The Empty Man Cometh

"The Empty Man Cometh" is the ninth episode of the podcast. It was released on 14 November 2014.
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== Synopsis ==
As the Hephaestus begins a hazardous passage through an ion wind cluster, Eiffel is surprised to discover a message from the mission higher-ups waiting for him in the Communications Room. When the decoded message turns out to be a cryptic and unintelligible warning about something only identified as the “Empty Man”, the crew struggles to pick an appropriate course of action. What is Command trying to tell them? And who, or what, is the “Empty Man”? Plus, designation alpha, crazy wamajama, riders on the storm, flying blind, and going Big Bad Wolf on a straw house.
== Plot summary ==
Hera announces that the station is about to pass through an ion wind cluster. Minkowski is ensuring that Eiffel is adequately prepared when the pulse beacon relay receives a message from Canaveral. The message is nonsensical, but foreboding. The crew are unable to request clarification as the station is only equipped with a receiver, not a transmitter, so return messages take three weeks. While consulting Hilbert, who has no idea about the message, a second message arrives.
Comparing the two messages, the crew realize that each contains a number - first five, and then four - and a warning about "the empty man". They decide to ignore the messages when a third arrives, following the same pattern, with a note that "the empty man hungers". Minkowski decides to double-check the armory while Hilbert double-checks the airlocks to ensure the station is secure.
Three hours later, with the crew armed against possible intruders, strange noises occur on the outside of the station, which they blame on the ion storm. Another message arrives, and Eiffel becomes agitated. When asked to confirm the station's security, Hera admits that she is losing external visibility due to the ion winds, and cannot completely guarantee that the station is secure. Strange noises from the hull begin to make the crew panic, although Minkowski tries to keep everyone calm.
Hera admits that she has lost the connection to aft deck airlock 3, at the same time as another message from command occurs. There is a blackout for a few seconds, and the whole crew panics for several seconds. However, Hera quickly restores power, and a final message arrives from command, confirming that the whole event was a psychological test. Hera confirms that there are no unknown life forms on the station, and the crew, furious at this treatment, plan to send an angry message to command in protest.
== External links ==
* Listen on Libsyn
* Recording script
Category:Episodes
Category:Season 1