Community Research (week 6)/Path S

The subject of this article is from the NEXT update.
The information from this article is up-to-date as of 28 October, 2018.

Community Research (week 6)/Path S
Mission type	Secondary
Mission series	Community Research
Preceded by:	Community Research (week 5)
Followed by:	Community Research (week 7)
Requires:	N/A
Implemented	NEXT 1.65
Description	Help Specialist Polo - Week 6 of 8

Path S is refers to the Suggest piloting towards black hole choice during the Piece together the story objective in the Community Research (week 6) mission.

Path S

The player must run their scanner to reveal the next location, an Observatory, where they need to access the terminal.

Alysi-Bulug Ocular Array

The terminal blinks, the fragmented traces of unanswered calls cluttering its databanks.

• Apply Polo's Device

1. Not sure of where we are - kzzktk - not many left alive, and the Korvax has vanished - kzzktk - holographic projection, offering help - kzzktk - their face... a brilliant light... a beacon in the darkness...
   • Tell them to accept
     1. -{{ You're right, we need all the - kzzkzzztk - crew are getting so thirsty. They said to meet them at - kzzkzzztk - coordinates seem abandoned but - kzkzzztk - }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-A)
   • Tell them to ignore the stranger
     1. -{{ Agreed - kzzktk - crew don't trust them either. Better to rely on no-one, then - kzzktk - build a ship from the wreckage and scout for help. }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-I)

• Leave

Path S-A

The player must run their scanner to reveal the next location, an Abandoned Building, where they have to access the terminal.

Haunted Terminal

The terminal stares at me, its electronic eye unblinking, unaffected by the darkness.

• Apply Polo's Device

1. -{{ They were there, as they said, but now - kzkkttztk - every time we sleep, a crimson nightmare - kzkkttztk - the whole crew - kzkkttztk - that face, still staring through the foam. }}-
   -{{ Nothing but - kzzktk - endless waves of crimson foam - kzzzzzzzktk - }}-
   • Tell them to get some sleep
     1. -{{ A hear a deep sigh, weeks of stress evaporating as the voice surrenders to their dreams. They go quiet, their voice replaced by the drone of the machinery. The recording goes dead. }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-A-S)
   • Tell them to run
     1. -{{ The stranger starts to speak, but cut themselves off. They want to know where to run, how they can possibly escape, but something tells them I cannot answer, that it is pointless to ask. I hear their footsteps as they walk away, their voices replaced by the drone of the machinery. }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-A-R)

• Leave

Path S-A-S

The player must run their scanner to reveal the next location, a Plaque, what they need to active.

The Moptama-Ayla Fragment

I hear the welcome of the ancient monument, words etched directly into my mind. How will such a thing react to Polo's manipulations?

• Apply Polo's Device

1. -{{ You - I know you. You told me - kzztk - dream, to sleep - kzztk - escaped the fog at last. }}-
   -{{ We have followed the eye to our salvation. And we have you to - kzztk - thank. The portal is ready. We stand on the threshold. At- - kzztk - is calling us. }}-
   • Tell them to enter
     1. I hear the familiar drone, the deep chimes of the glyphs. The stranger activates the portal and prepares to step through.
        I have never heard the moment of transit from the outside before. I do not wish to again. (Note: This leads to Path S-A-S-E)
   • Tell them to not enter
     1. -{{ You're right - kzztk - of course, you're right -kzztk - madness. }}-
        -{{ But where next? Where - kzttzzzztk - now? We should have just - kzztk - drunk the water... }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-A-S-N)

• Leave

Path S-A-S-E

Unsalvageable Wreck

The computer plays a series fragmented videos, recordings that could not have been made with any normal camera.

• View recording

1. The strangers carves their glyphs into the portal's stone. They stride towards the threshold, confident, as if called forward by a familiar voice. They enter, and a brilliant flash of white distorts the recording.
   When the image settles, the portal is nowhere to be seen. All I see are stars, an endless parade of systems. The recording settles on a star and closes in rapidly. The same flash of light, and a new world blinks into existence.
   The recording ends. What have I just witnessed?
   • Leave

• Leave

Path S-A-S-N

The player must run their scanner to reveal the final location, a Crashed Freighter, where they have to access the Unsalvageable Wreck freighter terminal.

Unsalvageable Wreck

The computer plays a series fragmented videos, recordings that could not have been made with any normal camera.

• View recording

1. I see the stranger turn away from the portal, but it clearly pains them. The recording shows their reluctant steps away from the threshold, their repeated glances back over their shoulder.
   The recording continues as the crew and the stranger part ways. The group heads towards a settlement in the distance, the stranger towards the empty horizon.
   As the images jump forwards, the stranger spends their time hauling large red minerals to a small shelter. They carve them endlessly, a parade of geometric shapes rendered in crimson stone. They fall down, exhausted.
   I cannot fathom any meaning from the glyphs they carve.
   • Leave

• Leave

Path S-A-R

The player must run their scanner to reveal the next location, a Traveller Grave named Mivalla's Final Log, what they need to active.

Mivalla's Final Log

The glitchy static around the Traveller's 'beacon' clears, a strong, fresh signal replacing the ancient static. Polo's process leaves me more apprehensive by the moment.

• Apply Polo's Device

1. -{{ Hello? }}-
   -{{ - kzztk - }}-
   -{{ The portal - it's active. This is our -kzztk- chance to escape those nightmares. }}-
   -{{ The eye can't see us if we don't sleep, but - kzztttk - I'm just so tired - kzttkzztk - can't keep this up. If we cross, maybe we can sleep... }}-
   • Tell them to enter
     1. I hear the familiar drone, the deep chimes of the glyphs. The stranger activates the portal and prepares to step through.
        I have never heard the moment of transit from the outside before. I do not wish to again. (Note: This leads to Path S-A-R-E)
   • Tell them to not enter
     1. -{{ You're right - kzztk - of course, you're right -kzztk - madness. }}-
        -{{ But where next? Where - kzttzzzztk - now? We should have just - kzztk - drunk the water... }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-A-R-N)

• Leave

Path S-A-R-E

The player must run their scanner to reveal the final location, a Crashed Freighter, where they have to access the Unsalvageable Wreck freighter terminal.

Unsalvageable Wreck

The computer plays a series fragmented videos, recordings that could not have been made with any normal camera.

• View recording

1. I see the stranger input a series of glyphs, then step forwards into the portal. Before the gateway closes, I see another figure enter, a shimmering being, their face obscured by a brilliant light. The recording cuts out, interrupted by a burst of static.
   When the recording returns, the stranger is aboard their ship, before we ever made contact. There is a Korvax on the bridge. With a jolt, I realise it is Nada. They look extremely concerned. Before I can see more, the terminal begins to glow white hot, the screen consumed by a burning white flame.
   • Leave

• Leave

Path S-A-R-N

The player must run their scanner to reveal the final location, a Crashed Freighter, where they have to access the Unsalvageable Wreck freighter terminal.

Unsalvageable Wreck

The computer plays a series fragmented videos, recordings that could not have been made with any normal camera.

• View recording

1. I see the stranger examine the open portal, then step away. The recording shows the rest of their movements. They continue to travel, mile after mile, always at night. Each light source is found, examined, discarded.
   They search each abandoned building they find, looking for the traveller who promised them salvation. The tapes seem to loop forever. I spool forwards through hour after hour of material, the pattern never varying, the stranger never seeming to age.
   I search and search, but find no end to this story.
   • Leave

• Leave

Path S-I

The player must run their scanner to reveal the next location, a Distress Beacon Point of Interest, where they have to access the Distress Beacon.

Distress Beacon

The distress signal continues its urgent chirp, calling out for any who will listen.

• Apply Polo's Device

1. -{{ Launched the Phoenix - kzkzztk - engines rusty but functional, until - kzkzkkktk - fuel malfunction, had to land in a hurry. I set out on foot, but - kkzttktk - }}-
   -{{ - kzztk - can't escape the feeling that something is watching us - kztk - a crimson eye... }}-
   • Tell them to get some sleep
     1. -{{ A hear a deep sigh, weeks of stress evaporating as the voice surrenders to their dreams. They go quiet, their voice replaced by the drone of the machinery. The recording goes dead. }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-I-S)
   • Tell them to run
     1. -{{ The stranger starts to speak, but cut themselves off. They want to know where to run, how they can possibly escape, but something tells them I cannot answer, that it is pointless to ask. I hear their footsteps as they walk away, their voices replaced by the drone of the machinery. }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-I-R)

• Leave

Path S-I-S

The player must run their scanner to reveal the next location, a Plaque, what they need to active.

The Moptama-Ayla Fragment

I hear the welcome of the ancient monument, words etched directly into my mind. How will such a thing react to Polo's manipulations?

• Apply Polo's Device

1. -{{ You - I know you. You told me - kzztk - dream, to sleep - kzztk - escaped the fog at last. }}-
   -{{ We have followed the eye to our salvation. And we have you to - kzztk - thank. The portal is ready. We stand on the threshold. At- - kzztk - is calling us. }}-
   • Tell them to enter
     1. I hear the familiar drone, the deep chimes of the glyphs. The stranger activates the portal and prepares to step through.
        I have never heard the moment of transit from the outside before. I do not wish to again. (Note: This leads to Path S-I-S-E)
   • Tell them to not enter
     1. -{{ You're right - kzztk - of course, you're right -kzztk - madness. }}-
        -{{ But where next? Where - kzttzzzztk - now? We should have just - kzztk - drunk the water... }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-I-S-N)

• Leave

Path S-I-S-E

The player must run their scanner to reveal the final location, a Crashed Freighter, where they have to access the Unsalvageable Wreck freighter terminal.

Unsalvageable Wreck

The computer plays a series fragmented videos, recordings that could not have been made with any normal camera.

• View recording

1. The stranger carves a series of glyphs into the portal. They pause, as if called by a familiar voice. Seeing no-one, they continue across the threshold. A burst of static cuts the recording.
   When the image returns, I see the stranger on the bridge of their freighter, surrounded by their crew. A Korvax priest entity joins them. With a shock, I recognise Nada.
   Within moments, chaos has erupted on the freighter. Sentinel fighters swarm the ship, their assault sending it into freefall. Another burst of static cuts across the recording. The final image is a single frame of a Gek specialist attending their radar station.
   • Leave

• Leave

Path S-I-S-N

The player must run their scanner to reveal the final location, a Crashed Freighter, where they have to access the Unsalvageable Wreck freighter terminal.

Unsalvageable Wreck

The computer plays a series fragmented videos, recordings that could not have been made with any normal camera.

• View recording

1. I see the stranger turn their back on the portal and hurry away quickly. They return to the wreck of their small starship and begin entering data into the distress beacon. I see the red crimson orb...
   The recording cuts out, placing the stranger back at the portal. It just shows this loop over and over. I search for an error, some corruption in the data that would explain this odd loop. I find none.
   • Leave

• Leave

Path S-I-R

The player must run their scanner to reveal the next location, a Traveller Grave named Gadiegor, Version YU9/8/OF5, what they need to active.

Gadiegor, Version YU9/8/OF5

The glitchy static around the Traveller's 'beacon' clears, a strong, fresh signal replacing the ancient static. Polo's process leaves me more apprehensive by the moment.

• Apply Polo's Device

1. -{{ Hello? }}-
   -{{ - kzztk - }}-
   -{{ The portal - it's active. This is our -kzztk- chance to escape those nightmares. }}-
   -{{ The eye can't see us if we don't sleep, but - kzztttk - I'm just so tired - kzttkzztk - can't keep this up. If we cross, maybe we can sleep... }}-
   • Tell them to enter
     1. I hear the familiar drone, the deep chimes of the glyphs. The stranger activates the portal and prepares to step through.
        I have never heard the moment of transit from the outside before. I do not wish to again. (Note: This leads to Path S-I-R-E)
   • Tell them to not enter
     1. -{{ You're right - kzztk - of course, you're right -kzztk - madness. }}-
        -{{ But where next? Where - kzttzzzztk - now? We should have just - kzztk - drunk the water... }}- (Note: This leads to Path S-I-R-N)

• Leave

Path S-I-R-E

The player must run their scanner to reveal the final location, a Crashed Freighter, where they have to access the Unsalvageable Wreck freighter terminal.

Unsalvageable Wreck

The computer plays a series fragmented videos, recordings that could not have been made with any normal camera.

• View recording

1. The stranger carves a series of glyphs into the portal, then steps across the threshold.
   The recording warps slightly, but continues. I see the stranger standing on a hexagonal world, dwarfed by the wreck of a large starship. Their starship? They help a figure to their feet, a Korvax. With a jolt, I recognise Nada.
   The Priest Entity seems to stare right at me, aware that I have seen this reunion. They nod, and the recording ends.
   • Leave

• Leave

Path S-I-R-N

The player must run their scanner to reveal the final location, a Crashed Freighter, where they have to access the Unsalvageable Wreck freighter terminal.

Unsalvageable Wreck

The computer plays a series fragmented videos, recordings that could not have been made with any normal camera.

• View recording

1. I see the stranger turn their back on the portal and return to their trudge across the lonely landscape. Their crewmates fall one by one, until the stranger walks alone.
   The pace of the recording accelerates and the static buildup strengthens. I spool through hours of tape, but the stranger continues to wander, living off the land, never returning to their ship.
   • Leave

• Leave

Continuation

After reaching one of the endings, the mission will be updated and the next objective is to make contact with the Space Anomaly.