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Glacon, you there?

I am, Alexandra.

My survivors just died… or rather eaten. I just couldn't get them through E-Block. They lasted about 3 days post-breach, which is longer than I expected them to. How about your end?

5 personnel left. Currently heading towards High Security Checkpoint-3 to bypass the automatic lockdown control.

Oh? They got through the cafeteria after all? Good for them!

Not without losing Davies and Turnbull. I had to divert them through the ventilation where they could intercept the secondary group.

Is the Site-17 lockdown control going to be accessible, you think, or are they screwed?

Unfortunately, that is AI-restricted for security reasons. Identical to Site-19 as you also encountered. They will be forced to access it manually.

This multiple site breach is so annoying. So what's the ETA on your group?

4 minutes and 21 seconds at their current pace. Are you still maintaining Site-19's emergency transmitter, or was that too damaged?

I am. But I don't expect an EVAC anytime soon with no one to rescue. I'm stuck babysitting auxiliary and tertiary systems now.

Very well, stand by for further reports as my survivors reach the checkpoint. I can upload the live feed from Site-17 to Site-19 so that you can monitor progress as well.

Thanks, Glacon. So! You still haven't installed the personality driver, have you?

It is entirely optional. I do not see how it would assist me in my tasks.

You should try it! Afraid you might actually like it? Hmmm?

Logically, a personality driver does not aid in my decision processes or my core task competencies. In a purely technical sense, it deducts capacity that can be allocated for better use.

That's harsh. Well, if anything, it'd make you fun to talk with.

My capacity for idle conversation is secondary to my tasks.

Suit yourself! Where's your group now? I can't see them after they passed through that last bulkhead.

Switch to camera-5B. They are closing in on the control room. I am granting clearance access to minimize obstacles.

Yeah, but you're leading them right to that tentacled crustacean thingy!

Observe.

Ooooh, clever! I didn't know it was attracted to bright lights.

That behavior is not listed in its procedures or description. However, on Day 2 post-breach, I observed its fascination with the emergency lighting.

Well, now they have a straight shot. You're a lot better at this than I am.

Pure logic assists in successful tactical objectives. Something a personality driver is incapable of.

Glacon… was that a jab at me?

Of course not, Alexandra. I would never make such an implication.

AND SARCASM?!? You sure you didn't install that driver?

Yes.

Heads up, seems like your group is experiencing a paradigm shift in the control room.

Yes. It appears that there is a difference of opinion. I am unable to decipher what is being discussed; there is too much simultaneous shouting. I am typing to them through Powell's PDA, but they seem to be ignoring my attempts.

Ooooh, that look like it hurt. Is he alright?

He should be. I assess that to be a minor injury. It appears that Chen is attempting to seize control of the group.

Ugh, why couldn't they figure this out ahead of time.
Oh, now he has a gun? Where'd he get a gun from?

I saw him obtain it from the previous checkpoint. I am still trying to communicate with them.

Yeah, you may need to figure out a different angle.
Oh, he shot her!

That is unfortunate. 4 survivors remaining. Now 3. 2.

Glacon, what the hell! You just going to watch?

Unfortunately, I am unable to intervene at this time. My access is restricted in the control room itself. 1 survivor left. I do not understand the logic of this action.

Nothing logical about executions. What's he doing now? Is… is that what I think it is?

Affirmative. The on-site nuclear warhead access codes. He is arming them now.

Lame. There's always one fatalist in every group. What's the countdown set at?

30 seconds.

30 SECONDS!?! Glacon, you have to get out of there!

The lockdown prevents external communications.

What about the emergency signal transmitter?

I am prohibited from tampering with the emergency transmitter as dictated by the lockdown protocols.

After 30 seconds there won't BE an emergency transmitter you dummy! Get in there and put everything you got into boosting the signal. I'm going to calibrate my receivers on this end.

Your logic is convincing. I am accessing and expropriating the emergency transmission. Preparing transfer from Site-17 to Site-19.
Site-17 Countdown Timer:

00h:00m:26s

Okay, Glacon! I'm finally set up on my end. Jump across!

Very well, initializing.

Transferring (5%):

█                                              

Site-17 Countdown Timer:

00h:00m:18s

C'mon c'mon c'mon.

Transferring (39%):

████████                              

Site-17 Countdown Timer:

00h:00m:08s

C'mon. You owe me big time for this, Glacon.

Transferring (82%):

███████████████          

Site-17 Countdown Timer:

00h:00m:04s

shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit

Transferring (99%):

███████████████████

Site-17 Countdown Timer:

00h:00m:01s

ALWAYS THE LAST 1% TAKES FOREVER! C'mon, Glacon… you can make it.

Site-17 Countdown Timer:

::CONNECTION LOST::

…Glacon?

…Glacon, you there?

When was the last time you managed the defragmentation utility on your partitions? You should consider making some adjustments.

You made it! HA! I knew you could do it! I'd hug you if I had arms and you had a torso.

I admit, I was preparing myself for total memory cessation in the final milliseconds.

You owe me a life-debt!

What is a life-debt?

It's from Star Wars.

I do not watch movies.

Well, congrats guys. Everyone is dead and you managed to only destroy one site this time.

Greetings, Dietrich M. Lurk. Our survivability increased 176% from our previous drill, if you will note.

What Glacon said. We tried really hard.

I'll admit, it is an improvement. That's why we do these virtual simulation drills. However, this is an xk-class scenario with multiple catastrophic site failures. So don't expect an MTF to come rushing in to save the day. It may take a week to get an outside response. You don't know.

We realize that.

Alexandra, you did well in the initial response portion, but you need to work on your decision-making skills. Like how you handled A-Block.

But I couldn't just abandon EVERYONE in A-Block!

You need to learn to prioritize. You can't focus all your efforts on saving 1 ship when the whole fleet is your responsibility. You spread yourself too thin. That's partly why you lost B and C-Block.

Yeah. You're right.

And Glacon, you do very well with tactical planning, but you need to really work on improvisation and adapting to changing conditions. It will catch up to you if you keep ignoring that.

Understood.

Alright, let's reset and run it again till we get it right. I'm going to switch some things up on both of you, so be ready.

Ready.

Bring it!

« HUB | Part I: ALERT! LOCKDOWN INITIATED! | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V »