Voidrunner audio logs

**Voidrunner audio logs** or **Voidrunner voice logs** are voice recordings made by members of the Voidrunners for detailing missions into black holes. They are sometimes left in Voidrunner caches, as was done in the Ultravoid. When Rei was on her mission trying to piece together what had happened in the Void, she would seek out these caches and their logs to learn more, getting Cyd's help to also shed light on them. The technology ysed by the Voidrunners to record the logs also transcribe their voice digitally.

As Rei, the player can find 5-6 voice logs left by a Voidrunner in each region of the Ultravoid stored inside a cache, that details what happened to the individual Voidrunner of the area, and when read all together in the correct order, show hat happened that made the mission fail.

### Rei's log

Breaching event horizon now. Velocity a little high... wow. It’s
... it’s beautiful. Are you guys seeing this? Yeah, look! The Starseed implanted successfully. Yeah! We're gonna be heroes. I knew I joined you crazy lowlifes for a reason.

Checking the... what? No, no—- this can’t be happening! Come on now, stay with me —- dammit! Everyone buckle up! All the instruments are going haywire —- Sterling is gone —- I—- I can't —- brace! BRACE! BR[ACE!]

### Erving's logs

#### 1

Lost radio contact. Suppose I shoulda seen that coming. It's just you and me now, old girl.

I've fought in three planetary wars, seen entire cities leveled by fire from the sky... all child's play compared to what's at stake here. And this void... ain't no place for an old dog and her man. No days, no nights... downright impossible to keep track of time. No time to wallow in it, though. I know my grandkids are watching me from above, counting on me.

Come on, pup. Stop sniffing other peoples' bones, that ain't polite. We got a job to do. Looks like there's a Veruki city over the horizon. There's hope yet -- if they survived impact, maybe our planet could too.

#### 2

I was wrong... Nothing survives this place. Except... there is one lost soul -- a Veruki woman, wandering glassy-eyed among the dead. But the horrors that befell her people look to have happened before her planet was pulled into the Ultravoid.

Makes me wonder -- is this place just a natural disaster -- or does it attract death? All this sorrow...it's like a calling. And the Void answered back.

But our people, they done nothing to deserve this. We have no business here. We do our job, and this place spits everything back out like it was never here to begin with. Right pup?

#### 3

The best I can tell is that the Ultravoid sucks in planets and pulverizes them, but tiny parts remain, and it almost looks like you're standing in a real place.

Mass transit, architecture, a whole civilization... Poof! Gone! Death like this compounds and folds over on itself. That's what this place is, death compounded. No one to save here, just a cruel joke played on a medic who thought he'd seen it all.

Pardon this old man's musings, Darb. The Starseed conduit for this sector is active. Finally got a clear signal from the greenhorn -- the mission is a go. By the heavens, they've done it. There's hope yet, Darb. There's hope yet.

#### 4

There’s some kinda argument among the others. Tufte says it’s too late. The Ultravoid, even if we reverse its pull, out people wouldn’t make it. The at[mosphere’s] too far gone, she says. I say no. There’s always a way. Too many souls counting on us. I’ll not have it.

Darb —- it’s time to be brave. Would you do that for your old man?

#### 5

Now that’s a view. We completed what we set out to do, Darb; everything is in position. Pyat was right about one thing —- it is beautiful. And it’s going to set everything right.

Figure that if I’ve gotta die, this vista is as good a place as any to do it. I’m just sorry we couldn’t make it out of here, old girl.

Goodbye, Ultravoid. You won’t be missed. A fitting end for an old dog and her man.

### Verse’s logs

#### 1

We shouldn't even be here. Our people failed us, and now we're stuck in this tomb, fighting for their lives. What's fair about that? I'm not afraid of this place -- but I didn't join up to get myself killed for notning.

You can still see so many parts of what used to be a living planet -- feels invasive to just be here. This place used to be alive, and I'm standing over its remains laid out on a cold slab. I don't know how Erving does it.

#### 2

This place has seen more than one tragedy.

I've read books about the populations of entire planets blinking out of existence, with only the husks of Dross harvesters in the place of once-thriving societies. I don't think anyone has ever seen a Dross mid-harvest. If only my professors could see this.

Looks like the Veruki managed to stop this matriarch... but there would have been more coming.

My boosters keep malfunctioning at the worst times. I was focused on repairing them, and realized the chunk of land I was sitting on had drifted from the larger mass of cloud matter. Talk about panic. Going to rest under this bridge while I catch my breath.

#### 3

I set up the conduit. Not too far from one of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen. Funny thing: looking up at the canopy, I can almost forget for a moment where I am and what's at stake

The Veruki were peaceful and cared for each other... They had created a utopia. The Dross, the Ultravoid... they consume beauty and leave nothing behind. My planet's full of fools and hypocrites, but we don't deserve this.

I'm glad we're destroying this place. Of course, we'll lose all account of what happened to these people, but what civilization would want to be remembered like this? I hope there's nothing left.

#### 4

I can't contact anyone from our team. I tried firing off signal flares; they went every direction but up. Nothing works here.

I couldn't decouple the thrust rings from the air chamber... I just lost it, I wrenched them, and they shattered... I can't fix my boosters. I can't fix any of this. Ghozam said to return to the Starseed if we lose communication... It's going to be a long trip back.

Not a single nation could agree on a solution. They had so much time to fix this, and they did nothing. I want to save my planet... but death is too good an ending for everyone in charge there. If I don't make it -- let it be known, this was their fault.

#### 5

What the hell is going on over the radio -- is that chanting coming from Pyat? It's... so... otherworldly. Desperate.

Either way, that idiot better not be messing up the mission. I can see the Starseed from here -- it's sputtering like an over-choked binder plate... That can't be good.

If his woo woo crystal brain messes this up, I'll throw him into the void's core myself! I don't care how much he advanced voidtech. We are the last chance [for survival.?]

### Pyat's logs

#### 1

We spent so much time fearing this void, villainizing it. But in here, I see all of this diversity... beauty. So many parts of the universe -- bonded by destiny.

Holy places have a resonance to them, a resonance I am well familiar with, and this place positively vibrates with it. I was chosen to walk among these clouds.

I believe -- yes, it is only fitting to place the Starseed conduit at the foot of this shrine.

#### 2

These bones... ancient and colossal... They are from someplace out of space and time... someplace greater than our own.

I think these creatures were worshipped. I walk among a graveyard of gods.

The team has readied their conduits. Even as our communications fail us, I can feel the Starseed's power growing, its vibrations intensifying. I can barely contain the jubilation.

#### 3

There is poetry to this place. The reaches of the Universe, collected and working in concert, living their eternal rest in harmony.

Is this a guiding hand? We came to destroy this void, but I do not wish to destroy a place of such beauty.

Those of simple minds are at a junction -- Tufte has given up on the [mission?/quest?][,?/.?] Ghozam seeks to tuck tail and run. They think too small. Our work here is not yet done.

#### 4

This place... this glorious place! I can still hear the choir's echoing praise. I can still smell the sacred incense. The roots of this growth were set down long ago, but I taste its fruit now, today.

Tufte thinks she can control the Starseed with careful calculations and measurements. But the only way to unlock the Starseed's power is to surrender to it. We must feed it evervthing we have if we want to be saved.

#### 5

The Neophyte has heeded my wisdom. We shall see the Starseed's glory in full relief. From the moment Tufte unearthed that anc[ient] artifact, hope's seed was planted. Now, we see destiny fulfilled.

The end of our time -- the beginning of a new one. The [seed?] shines brighter than I could have imagined -- to bathe in its scintillating rays at the end of the world is to experience the divine.

Take us, Starseed, and grant our people safe passage!

I have waited my whole life for the joy of revelation. Finally, here, at the end, I feel it [?.]

### Ghozam's logs

#### 1

I've been in black holes before, but this is unlike anything I've ever seen. The density spikes are so erratic-- can't blame the skipper for our "premature landing".

This thing is hurtling through the galaxy on a direct collision course with our planet -- but Tufte and Pyat are convinced they have a solution. And I'II take any hope in a time like this - even a fool's hope.

They say they can collapse this whole thing, render it inert. I've gambled on worse odds.

#### 2

I've spent much of the last days taking detailed notes on the surrounding architecture. It appears some sort of aquatic or amphibious race lived here. The pools of acid -- I am uncertain whether they result from the Ultravoid's alchemy or simply a product of industrial waste from a careless world.

I regret, we were not the most caring custodians of our own world. I wish we had cared more for our planet while we still had the chance.

So many things we could have done differently if given one, two more years together with this new perspective.

I suppose all we can do is learn from tragedy and hope there is a future. A chance to be better.

#### 3

The conduit is planted. I got clear readings from the top of the dam.

If Tufte's calculations are correct and core energy levels match our predicted wavelength, we can collapse the Ultravoid.

Been studying the planet for the last few hours... it's not looking good, lust hope we can get the damn machine started up in time.

#### 4

I've lost contact with the team. The last message I received was an incoming transmission from Tufte, with dire new[s]. The whole [?] well, apparently, it's [?] saving. I trust that woman's brain with my life, and if she says it's [?], then I believe her. It's time to cut our losses and join the evac squadron before they FTL out of here for good.

#### 5

The Star[seed's?/seed is] functioning. Arcs of ener[gy] shooting into the sky -- pretty sure that isn't good. I need to find my crew.

I'm going to see the crustacean and try to barter with them for a Scuttlecraft. One of these derelict ships must have some juice left in it.

These crabs certainly didn't know how to fly inside of a black hole, but I do.

#### 6

Finding a ship was a fool's errand. Now the [] like it's ready to blow-- Tufte must have miscalculated.

I doubt anyone has joined the kid at the rendez[vous] point at the base of the Starseed. I need to gather them all and jet out of he[re be]fore this place gets blown to high hell.

Wait -- something's happening. The [Starseed is ac]tivating. My god, what have we [done?]

### Tufte's logs

#### 1

It seems l've drawn the short straw, and I must now traverse these lava flows to find a suitable calibration point for the Starseed conduit.

My hazard suit ensured I was the only viable candidate. Scans indicate this area was formed from two distinct planets: one made or molten pyroxenes, the other even stranger.

It appears to be an ultra-dense crust comprised of... nearly every scientifically known compound. The heat drives these fungi wild and there are plenty of nutrients in the soil to propel their growth. If I had more time, I'm sure I could learn something useful for our agriculture back home.

#### 2

I found the most spectacular library, filled with cultural volumes beyond comprehension.

A catalog of ancient lore and artifacts from across the galaxy... If only the academy could witness this font of knowledge, we could answer the greatest scientific buzzies known to this world.

It is unfortunate we will not have time to index these. The calibrations of the Starseed are too fragile to leave any room for imprecision.

#### 3

I've run the calculation 100 times, each time hoping for a different result; alas, the truth is in the numbers. We... we [?]te. Even if we were to power on [the Starseed?/the conduits?] at this very moment, the planet's [atmosphere's?/atmosphere is?/structure's?/structure is?] too far compromised.

I know I must carry on [without?] any chance at all of saving our people. But... it's too heavy. The mag-lifts must be malfunctioning. I can't lift my arms.

I need to sit down. I need to gather my strength. I... I need to tell the others.

#### 4

My task is complete. The conduit is assembled, but... hope evades me [still.?]

The Starseed can only reverse the physical properties of the Ultravoid. I fear time itself is now the enemy of our people -- and the win[dow] has passed.

There will never be another sunrise on the shores of Berros. Every blade of grass weighed heavy by condensation, evaporated. Every musical reverberation, muted. My love... Layra... you and our daughter will fade into the night as cosmic dust.

I should have stayed home to enjoy the last few days we had left. What a fool I was to come here.

#### 5

The Starseed technology, the source of all Voidtech, was discovered in a place not unlike this one. Deep beneath our planet's crust, surrounded by magma beds, it emitted a faint but consistent gamma wave. I wasn't sure what to make of it. But Pyat was convinced it wanted to be found, that it was divine [interven]tion. God in the machine.

Now I see, he told me what I wanted to hear. He told me if we built it -- then science as we knew it would be upended. He tells everyone [what they] want to hear, and I'm afraid in this darkest of hours, he's found an [eager?/open?] ear in the rookie. It's not too late. S[tarseed can be?/tarseed could be?] deactivated, dest[royed,] if only she could hear me.

If there really is a God, then God help us all.

#### 6

Pyat has convinced the rookie that there is a way out of this. That [the Starseed,] if overloaded with energy, will return ever[ything the way?/ything as?] it was.

I fear he is not entirely wrong. I've long theorized that the Starseed could produce a cataclysmic spacetime event if calibrated incorrec[tly].

What Pyat is suggesting is not only [mad?/true?] but threatens all existence througnout the galaxv and beyond.

I... programmed a manual override in the Starseed -- thought that leaving all of our lives in the hands of an Al was f[ine]. It appears I was wrong. Cyd never would have made a mistake like this.

Death is coming. No one will be saved. The universe is a cold, unjust place. Nothing left to do but wait for it to take us all [to our deaths.?/to hell.?]