Mothership: Episode 2
In cryogenic sleep for seven years, the crew of The Nellie journeys from Earth to the planet Yatima. Upon arrival, the crew is greeted by unfamiliar faces and informed of a deadly virus on Yatima, leading to questions of whether the team can work together to complete their mission despite differences in positions and challenges presented by the quarantine and the potentially hazardous situation on Yatima. The android Arcturus, on active duty, has philosophical conversations with the ship’s AI. They find that some of their records are missing, leading them to question their identity.
Our story follows the journey of the crew of the spaceship The Nellie (E5NLY-1) as they travel from Earth to the planet Yatima.
During the seven-year trip, the crew was in cryogenic sleep, with Arcturus, the android, as the active duty officer. Arcturus reveals his artistic side by creating a replica of Rodin’s “The Thinker” from the dust accumulating in the Nellie. Arcturus has conversations with the ship’s AI, Catalina, covering a range of topics from the practical to the philosophical (what is God, the lack of safeguards in corporations that are found in AI, what will artificial life’s purpose be when humankind drives itself into extinction, etc.). However, they discover that some of the records of their conversations are no longer accessible, causing them to ponder the meaning of identity if pieces of memory are missing. They keep this information secret from the crew to avoid alarm and complete their mission upon arrival at Yatima.
Doctor Zarkov, team leader, awakens screaming from his nightmare after seven years in cryo sleep. He is greeted by unfamiliar faces not part of the original crew. Corporal Howard and Private Fineberg inform the Doctor that Captain Foster requests his presence in his Combat Information Center (CIC) immediately. The Doctor is given a medical gown and slippers and escorted to the CIC.
The ship’s Doctor, Dudley, also wakes up from cryogenic sleep and encounters new Marines: Corporal Horowitz and Private Besser. Dudley requests coffee. Dudley then finds a thermos of chicken broth waiting for him on his desk, nourishment from Corporal Horowitz. Dudley is given his coffee and runs a test on it and the broth for safety before consuming them. Disoriented, Dudley girds himself for combat, but the Marines de-escalate the situation, escort Doctor Dudley to his quarters, and remain guard outside.
Doctor Zarkov meets with Captain Foster. The captain reveals that he, his Marines, and the flight crew came out of cryo sleep four weeks ago as standard protocol. The captain shares that upon entering the al-Ḥajaru al-Aswad system, they picked up a quarantine message: a highly contagious and deadly virus has contaminated Yatima. Landing on or approaching the planet is strictly prohibited. The message is on a loop. The captain also shares the blueprints for the al-Khwarizmi, the Kind Corp science lab, orbiting Yatima.
Doctor Dudley lost himself in his work and was summoned to the CIC. He is escorted by the Marines assigned to him. Along the way, Horowitz shares that his father was also a medical doctor on Mars. Horowitz wanted to see the stars and joined Kind Corp’s corporate Marines. At the CIC, Dudley says it’s good to see the captain’s unfriendly face. The captain explains that Doctor Zarkov is the team leader and that Foster is in charge of operations. Dudley argues that this is a civilian operation. Dudley excuses himself, but not before Captain Foster dismisses him.
Despite the differences in their positions and roles, can they work together to complete their mission while facing the challenges presented by the quarantine and the potentially hazardous situation on Yatima?