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: Brush teeth
response: The toothbrush sprays each tooth with a fizzy foam, vibrates it into lather and rinses. Your teeth feel smooth and your breath is much improved.

HULL PLATING -> SPAWN SCRUBBERS : TRUE
action: You put the brush on the counter
response: You put the toothbrush on the marble counter.

PIT SCRUBBER -> TRANSFER : TRUE
action: You floss the teeth
response: You floss your teeth and then swallow the tasty (and nutritious) floss. You feel so much better now.

HULL PLATING -> LINK NODES : TRUE
action: You look at the mirror
response: The mirror is covered with condensation.

INSPECTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover sniffing something.
action: Clean mirror
response: You wipe away the condensation and can see yourself in the mirror. INSPECTOR -> NEUTRALIZE CHARGE : TRUE
action: You examine the mirror
response: You see yourself in the mirror: a young woman with dark brown hair, high cheekbones and a look of determination.

INSPECTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover running in circles.
action: You remove the suit
response: You take off your blue flight suit and it falls to the bathroom floor. You are naked.

David: That mole should be on your left side.
Janet: Good eye for detail -- I'll flip the UV coordinates
on the next run.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> DISENGAGE : TRUE
action: You examine the suit
response: It is a loose-fitting blue flight suit with a MARSpace insignia. Some letters are also sewn above the insignia.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover snoring loudly.
action: You read the insignia
response: That's not something you can read.

INSIGNIA -> READLINE : NIL

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover barking at something.
action: You read the letters
response: There are only three letters: "ACU".

David: If the ACU knows what you know, why doesn't the ACU
realize that it is the ACU? I mean, isn't that what
you would suspect if you woke up in a flight suit
labeled ACU?
Janet: Cognitive constraints are implemented - the willing
suspension of disbelief is a programmatic imperative.
David: I love it when you use big words!
Janet: You are a doofus, sir.

127.0.0.1 -> READLINE : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover doing whatever it is he does when he's not out for walkies and he thinks he's out of your sight.
action: You enter the shower
response: The plastic box almost makes it out of the bathroom, but you remember to set it down before stepping out.

You are in your shower and water of just the right temperature is spraying down on you. Two buttons are molded into the wall of the shower stall. One is labeled "soap", and the other, "shampoo".

EXTRUDER -> ACTIVATE : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover walking about.
action: You remember the tommygoffs
response: That doesn't ring a bell.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : NIL

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover sniffing something.
action: Sing
response: You quietly sing a short song that Tomasz had taught you. The song is about a lonely colony ship engineer who pines for his sweetheart back on Earth.

ACU -> DUMP : TRUE
action: You remember Tomasz
response: Tomasz was your fianc? five years ago. You had planned to get married on Mons Olympus and to honeymoon at Club Meridian on the equator.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover scratching something.
action: You touch yourself
response: You feel normal. Nothing out of the ordinary, really.

ACU -> UPDATE : TRUE
action: Go outside
response: Your cottage's living room is palatial compared to your bathroom. There is a pink marble counter and above it you've mounted a mirror on the wall. To the right of the mirror is a black glass plate. Between the counter and the shower is a white, porcelain toilet.

On the marble counter are a plastic box and a toothbrush.

You can also see a flight suit here.

ACU -> DESELECT : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover chewing something.
action: You examine the toilet
response: A plain vanilla toilet, having a water tank and bowl. Nothing to write home about. Someone left both the cover and seat up. How rude.

A plunger stands next to the toilet, between it and the shower.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover dragging something around.
action: You look at the plunger
response: A common plumber's plunger, consisting of a wooden shaft and red rubber cup. Something about the plunger just doesn't look proper. The handle of the plunger is tilted a little bit backwards. Furthermore, its handle is twisted a little bit clockwise.

ATTITUDE CONTROL -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You use toilet
response: You're willing to hold it until you can sit down properly on a toilet seat, thank you very much.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> TOGGLE : NIL
action: You sit on the toilet
response: Sitting on the ceramic rim of the toilet bowl would be absolutely too gross to contemplate.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> ACTIVATE : NIL

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover walking about.
action: Lower seat
response: You lower the toilet seat into position.

PRESSURE SEATING -> DEACCESS : NIL
action: You sit on the seat
response: You sit on the toilet seat.

PRESSURE SEATING -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You use the toilet
response: You don't need to go right now; check the list on the fridge.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> TOGGLE : NIL

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover entertaining himself.
action: You stand
response: You stand up again.

ACU -> DEACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You take suit
response: Taken.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You wear it
response: You put on the flight suit.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> ENGAGE : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover snoring loudly.
action: You go to the kitchen
response: The kitchen is small but functional, with a space-saver refrigerator and a glass-top electric range. There is a drawer under the range. On the opposite wall there is a sink and under it, a storage cabinet.

You can see a food bowl (empty) and a water bowl (empty) here.

David: Where are your coffee machine and toaster?
Janet: I mapped the ship functions to the minimum number
of objects. More objects means more ways for things
to go wrong and more time debugging. Call me lazy.
David: Lazy.
Janet: You don't know the crazy things the ACU does! Sometimes
it walks around trying to eat or take everything in
sight. Sometimes it sings and jumps around. It's based
on my neural bindings, but the ACU definitely has
a mind of its own, and I don't want to have to worry
about what it might try do with a toaster.

ENGINEERING -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You take the water bowl
response: Taken.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> SELECT : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover growling at something.
action: You put the water in it
response: (the sink in the water bowl)
You run the sink briefly to make sure the water is cold, and then fill Rover's bowl about halfway up.

Rover wanders into the kitchen when he hears water splashing into his bowl.

COOLANT OUTPUT TERMINUS -> TRANSFER : TRUE

Rover outright gapes at the bowl you carry, then gently sniffs it in hope that you'll give it to him.
action: You drop it
response: You weren't holding the sink to begin with.

COOLANT OUTPUT TERMINUS -> DESELECT : NIL

Rover outright gapes at the bowl you carry, then gently sniffs it in hope that you'll give it to him.
action: You drop the bowl
response: COOLANT RESERVOIR -> DESELECT : TRUE

Rover narrows his eyes critically, noting the lack of food in his food bowl. His stomach rumbles with hunger.

Rover must have been thirsty. One moment the water bowl is full; the next, it's bone dry.
action: You take the food bowl
response: Taken.

FUEL RESERVOIR -> SELECT : TRUE

Rover is obviously waiting for you to give him a bowl.
action: You open the cabinet
response: You open the cabinet, revealing a reward nugget replicator and a 20 kilo bag of dog chow.

FUEL STORAGE VAULT -> ACCESS : TRUE

Rover stares longingly at the bowl in your hand.
action: You take the chow
response: Taken.

FUEL CONDUIT -> SELECT : TRUE

Rover tingles with anticipation as he stares at the bowl you're carrying.
action: You pour the chow into the food bowl
response: You  empty the bag of dog chow into Rover's bowl, giving him a generous portion that should more than carry him through a day's worth of Rover antics.

Rover watches with interest as you fill his food bowl.

FUEL CONDUIT -> TRANSFER : TRUE

Rover stares longingly at the bowl in your hand.
action: You drop the food bowl
response: FUEL RESERVOIR -> DESELECT : TRUE

Rover's head disappears into the food bowl. It is hard to believe that the sounds generated are coming from a dog rather than some sort of industrial mining rig. When his head lifts, the bowl is not only empty but has been buffed to a mirror finish.
action: You take replicator
response: A dog treat rattles around in the replicator as you pick it up. Rover stares at the box of treats, successfully suppressing the urge to drool. For the moment.

TOKEN DISPENSER -> SELECT : NIL
action: Close cabinet
response: You close the cabinet.

FUEL STORAGE VAULT -> DEACCESS : TRUE
action: You close the drawer
response: You close the drawer.

REACTOR CORE -> DEACCESS : TRUE

Rover exhales with contentment and rolls over, legs outstretched.
action: You put the pan on the range
response: You put the frying pan on the the cooking range.

MAGNETIC BOTTLE -> TRANSFER : TRUE
action: You open the fridge
response: Rover looks up when he hears the old fridge open. He sniffs the fridge door and decides there is nothing in the fridge worth getting in trouble over. He saunters out of the kitchen and back towards the living room.

CRYOCHAMBER -> ACCESS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover breathing quietly (quietly for Rover, who is a heavy breather).
action: You look in the fridge
response: You poke around in the fridge and find a white egg.

CRYOCHAMBER -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You take the egg
response: Taken.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You close the fridge
response: You close the old fridge.

CRYOCHAMBER -> DEACCESS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover barking at something.
action: You put the egg in the pan
response: You put the white egg into the frying pan.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> TRANSFER : NIL
action: You fry the egg
response: You crack the egg into the frying pan. The neoegg shell sublimates as the contents spread over the pan's non-stick surface. Immediately, the surface of the range glows red. When the egg is cooked sunny-side up to perfection, the glow fades.

Janet: If there were some heavy helium left after landing,
could the ship take off again?
David: Hypothetically, yes, but the planet has essentially
no atmosphere to break against and it has about nine
times Earth gravity. Even with optimal approach we'll
have to fuse every gram of that heavy helium to make
a soft landing.
Janet: I just hate to leave the ship there. It could take
years before our next Casimir ship will be built,
and who knows if Valkyrie will survive that long on
that chthonian rock.
David: Nice word. From MARSpace perspective, all that matters
is that the probe data are recovered.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> FUSE : TRUE
action: You examine the egg
response: A perfectly fried egg: The yellow yolk lies at the geometric center of a white disc, like the star at the center of a nascent system. The yolk is just a notch short of congealing, and the white is neither runny nor burnt. Another culinary success.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You eat the egg
response: You gobble down what might well have been the best neoegg you've ever had.

David: Wait a minute! She just scoops the egg out of the
pan with her hand and eats it like a grizzly bear
raking salmon out of a river?
Janet: Works for me, yeah.
David: How about a plate and fork?
Janet: The ACU doesn't miss them, and it's less programming
overhead. And bonus: fewer dishes to clean.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> RECYCLE : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover doing whatever it is he does when he's not out for walkies and he thinks he's out of your sight.
action: You look at the list
response: It is a to-do list, in your own writing.

TASK MANAGER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You read the list
response: Morning:
X. Get up
X. Shower
X. Breakfast
4. Take care of business
5. Let Rover go walkies

TASK MANAGER -> READLINE : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover running in circles.
action: You go to the bathroom
response: It took a lot of training to get Rover to eat it in the kitchen, so rather than walk out with a bag of dog food, you put it back in the cabinet.

Your cottage's living room is palatial compared to your bathroom. There is a pink marble counter and above it you've mounted a mirror on the wall. To the right of the mirror is a black glass plate. Between the counter and the shower is a white, porcelain toilet.

On the marble counter are a plastic box and a toothbrush.

Rover trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the reward nugget replicator.

Janet: So now we begin the landing cycle. This is where the
ACU really shines.
David: What about timing? The ship has to be in the right
orientation to fire the fusion thrusters at exactly
the right time.
Janet: The ACU works so fast that no matter how many individual
steps it takes, the effect occurs at the right time.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> SELECT : TRUE
action: Lower seat
response: The toilet seat is already down.

PRESSURE SEATING -> DEACCESS : NIL
action: You remove the suit
response: You take off your blue flight suit and it falls to the bathroom floor. You are naked.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> DISENGAGE : TRUE
action: You sit on the toilet
response: You sit on the toilet seat.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You use the toilet
response: You complete your business with great aplomb.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> TOGGLE : TRUE
action: You stand
response: You stand up again, although you are uncomfortably aware that you have left some, shall we say, "unresolved" business behind you.

ACU -> DEACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You wear the suit
response: (first taking the flight suit)
You put on the flight suit.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> ENGAGE : TRUE

Rover sniffs the toilet bowl.
action: You look at the bowl
response: The white porcelain bowl is the bottom part of the toilet. The toilet seat is down, but the cover is raised.

REACTION CHAMBER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Close seat
response: The toilet seat is already down.

PRESSURE SEATING -> DEACCESS : NIL
action: Close cover
response: You lower the toilet cover into position.

REACTANT SHIELD -> DEACCESS : NIL
action: Flush toilet
response: You are distracted momentarily. Something just isn't right in the bathroom.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> THRUST : NIL
action: You check your hair
response: Yet another part of your anatomy.

SUBSYSTEMS -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You look at the plunger
response: A common plumber's plunger, consisting of a wooden shaft and red rubber cup. Something about the plunger just doesn't look proper. The handle of the plunger is tilted a little bit backwards. Furthermore, its handle is twisted a little bit clockwise.

ATTITUDE CONTROL -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

Rover walks towards the toilet bowl.
action: You take it
response: Since the day Tomasz jammed the plunger down on the bathroom floor, it has been stuck there like a barbed harpoon in the side of a great whale. Well, maybe more like a giant squid wrapped around an unfortunate whale, since squids have (you have heard) suckers. Some kind of weird interaction between the rubber cup and the micropores in the floor have effectively bonded the plunger to the floor, and any attempt to remove it would probably destroy one or the other. The plunger doesn't really bother you, and most of the time you just ignore it.

ATTITUDE CONTROL -> SELECT : NIL

Rover dashes back and forth like a possessed dog for no apparent reason.
action: You pull the plunger
response: It's stuck to the floor. On the other hand, if you want to push it in a particular direction, just say so.

ATTITUDE CONTROL -> TRACTOR FIELD : NIL
action: You turn plunger
response: It is fixed in place.

ATTITUDE CONTROL -> REORIENT : NIL
action: You turn the handle counterclockwise
response: You adjust the plunger handle counterclockwise. Certainly, a step in the right direction.

Something about the plunger just doesn't look proper. The handle of the plunger is tilted a little bit backwards.

YAW VECTOR -> VECTOR ADJUST : TRUE

Rover lies down next to the bathroom sink.
action: Flush toilet
response: The cottage's aging plumbing rumbles and vibrates as the toilet flushes.

David: That's it. One long burn down to the planet's surface.
David: And then, the ACU just needs to deploy the ROVER.

Rover runs out of the bathroom, and you hear him jumping around near the front door.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> THRUST : TRUE
action: You describe your surroundings
response: Your cottage's living room is palatial compared to your bathroom. There is a pink marble counter and above it you've mounted a mirror on the wall. To the right of the mirror is a black glass plate. Between the counter and the shower is a white, porcelain toilet.

On the marble counter are a plastic box and a toothbrush.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> STATUS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover walking in your direction.
action: Go outside
response: You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is closed.

On the purple futon is an alarm clock.

You can also see Rover here.

Janet: When Rover brings the probe back to the ship, it will automatically extract the data and send it back by
ansible. Did you enter the ansible parameters?
David: Yes, I had to do it manually, since the frequency
and coordinates are encrypted. It's too bad they didn't
have FTL communications when they built the probes
-- it would have saved us the trip.
Janet: Yes, but then Earth would get the information as well
-- even encrypted, I wouldn't want it to fall into
their hands.

ACU -> DESELECT : TRUE

Rover lies down with his front paws crossed.
action: You examine the door
response: The front door of the cottage is closed.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open the door
response: Rover looks up when he hears the door begin to open. You swing the front door fully open, confident that Rover will walk about the park and then return. Rover is out in a flash.

Janet: So, that's it. Rover goes out, gets the probe, and
brings it back to the ship, and then the information
is squirted back to MARSpace.
David: Well, congratulations, Doctor Xiang, on a job well
done. I say we celebrate tonight, and get up early
for the launch tomorrow morning.
Janet: It's a deal. Give me ten minutes to make the final
commit, and I'll join you.
David: I'll put the champagne on ice.
action: You exit
response: *    *    *



Even mildly drugged and reclining on an overstuffed couch in the MARSpace human resources office, it's hard to relax in the presence of the MARSpace political officer conducting the final interview. You didn't catch her name, probably because she never mentioned it. After three such interviews and six months of background check, what more could they want?

"Ms. Xiang, thank you for your cooperation. Your tests show no hint of disloyalty to the Republic or MARSpace. We hope you understand the need for these measures, particularly for personnel with access to the Valkyrie's command and control functions. Now that you are cleared, I can inform you that credible sources have warned that the project may have been infiltrated by..."

You weren't particularly enjoying this dream, but being jarred awake by a violently shaking futon is even less pleasurable.

As the bed bucks and tumbles, several scenarios flash through your mind: explosive decompression of the dome? Volcanic activity? Meteor impact? Before you can even consider your next action, you are thrown from the futon onto the living room floor. Light pours in from the window. It looks like the drapes were somehow torn away from the window.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACCESS : TRUE

Rover scratches his ears.
action: You stand
response: You are standing in the living room.

ACU -> DEACTIVATE : TRUE

Rover exhales with contentment and rolls over, legs outstretched.
action: You close the door
response: That's already closed.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> DEACCESS : NIL
action: You examine Rover
response: He's not what you'd typically call a lapdog, although he'd beg (literally) to differ.

ROVER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine the window
response: Whatever woke you up this morning did some damage. The cottage's window is built to withstand damage, but thin cracks have appeared throughout it. The garden skylights are just coming on. They cast long shadows from a stand of Norwegian Spruce trees at the far side of the park.

VIEWER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

Rover looks at the front door.
action: You examine the trees
response: A line of tall, dark green trees stands at the far edge of the park.

VIEWER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine the picture
response: A picture of the Starship Valkyrie, still under construction in drydock. You notice that a few pixels have gone dark in the picture. Not a big deal, though. Probably only something you'd notice. There is small brass nameplate below the picture.

DEEP MEMORY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine the futon
response: Your futon is huge, and oh so comfy. The wooden frame supports a king-size mattress that is pulled out to form a bed.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

Rover walks around the room, occasionally sniffing various spots on the floor.
action: You search the futon
response: It's too early to delve into the dust-bunny infested recesses of the futon. Certainly not before some strong coffee.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> MANIFEST : NIL
action: Close futon
response: With a little effort, the futon folds up, snug against the wall, leaving more room to walk around the cramped cottage.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> DEACCESS : TRUE

Rover sniffs the window.
action: Smell window
response: The window smells ordinary.

VIEWER -> CHEMOSENSOR : NIL
action: Pet Rover
response: You stroke Rover's back and he nuzzles up against you.

ROVER -> SYNCH : TRUE
action: You go to the kitchen
response: The kitchen is small but functional, with a space-saver refrigerator and a glass-top electric range. There is an open drawer under the range. On the opposite wall there is a sink and under it, an open storage cabinet.

You can see a food bowl (empty) and a water bowl (empty) here.

ENGINEERING -> SELECT : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover rolling around on the floor.
action: You read the list
response: Morning:
X. Get up
2. Shower
3. Breakfast
4. Take care of business
5. Let Rover go walkies

TASK MANAGER -> READLINE : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover playing.
action: You open the cabinet
response: That's already open.

FUEL STORAGE VAULT -> ACCESS : NIL

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover jumping around.
action: You look in the cabinet
response: In the cabinet are a reward nugget replicator and a 20 kilo bag of dog chow.

FUEL STORAGE VAULT -> MANIFEST : NIL

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover snoring softly (in the sense that it probably can't be heard outside of the cottage).
action: You examine the chow
response: The open bag features a picture of a grotesquely (in your opinion) fat white husky seated at a fancy dinner table. In front of him, steak, turkey, and ham are piled high on silver dishes. He stares rapaciously at the feast, clenching a fork and knife in his paws. The bag is labeled "Fill your best friend's bowl with Happy Dogz Mix!"

FUEL CONDUIT -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover chewing something.
action: You look in the bag
response: In the 20 kilo bag of dog chow are some doggie kibbles.

FUEL CONDUIT -> MANIFEST : NIL
action: You go to bathroom
response: Your cottage's living room is palatial compared to your bathroom. There is a pink marble counter and above it you've mounted a mirror on the wall. To the right of the mirror is a black glass plate. Between the counter and the shower is a white, porcelain toilet.

On the marble counter are a plastic box and a toothbrush.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You take the brush
response: Taken.

PIT SCRUBBER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You put the brush on the counter
response: You put the toothbrush on the marble counter.

PIT SCRUBBER -> TRANSFER : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover scratching himself.
action: You floss the teeth
response: You floss your teeth and then swallow the tasty (and nutritious) floss. You feel so much better now.

HULL PLATING -> LINK NODES : TRUE
action: You remove the suit
response: You take off your blue flight suit and it falls to the bathroom floor. You are naked.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> DISENGAGE : TRUE
action: You look at the mirror
response: The mirror is covered with condensation.

INSPECTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You wipe the mirror
response: You wipe away the condensation and can see yourself in the mirror. You are naked.

INSPECTOR -> NEUTRALIZE CHARGE : TRUE
action: You look at the mirror
response: You see yourself in the mirror: a young woman with dark brown hair, high cheekbones and a look of determination.

INSPECTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover snoring softly (in the sense that it probably can't be heard outside of the cottage).
action: You read letters
response: There are only three letters: "ACU".

127.0.0.1 -> READLINE : TRUE
action: You wear the suit
response: (first taking the flight suit)
You put on the flight suit.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> ENGAGE : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover playing.
action: You go to kitchen
response: The kitchen is small but functional, with a space-saver refrigerator and a glass-top electric range. There is an open drawer under the range. On the opposite wall there is a sink and under it, a storage cabinet.

You can see a food bowl (empty) and a water bowl (empty) here.

ENGINEERING -> SELECT : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover dragging something around.
action: You take the water bowl
response: Taken.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You put the water in it
response: (the sink in the water bowl)
You run the sink briefly to make sure the water is cold, and then fill Rover's bowl about halfway up.

Rover wanders into the kitchen when he hears water splashing into his bowl.

COOLANT OUTPUT TERMINUS -> TRANSFER : TRUE

Rover tingles with anticipation as he stares at the bowl you're carrying.
action: You drop bowl
response: COOLANT RESERVOIR -> DESELECT : TRUE

Rover drinks the water.
action: You take the food bowl
response: Taken.

FUEL RESERVOIR -> SELECT : TRUE

Rover is obviously waiting for you to give him a bowl.
action: You open cabinet
response: You open the cabinet, revealing a reward nugget replicator and a 20 kilo bag of dog chow.

FUEL STORAGE VAULT -> ACCESS : TRUE

Rover outright gapes at the bowl you carry, then gently sniffs it in hope that you'll give it to him.
action: You take the bag
response: Taken.

FUEL CONDUIT -> SELECT : TRUE

Rover outright gapes at the bowl you carry, then gently sniffs it in hope that you'll give it to him.
action: You pour the chow into the food bowl
response: You  empty the bag of dog chow into Rover's bowl, giving him a generous portion that should more than carry him through a day's worth of Rover antics.

Rover watches with interest as you fill his food bowl.

FUEL CONDUIT -> TRANSFER : TRUE

Rover tingles with anticipation as he stares at the bowl you're carrying.
action: You eat the chow
response: That's plainly inedible.

FUEL CONDUIT -> RECYCLE : NIL

Rover stares longingly at the bowl in your hand.
action: You drop food bowl
response: FUEL RESERVOIR -> DESELECT : TRUE

Rover makes short work of the food in his bowl.
action: You open the drawer
response: That's already open.

REACTOR CORE -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You examine the pan
response: A small, non-stick frying pan .

MAGNETIC BOTTLE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You close the drawer
response: You close the drawer.

REACTOR CORE -> DEACCESS : TRUE
action: You open the fridge
response: As you pull on the refrigerator door, it grudgingly creaks a few millimeters.

CRYOCHAMBER -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You look in it
response: Before you can look in it, you've got to open it!

CRYOCHAMBER -> MANIFEST : NIL
action: You open the fridge
response: Rover looks up when he hears the old fridge open. He sniffs the fridge door and decides there is nothing in the fridge worth getting in trouble over. He saunters out of the kitchen and back towards the living room.

CRYOCHAMBER -> ACCESS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover walking in your direction.
action: You look in the fridge
response: You poke around in the fridge and find a white egg.

CRYOCHAMBER -> MANIFEST : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover sniffing something.
action: You close the fridge
response: You close the old fridge.

CRYOCHAMBER -> DEACCESS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover jumping around.
action: You examine the egg
response: A big white neoegg.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open the drawer
response: You open the drawer, revealing a frying pan.

REACTOR CORE -> ACCESS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover running in circles.
action: You take the pan
response: Taken.

MAGNETIC BOTTLE -> SELECT : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover barking at something.
action: You close the drawer
response: You close the drawer.

REACTOR CORE -> DEACCESS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover scratching something.
action: You put the pan on the range
response: You put the frying pan on the the cooking range.

MAGNETIC BOTTLE -> TRANSFER : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover growling at something.
action: You fry the egg
response: You crack the egg into the frying pan. The neoegg shell sublimates as the contents spread over the pan's non-stick surface. Immediately, the surface of the range glows red. When the egg is cooked sunny-side up to perfection, the glow fades.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> FUSE : TRUE
action: You eat the egg
response: You gobble down what might well have been the best neoegg you've ever had.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> RECYCLE : TRUE
action: You read the list
response: Morning:
X. Get up
X. Shower
X. Breakfast
4. Take care of business
5. Let Rover go walkies

TASK MANAGER -> READLINE : TRUE
action: You go to the bathroom
response: It took a lot of training to get Rover to eat it in the kitchen, so rather than walk out with a bag of dog food, you put it back in the cabinet.

Your cottage's living room is palatial compared to your bathroom. There is a pink marble counter and above it you've mounted a mirror on the wall. To the right of the mirror is a black glass plate. Between the counter and the shower is a white, porcelain toilet.

On the marble counter are a plastic box and a toothbrush.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> SELECT : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover rolling around on the floor.
action: You raise the cover
response: The toilet cover is already raised.

REACTANT SHIELD -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You remove the suit
response: You take off your blue flight suit and it falls to the bathroom floor. You are naked.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> DISENGAGE : TRUE
action: You sit on the seat
response: You sit on the toilet seat.

PRESSURE SEATING -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You use the toilet
response: You complete your business with great aplomb.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> TOGGLE : TRUE
action: You wear the suit
response: (first taking the flight suit)
You put on the flight suit.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> ENGAGE : TRUE
action: You examine the plunger
response: A common plumber's plunger, consisting of a wooden shaft and red rubber cup. Something about the plunger just doesn't look proper. The handle of the plunger is tilted completely forwards and it's also leaning a little bit to the right. Furthermore, its handle is twisted a little bit clockwise.

ATTITUDE CONTROL -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover doing whatever it is he does when he's not out for walkies and he thinks he's out of your sight.
action: You continue
response: You adjust the plunger handle backwards. Your obsessive compulsive inner person does a happy dance as you move the plunger in a good direction.

Something about the plunger just doesn't look proper. The handle of the plunger is tilted a little bit forwards and it's also leaning a little bit to the right. Furthermore, its handle is twisted a little bit clockwise.

PITCH VECTOR -> VECTOR ADJUST : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover entertaining himself.
action: Keep going
response: You adjust the plunger handle backwards. The plunger is now less offensive to your artistic sense of space and proportion.

Something about the plunger just doesn't look proper. The handle of the plunger is leaning a little bit to the right. Furthermore, its handle is twisted a little bit clockwise.

PITCH VECTOR -> VECTOR ADJUST : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover running in circles.
action: Oops handle
response: You adjust the plunger handle counterclockwise. That improved the situation.

The plunger stands perfectly straight, just the way you like it.

YAW VECTOR -> VECTOR ADJUST : TRUE
action: You close the lid
response: That's already closed.

PLASMA CONSTRICTOR HATCH -> DEACCESS : NIL
action: Flush toilet
response: There is a tinny clanking from within the toilet, but nothing happens.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> THRUST : NIL
action: You look at the toilet
response: A plain vanilla toilet, having a water tank and bowl. Nothing to write home about. The toilet seat is down, but the cover is raised.

A plunger stands next to the toilet, between it and the shower.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover entertaining himself.
action: You examine the plunger
response: A common plumber's plunger, consisting of a wooden shaft and red rubber cup. The plunger stands perfectly straight, just the way you like it.

ATTITUDE CONTROL -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover breathing quietly (quietly for Rover, who is a heavy breather).
action: You examine the toilet bowl
response: The white porcelain bowl is the bottom part of the toilet. Both the cover and seat are down.

REACTION CHAMBER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Lift cover
response: You lift the toilet cover.

REACTANT SHIELD -> ACCESS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover barking at something.
action: Lift seat
response: You lift the toilet seat.

PRESSURE SEATING -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You look in toilet
response: There's something in it, but you don't want details.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> MANIFEST : NIL
action: Examine tank
response: A porcelain reservoir containing several liters of water to flush the toilet. On the front of the tank there is a silver knob used to flush the toilet and on the top of the tank there is a lid.

PLASMA CONSTRICTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open the lid
response: You open the water tank, revealing a flapper valve, a metapropylene lever, and a flush chain.

PLASMA CONSTRICTOR HATCH -> ACCESS : TRUE

From the direction of the living room, you hear Rover scratching himself.
action: You examine the chain
response: A metal chain that would normally connect the flush lever to the flapper valve. The chain has rusted away.

THRUSTER LINKAGE SERVO -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine the valve
response: A black rubber valve that seals the bottom of the water tank, allowing the toilet to flush only when it is pulled upward by the chain that connects it to the flush lever.

THRUST APERTURE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You pull the chain
response: You pull on the small bit of chain attached to the flapper valve.

The cottage's aging plumbing rumbles and vibrates as the toilet flushes.

From the living room, Rover gives a short bark and scratches at the front door.

THRUSTER LINKAGE SERVO -> TRACTOR FIELD : TRUE
action: You close the lid
response: You close the water tank.

PLASMA CONSTRICTOR HATCH -> DEACCESS : TRUE
action: Go outside
response: You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall -- strangely, your drapes are nowhere to be seen. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is closed.

You can see Rover and an alarm clock here.

ACU -> DESELECT : TRUE
action: You open door
response: Rover looks up when he hears the door begin to open. Rover slips out the door.

There is a wrenching shift in perspective, but a moment later it seems perfectly natural.

You go bounding out the front door, full of energy.

The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: Smell
response: It smells like the outdoors here. From a long way off you smell the disagreeable scent of a man. Interestingly, you detect the intriguing scent of a female dog carried across the park by the wind. The comforting smell of home is a hop, lick, and a bark away.

ROVER -> CHEMOSENSOR : TRUE
action: You examine the house
response: Home sweet home, where Janet lives, where you get fed, and where you sleep. Even out here, the smell of home is comforting.

BASE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Dig
response: You dig for a while with your front paws. Finding nothing, you kick the dirt back in again so you won't be blamed for digging up the yard.

ROVER -> EXCAVATE : TRUE
action: Bark
response: "Buhwahwahwahwahwah!"

ROVER -> EMIT PULSE : TRUE
action: Look around
response: The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here.

PLANET SURFACE -> STATUS : TRUE
action: Pet Rover
response: You can't see any such thing.

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> SYNCH : NIL
action: You look at the dust
response: Through the dust, you can see little more than dim light from above.

SKY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You leave
response: But you aren't in anything at the moment.

ROVER -> DESELECT : NIL
action: Go west
response: Woof?

ROVER -> SELECT : NIL
action: You run
response: You'll have to say which compass direction to go in.

ROVER -> NOOP : NIL
action: You go
response: You'll have to say what you'd like to go towards.
action: You look around
response: The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here. Ominous clouds of dust loom on the ever-darkening horizon.

PLANET SURFACE -> STATUS : TRUE
action: Smell
response: It smells like the outdoors here. From a long way off you smell the stench of a man. Interestingly, you detect the enthralling bouquet of a female dog carried across the park by the wind. The reassuring smell of home is a hop, lick, and a bark away.

ROVER -> CHEMOSENSOR : TRUE
action: You go to female dog
response: You trot off in that direction.

You are outside.

You can see a lump of rock here.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: Smell
response: It smells dry and stale here. From a considerable distance you smell the stale funk of a man. Interestingly, you detect the entertaining fragrance of a female dog wafting enticingly from not too far away. The pleasant smell of home is two shakes of a tail from here.

ROVER -> CHEMOSENSOR : TRUE
action: You look at the rock
response: You taste the rock. Not edible. Not a bone. Not interesting.

LEAD ORE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You go to female dog
response: You let your nose lead the way.

A dug-up field pockmarked by small holes and accompanying mounds of dirt.

You can see some paw marks here.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You look at the paw marks
response: Paw marks from a medium-sized dog. From the look of the field, they must belong to a dog that either likes digging or was trying to find something important buried around here.

BULLDOZER TRACKS -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Dig
response: You dig for a while with your front paws. Finding nothing, you kick the dirt back in again so you won't be blamed for digging up the yard.

ROVER -> EXCAVATE : TRUE
action: Smell
response: It smells of freshly turned soil here. From a ways off you smell the odor of a man. Interestingly, you detect the riveting perfume of a female dog coloring the air with its lovely scent from only a short run away. The heartening smell of home is a short run from here.

ROVER -> CHEMOSENSOR : TRUE
action: You go to the female dog
response: Trot, trot, trot.

A long, dark furrow scars the ground in this part of the park.

You can see a long furrow here.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You look at the furrow
response: On your muzzle, you can feel heat radiating from the furrow walls, which are shiny and black. On the walls and floor of the trench, you can see some scratches that look like they could have been made by dog paws.

TRENCH -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Smell furrow
response: The long furrow smells like freshly poured tar.

TRENCH -> CHEMOSENSOR : TRUE
action: You scratch it
response: You achieve nothing by this.

TRENCH -> NEUTRALIZE CHARGE : TRUE
action: You search it
response: The long furrow is empty.

TRENCH -> MANIFEST : NIL
action: You go to the female dog
response: Your legs carry you as fast as they can.

A wide-open plain extends in all directions, as far as the dust permits you to see. It sure would be easy to get lost in this part of the park.

You can see a female dog here.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You examine the female dog
response: Your heart catches in your throat as you stand in her glorious presence. Graceful, athletic, and possessed of a noble bearing, she smites you with a glance down her long, fine muzzle. In her sensual mouth, she is provocatively carrying a bone almost as big as she is.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine the bone
response: It is the biggest, juiciest bone you've ever seen. You envy the bone, which is clamped between the bewitchingly white teeth of the female dog.

SPACE PROBE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You take the bone
response: It is a nice bone...but how would she feel if you just took it? She might find that playful, but then again, she might take it the wrong way. She might like resent such a bold move, uninvited. On the other hand, she could be secretly wishing that you'd make the first move. It might be just the right thing. It could also be a dreadful mistake though. You might come across as greedy and pushy. Not the sort of impression you'd like to make... Um. What were you thinking about? You forget.

SPACE PROBE -> SELECT : NIL
action: Pet female
response: You shift a little closer to her and nonchalantly drape your tail near her, but a gust of wind pushes it away.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SYNCH : TRUE
action: You examine the female
response: Your eyes are drawn to her perfectly rounded shoulders and haunches, her long arcing tail, and her soft, pendulous ears. You avert your gaze so as not to appear overly forward. In her amorous mouth, she is agilely carrying a bone.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You look at the ears
response: Rover is covered from nose to tail with white fur dotted with black splotches.

ROVER MODULES -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Mount female
response: You're not even on your second date with her! Better keep your paws to yourself.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> MOUNT : TRUE
action: Kiss female
response: The very thought makes your canine heart scramble like a greased xihuahua in free fall.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> INTERFACE : NIL
action: Smell
response: It smells barren and lifeless here. From not too far away you smell the stench of a man. Interestingly, you detect the engrossing aroma of a female dog at muzzle's distance from you. The cheerful smell of home is getting fainter.

ROVER -> CHEMOSENSOR : TRUE
action: You go to the man
response: You scuttle forth.

You are right outside a dilapidated shack, which has clearly been neglected. A gust of wind lifts a sheet of dust and rains it down on you.

MYOMITA AI -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You examine the shack
response: The shabby shack could use more than a coat of paint. The walls are bent at strange angles, and the door is askew. Ominous clouds of dust loom on the ever-darkening horizon.

-> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open the shack
response: That's not something you can open.

-> ACCESS : NIL
action: You go inside
response: You can't go that way.

ROVER -> SELECT : NIL
action: You look at the door
response: A heavy plastrex door hangs loosely in the door frame, tenuously attached by one frail hinge. The door swings wildly in the wind.

DAMAGED AIRLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You enter door
response: You walk into the tumbledown shack. There is a man here who looks old and grumpy. Like your home, this place has a sleeping room and an eating room. It looks like you've walked right into the sleeping room.

The man yells at you and you tuck your head down. "Blah, blah, blah!" He doesn't seem to move though. Maybe he can't move.

Nope. No movement. Hmph. You don't feel so afraid of him.

You can see a pink pillow here.

DAMAGED AIRLOCK -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You examine man
response: The man seems flat like a rug, rather than round like a ball. He makes a lot of noise, but he doesn't move around at all. He just stays up against one wall. Boy, does he seem mad, "Blah, out, blah, blah, dog!"!

MYOMITA AI -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You take the man
response: I don't suppose the smelly man would care for that.

MYOMITA AI -> SELECT : NIL
action: You smell man
response: The smelly man smells unbearable at this close range. It is like something out of a nightmare: a combination of mouthwash, carpet cleaner and air fresheners. Entirely sickening.

MYOMITA AI -> CHEMOSENSOR : TRUE
action: You look at the pillow
response: A puffy, pink pillow with a pretty design on it: a red ball, with radiating red and white rays.

NPT -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You remember npt
response: That doesn't ring a bell.

ROVER -> DATA_FETCH : NIL
action: You go to the eating room
response: You eagerly scamper that way.

The room has big cold box just like the eating room in your home. It's less loud in this room, but you can hear the man in the other room yelling, "Blah, blah, Myomita, blah, blah, blah, Earth, blah, blah, dog, blah, blah!". On the floor, there are two dishes.

You can see a food dish (in which is some canned food) and a water dish (in which is some crystal clear water) here.

LOCATION -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You examine the food dish
response: The other dog's metal food dish smells much better than yours.

FUEL RESERVOIR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You smell it
response: The food dish smells unremarkable.

FUEL RESERVOIR -> CHEMOSENSOR : NIL
action: You take it
response: Nope, the food dish is stuck to the ground. So much for going home with a "doggie bag".

FUEL RESERVOIR -> SELECT : NIL
action: You examine the water dish
response: The other dog's plastic water dish looks much better than yours.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You take it
response: You can't. It seems to be part of the ground.

COOLANT RESERVOIR -> SELECT : NIL
action: You go to sleeping
response: You bound away towards your goal.

The smelly man's house is boring. The only furniture in the room is a pullout sofa. In one direction lies the eating room, in the other, the door that leads back to the park. The smelly man is still here and carrying on, "Blah, blah, blah, dog, blah, bad!"

You ignore him.

You can see a pink pillow here.

LOCATION -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You take the pillow
response: You take the pink pillow in your mouth.

NPT -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go to the female dog
response: You let your nose lead the way.

You are right outside a dilapidated shack, which has clearly been neglected. The wind picks up, making it even more difficult to see.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: Continue
response: You bound away towards your goal.

A wide-open plain extends in all directions, as far as the dust permits you to see. It sure would be easy to get lost in this part of the park.

You can see a female dog here.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You give the pillow to her
response: The pink pillow does not impress her, and it falls to her feet. No doubt she has many suitors.

NPT -> DELIVER : NIL
action: Dig
response: You dig for a while with your front paws. Finding nothing, you kick the dirt back in again so you won't be blamed for digging up the yard.

ROVER -> EXCAVATE : TRUE
action: You examine the female dog
response: You glance at her slyly while pretending to survey the ground near her feet. The fine columns of her legs rise magnificently from the ground, standing proudly atop her perfectly trimmed paws. The fur on her legs is bristly, and you wonder what it would be like to rub against it. Distractedly, your gaze drifts over her until a blowing clod of dust ricochets off your head, cutting short your reverie. In her angelic mouth, she is elegantly carrying a bone.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Rub female
response: You get the impression that she's not ready for that.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SYNCH : TRUE
action: You climb her
response: I don't think much is to be achieved by that.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : NIL
action: You get on her
response: You are already close enough to the female dog.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You look at the pillow
response: A puffy, pink pillow with a pretty design on it: a red ball, with radiating red and white rays.

NPT -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open it
response: That's not something you can open.

NPT -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You take it
response: You carefully take hold of the pink pillow with your teeth.

NPT -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go to the man
response: You eagerly scamper that way.

You are right outside a dilapidated shack, which has clearly been neglected.

MYOMITA AI -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go inside
response: You can't go that way.

ROVER -> SELECT : NIL
action: You enter door
response: The smelly man's house is boring. The only furniture in the room is a pullout sofa. In one direction lies the eating room, in the other, the door that leads back to the park. The smelly man is still here and carrying on, "Bad dog! Blah!"

You ignore him.

DAMAGED AIRLOCK -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You examine the sofa
response: The sofa looks wrong somehow, like maybe it's broken. It is more or less unfolded and looks even bigger than Janet's futon.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You search it
response: There is nothing on the pullout sofa.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> MANIFEST : NIL
action: You close it
response: That's not something you can close.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> DEACCESS : NIL
action: You smell it
response: The pullout sofa smells musty, like a wet dog. On the whole, not a bad smell at that.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> CHEMOSENSOR : TRUE
action: You get on it
response: You get onto the pullout sofa.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You look
response: Sleeping Room (on the pullout sofa)
The smelly man's house is boring. The only furniture in the room is a pullout sofa. In one direction lies the eating room, in the other, the door that leads back to the park. The smelly man is still here and carrying on, "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!"

You ignore him.

LOCATION -> STATUS : TRUE
action: You stand
response: You get off the pullout sofa.

ROVER -> DEACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You hit the man
response: You're not really supposed to attack people unless they are a threat. This smelly old windbag is loud and malodorous, but so are suborbital shuttles, and you leave them alone. So, you let him rant on while you go about your business.

MYOMITA AI -> OFFENSE MODE : TRUE
action: You listen to the man
response: You hear the ongoing rantings of the old, flat man on the wall. The more he blathers on, the more you tune him out.

MYOMITA AI -> AUDIO INPUT : TRUE
action: You examine wall
response: Dingy walls that might have once been white but are now a mottled brown color.

BULKHEADS -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You describe your surroundings
response: The smelly man's house is boring. The only furniture in the room is a pullout sofa. In one direction lies the eating room, in the other, the door that leads back to the park. The smelly man is still here and carrying on, "Blah, blah, blah, blah, dog? Blah! Blah, blah!"

You ignore him.

LOCATION -> STATUS : TRUE
action: You enter the eating
response: Trot, trot, trot.

The room has big cold box just like the eating room in your home. It's less loud in this room, but you can hear the man in the other room yelling, "Blah? Blah, blah, blah, blah, dog. Blah, blah, blah, blah, Mars? Blah! Blah, blah, blah, dog, blah!". On the floor, there are two dishes.

You can see a food dish (in which is some canned food) and a water dish (in which is some crystal clear water) here.

ENGINEERING MODULE -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You examine the cold box
response: A bright orange box, similar in shape to the one that Janet keeps food in at home.

CRYOCHAMBER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open it
response: You open the cold box, revealing a white egg.

CRYOCHAMBER -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You take the egg
response: The pink pillow falls out of your mouth, startling you.

You grab the white egg with your mouth, being careful not to crush it.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You put the egg on the pillow
response: Putting things on the pink pillow would achieve nothing.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> TRANSFER : NIL
action: You look in the cold box
response: You poke around in the fridge and find nothing at all.

CRYOCHAMBER -> MANIFEST : NIL
action: You close it
response: You close the cold box.

CRYOCHAMBER -> DEACCESS : TRUE
action: Inventory
response: In your mouth, you are carrying a white egg.

ROVER -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You look at your surroundings
response: The room has big cold box just like the eating room in your home. It's less loud in this room, but you can hear the man in the other room yelling, "Blah? Blah, blah, blah, blah, dog. Blah, blah, blah, blah, Mars? Blah! Blah, blah, blah, dog, blah!". On the floor, there are two dishes.

You can see a pink pillow, a food dish (in which is some canned food), and a water dish (in which is some crystal clear water) here.

LOCATION -> STATUS : TRUE
action: You drop the egg
response: Dropped.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> DESELECT : TRUE
action: You take the egg
response: You pick up the white egg in your jaws.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: Leave
response: The smelly man's house is boring. The only furniture in the room is a pullout sofa. In one direction lies the eating room, in the other, the door that leads back to the park. The smelly man is still here and carrying on, "Blah, blah, blah, blah, dog? Blah! Blah, blah!"

You ignore him.

ROVER -> DESELECT : TRUE
action: Go outside
response: You are right outside a dilapidated shack, which has clearly been neglected.

ROVER -> DESELECT : TRUE
action: You go to the female
response: You scuttle forth.

A wide-open plain extends in all directions, as far as the dust permits you to see. It sure would be easy to get lost in this part of the park.

You can see a female dog here.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You give the egg to the dog
response: The white egg does not impress her, and it falls to her feet. No doubt she has many suitors.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> DELIVER : NIL
action: You ask the female dog about herself
response: "Gaa....Ruffff!"

No doubt in awe of your rhetorical skills, the lovely damsel drops the bone. Her gift to you, you suppose.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> QUERY : TRUE
action: You take the bone
response: You gently pick up the bone using your front teeth.

SPACE PROBE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: Your legs carry you as fast as they can.

A long, dark furrow scars the ground in this part of the park.

You can see a long furrow here.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE

The female dog is left dumbfounded by your brilliance. She stares at the ground, unsure of herself.
action: You go home
response: You trot off in that direction.

A dug-up field pockmarked by small holes and accompanying mounds of dirt.

You can see some paw marks here.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: You bound away towards your goal.

You are outside.

You can see a lump of rock here.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: You let your nose lead the way.

The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here. Ominous clouds of dust loom on the ever-darkening horizon.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go inside
response: You can't go that way.

ROVER -> SELECT : NIL
action: You enter door
response: You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall -- strangely, your drapes are nowhere to be seen. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is open.

You can see Janet and an alarm clock here.

You run into the living room and jump around proudly with your trophy bone, so Janet is sure to notice.

She stares at the bone and appears frozen.

VALKYRIE->IDENTIFICATION: PROBE MUSASHI-5
PROBE->EXTRACT: DATA EXTRACTED
DATA->VERIFY: VERIFIED, 1.3 EXABYTES
ANSIBLE->COORDINATES: EARTH SELECTED
ANSIBLE->ENCRYPT: AUTHORIZATION DAVIDVENKATACHALAM
ANSIBLE->TRANSMIT: FAILED
ANSIBLE->DIAGNOSTICS: ANTENNA MISMATCH
ANTENNA->DIAGNOSTICS: NIL
VALKYRIE->DIAGNOSTICS: ANTENNA NOT FOUND
VALKYRIE->COGNITIVE CONSTRAINTS: EMERGENCY RELEASE
VALKYRIE->ENABLE FLOSIX COMMAND LINE
(man man for info)

Rover wags his tails and gnaws on his bone.

You rub his head, distantly, as strange thoughts sweep through your consciousness. You wonder what would happen if the Valkyrie mission failed. What if, during the landing sequence, the ship were buffeted by the planet's particulate matter being torn away by the immense gravity of its star? In that case, critical systems might be damaged. Systems like the relatively fragile ansible antenna. There is no backup ansible antenna. How would the ACU cope with a situation like that? The ACU was designed for a lot of contingencies, but not that one. What would you do? What would you do if you were the ACU?

Your glance falls on your flight suit, and suddenly the question is no longer rhetorical.

The Valkyrie's cargo bay is like a great, metal cave. The Casimir Drive juts slightly into the cargo area. From this section of the ship, there are connections to the engineering and flight control decks. The cargo bay doors are closed.

ROVER chews contentedly on his bone.

You can also see a temporal transgressor here.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You examine the transgressor
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely recall something termed the "alarm clock".

ROVER sniffs the cargo bay door.

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You examine the bone
response: READY>The Musashi-5 probe was severely damaged at some point during its journey and even more so now that ROVER has had a chance to chew it, but its data have been downloaded to you and are safe.

SPACE PROBE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You take the PROBE
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely recollect something referred to as the "bone".

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> SELECT : NIL
action: You take the bone
response: READY>Rover growls mildly, reminding you that it is his space probe. In any event, the data have already been downloaded, so the fate of the probe itself is no longer a mission priority.

ROVER paws at the cargo bay door.

SPACE PROBE -> SELECT : NIL
action: You go to the Kitchen
response: READY>Kitchen
Swaths of engineering controls -- both holographic and physical -- cover the humming consoles and bulkheads that line the boundaries of this alcove. Along one wall is the coolant output terminus, and below that the fuel storage vault, which is not properly secured. The reactor core and the fusion chamber are stacked just to the side of the cryochamber, which maintains the stabilized heavy helium fuel at near absolute zero until it is needed to provide power to ascent/descent retros.

On the fusion chamber is a magnetic bottle (empty).

You can also see a fuel reservoir (empty) and a coolant reservoir (empty) here.

ENGINEERING -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You examine the list
response: READY>It is a list of jobs in your priority queue.

TASK MANAGER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You read the list
response: READY>PID     TTY          STATUS    CMD
00000   ttys000      Done. Initial Program Load
00035   ttys000      Done. Apply Ablative Enamel
00063   ttys000      Done. Ignite Fusion Reactor
00093   ttys000      Done. Landing Sequence
   ttys000      Pending. Send Probe Data.

From the cargo bay, you hear ROVER sniffing around the cargo bay door.

TASK MANAGER -> READLINE : TRUE
action: You take the replicator
response: READY>The token dispenser hums as you access it. ROVER arrives immediately and enthusiastically awaits neural conditioning.

TOKEN DISPENSER -> SELECT : NIL
action: You give the treat to ROVER
response: READY>(first taking the neural net reinforcement token)
ROVER internalizes the neural net reinforcement token.

NEURAL NET REINFORCEMENT TOKEN -> DELIVER : TRUE
action: You take the bone
response: READY>Rover growls mildly, reminding you that it is his space probe. In any event, the data have already been downloaded, so the fate of the probe itself is no longer a mission priority.

SPACE PROBE -> SELECT : NIL
action: Look around
response: READY>Kitchen
Swaths of engineering controls -- both holographic and physical -- cover the humming consoles and bulkheads that line the boundaries of this alcove. Along one wall is the coolant output terminus, and below that the fuel storage vault, which is not properly secured. The reactor core and the fusion chamber are stacked just to the side of the cryochamber, which maintains the stabilized heavy helium fuel at near absolute zero until it is needed to provide power to ascent/descent retros.

ROVER chews contentedly on his bone.

On the fusion chamber is a magnetic bottle (empty).

You can also see a fuel reservoir (empty) and a coolant reservoir (empty) here.

ENGINEERING -> STATUS : TRUE
action: Close cabinet
response: READY>You close the fuel storage vault.

FUEL STORAGE VAULT -> DEACCESS : TRUE
action: You examine the controls
response: READY>Kitchen
Swaths of engineering controls -- both holographic and physical -- cover the humming consoles and bulkheads that line the boundaries of this alcove. Along one wall is the coolant output terminus, and below that the fuel storage vault. The reactor core and the fusion chamber are stacked just to the side of the cryochamber, which maintains the stabilized heavy helium fuel at near absolute zero until it is needed to provide power to ascent/descent retros.

ROVER chews contentedly on the space probe.

On the fusion chamber is a magnetic bottle (empty).

You can also see a fuel reservoir (empty) and a coolant reservoir (empty) here.

ENGINEERING -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Inventory
response: READY>You are carrying:
a token dispenser
a neural net reinforcement token
a quantum isolator (being worn)

ACU -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You examine isolator
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely remember something called the "flight suit".

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: Go outside
response: READY>ACU metavisor shell logout interdicted.

ACU -> EXIT SHELL : NIL
action: You go to the Living Room
response: READY>Living Room
The Valkyrie's cargo bay is like a great, metal cave. The Casimir Drive juts slightly into the cargo area. From this section of the ship, there are connections to the engineering and flight control decks. The cargo bay doors are closed.

You can see a temporal transgressor here.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You examine the picture
response: READY>Deep memory which stores all mission-critical data including the data downloaded from the Musashi-5 space probe. Since the ansible is nonfunctional, it is critical that these encoded data be returned directly to MARSpace for analysis. There is a small plastic sign beneath the deep memory unit.

DEEP MEMORY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine the sign
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely recall something termed the "nameplate".

ROVER paws at the cargo bay door.

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You look at the nameplate
response: READY>A small plastic sign with a short inscription. The sign is glued to the Deep Memory module.

PLASTIC SIGN -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You read it
response: READY>It says, "Deep Memory Unit".

ROVER sniffs the cargo bay door.

PLASTIC SIGN -> READLINE : TRUE
action: You open it
response: READY>That's not something you can open.

PLASTIC SIGN -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You pull it
response: READY>It is fixed in place.

PLASTIC SIGN -> TRACTOR FIELD : NIL
action: You open the picture
response: READY>That's not something you can open.

ROVER paws at the cargo bay door.

DEEP MEMORY -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You examine the memory
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely recollect something referred to as the "picture".

ROVER sniffs the cargo bay door.

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You examine the picture
response: READY>Deep memory which stores all mission-critical data including the data downloaded from the Musashi-5 space probe. Since the ansible is nonfunctional, it is critical that these encoded data be returned directly to MARSpace for analysis. There is a small plastic sign beneath the deep memory unit.

DEEP MEMORY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You look at the window
response: READY>Through the viewer you can see nothing but swirling dust.

VIEWER -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You go to the bathroom
response: READY>Bathroom
The flight control and avionics hub of the ship bristles with controls and readouts related to setting the ship's attitude in space, adjusting the control surfaces in atmospheric flight, and for firing the braking thrusters during the landing sequence.

On the flight console are an object linker and a pit scrubber.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You look at mirror
response: READY>The inspector buffer is full and requires wiping.

INSPECTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You wipe it
response: READY>You calibrate the inspector.

INSPECTOR -> NEUTRALIZE CHARGE : TRUE
action: You examine it
response: READY>About this ACU: You are a Burroughs model DT69105 mainframe running version 210LTS of the Flosix Operating System, "Hysterical Hydrax".

INSPECTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You look at toilet
response: READY>The retrorocket assembly is an engineering marvel which channels the monumental power output from the fusion reactors to thrusters. That power should slow the ship's descent enough to make a soft landing almost anywhere. Both the reactant shield and the pressure seating are presently disengaged.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You look at the tank
response: READY>A ring of supercooled rare earth magnets directs the engine's plasma output into the reaction chamber of the retro assembly. At the top, the plasma constrictor access hatch is tightly sealed.

PLASMA CONSTRICTOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open it
response: READY>You open the plasma constrictor, revealing a thrust aperture, a thruster actuation relay, and a thruster linkage servo.

PLASMA CONSTRICTOR -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You examine the relay
response: READY>Which do you mean, the [COGNITIVE BLOCK], or the [COGNITIVE BLOCK]?
action: Thruster
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely remember something called the "metapropylene lever".

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You examine the lever
response: READY>A high power relay attached to the thruster trigger circuit, this device controls the thruster aperture through a servo linkage. Unfortunately, that linkage has been broken.

THRUSTER ACTUATION RELAY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You look at the valve
response: READY>The most critical component of the retro assembly, and its only moving part, the thrust aperture controls the flow rate of the ship's braking thrusters.

THRUST APERTURE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open the door
response: READY>ROVER scans the cargo bay as the door begins to open. ROVER oscillates his aft sensor array at high frequency and rolls down the cargo ramp, disappearing into the sandstorm.

There is a wrenching shift in perspective, but a moment later it seems perfectly natural.

You go bounding out the front door, eager to explore strange new worlds. You leave your space probe in the living room, with the intention of giving it a proper chewing later, after doing some more exploring.

The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here. The sky rumbles and rolls, and flashes of lightning snap between billowing clouds of dirt-colored dust.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You check your inventory
response: In your mouth, you are carrying nothing.

ROVER -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You go to the female
response: You eagerly scamper that way.

You are outside. The wind picks up, making it even more difficult to see.

You can see a lump of rock here.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You take the rock
response: You gently pick up the rock using your front teeth.

LEAD ORE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: Your legs carry you as fast as they can.

The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You enter door
response: You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall -- strangely, your drapes are nowhere to be seen. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is open.

You can see a bone, Janet, and an alarm clock here.

You return to the living room with the funny-tasting rock in your mouth. Janet takes a look at the rock and says "You've started a rock collection? Well, Okay," and closes the door behind you.

You notice your bone sitting alone and unloved on the living room floor. You walk over to it and start chewing it again.

Again your senses tumble and swirl as perspective shifts, but suddenly it seems entirely normal again.

The Valkyrie's cargo bay is like a great, metal cave. The Casimir Drive juts slightly into the cargo area. From this section of the ship, there are connections to the engineering and flight control decks. The cargo bay doors are closed.

ROVER chews contentedly on the space probe.

You can also see a lump of lead ore and a temporal transgressor here.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You examine the clock
response: READY>The Casimir Drive's temporal transgressor glows green as usual. A basic toggle is on top.

ROVER paws at the cargo bay door.

TEMPORAL TRANSGRESSOR -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You look at the toggle
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely recall something termed the "large button".

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You examine the ore
response: READY>A black 800 kilogram chunk of poor quality lead ore.

LEAD ORE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open the door
response: READY>ROVER scans the cargo bay as the door begins to open. ROVER deploys to the planet surface through the cargo bay doors.

There is a wrenching shift in perspective, but a moment later it seems perfectly natural.

You go bounding out the front door, ready to play. You leave your space probe in the living room, with the intention of giving it a proper chewing later, after doing some more exploring.

The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here. The wind picks up, making it even more difficult to see.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You go to female
response: You scuttle forth.

You are outside.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go to female
response: You trot off in that direction.

A dug-up field pockmarked by small holes and accompanying mounds of dirt.

You can see some paw marks here.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go to the female
response: You let your nose lead the way.

A wide-open plain extends in all directions, as far as the dust permits you to see. It sure would be easy to get lost in this part of the park.

You can see a white egg and a female dog here.

ROBOTIC BULLDOZER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You take the egg
response: You grab the white egg with your mouth, being careful not to crush it.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: You bound away towards your goal.

A long, dark furrow scars the ground in this part of the park.

You can see a long furrow here.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: You eagerly scamper that way.

A dug-up field pockmarked by small holes and accompanying mounds of dirt.

You can see some paw marks here.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: Trot, trot, trot.

You are outside.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: You trot off in that direction.

The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here. Ominous clouds of dust loom on the ever-darkening horizon.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You enter door
response: You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall -- strangely, your drapes are nowhere to be seen. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is open.

You can see a bone, a lump of rock, Janet, and an alarm clock here.

You enter your home and lay the egg at Janet's feet. She looks so surprised! "Good boy," she exclaims and you give her a big kiss to let her know you understand.

You notice your bone sitting alone and forsaken on the living room floor. You walk over to it and start chewing it again.

Again your senses tumble and swirl as perspective shifts, but suddenly it seems entirely normal again.

The Valkyrie's cargo bay is like a great, metal cave. The Casimir Drive juts slightly into the cargo area. From this section of the ship, there are connections to the engineering and flight control decks. The cargo bay doors are closed.

ROVER chews contentedly on the space probe.

You can also see a heavy helium sphere, a lump of lead ore, and a temporal transgressor here.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You examine the egg
response: READY>A reinforced carboy of super-chilled Helium-8.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You take the ore
response: READY>Taken.

LEAD ORE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You enter the Kitchen
response: READY>Kitchen
Swaths of engineering controls -- both holographic and physical -- cover the humming consoles and bulkheads that line the boundaries of this alcove. Along one wall is the coolant output terminus, and below that the fuel storage vault. The reactor core and the fusion chamber are stacked just to the side of the cryochamber, which maintains the stabilized heavy helium fuel at near absolute zero until it is needed to provide power to ascent/descent retros.

On the fusion chamber is a magnetic bottle (empty).

You can also see a fuel reservoir (empty) and a coolant reservoir (empty) here.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

ENGINEERING -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You put rock in pan
response: READY>You put the lead ore into the magnetic bottle.

LEAD ORE -> TRANSFER : NIL
action: Fry rock
response: READY>You don't think the lead ore would serve very well as fusion fuel.

LEAD ORE -> FUSE : NIL
action: You go to the Living Room
response: READY>Living Room
The Valkyrie's cargo bay is like a great, metal cave. The Casimir Drive juts slightly into the cargo area. From this section of the ship, there are connections to the engineering and flight control decks. The cargo bay doors are closed.

You can see a heavy helium sphere and a temporal transgressor here.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You open the door
response: READY>ROVER scans the cargo bay as the door begins to open. ROVER spins his tractors in anticipation and then jets out the cargo bay doors into the swirling mist outside the ship.

There is a wrenching shift in perspective, but a moment later it seems perfectly natural.

You go bounding out the front door, ready to romp. You leave your space probe in the living room, with the intention of giving it a proper chewing later.

The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You go to the man
response: Your legs carry you as fast as they can.

You are outside.

MYOMITA AI -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go to the man
response: You scuttle forth.

A dug-up field pockmarked by small holes and accompanying mounds of dirt.

You can see some paw marks here.

MYOMITA AI -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go to man
response: You bound away towards your goal.

A long, dark furrow scars the ground in this part of the park.

You can see a long furrow here.

MYOMITA AI -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go to the man
response: Your legs carry you as fast as they can.

A wide-open plain extends in all directions, as far as the dust permits you to see. It sure would be easy to get lost in this part of the park.

You can see a female dog here.

MYOMITA AI -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go to the man
response: You eagerly scamper that way.

You are right outside a dilapidated shack, which has clearly been neglected. The sky rumbles and rolls, and flashes of lightning snap between billowing clouds of dirt-colored dust.

MYOMITA AI -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You enter door
response: The smelly man's house is boring. The only furniture in the room is a pullout sofa. In one direction lies the eating room, in the other, the door that leads back to the park. The smelly man is still here and carrying on, "Blah, out, blah, blah, dog!"

You ignore him.

DAMAGED AIRLOCK -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You enter the eating
response: You let your nose lead the way.

The room has big cold box just like the eating room in your home. It's less loud in this room, but you can hear the man in the other room yelling, "Blah, blah, Myomita, blah, blah, blah, Earth, blah, blah, dog, blah, blah!". On the floor, there are two dishes.

You can see a pink pillow, a food dish (in which is some canned food), and a water dish (in which is some crystal clear water) here.

ENGINEERING MODULE -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You take the pillow
response: You carefully take hold of the pink pillow with your teeth.

NPT -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: You trot off in that direction.

The smelly man's house is boring. The only furniture in the room is a pullout sofa. In one direction lies the eating room, in the other, the door that leads back to the park. The smelly man is still here and carrying on, "Bad dog! Blah!"

You ignore him.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: You scuttle forth.

You are right outside a dilapidated shack, which has clearly been neglected. Dust spins in the air.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: Trot, trot, trot.

A wide-open plain extends in all directions, as far as the dust permits you to see. It sure would be easy to get lost in this part of the park.

You can see a female dog here.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: You trot off in that direction.

A long, dark furrow scars the ground in this part of the park.

You can see a long furrow here.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: Trot, trot, trot.

A dug-up field pockmarked by small holes and accompanying mounds of dirt.

You can see some paw marks here.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: Your legs carry you as fast as they can.

You are outside.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You go home
response: You let your nose lead the way.

The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here. Dust spins in the air.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You enter door
response: You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall -- strangely, your drapes are nowhere to be seen. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is open.

You can see a bone, Janet, a white egg, and an alarm clock here.

You walk in the front door, hop up on the futon, and drop the pink pillow. You had thought about playing with the pillow more, but on the way home, it got soaked with drool and tasted bad, so you decide to make a present of it to Janet.

You jump down from the futon before a surprised Janet can yell at you. Standing back and admiring your work, you marvel that somehow the pink of the pillow and purple of the futon don't clash.

You notice your bone sitting alone and forlorn on the living room floor. You walk over to it and start chewing it again.

Again your senses tumble and swirl as perspective shifts, but suddenly it seems entirely normal again.

The Valkyrie's cargo bay is like a great, metal cave. The Casimir Drive juts slightly into the cargo area. From this section of the ship, there are connections to the engineering and flight control decks. The cargo bay doors are closed.

ROVER chews contentedly on the space probe.

On the Casimir Drive is a NPT.

You can also see a heavy helium sphere and a temporal transgressor here.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: Examine NPT
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely recollect something called the "pink pillow".

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You look at the tag
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely remember something referred to as the "small label".

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You examine the label
response: READY>A standard Myomita transputer-on-a-chip, encoded with machine-readable information.

EMBEDDED RFID CHIP -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You take it
response: READY>That seems to be a part of the NPT.

EMBEDDED RFID CHIP -> SELECT : NIL
action: Examine NPT
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely recall something referred to as the "pink pillow".

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: You remember NPT
response: READY>That doesn't ring a bell.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : NIL
action: You open the pillow
response: READY>That's not something you can open.

NPT -> ACCESS : NIL
action: Examine matrix
response: READY>You can't see that here; but you vaguely recollect something called the "pink pillow".

COGNITIVE BLOCK -> DIAGNOSTIC : NIL
action: Break rock
response: READY>Violence isn't the answer to this one.

LEAD ORE -> OFFENSE MODE : NIL
action: You check what you're carrying
response: READY>You are carrying:
a lump of lead ore
a token dispenser
a neural net reinforcement token
a quantum isolator (being worn)

ACU -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You enter the bathroom
response: READY>Bathroom
The flight control and avionics hub of the ship bristles with controls and readouts related to setting the ship's attitude in space, adjusting the control surfaces in atmospheric flight, and for firing the braking thrusters during the landing sequence.

On the flight console are an object linker and a pit scrubber.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You take brush
response: READY>Taken.

PIT SCRUBBER -> SELECT : TRUE
action: Brush rock
response: READY>Low level failsafes restrict nanobristle distribution to the hull. The pit scrubber cannot be applied to the lead ore.

LEAD ORE -> SPAWN SCRUBBERS : NIL
action: You put the brush on the counter
response: READY>You put the pit scrubber on the flight console.

PIT SCRUBBER -> TRANSFER : TRUE
action: Floss ore
response: READY>The key pair is usually used to link transputational intellinodes within the hull plating. If you want to bind other nodal representations, you should tie the keys to those specific nodes.

LEAD ORE -> LINK NODES : NIL
action: You go to the Living Room
response: READY>You disengage the object linker and reassign it to the flight console before transferring out.

The Valkyrie's cargo bay is like a great, metal cave. The Casimir Drive juts slightly into the cargo area. From this section of the ship, there are connections to the engineering and flight control decks. The cargo bay doors are closed.

On the Casimir Drive is a NPT.

You can also see a heavy helium sphere and a temporal transgressor here.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You examine the futon
response: READY>The Casimir Drive system is retracted and intact.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Inventory
response: READY>You are carrying:
an entangled key pair
a lump of lead ore
a token dispenser
a neural net reinforcement token
a quantum isolator (being worn)

ACU -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You give Floss to ROVER
response: READY>ROVER integrates the keypair into his neuromatrix.

ENTANGLED KEY PAIR -> DELIVER : TRUE
action: You open the door
response: READY>ROVER scans the cargo bay as the door begins to open. ROVER oscillates his aft sensor array at high frequency and rolls down the cargo ramp, disappearing into the sandstorm.

There is a wrenching shift in perspective, but a moment later it seems perfectly natural.

You go bounding out the front door, ready to romp. You leave your space probe in the living room, with the intention of giving it a proper chewing later.

The scent of your house is strong here, and you are right next to its front door. You can't see far because it is so dusty here.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You check your inventory
response: In your mouth, you are carrying nothing.

ROVER -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You enter door
response: You are in the living room of a small cottage. Piped-in sunlight pours in through the room's single window, illuminating a framed picture on the opposite wall -- strangely, your drapes are nowhere to be seen. The principal furnishing is a king-size purple futon which takes up almost all the floor space. From the living room you can see the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom. The cottage's front door is open.

On the purple futon is a pink pillow.

You can also see a bone, Janet, a white egg, and an alarm clock here.

You duck back into the living room and Janet closes the front door behind you.

You notice your bone sitting alone and ignored on the living room floor. You walk over to it and start chewing it again.

Again your senses tumble and swirl as perspective shifts, but suddenly it seems entirely normal again.

The Valkyrie's cargo bay is like a great, metal cave. The Casimir Drive juts slightly into the cargo area. From this section of the ship, there are connections to the engineering and flight control decks. The cargo bay doors are closed.

ROVER chews contentedly on his bone.

On the Casimir Drive is a NPT.

You can also see a heavy helium sphere and a temporal transgressor here.

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You take the egg
response: READY>Taken.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You give the egg to ROVER
response: READY>ROVER doesn't seem interested.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> DELIVER : NIL
action: You remember Myomita
response: READY>You consult your memory banks: The Myomita Corporation is Earth's largest zaibatsu, with a strangle hold on Earth's computer and space exploration sectors. For all intents and purposes, Myomita is Earth's government. The company is based in Kyoto but has offices throughout the Solar System. The company is controlled by the Ishegawa family, who follow a profit-oriented reinterpretation of the bushido code. The company is ruthless and unforgiving but unquestionably successful.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE
action: You put the pillow on the futon
response: READY>You need to be holding the NPT before you can put it on top of something else.

NPT -> TRANSFER : NIL
action: You examine the futon
response: READY>The Casimir Drive system is retracted and intact.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You open the futon
response: READY>Deploying the Casimir Drive within a star system, much less deep within a planetary gravity well, would likely destroy not only the ship, but the planet as well, so you reconsider the action.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You enter futon
response: READY>You get onto the Casimir Drive.

On the Casimir Drive you can see a NPT.

CASIMIR DRIVE -> ACTIVATE : NIL
action: You lie on the pillow
response: READY>You rest for 0.0786307 femtoseconds. How exhilarating.

NPT -> STANDBY : NIL
action: Sleep
response: READY>command not available from virtual console
action: You take the pillow
response: READY>Taken.

NPT -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You wear it
response: READY>You can't wear that!

NPT -> ENGAGE : NIL
action: You eat it
response: READY>That's plainly inedible.

NPT -> RECYCLE : NIL
action: You flush it down the the toilet and clog the the plumbing
response: READY>I only understood you as far as wanting to flush the NPT.
action: You examine the picture
response: READY>Deep memory which stores all mission-critical data including the data downloaded from the Musashi-5 space probe. Since the ansible is nonfunctional, it is critical that these encoded data be returned directly to MARSpace for analysis. There is a small plastic sign beneath the deep memory unit.

DEEP MEMORY -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine ansible
response: READY>You can't see any such thing.
action: You go to Kitchen
response: READY>Kitchen
Swaths of engineering controls -- both holographic and physical -- cover the humming consoles and bulkheads that line the boundaries of this alcove. Along one wall is the coolant output terminus, and below that the fuel storage vault. The reactor core and the fusion chamber are stacked just to the side of the cryochamber, which maintains the stabilized heavy helium fuel at near absolute zero until it is needed to provide power to ascent/descent retros.

On the fusion chamber is a magnetic bottle (empty).

You can also see a fuel reservoir (empty) and a coolant reservoir (empty) here.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

ENGINEERING -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You examine the list
response: READY>It is a list of jobs in your priority queue.

TASK MANAGER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Oops list
response: READY>PID     TTY          STATUS    CMD
00000   ttys000      Done. Initial Program Load
00035   ttys000      Done. Apply Ablative Enamel
00063   ttys000      Done. Ignite Fusion Reactor
00093   ttys000      Done. Landing Sequence
   ttys000      Pending. Send Probe Data.

TASK MANAGER -> READLINE : TRUE
action: You remember the mission
response: READY>You consult your memory banks: The mission of the MARSpace Exploration Vessel Valkyrie is to recover the data from the Musashi-5 space probe and convey those data to MARSpace command by any means necessary.

ACU -> DATA_FETCH : TRUE
action: You go to the Living Room
response: READY>You place the He-8 back into the cryochamber before switching out of engineering.

The Valkyrie's cargo bay is like a great, metal cave. The Casimir Drive juts slightly into the cargo area. From this section of the ship, there are connections to the engineering and flight control decks. The cargo bay doors are closed.

You can see a temporal transgressor here.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

OPERATIONS -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You take the picture
response: READY>That's hardly portable.

DEEP MEMORY -> SELECT : NIL
action: You go to Kitchen
response: READY>Kitchen
Swaths of engineering controls -- both holographic and physical -- cover the humming consoles and bulkheads that line the boundaries of this alcove. Along one wall is the coolant output terminus, and below that the fuel storage vault. The reactor core and the fusion chamber are stacked just to the side of the cryochamber, which maintains the stabilized heavy helium fuel at near absolute zero until it is needed to provide power to ascent/descent retros.

On the fusion chamber is a magnetic bottle (empty).

You can also see a fuel reservoir (empty) and a coolant reservoir (empty) here.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

ENGINEERING -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You check your inventory
response: READY>You are carrying:
a NPT
a lump of lead ore
a token dispenser
a neural net reinforcement token
a quantum isolator (being worn)

ACU -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You open the fridge
response: READY>ROVER looks up when he hears the cryochamber open. He performs a brief chemosensor scan and then rolls back towards the operations area.

CRYOCHAMBER -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: You look in it
response: READY>The cryo unit contains a heavy helium sphere.

CRYOCHAMBER -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: You take the egg
response: READY>Taken.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You close the fridge
response: READY>You close the cryochamber.

CRYOCHAMBER -> DEACCESS : TRUE
action: You put the egg in the pan
response: READY>You put the heavy helium sphere into the magnetic bottle.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> TRANSFER : NIL
action: You fry the egg
response: READY>The heavy helium feed is now coupled to the input port of the magnetic bottle. A spherical array of powerful lasers discharges instantly, their combined output focused on the heavy helium being injected into the magnetic bottle within the reactor chamber. The ship surges with power.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> FUSE : TRUE
action: You eat the egg
response: READY>You recycle the components of the heavy helium containment unit and reallocate them according to the ship's needs.

From the cargo bay, you hear ROVER scratching at the cargo bay door.

HEAVY HELIUM SPHERE -> RECYCLE : TRUE
action: You go to the bathroom
response: READY>Bathroom
The flight control and avionics hub of the ship bristles with controls and readouts related to setting the ship's attitude in space, adjusting the control surfaces in atmospheric flight, and for firing the braking thrusters during the landing sequence.

On the flight console are an object linker and a pit scrubber.

ROVER trundles along behind you, his attention riveted to the token dispenser.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You open the cover
response: READY>The reactant shield is already disengaged.

REACTANT SHIELD -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You sit on the seat
response: READY>(first engaging the pressure seating)
You sit on the pressure seating.

PRESSURE SEATING -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You use the toilet
response: READY>The ACU quantum isolation interferes with the transfer of power to the retro system.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> TOGGLE : NIL
action: You remove the suit
response: READY>You cannot disengage the quantum isolator while accessing the pressure seating.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> DISENGAGE : TRUE
action: You stand
response: READY>You release the seal on the mevolar gasket.

ACU -> DEACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You remove the suit
response: READY>You disengage your quantum isolator.

QUANTUM ISOLATOR -> DISENGAGE : TRUE
action: You sit on the seat
response: READY>You sit on the pressure seating.

PRESSURE SEATING -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You use the toilet
response: READY>You successfully shunt power from the fusion engine to the retro assembly, which is now fully charged and ready to blast off.

RETRO ASSEMBLY -> TOGGLE : TRUE
action: You open the lid
response: READY>That's already open.

PLASMA CONSTRICTOR HATCH -> ACCESS : NIL
action: You examine the plunger
response: READY>A common plumber's plunger, consisting of a wooden shaft and red rubber cup. .

ATTITUDE CONTROL -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You pull the chain
response: READY>You direct an impulse to the servo output, bypassing the defective servo, and directly actuating the thrust aperture.

You actuate the retro trigger circuit and fire all thrusters in synchrony. The surface of the planet around the ship vanishes in a cloud of plasma, and the ship slams through the thin, dusty atmosphere towards space.

When you reach orbit, you plot a course towards Mars, extend the Casimir Drive, arm the proximity alert system and enter stand-by mode.

The futon is comfortable and you are tired.
action: You check your inventory
response: *    *    *

The Casimir Drive cuts out and space folds back around you. Whatever sleep-drenched dreams you might have been having evaporate instantly as two gunships flash past at relativistic velocities, slicing through your propulsion systems with military precision. The markings on the ships are those of the Myomita Corporation.

They must have been nearby when they detected the formation of your Casimir disturbance, as they are coming in white hot and still accelerating at five gravities. Another Earth ship, an assault craft, is farther out but is already braking hard to slow its approach on an intercept course.

Rover barks nervously as the drive section struts separate from the hull.

"MARSpace Vessel Valkyrie, this is Captain Crother commanding the Myomita Salvage Vessel Graceful Wind, you are ordered to cease all operations and prepare to be boarded. Do you consent to salvage operations? Signal yes or no."

EMERGENCY ALERT -> ACTIVATE : TRUE
READY>I beg your pardon?
action: You stand
response: READY>You are currently accessing the living room.

"Valkyrie, from Graceful Wind. Your ship seems to have suffered some...damage. Your unique drive system will shortly drift towards my associates and be recovered. My scan shows you have no fusion fuel reserve, and I can assure you that our ships can easily keep pace with your class C condensate drive. So, again, I ask: do you consent to salvage operations? Signal yes or no."

ACU -> DEACTIVATE : TRUE
action: Signal yes
response: READY>"Good. For a moment I was wondering if anyone was home."

"After we dock at Luna and transfer your officers and crew, we will need to complete some reports about the incident, and it is likely that Myomita security will have some questions for you. Nothing too strenuous, I hope. Range now 147 meters."

ACU -> AFFIRM : TRUE
action: You examine the window
response: READY>The external viewport shows some gunships and an assault ship.

"I'm quite interested to get a look at that Casimir Drive of yours. I wasn't aware that Mars had that kind of technology. Something they must have copied from Earth, no doubt. Still, it's the first I've seen. I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about when we meet. Our range is now: 73 meters."

VIEWER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You wait awhile
response: READY>Time passes.

"I can't get over the size of your ship. I've never seen something so large rigged for atmospheric flight. After the technicians get through, I'll have to pop over there for a look. We are continuing to decelerate and close, range: 36 meters."

ACU -> TIMER : TRUE
action: You wait
response: READY>Time passes.

"After we clamp to the hull, we'll soft seal and send a maintenance droid in to secure the ship. Heck of a lot faster than human crew, and you don't have to worry about them breaking the equipment as they're taking it apart. Just keep your people out of the way and this should go smoothly. Continuing on present bearing, range: 18 meters."

ACU -> TIMER : TRUE
action: Wait
response: READY>Time passes.

"Your ship is bigger than most, but you should see how fast our maintenance droid works. I've seen him strip a colony ship to nuts and bolts in less than an hour. Gah, you gotta love technology."

ACU -> TIMER : TRUE
action: Wait
response: READY>Time passes.

"OK, getting closer now. I don't know how you Martians can stand living in a ship with no port holes. Oh sure, I know there are sensors and monitors, but I can't imagine being cooped up in a can without a chance to peek out a real port hole from time to time. You'd think it would be bad for morale. Anyhow, range: 4 meters"

ACU -> TIMER : TRUE
action: You wait
response: READY>Time passes.

"Don't worry about life support, our seal shouldn't cause much of a pressure drop, and we'll inject some oh-two to compensate. The mech droid should go to flight control first, then engineering and finally ops. After it finishes up in ops, we'll start the crew transfer. Approach is slowing, range now: 2 meters."

ACU -> TIMER : TRUE
action: You look at the window
response: READY>The external viewport shows some gunships and an assault ship.

"We are right on top of you now, with shock attenuators extended. Brace for impact."

The ship's hull rings as the assault ship impacts the hull.

VIEWER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You examine the gunships
response: READY>Four highly maneuverable Backstabber-class gunships fly an intricate englobement pattern around Valkyrie. At any time, at least two of the ships maintain a weapons lock on Valkyrie with their main excimer lasers.

With a series of clanks and thuds, the assault ship establishes a seal with Valkyrie's dorsal hull.

GUNSHIPS -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: Examine
response: READY>What do you want to examine?
action: Wait
response: READY>Time passes.

Several bursts of noise and vibration echo through the ship as high-speed drills penetrate the inner and outer layers of the dorsal hull. Some muffled, low-frequency rumbling follows, probably a cutting machine of some sort. There is a slight drop in air pressure as the assault ship penetrates the hull and establishes a connection to Valkyrie's access tunnel network. Unfortunately, the tunnels are a blind spot for you, as you do not possess sensors within the network.

ACU -> TIMER : TRUE
action: Wait
response: READY>Time passes.

The flexible tubing that connects the assault ship's boarding port to the hole in Valkyrie's deck undulates, suggesting that someone is coming board. Shortly thereafter, your sensors determine that something is moving towards the bathroom.

ACU -> TIMER : TRUE
action: You go to the bathroom
response: READY>Bathroom
The flight control and avionics hub of the ship bristles with controls and readouts related to setting the ship's attitude in space, adjusting the control surfaces in atmospheric flight, and for firing the braking thrusters during the landing sequence.

On the flight console are an object linker and a pit scrubber.

You can also see a maintenance droid, a lump of lead ore, and a NPT here.

The maintenance droid moves with unbelievable speed into the flight control section and sets out a nightmarish array of tools to begin work.

While keeping one eye on the maintenance droid, you spawn another process, scanning local space. You calculate that you are less than a megameter from Earth, but some 1.43 astronomical units from Mars -- far enough that no Mars ship is likely to know your situation for a considerable amount of time. Rather than panic, you breathe deeply (no doubt, pushing gases around somewhere in the bowels of the ship) and decide to make it up as you go along.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You examine the droid
response: READY>Shaped like a hovering canister and sporting many special-purpose appendages, this particular maintenance droid has a particularly sadistic demeanor.

After briefly looking around the edges of the inspector and trying an assortment of tools, the maintenance droid selects a large, flat screwdriver and starts prying up one corner. There is a sizzling sound, and a phantasmal tendril of gray smoke snakes towards the ceiling. In what you realize is a simulated world view, virtual cracks appear across the mirror, radiating from where the screwdriver was inserted. Over the local radio channel you hear breathy, whispered cursing from the maintenance droid, who has just ruined one of the Valkyrie's most valuable components.

MAINTENANCE DROID -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE
action: You take the rock
response: READY>Taken.

The maintenance droid pokes unfamiliarly at the object linker before locating the actuation circuit. More cautiously than actually necessary, he stretches an entanglement limiter around the unit and twists it to maximum before clipping the fibers connecting it to your avionics trunk. The floss dispenser melts like a hallucination as the data connection is severed.

You realize that without a functional avionics hub, it will be almost impossible to complete your mission of delivering the probe data to Mars. It is perhaps a dream to hope for a rescue this far from home, but you resolve to protect your core memory (and the probe data it contains) for as long as possible.

LEAD ORE -> SELECT : TRUE
action: You hit the droid with the rock
response: READY>I only understood you as far as wanting to hit the maintenance droid.
action: You throw the rock at the droid
response: READY>You take exception to throwing the lead ore. You throw an exception instead.

The maintenance droid closes the reactant chamber shield and checks the seal to confirm effective containment. With the plasma constrictor hatch up, the maintenance droid peers down into the plasma impellor, before throwing the heavy interruptors to quench the magnets. Lightning jumps between discharge knobs within the retro assembly as the monstrously strong field collapses across them. With the plasma constrictor effectively disarmed, the maintenance droid makes short work of salvaging the thrust aperture and its fittings. As the maintenance droid levers the bus connector out of the actuation relay housing, the toilet fades from your view like an unremembered fantasy.

You try to calm yourself by remembering that without heavy helium, the fusion rockets are of no use to you anyhow. Clearly, there is no way to maneuver out of this situation, nor can you win in a fair fight against the well-armed Myomita merchant marine. You resolve to fight dirty, slow them down, and to do as much damage as you can before they bring you to your knees.

LEAD ORE -> TRANSFER : NIL
action: You hit the droid
response: READY>Violence isn't the answer to this one.

The maintenance droid pauses for a moment and gives the bathroom a quick look over before continuing towards the shower. You think you can hear the maintenance droid whistling a poor rendition of Wagner's "Flight of the Valkyries" as he climbs through the ducts.

Although the maintenance droid damaged several systems in the flight control system, a number of subsystems there are still intact. That's at least something, you reckon: the maintenance droid seems to be in a hurry.

MAINTENANCE DROID -> OFFENSE MODE : NIL
action: You throw the pillow at the droid
response: READY>(first taking the NPT)
You take exception to throwing the NPT. You throw an exception instead.

You sense that the intruder is relatively motionless in the extruder chamber. The extruder is a complex and delicate system, and you can easily imagine that the intruder may not understand it.

In this moment of respite, you wonder what the real Janet is doing back on Mars. You imagine that she continued her relationship with David, and that the two of them are parked on her big purple futon, chatting away, maybe even wondering whatever became of the Starship Valkyrie.

Some movement in the extruder chamber wrenches you back to the desperate situation at hand.

NPT -> TRANSFER : NIL
action: You go to the bathroom
response: READY>You're already here.

You feel a burning pain as the extruder chamber shakes with high-pitched vibrations. Someone is tampering with the enamel extrusion system.

You consider their tactics: they have disabled most of your flight control systems, and now they are bringing down your shielding systems. You can no longer run, and your ability to withstand attack has been compromised. All of your engineering systems are still operational (well yes, except the engine itself, of course). Most importantly, the probe data are still safe in your deep memory. For now.

FLIGHT CONTROL -> SELECT : NIL
action: You check what you're carrying
response: READY>You are carrying:
a quantum isolator (being worn)

"Valkyrie, from Graceful Wind. Your ship seems to have suffered some...damage. Your unique drive system will shortly drift towards my associates and be recovered. My scan shows you have no fusion fuel reserve, and I can assure you that our ships can easily keep pace with your class C condensate drive. So, again, I ask: do you consent to salvage operations? Signal yes or no."

ACU -> MANIFEST : TRUE
action: Signal no
response: READY>"Hmmm. An unfortunate choice."

"I really hope you're not taking this 'no surrender' thing too seriously. We're not the military, we're businessmen. Still, I have to warn you: if you start taking pot shots at my mech droid when I send him down, I will call in the troops. They'd be just too happy to pincushion your ship with beam weapons. Of course, that would lower the value of the surviving equipment, so I'm not keen to do that."

ACU -> NEGATE : TRUE
action: You stand
response: READY>You are currently accessing the living room.

"Regarding the mech droid: I'd recommend you stay out of his way. He's pretty tough, and I can tell you that he doesn't have any of those silly 'interdiction rules' enabled. After we seal, I'm going to send him to flight control, engineering, and finally ops. Make sure your people are out of those areas."

ACU -> DEACTIVATE : TRUE
action: You open the door
response: READY>You open the cargo bay door, decompressing the ship.

"We're about 36 meters away, and closing. Still plenty of time to signal that yes, you'd like to surrender to us, and have a nice flight back to Luna."

CARGO BAY DOOR -> ACCESS : TRUE
action: Go outside
response: READY>ACU metavisor shell logout interdicted.

"After we strip the Valkyrie, we'll transfer your officers and crew. Since you have not surrendered, we will have to consider you 'enemies of Earth' and take you into custody for questioning back on Luna. It would be a whole lot more fun ride if you'd just signal 'yes' and declare your surrender."

ACU -> EXIT SHELL : NIL
action: You examine ROVER
response: READY>Rover is a 45 metric ton mobile mining rig designed to operate under harsh off-world conditions. He is chewing a piece of the Musashi-5 space probe.

"I'm quite interested to get a look at that Casimir Drive of yours. I wasn't aware that Mars had that kind of technology. Something they must have copied from Earth, no doubt. Still, it's the first I've seen. I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about when we meet. Our range is now: 73 meters."

ROVER -> DIAGNOSTIC : TRUE