Station Zero's Final Report

[Cirrial]

(( This is kind of an attempt for me to figure out and wrap up loose ends concerning Station Zero, and to give an outsider perspective on Blackstar.

All of this has been written in advance, but I'll be posting a small chunk every day until it ends, rather than make one huge post. Only entries of note will be listed. No-one wants to read "Nothing of importance happened today" over and over.

Dates deliberately omitted due to the, uh, interestingly relative nature of the Blackstar timeline. Also, if information appears to be blatantly wrong, it's intentional. >_> <_<))

---
DOCUMENT: Planetary Event Log: u.?:s.?:w.1:b.0:Blackstar
CREATOR: Ak-tse
----
DISCLAIMER: THE USAGE, VIEWING OR REPRODUCTION OF THIS REPORT FOR ANY PURPOSES BY PERSONNEL WITH SECURITY CLEARANCES LOWER THAN A-9 IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AND IS PUNISHABLE BY FINES AND/OR DEMOTION AS ACCORDING TO MARATIX DISCIPLINARY STANDARD FF69.
----
NOTE: This report was subject to constant corruption and degradation for reasons that remain unclear to this day. For this reason, very little time information is available outside of that referred to in the updates themselves.
----
ENTRY: #001
SUBJECT: DAY ONE

The construction of the zero-station was completed with no major problems. As per standard concealment guidelines, an existent technical facility was chosen as the masking structure. If anyone suspects suspiciously advanced technology in this area, they should check the above-ground structure first.
Research is our top priority. We have no records of this universe even existing. We can't even figure out how far kata or ana it is from HQ. It might be in a new direction set entirely. Evacuation protocols have been thoroughly discussed and planned, much to the bewildered confusion of personnel who have only just arrived. We can't take any chances in an unknown universe.
As per further guidelines regarding the hazards of the unknown, I have declared this zero-station to be at condition yellow until further notice. 501 tells me that this world has a lot of threats behind its non-threatening appearance, as he has learnt from an unfortunate personal experience relating to directed electricity.

---
ENTRY: #005
SUBJECT: ANOMALIES

This world contains a number of anomalies to what appears to be otherwise a typical T-class world. Random objects fall from the sky with no clear origin or reason. It is, to be blunt, alarming. Due to our location, this "rain" of everything and anything will not affect us. Regardless, I have tasked 501, and only 501, with surface reconnaissance. His metal structure means that he has less to fear from heavy objects spontaneously manifesting a great height above his head.
We have began processing the data 501 has relayed back to us. We have already deciphered a native language, referred to by its speakers as "Common" or sometimes "English". It is not too alien a language for any Maratix sophont to understand, although 501 grasped it more quickly than any saa-kru personnel could. Whether this is due to his keynain mindset or his mental augments is not something I am able to conclude. Further research may be required.

---
ENTRY: #017
SUBJECT: FACTIONS

It has become clear that there are several independent and conflicting factions on this world. The most notable of these factions is the Evil Council, which is so well-known and feared that some resident citizens have tried to flee if 501 approaches, believing him to be an associate of said Council. Upon our discovery of this Council, we have upgraded our security as a priority and have begun basic weapons training in the event of an invasion. The Evil Council may be a dire threat to our research mission and our personal safety.
Another group, the Guardians, we know less about. They appear to be a recent creation and strongly oppose the Evil Council. We have decided to treat them as a neutral faction until proven otherwise.
We have heard of more, such as the Corporation, the Felbeasts, the Flock and the Power Apathy Party, but we do not have anything but rumour and hyperbole as to what these factions' ideals and loyalties are.

[Cirrial]

---
ENTRY: #023
SUBJECT: WILDLIFE

There has been a large amount of controversy within the station as our biological research team was caught with live specimens of the local flora and fauna. Fortunately, the team was doing everything in their power to keep the specimens' stay down here as comfortable and brief as possible, but it has raised some ethical concerns. Looking back on Maratix policy, it seems that still, after decades and decades of similar issues, there is no consensus with regards to the treatment of beings that have sentience potential but no sapience potential.
501 has informed me that the surface is, for the most part, safe, so I have authorised an select few personnel to study the local wildlife where it naturally occurs. As is coming to be expected of this place, the life here consists of strange echoes of life most of us recognise back home. It is as if this world was crafted by a careful madman, seamlessly assembling qualities of different creatures into a bizarre whole. [ATTACHED IMAGE: "Horsecat"]

---
ENTRY: #047
SUBJECT: MOONS

The moons of Blackstar are an interesting sight. It seems surprising the planet is not ripped apart by tidal forces, but it wouldn't be the first casual defiance of familiar physics we've encountered. One of the more unusual qualities the moons of Blackstar hold as a whole are their number. Despite numerous attempts, all trying different methods, we can't count how many moons there are. A general consensus is that there are at least five, but this number seems to fluctuate.
In addition, we've noticed the presence of a large space station in the orbit of Blackstar. How we missed it before remains a mystery. It now clearly shows up on all long-range sensors. Further exploration may be necessary.

---
ENTRY APPENDED
EDITOR: CAM-501

Further exploration will not be necessary. I believe the intention was to keep a low profile. If we start flying up into the stars and boarding space stations and sending expedition teams to the moons, I highly, highly doubt we'll be keeping a low profile.

Ak-tse, you're a sensible saa-kru, why are you encouraging this kind of behaviour? I'm the very last sophont who should be having to step in! It's normally you tapping me on the shoulder- no, wait, this is going to go into the entry isn't it better hit submit
ENTRY APPEND ENDS
---

[Cirrial]

(( One more post after this and it's over ))

---
ENTRY: #035
SUBJECT: HISTORY

The history of Blackstar is far too vast and haphazard for anyone to summarise succinctly, and I feel perhaps we're overworking our historians. I have never personally witnessed any group of people under such intellectual stress before. I've ordered the cycling of research groups, due to the volume of information being gathered. I also fear that there may be some disturbing or unsettling data, based on the reactions of the research team.
Our drones have clearly infiltrated the world with minimal notice. Most who notice them believe them to be simple insects, and dispose of them accordingly. I must remember to reward the designers' efforts to mimic the appearance of native insects with such accuracy. Perhaps we can get the designers relocated to our sector permanently. Nevertheless, I digress from the main subject.
Our research indicates there were once, or potentially still are, objects of great power in the "Dojo". This term has remained a matter of great debate, with opinions ranging from the Dojo being another word for Blackstar, another word for the notable "Training Dojo" facility, or perhaps a word for the universe as a whole. Personally, from the reports I've read, it doesn't seem the natives who use the term agree on its definition either. Something of note is that the terms "Blackstarian" and "Dojodian" appear to be mostly interchangeable. Yet again, I digress.
The objects, or "Relics", appear to still exist, and there are so many myths and rumours as to their location that actively seeking them out seems fruitless. It is still, after all, incredibly possible that the Relics' existence is a cultural myth.

---
ENTRY: #047
SUBJECT: DAMAGE REPORT (( Time: "The Last-Forever Conspiracy" ))

Our station was invaded by seemingly protoplasmic white entities. All personnel save for 501 evacuated, no harm worse than minor injuries. Attempting to re-establish vector clamp functionality remotely.

501, for the love of Teo-ke-ta, please don't do anything stupid. Don't be a hero. We're scientists, not mercenaries.

---
ENTRY: #050
SUBJECT: RELICS

They exist. I've seen them for myself. Not directly, of course, but the information carried a hefty cost. I felt we had the resources to spare. Tse-ke-al, have mercy on me.

A very shady figure overheard my questions. I couldn't recognise their body shape as anything I'd come across. In retrospect, they shouldn't have understood me. I was speaking Kz-kt, and I'm sure none of the natives even have the mouth-parts to articulate such a language.

The price was knowledge. Information for information. I was desperate, and if this goes to review, I'm not going to hide anything. Consider this entry my confession in advance. They wanted information, and I gave them information. Everything we'd found on Blackstar, everything, I handed it to them like a fool. In return, they gave me images and ancient texts of the highest clarity and quality.

The research team's reactions were mixed. Mixed and very, very passionate. Some were outraged, some were ecstatic, some broke down due to the ramifications of the existence of these objects. I considered myself to react quite professionally, although I've since been informed that my antennae were twitching constantly the whole time.

I shouldn't have given them the information so trustingly. This lore could be faked. But the potential if we found them! No, if we find these items, we can never use them. We must seal them away. The allure of such power would surely corrupt its users.

Blackstar, I am so, so sorry. I gave away the details of your world, everything we ever knew about you, all for personal gain. I'm not sure if I'm fit to continue overseeing this mission any more. I was strongly thinking of sending 501 back, due to his persistence in meddling with local affairs. If I send 501 back, I have to accompany him. I have now acted far worse than him. Not in the name of Maratix, but in my own name.

(( As to who is this mystery benefactor, well, that's a dangling plot thread to be resolved another day. >_> ))

[Cirrial]

---
ENTRY: #059
SUBJECT: CATACLYSM (( Time: "Death of a God" ))

It was all going so efficiently. Our research was progressing steadily. We were on the verge of multiple breakthroughs. I felt my actions earlier could have been redeemed several-fold.
We were so close to publicly revealing our presence and requesting Blackstar to join the Alliance as a neutral planet. We could have had Maratix laboratories and commerce centres open, we could have had a free exchange of information and technology. There was so much Blackstar had to teach us, and so much we could teach them.

There is no Blackstar any more. Or there may be, but we'll never know. It was gradually becoming nothingness, and I take solace in the hope that our station's destruction preserved the land it occupied for just a little longer.

The cause of the station's destruction remains, as so many things related to Blackstar, a puzzling enigma. Everyone, including the electronic sophonts in the satellites, managed to evacuate. All but one. Part of me would like to believe 501 survived, as his blackbox has not returned to the Marasphere.

Seeru teitei kalae, Sioreet, my friend. May you return to us alive.

---
DOCUMENT END
---

---
DOCUMENT APPENDED
EDITOR: Ak-tse

The conflict against Neomeme continues to escalate, and the future of the Alliance is uncertain. But these are mild issues compared to the Agents. They have become far more visible, and they act with increasing violence and spontaneity.
All of our attempts to resolve the situation without violent conflict have failed.

The Relics may be the only way we continue to survive.

501, forgive me for this. I know you're still there. I know Blackstar is still there. I've read the history reports, it's recovered from far worse than acute existential failure. When you return, when you read this, all of what happened, all of it, all of what I've done was to try and save us. Not just us. Maratix can crash and burn, and something can take its place, but the future of life in the universe is at risk while the Agents tear us to shreds and mock us.

We need to fight the gods themselves, 501. That's what these Agents may as well be. Gods. Sinister, delusional, sociopathic gods. I don't just fear for myself, 501. For the first time in my life, I'm fearing for my entire species. The Alliance as a whole. Damn it, 501, I fear for all sapience in the entire universe! Even the squids and that disgusting planet-mind seem insignificant to these immortal horrors!

I was so scared, 501. That's why I had to do it. You'll never forgive me for it, but neither will I. I can never forgive myself for the actions I took.

When the universe shows some normality again, perhaps we can have a discussion about the direction Maratix needs to take. If Maratix still exists, and if we're both alive.

- Ak-tse
---

(( it's over now ))

[3kul]

Good stuff Cirrial, I quite enjoyed reading through it. I'm looking forward to seeing when that foreboding character from 'entry #50' comes into play, seems like it's got potential for a very interesting storyline

I also found it interesting how you had Ak-tse conclude that they'll have to fight the Gods. DP's made numerous posts (both in and out of character) alluding to a 'war against the Gods/Goddesses' of some kind, and it seems that Blackstar is slowly but surely gearing itself up for such an event...

[Cirrial]

Thanks, 3kul! As for the war against the gods, well, these gods aren't specifically the Blackstar ones. Though, as Shaon's pointed out to me before, and as will also become more apparent in a certain thread, the "Agents" of 501's home universe share more than a few similarities with the Blackstar pantheon. To the point she even added my stuff to the Divinity List.

I should probably clarify what an Agent even is. I've used that term so many times without ever actually saying what they are. Basically, in 501's home universe, there's an Agent for each sapient species, something that bears a resemblance to that species and was once a living member of that species. I should probably write up a more detailed description of just what they are and post it up somewhere.

[3kul]

Ah, I can see why there might be some similarities between Agents and Gods then... But now I'm curious, is Ak-tse referring to just the Agents when he says 'Gods' (you know, to sound dramatic ), or all Gods/Goddesses in general?

I also never knew that Shaon had added them to that list, I should really check it out more often.

[Cirrial]

He's referring to just the Agents and being over-dramatic. The Maratix personnel involved with Blackstar know that spirits exist in Blackstar, but discount the pantheon as particularly powerful spirits if they're even aware of the pantheon at all. That, and there's probably more than a little misleading information across Blackstar about the nature of the Gods and Goddesses.

[Swix]

Wow Cirr, that was great. I really enjoyed reading that

[Cirrial]

Thanks Swix

Now, as for what Ak-tse's overly-elaborate plan is, whether it will work, and what his motives really are, well, we'll just have to see. </cryptic>

and I'll just have to frantically scribble this plan down at some point, just so there can be a point when the plan goes horribly wrong