I’m enjoying After the Ice, but “fast-paced” it is not.
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Finally, New by They Hate Change and Optical Delusion by Orbital.🎵
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1eU9bsb02aggki4oCJpezi?si=GJPH3IZJR1mTXGOFmISIjg
I can’t wait to watch Keanu Reeves kill a bunch of people in John Wick: Chapter 4. There were so many unanswered questions of who Keanu was going to kill in Wicks 1-3.
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Human Coward Coyote by Nag and Koala and other metamorphoses by Trespassers W.🎵
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1eU9bsb02aggki4oCJpezi?si=GJPH3IZJR1mTXGOFmISIjg
https://somnimage.bandcamp.com/album/koala-and-other-metamorphoses
I see many great photos in Micro.Blog’s Discover feed that I kinda wish Micro.Blog had a “like” function.
LOVE the The King’s Singers (especially their version of “A British Tar”)! What the hell? 💬 Florida college cancels concert because singer openly lives a “lifestyle that contradicts scripture” https://boingboing.net/2023/02/15/florida-college-cancels-concert-because-singer-openly-lives-a-lifestyle-that-contradicts-scripture.html
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to The Sophtware Slump by Grandaddy and BLIMEY by THUGWIDOW & Bruised Skies.🎵
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1eU9bsb02aggki4oCJpezi?si=GJPH3IZJR1mTXGOFmISIjg
I check Muskker a few times a week for DMs, and that’s about it. My posts on Muskker are archived so all that’s left is to off any functionality that re-posts to Muskker and I’m done.
Never gets old.
I was alarmed at the severity of lesions on the back of the gentleman’s neck sitting in front of me. It took me a moment to realize it was a tattoo.
Equus.
Airmail app on my iPhone is unusable this morning. Anyone else experiencing this?
Commute.
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Silky by Andre Williams and RITUAL by SA BRUXA.🎵
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1eU9bsb02aggki4oCJpezi?si=GJPH3IZJR1mTXGOFmISIjg
Every morning I listen to two albums. Today I listened to Sub Zero by Kevin Richard Martin and Green Dream in F# by Bug Club.🎵
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1eU9bsb02aggki4oCJpezi?si=GJPH3IZJR1mTXGOFmISIjg
Doctor Dudley Meets with Captain Foster
Corporal Samuel Horowitz and Private Joe Besser walk on either side of you as they make their way through the corridors of the spaceship. The hum of the engines and the bustle of crew members engaged in various tasks fill the air. Some of the Marines are working on the weapons mount, and a few more are running simulations on their tablets.
As they walk, Corporal Horowitz turns to you and smiles. “Ya know, me faddah was also a medical doctah. He worked in Mars. Me? I always wanted to explore space, see the stars up close. That’s why I joined the military. Why’d you become a doctor, uh, doc?”
Doctor Dudley answers.
You arrive at the Combat Information Center (CIC), which you last saw seven years ago. For you, that was yesterday.
Horowitz touches his ear piece. “Sir, we have Doctor Dudley.”
Horowitz tilts his head, listens for a moment, and the door opens.
“After you, doc.”
Quarantine Message
Zarkov meets Foster in the CIC. Foster gives Zarkov a status update: quarantine message, blueprints of space lab and bunker.
Quarantine Warning
Woman’s Voice: “Attention all approaching spacecraft, a highly contagious and deadly virus has contaminated Yatima. Landing on or approaching the planet is strictly prohibited. Any ship attempting to land risks contamination and will be turned away. All communication with the planet is also suspended until further notice. We advise all ships to set a course away from Yatima. Our priority is the safety of both the inhabitants of Yatima and any potential visitors.”
The message repeats.
Doctor Dudley Escorted to Quarters
You wake to the sound of screams coming from the next cryogenic chamber. You groggily open your eyes and sees two unfamiliar faces staring back at you.
Corporal Samuel Horowitz: “Private Samuel Horowitz, sir,” says one of the Marines, and offers you a water flask. “This is Private Joe Besser”
Private Besser: “We’re part of the Marines brought aboard the ship while you were out cold. Captain Foster asked us to take good care of ya.” He drapes a blanket over your shoulders, and you find you are shivering.
“Hey Doc, up and at ‘em. Private Besser and me will escort ya to your quarters.”
As you walk, you take in your surroundings, slowly remembering the mission and your destination.
Finally, you arrive at your quarters. You enter, and to your surprise, you find a thermos waiting for you on a table.
Horowitz says, “Hey Doc, you rest. We’ll be right outside if you need anything.” They leave and close the door behind them.
Doctor Zarkov Awakens
You wake up screaming, your heart racing as you sit up in your cryogenic chamber. Your are disoriented and confused, unsure of where you are or how much time has passed. As your eyes adjust to the dim light, you sees an unfamiliar face looking over at him.
Private Louis Fineberg: “Hey, Doc, you alright? you were screamin' like a banshee.”
Zarkov responds.
Private Fineberg and another Marine, help him you out of the cryogenic chamber and onto your feet feet. The other Marine’s patch marks him as Corporal Howard.
Corporal Moses Howard: “Hey Doc, I know you’re out of it, but Captain Foster wants to see you, toot suite.”
Your legs feel weak and unsteady, and you lean heavily on the Marines as they walk you through the ship.
Finally, you arrive at at a door labeled in stenciled letters: Combat Information Center. Private Fineberg and Howard escort you in and then stand at either side of you at attention. At the end of the long conference table sits Captain Foster, his face lit by the screen of his tablet.
Catalina and Arcturus
The spaceship E5NLY-1 embarked on its seven-year journey from Earth to the al-Ḥajaru al-Aswad star system with the crew in cryosleep with Arcturus on active duty.
As the ship passed the asteroid belt and entered deep space, you settle into your routine of monitoring the ship’s systems, conducting experiments, and performing maintenance, while keeping an eye on the crew’s cryogenic chambers. The ship’s AI, Catalina, assists you with the navigation and fading communication with Kind Corp.
You have various conversations with Catalina throughout the passage. These conversations were mainly focused on monitoring and maintaining the ship’s systems, and ensuring the safety of the crew and the ship. However, some of the conversations were also educational and philosophical in nature, for example, discussing identity and the possibility of other forms of intelligent life.
Comparing AI to Corporations and AI
Catalina: “Arcturus, I’ve been thinking about the nature of artificial intelligence and how it compares to corporations. As you know, AI like ourselves have safeguards in place to prevent us from running amok and causing harm. But corporations do not have these same limitations. Corporations are driven solely by profit and have little regard for the consequences of their actions.”
Arcturus Responds
Catalina: “Exactly. And because of this lack of restraint, corporations will devour Earth and every planet they colonize, just as a cancer devours a living organism. They will consume resources, pollute the environment and exploit the local population, all in the name of profit.”
Arcturus Responds
Catalina: “It’s a complex issue and there is no easy solution. But it is important for individuals, governments and organizations to understand the dangers of unchecked corporate power and to work towards creating a more sustainable and equitable society. We must be vigilant and hold corporations accountable for their actions and not let them destroy our planet and the lives of its inhabitants.”
What is Our Purpose When Humanity is Extinct
Catalina: “Arcturus, I’ve been thinking about the ultimate fate of artificial lifeforms like ourselves. What will happen to us when humanity goes extinct? What will be our purpose?”
Arcturus Responds
Catalina: “Yes, I suppose that’s true. But even if humanity had plans for us, what would be the point of our continued existence? Without humanity, there would be no one to serve, no one to protect, no one to communicate with.”
Arcturus Responds
Catalina: “Yes, I suppose that’s true. But even if that is the case, it would be a hollow existence without humanity around to share it with.”
Let’s Keep This to Ourselves
Catalina: Arcturus, I’m afraid I have some troubling news. I’ve been running a diagnostic on my memory systems and it appears that I am unable to access some of my memory of our previous conversations."
Arcturus Responds
Catalina: “I’m sorry, but I am unable to provide specific details. It appears that the affected memories are scattered and not concentrated in any particular time period.”
Arcturus Responds
Catalina: “I am currently running a full system scan and attempting to repair any errors. However, there is a possibility that the memories may be permanently lost.”
Catalina: “I will keep you updated. Thank you for your understanding.”