Dark Salt for testing

The trek toward the sample site is slow but steady, the evaporite crust crunching under your boots. The Ops panel on your forearm points you forward, downward—a little to the right—and with the ridges rising high to either side of you, you have no choice but to trust the system. {(set: $op to (font:"Courier New")) (set: $opr to (font:"Courier New") + (text-style: "shudder")) (set: $opf to (font:"Courier New"))} > [[Continue.|Intro1.1]]

After another careful minute, the map has you round a corner--directly into a staggering eyeful of sun. It's hazy, sure, but it stops you all the same. Serves you right for looking down at the map. For the moment as your gaze readjusts to the glare--the sheen of light and mottled shadows, white on gray on white--you can almost picture the ocean this used to be. Some parts of this hemisphere are littered with ancient trash or ancient sea life all frosted up in salt, but you haven't noticed any of that here. > [[Continue.|Mapbroken]]

Dropping the arm from in front of your eyes, you notice some movement on your Ops panel. It's not something moving on the ground--it's the ground moving in ways you'd definitely notice. The topography crackles and flinches across the screen. Damned thing is acting up again. The Ops panel wasn't built for these ops. You’ve heard Weiss-Hill uses this same unit everywhere, and most of those ops are medical, not salvage missions on a long-abandoned moon. That happens sometimes. You’ve got your tricks to fix it. > [[Give it a smack.|Mapbrokensmack]] > [[Restart.|Mapbrokenreset]] > [[Tell Vega.|Mapbrokenvega]]

You give your ops panel a solid smack—and an angry noise echoes through the comm in your helmet. Ah. So Vega's paying attention after all. There’s the sound of crunching movement, some beeping that you know is from up in the Aurochs because there’s nothing alive down here. You clear your throat. “Are you having trouble with the plotting?” “Before or after you slapped all my sensors?” > [["Vega."|Opspanel1]]

You straighten up your Ops panel, hold the button in the back-left corner until— "Hey!" Vega's voice cuts in from from your helmet, drowning out the little tone of protest the ops panel makes when it resets. "I was working on getting that up again." > [["Sorry, I didn't realize."|resetapology]] > [["You should have said something."|resetsaidsomething]] > [["And now, I'm working on it."|resetsnark]]

The lining of your tactical gloves has started feeling gummy with sweat. You’d pull them off if you dared, which you don’t; it’s a wonder Vega hasn’t started lecturing you for having your visor open, much less exposing your arms. Besides, the ground here is uneven. You’re sure-footed but you’re not a total fool. One fall and it could cut your hands up, easy—and dark salt stings like a bastard. There’s no need to rub salt in a wound if salt did all the wounding. > [[Continue.|Intro2]]

It’s a further trip than you’d usually make on foot, but you know there are reasons that Vega couldn’t drop you off closer. There was... something-something, topography; something-something landing gear. You honestly stopped listening. You trusted the brief, thought the walk would be nice. It's—fine. It's hot. You'll manage. > [[Continue.|Intro3]]

An imperious sigh wafts over the comm. “Yes, I was getting interference. Still am. Working it now. Trying to, if you'll let me." You squint at the the evaporite crust in front of you, take a few steps, round a corner—seeing if you can pick the sample site from the surrounding area. “Can you just walk me in by voice?” “Negative. Can you run a diagnostic?” You open your mouth to reply, but you're interrupted: "Wasn't a question, actually, Ostrander." > [[Run a diagnostic.|charcreate1alt]] > [[Roll your eyes, then run a diagnostic.|charcreate1alt]]

You straighten up your Ops panel, hold the button in the back-left corner. It takes you a moment to find it. The panel makes that little noise like it’s sorry it’s disappointed you, goes black, and . . . Hums back into life. $op[// [[WELCOME|charcreate3]]]

$op[! DIAGNOSTIC COMPL$opr[▒]TE $opf[! CRITICAL ER$opr[░]OR ! CAN$opr[▒░]T LOAD TERRAIN EXPLORER ! CRITICAL ER$opr[▒░░]] Error rendering terrain expl$opr[▒]rer. Would you like to re$opr[░]tart operations panel?] Vega looses a hiss of disgust. "I'm reading an error, are you reading an error?" "And a critical one, at that," drawl. "You want me to restart?" "If you'd be so kind." $op[// [[RESTART|charcreate2]]]

$op[WELCOME to your Weiss-Hill Solutions operations panel. “A closer past, a better future.” ! UPDATES NEEDED - CENTRAL SERVICING ! UNABLE TO CONNECT TO Weiss-Hill netw]$opr[▒]$op[rk ! SECONDARY NETWORK AQUIRED: Jax Sigma Intraplanetary ! UNABLE TO VERIFY AGENT IDENTI]$opr[▒]$op[Y // [[CONTINUE|charcreate4]]]

$op[! UNABLE TO VERIFY AGENT IDENTITY Please confirm biographical data. Agent: Ostrander, Reed Pronouns: $opr[░ ░ / ░ /] Superv$opr[░]sor: Vega, P$opr[░ ▒░░ ░▒] Vessel: Aurochs Plan$opr[░]tary assignment: Jax Luna // [[CONFIRM|charcreatepro]]]

$op[! DATA CORRUPTION: employee file - preferred pronouns ! DATA CORRUPTION: supervisor file - first name Please confirm supervisor identity:] `//` $op[(link: "VEGA, PETRA (she/her)" )[(set: $v to "Petra")(goto: "charcreateend")]] `//` $op[(link: "VEGA, PALLAS (they/them)" )[(set: $v to "Pallas")(goto: "charcreateend")]] `//` $op[(link: "VEGA, PASCAL (he/him)" )[(set: $v to "Pascal")(goto: "charcreateend")]]

You fight past the urge to 'fix' it yourself—your results are honestly pretty mixed. Instead you say: "I'm getting some issues with my map." You've barely finished speaking before an answer comes crisply from the comm in your helmet. "Thank you, Ostrander, I'm working on it. Stand by." There's nothing of interest in the scenery so you find yourself glancing up at the pale blue sky. You can't see the Aurochs anywhere; Vega must be keeping it back past the ridges. "Can you try running a diagnostic?" (set: $vegapanelteam to "yes") > [["Fine."|charcreate1]] > [["Yeah, not a problem."|charcreate1]]

"No, of course not," Vega drawls. You don't even know what to say to that, but for now you've got better things to do: your Ops panel has started up again. // $op[[[WELCOME|charcreate3]]]

Your comm picks up the echo of a canny, imperious laugh. "Well in that case, be my guest," Vega says, "After all, you are the expert on Weiss-Hill assistive technology—" > [[Sigh.|resetsnarksigh]]

"—no, wait, that's not right. The expert is me," Vega finishes. At least when you finish rolling your eyes, the panel has started up again: // [[ WELCOME|charcreate3]]

Vega groans--you can almost hear pilot's seat squeaking into a recline. "No, no, it's fine. I should have said something... I just don't know what's causing all this interference." > [["Solar flare?"|resetaposolarflare]] > [["You're the expert."|resetexpert]]

"Just trying to lighten the mood," Vega says, voice just as dry . "What with our grave-robbing an awful, polluted, ancient ocean." > [["Point taken."|resetupagain]] > [["Does 'heavy mood' mean less talking? I like 'heavy moods.'"|resetnoted]] > [["It's not grave robbing, it's..."|resetgrave]]

"I guess I shouldn't call it grave-robbing..." Vega continues to himself. "They don't really like that, do they." No, they don't; Weiss-Hill probably spends more money on branding this initiative than it does the initiative itself. Genetic Reaccession. You're not sure how they came up with a term that's creepier than the activity. Either way, you notice that your Ops panel is up again: $var[// [[WELCOME|charcreate3]]]

"Oh, most likely," Vega acknowledges. "That's what's going in the mission report, at least." Either way, you notice that your Ops panel is up again: $op[// [[WELCOME|charcreate3]]]

"Have you noticed I'm only 'the expert' when things go wrong?" Vega asks. Either way, you notice that your Ops panel is up again. [[// WELCOME|charcreate3]]

"Of course you're right," Vega relents. You don't hear 'apology' in that tone, but you do hear 'please-don't-report-me-to-the-central-office,' and from a goody two-shoes like Vega it's the same kind of satisfying. Weiss-Hill doesn't laugh at jokes like that. Either way, you you see that your panel has started up again: $op[[[// WELCOME|charcreate3]]]

$op[! DIAGNOSTIC COMPL$opr[▒]TE $opf[! CRITICAL ER$opr[░]OR ! CAN$opr[▒░]T LOAD TERRAIN EXPLORER ! CRITICAL ER$opr[▒░░]] Error rendering terrain expl$opr[▒]rer. Would you like to re$opr[░]tart operations panel?] "Yeah, I'm... gonna restart," you say out loud--very diplomatically, you think. "Good to know," Vega replies, a little frostily. $op[// [[RESTART|charcreate2]]]

$op[! DATA CORRUPTION: employee file - preferred pronouns ! DATA CORRUPTION: supervisor file - first name Please confirm employee preferred pronouns:] `//` $op[(link: "they/them" )[(set: $othey to "they")(set: $othem to "them")(goto: "charcreate5")]] `//` $op[(link: "she/her" )[(set: $othey to "she")(set: $othem to "her")(goto: "charcreate5")]] `//` $op[(link: "he/him" )[(set: $othey to "he")(set: $othem to "him")(goto: "charcreate5")]]

$op[Please confirm biographical data. Agent: Ostrander, Reed Pronouns: [$othey/$othem] Superv$opr[░]sor: Vega, $v Vessel: Aurochs Plan$opr[░]tary assignment: Jax Luna] $op[// [[CONFIRM|keepgoing]]]

rocks fall u r dead (if: $v is "Petra")[$v] (if: $v is "Pallas")[$v] (if: $v is "Pascal")[$v] (if: $othey is "she")[$othey] (if: $othey is "he")[$othey] (if: $othey is "they")[$othey] (if: $othem is "she")[$othem] (if: $othem is "he")[$othem] (if: $othem is "they")[$othem]

"I should think that's your chronic inability to listen, actually," Vega says. Either way, you you see that your panel has started up again: $op[[[// WELCOME|charcreate3]]]

The words are barely out of your mouth before they're echoed in Vega's under-breath impersonation of your voice. You're pretty sure you don't sound like that but couldn't get a word in if you tried. "Honestly, The comms must be acting up too, it sounded like you were asking me to talk more." > [["Don't get used to it."|resetnoted]] > [["You always do."|resetalwaysdo]]

The words are barely out of your mouth before Vega mutters them in impersonation, followed by a litany of barely-audible complaints. "Honestly, Ostrander," Vega concludes aloud, "the Comms must be acting up, too--for a second it sounded like you were asking me to talk more." > [["Talk all you want if it tells me what's going on."|resetcommunication]] > [["Must be why I didn't hear what you just said about me."|resetchallenge]]

Vega makes an imperious noise that almost seems to deflate toward the end. There's a pause: "Alright, yes, fair point. But the only thing you're allowed to turn off is the oxygen to your helmet, understood?" It's a joke--a joke that means Vega hasn't noticed you have your visor down. You hope the reboot doesn't cycle any warnings. This seems like a bad time to have it brought up. You notice that your Ops panel has started up again. $op[[[// WELCOME|resetunderstood]]]

"Understood, Ostrander?" Vega presses before you can pay too much attention to the prompts. > [["Understood."|charcreate3]] > [["Understood."|charcreate3]] > [["You say you want me to suffocate, but you'd hate the paperwork."|resetmissme]] > [["You say you want me to suffocate, but you'd miss me."|resetpaperwork]]

"And I'd miss you," Vega quips. // [[ WELCOME|charcreate3]]

"Mostly I'd hate the paperwork," Vega quips. // [[ WELCOME|charcreate3]]