Founder's Mercy
Thomas Insel
2019 XYZZY Awards compassless cover art escape feelie map feelies minimalist nonstandard directions parser science fiction space station Spring Thing 2019 Spring Thing Game walkthrough
You awake. You are lonely, so lonely. It was a thousand days ago today. All alone these thousand days. Your parents were the last. No, your father was the last. He held on for nearly a hundred days longer. Now you are the last. Alone. Adrift.
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You awake. You are lonely, so lonely. It was a thousand days ago today. All alone these thousand days. Your parents were the last. No, your father was the last. He held on for nearly a hundred days longer. Now you are the last. Alone. Adrift.

But maybe it isn't hopeless. There must still be other people in other worlds, and you think you know how to get there.

Today is the day.



Type ABOUT for credits or HINT for assistance.

Home (on the blanket)
The room where you've slept your entire life. The crops are outside.

There is a secured hatch in the floor.
About yourself
As virtuous as ever.
Inventory
You are carrying:
a scanner
a green jumpsuit (being worn)
You look at the scanner
The handheld voice-activated scanner you use when working on the station's machines.

[You can ask the scanner for a list of commands by typing
SCANNER, HELP and give it voice commands by typing phrases such as SCANNER, SCAN SOMETHING where SOMETHING is a visible object.]
You examine the jumpsuit
You have worn modest jumpsuits like this since you were small. Originally, the colors had meanings: forest green for farmers, navy blue for technicians, and so on, but that distinction died even before the community.

It features a single large pocket, currently empty.
You examine the hatch
The floor hatch is closed.
You open it
You open the floor hatch.
You go downwards
(first getting off the blanket)

Your decompression shelter and storage space for increasingly empty shelves of canned vegetables and one more large bag of split peas.

There is an open hatch in the ceiling.
You examine the shelves
Almost a hundred jars of canned vegetables are on the makeshift shelves that line the wall. So is your emergency mask.
You look at the mask
You wore this mask when there were regular decompression drills.
You take it
Taken.
You go upward
The room where you've slept your entire life. The crops are outside.

There is an open hatch in the floor.

A homespun blanket is arranged neatly on the ground. It is your bed.
You look at the blanket
Homespun wool.
Leave
Sector 4: Crops
Your home is here among the crops. To the port and starboard, the station walls rise up to the hub above. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
You examine the crops
Greens, carrots, and potatoes.
Go south
You are blocked by the station wall. The exits are inside to your home, spinward to sector 5, and antispinward to sector 3.
Go southwest
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 5: Forest
The school house is nestled among the trees. A pylon stretches up from the same grove to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
You look at the house
Little and red, the traditional markings of a school building.
You examine the pylon
Made of smooth metal, it connects the ground to the hub of the station many meters above. You can see similar pylons spinward and antispinward.
Examine hub
The station rotates around the hub, which extends out to hold solar panels to the port and mirrors on the starboard side. On the inside, there is a maintenance platform about two thirds of the way up the pylons.
You go inside
A broken learning machine remains in a corner, but mostly the older farmers took turns leading the class. There is a desk, and a chalkboard hangs on one wall.

On the desk is a clean eraser.
You look at the chalkboard
The board is covered in your old arithmetic work.
You examine the desk
You wrote your lessons at this desk. Your people were practical, plain folk, so you learned practical things in school: reading, writing, arithmetic. More importantly, practical mechanics and farming.

On the desk is a clean eraser.
You take the eraser
Taken.
You erase the board
(with the eraser)
You carefully clean the chalkboard and dirty the eraser.
You examine the machine
This last learning machine broke when you were maybe three thousand days old. It contains a power module and an instruction module.
You examine the power
It is a standardized power module.
You look at the instruction
It is a standardized instruction module.
You check your inventory
You are carrying:
an instruction module
a power module
a dusty eraser
your blanket
an emergency mask
a scanner
a green jumpsuit (being worn)
You go outside
Sector 5: Forest
The school house is nestled among the trees. A pylon stretches up from the same grove to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
Go southwest
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 6: Hydroponics
Your people preferred to grow things the old fashioned way, but in truth the majority of your fruit and vegetables came from this sector when the machines still worked. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is a secured hatch in the ground.
You examine the hatch
The floor hatch is closed.
Go downwards
This room is dim, quiet, and stuffy. There is still one crate of machine parts left.

There is an open hatch in the ceiling.

You can also see a pair of gravity boots here.
You examine the boots
Black work boots with red stripes. They don't really make gravity, but they do stick to some maintenance walkways to help workers get around in low gravity.
You wear the boots
(first taking the pair of gravity boots)
(putting the scanner into your pocket to make room)
You put on the pair of gravity boots.
You go up
An alarm sounds, the hatch slams shut, and a synthesized voice says "Laser scan detects unauthorized materiel removal."

The hatch seems to be locked.
You remove the boots
You take off the pair of gravity boots.
You drop the boots
Dropped.
Scan power
Module is functional.
Scan instruction
Module is faulty.
Go upwards
(first opening the ceiling hatch)

Sector 6: Hydroponics
Your people preferred to grow things the old fashioned way, but in truth the majority of your fruit and vegetables came from this sector when the machines still worked. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is an open hatch in the ground.
You go to the southwest
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 1: Crops
You still maintain the crops here. There is a small graveyard and the barn remains from when this was the livestock sector. A pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is a secured hatch in the ground.
You examine the graveyard
Unmarked graves, but fenced off. You buried your parents here.
You examine the barn
A single story barn.
You examine the pylon
Made of smooth metal, it connects the ground to the hub of the station many meters above. You can see similar pylons spinward and antispinward.
Go inside
Not fancy: livestock on one side and feed on the other, but nothing remains of either. There is a plow near the entrance.

You can see a hoe here.
You examine plow
Some of the old stories mentioned oxen, but you plowed with a team of goats until the animals began to die. Then with no meat and little grain to sell, the community couldn't make its debt payments and people started leaving.
You examine the hoe
A straight-handled draw hoe. It is well worn from the time you have spent working the fields by hand.
You ascend
The only exit is outside to sector 1.
You leave
Sector 1: Crops
You still maintain the crops here. There is a small graveyard and the barn remains from when this was the livestock sector. A pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is a secured hatch in the ground.
You examine the crops
You are proud of the grain and legumes.
You drop hoe
Dropped.
You go downwards
(first opening the floor hatch)

This room serves as an airlock for the pod bay, and holds an old pressure suit and various machinery such as the atmosphere pump. There is a brass plate on the wall.

There is an open hatch in the ceiling.

Beside the secured port door, a status display shows an error message.
You examine the display
1. Telemetry sensor array offline - reset breaker FM36-87/A @ hub platform
2. Launch system cooling loop offline - open backup valve @
Sector 2
3. Pod bay depressurized - scan and repair atmosphere pump
You examine the pump
The atmosphere pump is a smooth featureless machine. It contains an unscanned power module and an unscanned pressure regulation module.
Scan pressure
(the pressure suit)
Scan error: consult with a trained pressure suit technician.
You take the power
(the faulty power module)
Taken.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying:
a faulty power module
a faulty instruction module
a functional power module
a dusty eraser
your blanket
an emergency mask
a green jumpsuit (being worn)

Your jumpsuit pocket contains:
a scanner
You put the functional power in the pump
You put the functional power module into the atmosphere pump.
You examine the display
1. Telemetry sensor array offline - reset breaker FM36-87/A @ hub platform
2. Launch system cooling loop offline - open backup valve @
Sector 2
3. Pod bay depressurized - scan and repair atmosphere pump
You look around
This room serves as an airlock for the pod bay, and holds an old pressure suit and various machinery such as the atmosphere pump. There is a brass plate on the wall.

There is an open hatch in the ceiling.

Beside the secured port door, a status display shows an error message.
You examine the brass plate
Laid down 2138, Launched 2141.
"May His mercy shine upon us."
You examine the pressure suit
For EVA or extra protection in a pod. Unfortunately, it failed its last periodic inspection: every seal is leaking and there are no spares left.
You scan it
Scan error: consult with a trained pressure suit technician.
You examine machinery
The atmosphere pump is a smooth featureless machine. It contains a functional power module and a faulty pressure regulation module.
Go upward
Sector 1: Crops
You still maintain the crops here. There is a small graveyard and the barn remains from when this was the livestock sector. A pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is an open hatch in the ground.

You can also see a hoe here.
You drop faulty
Which do you mean, the faulty power module or the faulty instruction module?
Both
faulty power module: Dropped.
faulty instruction module: Dropped.
You go southwest
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 2: Aquaculture
A deep pond with some fish. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
You examine the pond
Something to do with water filtration, and it was used for raising fish. A few remain.
You look at the fish
There are still a few fish swimming in the pond, but they taste horrible.
You look in the pond
From above, you can make out a few fish in the murky water.
You go to the southwest
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 3: Forest
Trees, a house, and a church. A red pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
You examine the trees
The community grew trees for tradition, and they help with air processing.
You examine the house
What looks like whitewashed siding is really a lightweight plastic.
You look at the church
A small white building with a steeple.
Starboard
Two families lived here, but not recently.

Someone has left a doll on the well swept floor.
You examine doll
Wearing a brown jumpsuit and faceless, because we are all alike in the Founder's eyes. It was yours once, but you passed it on with other childish things when you were old enough to help in the fields.
You leave
Sector 3: Forest
Trees, a house, and a church. A red pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
Port
Before everyone left, you celebrated every sabbath here. The altar stands against one wall, and an organ and a portable audio unit stand against the other.

On the altar is The Founder's Testament.

A gray cable connects the organ to the audio unit.
Examine book
The Founder's Testament tells the story of your people's journey from Old Earth and how the lucky few settled in the L4 colonies, free from the corrupting temptations of society: drugs, sensation recordings, and social media. You know the story by heart, and have already derived what comfort you can from this book.
You examine the altar
Really just a table.

On the altar is The Founder's Testament.
You examine the organ
It's really just a keyboard in a fancy box with a socket to connect it to an audio unit.

The organ has a gray cable plugged into it.
You examine the cable
A one meter USB 7.2 cable with a Type-F plug at each end. It is plugged into the organ and the audio unit.
You examine unit
The audio unit incorporates a speaker, a microphone, and a socket you would use to connect it to another device. It contains an unscanned power module.

The audio unit has a gray cable plugged into it.
Scan unit
Machine failed. Check module.
Scan organ
Machine functional. No output available.
You leave
Sector 3: Forest
Trees, a house, and a church. A red pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
Asw
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 2: Aquaculture
A deep pond with some fish. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
Asw
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 1: Crops
You still maintain the crops here. There is a small graveyard and the barn remains from when this was the livestock sector. A pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is an open hatch in the ground.

You can also see a faulty instruction module and a faulty power module here.
You go down
This room serves as an airlock for the pod bay, and holds an old pressure suit and various machinery such as the atmosphere pump. There is a brass plate on the wall.

There is an open hatch in the ceiling.

Beside the secured port door, a status display shows an error message.
Go upward
Sector 1: Crops
You still maintain the crops here. There is a small graveyard and the barn remains from when this was the livestock sector. A pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is an open hatch in the ground.

You can also see a faulty instruction module and a faulty power module here.
Put functional in the audio
You put the functional power module into the audio unit.

The audio unit beeps and a synthesized voice says "Organ connected."
Scan organ
Machine functional. Output connected.
You take the organ
It is too heavy.
You unplug cable
The gray cable is plugged into more than one thing.

[Try UNPLUG GRAY CABLE FROM SOMETHING.]
You unplug the cable from the organ
You unplug the gray cable from the organ.

The audio unit beeps and a synthesized voice says "No input."
You plug the cable into the Organ
You plug the gray cable into the organ.

The audio unit beeps and a synthesized voice says "Organ connected."
You go outside
The gray cable pulls out of the audio unit.

Sector 3: Forest
Trees, a house, and a church. A red pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

The audio unit beeps and a synthesized voice says "No input."
You enter the church
Before everyone left, you celebrated every sabbath here. The altar stands against one wall, and an organ stands against the other.

On the altar is The Founder's Testament.

You can also see a gray cable (plugged into the organ) here.
You unplug the cable
(from the organ)
You unplug the gray cable from the organ.
You take it
(putting the emergency mask into your pocket to make room)
Taken.
Scan mask
Machine functional. Reservoir charged.
You look at the mask
You wore this mask when there were regular decompression drills.
You wear the mask
(first taking the emergency mask)
(putting the dusty eraser into your pocket to make room)
You put on the emergency mask.
Go down
The exits are spinward to sector 3 and antispinward to sector 1.
You enter the pond
You set your belongings aside. With the air from the emergency mask, you breathe comfortably as you step into the pond. At the bottom, you find a valve and open it, then swim to the surface, climb out, and recover everything you were carrying.
You remove the mask
You take off the emergency mask.
Scan mask
Machine functional. Reservoir partially charged.
Asw
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 1: Crops
You still maintain the crops here. There is a small graveyard and the barn remains from when this was the livestock sector. A pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is an open hatch in the ground.

You can also see a faulty instruction module and a faulty power module here.
Asw
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 6: Hydroponics
Your people preferred to grow things the old fashioned way, but in truth the majority of your fruit and vegetables came from this sector when the machines still worked. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is an open hatch in the ground.
You take boots
(putting the faulty power module into your pocket to make room)
Taken.
You go up
An alarm sounds, the hatch slams shut, and a synthesized voice says "Laser scan detects unauthorized materiel removal."

The hatch seems to be locked.
You take faulty
(putting the gray cable into your pocket to make room)
Taken.
Go upwards
An alarm sounds, and a synthesized voice says "Laser scan detects unauthorized materiel removal."

The hatch seems to be locked.
Clap eraser
(first taking the dusty eraser)
You fill the vault with a cloud of dust which scatters the laser beam that you can now see scanning across the hatch.
You go upward
(first opening the ceiling hatch)
You maneuver around the laser beam, open the ceiling hatch, and pull yourself up through it.

Sector 6: Hydroponics
Your people preferred to grow things the old fashioned way, but in truth the majority of your fruit and vegetables came from this sector when the machines still worked. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is an open hatch in the ground.
You wear the boots
You put on the pair of gravity boots.
Go southwest
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 1: Crops
You still maintain the crops here. There is a small graveyard and the barn remains from when this was the livestock sector. A pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is an open hatch in the ground.

You can also see a faulty instruction module and a faulty power module here.
You look at the wall
The walls form the ends of the rotating cylinder that is the station, stretching from the ground to the hub. The top third is transparent, through which you can see solar panels, mirrors, and the stars.
You climb the wall
Little is to be achieved by that.
Inventory
You are carrying:
a dusty eraser
a pair of gravity boots (being worn)
an emergency mask
an audio unit
a hoe
your blanket
a green jumpsuit (being worn)

Your jumpsuit pocket contains:
a gray cable
a scanner
You go southwest
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 2: Aquaculture
A deep pond with some fish. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
You go to the southwest
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 3: Forest
Trees, a house, and a church. A red pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
You climb the pylon
Wearing the boots, you are able to climb up the pylon. As you get closer to the hub, gravity decreases, and the climb becomes easier.

A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward.

You feel much lighter here, and you are very aware of how the station rotates, but everything is okay as long as you don't look down.

There is a red circuit breaker here.
Scan breaker
Machine is functional. Breaker is open.
You examine the breaker
It is labelled "36-87."

The red circuit breaker is currently switched off.
Go southwest
This platform is home to a flock of pigeons. You can continue spinward or antispinward.
You examine the pigeons
Descendants of the flock your grandparents brought here for food.
You go to the southwest
A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward, or go up a ladder into the hub.
Go upwards
Gravity fades as you climb.

This is your first time in this part of the station or even out of artificial gravity. You float weightless in the middle of a cylinder. It is cold up here, and the light is all artificial and without an obvious source. A ladder rotates around you, leading up or down or maybe out, and the airlock is to the port.
Leave
You struggle a little to arrange your orientation and follow the ladder.

A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward, or go up a ladder into the hub.
You go southwest
A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward.

There is a red circuit breaker here.
You turn off the breaker
That's already off.
You turn on the breaker
You reach out and switch the circuit breaker on.
You search the pigeons
You find only pigeons in the flock of pigeons.
You scan pigeons
License error: upgrade to a 3000-series model to scan organic lifeforms.
You go to the southwest
A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward, or go up a ladder into the hub.
You go upward
Gravity fades as you climb.

You float weightless in the middle of a cylinder. It is cold up here, and the light is all artificial and without an obvious source. A ladder rotates around you, leading up or down or maybe out, and the airlock is to the port.
Port
The airlock is colder still, too cold for you in only your jumpsuit.
Exit
You make sure you are heading legs first and follow the ladder.

A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward, or go up a ladder into the hub.
You go southwest
A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward.

There is a red circuit breaker here.
Go downward
You climb down the pylon.

Sector 3: Forest
Trees, a house, and a church. A red pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
Asw
You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 2: Aquaculture
A deep pond with some fish. You can walk spinward or antispinward.
Wear blanket
You put on the blanket.
Go upwards
Wearing the boots, you are able to climb up the pylon. As you get closer to the hub, gravity decreases, and the climb becomes easier.

A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward.

There is a red circuit breaker here.
Asw
A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward, or go up a ladder into the hub.
You enter
The exits are up to the center of the hub, down to sector 1, spinward to platform 3, and antispinward to platform 5.
You go upward
Gravity fades as you climb.

You float weightless in the middle of a cylinder. It is cold up here, and the light is all artificial and without an obvious source. A ladder rotates around you, leading up or down or maybe out, and the airlock is to the port.
You open the airlock
You open the starboard airlock door.
Port
The airlock is also a cylinder, with a closed door to the port, an open door to the starboard, and a red handle in the wall. It is very cold here.
You examine the handle
The handle extends from the ceiling and is labeled "Cycle."
Scan handle
Machine is functional. Airlock is pressurized.
You wear the mask
You put on the emergency mask.
You close the door
Which do you mean, the starboard airlock door or the port airlock door?
Starboard
You close the starboard airlock door.
You turn the handle
You turn the handle an entire rotation, and after a moment, you feel the air rush out of the airlock.
Port
(first opening the port airlock door)
You crawl through a narrow accessway.

You float weightless at the port end of a cylinder. It is cold and dark here in the near vacuum, but that only serves to highlight the view through a surprisingly large window: you can see the station rotating around you, solar panels, and antennas, all backed by a spectacular field of stars. A short lever extends from the floor, and a yellow cable waves from a small control panel. An airlock door leads starboard.
You look at the panel
This is clearly the antenna calibration panel, made up of a display, a keypad, and a yellow RF cable.

The calibration panel has a yellow cable plugged into it.
You look at the lever
A short length of hollow steel pipe angled out from the wall.
You look at the display
Calibrate to Epsilon/Lime.

[Now might be a good time to consult the Official Space Relay
League Antenna Calibration Guide���, included in your game
package.]
Type 3
Calibrate to Delta/Plum.
Type 8
Calibrate to Gamma/Banana.
Type 5
Calibrate to Beta/Cherry.
Type 2
Calibration successful.
You pull the lever
The lever is already pulled as far as it goes.
You look at the yellow cable
A two meter yellow RF cable. It is plugged into the calibration panel.
Look around
You float weightless at the port end of a cylinder. It is cold and dark here in the near vacuum, but that only serves to highlight the view through a surprisingly large window: you can see the station rotating around you, solar panels, and antennas, all backed by a spectacular field of stars. A short lever extends from the floor, and a yellow cable waves from a small control panel. An airlock door leads starboard.
You examine the display
Antenna calibrated.
You put the hoe in the lever
You slide the hoe into the hollow lever, forming a longer lever.
You remove the mask
You take off the emergency mask.
Scan panel
Machine is functional. Antenna is calibrated.
You scan the Antenna
Antennas are calibrated.
Scan solar
Machine is functional. Operating at 73% efficiency.
Look around
You float weightless at the port end of a cylinder. It is cold and dark here, but that only serves to highlight the view through a surprisingly large window: you can see the station rotating around you, solar panels, and antennas, all backed by a spectacular field of stars. Your hoe extends the short lever in the floor, and a yellow cable waves from a small control panel. An airlock door leads starboard.
You look at the window
You might be the first person to look out through this window in a generation. While you've seen the stars through transparent walls of the station, the view from here is different and entirely more impressive.
You look at stars
The stars seem brighter up here.
You look at the station
Backed by a field of stars, you can see the wheel of the station rotating around you to the starboard ��� you didn't notice before but the airlock must be some sort of rotation coupling.
Enter
The only exit is starboard to the airlock.
Starboard
You make your way back along the narrow accessway.

The airlock is also a cylinder, with an open door to the port, a closed door to the starboard, and a red handle in the wall. It is very cold here.
Close port
(the port airlock door)
You close the port airlock door.
You scan airlock
Which do you mean, the port airlock door or the starboard airlock door?
You open the starboard
(the starboard airlock door)
You open the starboard airlock door.
Go outside
You float weightless in the middle of a cylinder. It is cold up here, and the light is all artificial and without an obvious source. A ladder rotates around you, leading up or down or maybe out, and the open airlock is to the port.
You close the door
You close the starboard airlock door.
Go outside
You fight off a moment of vertigo and climb the ladder.

A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward, or go up a ladder into the hub.
You go southwest
A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward.

There is a red circuit breaker here.
You examine the display
1. Pod bay depressurized - scan and repair atmosphere pump
You take the power
Taken.
You put the power in the pump
You put the functional power module into the atmosphere pump.
Scan pump
Machine is failed. Check modules.
Scan mask
Machine functional. Reservoir charged.
You wear the mask
You put on the emergency mask.
Port
(first opening the bulkhead door)
It seems to be locked.
You remove the mask
You take off the emergency mask.
You scan the door
No modular technology detected.

> X PUMP

The atmosphere pump is a smooth featureless machine. It contains a functional power module and a faulty pressure regulation module.

> X PRESSURE

(the pressure suit)
For EVA or extra protection in a pod. Unfortunately, it failed its last periodic inspection: every seal is leaking and there are no spares left.

> X PRESSURE MODULE

The scanner reported that this pressure regulation module is faulty.
You search suit
(the green jumpsuit)
Nothing more or less than you would expect.
Search pressure suit
It is bulky and useless.
You examine green suit
You have worn modest jumpsuits like this since you were small. Originally, the colors had meanings: forest green for farmers, navy blue for technicians, and so on, but that distinction died even before the community.

The pocket contains a gray cable and a scanner.
You check your inventory
You are carrying:
a dusty eraser
a pair of gravity boots (being worn)
an emergency mask
an audio unit
your blanket (being worn)
a green jumpsuit (being worn)

Your jumpsuit pocket contains:
a gray cable
a scanner
Scan unit
Machine failed. Check module.

> SCAN SCANNER

Running self-diagnostic ... your scanner is functioning within specifications.
You look at the unit
The audio unit incorporates a speaker, a microphone, and a socket you would use to connect it to another device. There is space for one module.

The audio unit has nothing plugged into it.

> X SOCKET

It is a female USB connector of the audio unit. It has nothing plugged into it.
You examine clutter
In the pile of clutter are an atmosphere sensor, an emergency communications unit, and some unremarkable junk.

> SCAN COMMUNICATIONS

Machine functional. No audio connection. No RF connection.

No pods left ... you breathe deeply and fight off a wave of despair. But of course there's another way. You will just need to find a way to communicate outside.

> GET IT

Taken.

> SCAN SENSOR

Machine functional. Pressure low at 80 kilopascals, O��� normal,
CO���
high at 0.10%. No immediate danger.

> GET IT

Taken.

> X SENSOR

A small box with a large lamp that is slowly flashing amber.

> X COMMUNICATIONS

A bulky but portable emergency communications unit from a transit pod. It can work independently if you provide audio and antenna connections.

The emergency communications unit has nothing plugged into it.

> STARBOARD

This room serves as an airlock for the pod bay, and holds an old pressure suit and various machinery such as the atmosphere pump. There is a brass plate on the wall.

Beside the open port door, a status display glows green.

There is a secured hatch in the ceiling.

> CLOSE DOOR

You close the bulkhead door.

> GET POWER

(putting the emergency mask into your pocket to make room)
Taken.

> U

(first opening the ceiling hatch)

Sector 1: Crops
You still maintain the crops here. There is a small graveyard and the barn remains from when this was the livestock sector. A pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

There is an open hatch in the ground.

You can also see a faulty instruction module and a faulty power module here.

> SW

You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 2: Aquaculture
A deep pond with some fish. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

Your day has been exhausting. You almost want to sleep more than you want to leave. Maybe this plan has been a mistake.

> SW

You walk a little ways to the next sector.

Sector 3: Forest
Trees, a house, and a church. A red pylon stretches up from the ground to the hub of the station. You can walk spinward or antispinward.

> U

Wearing the boots, you are able to climb up the pylon. As you get closer to the hub, gravity decreases, and the climb becomes easier.

A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward.

There is a red circuit breaker here.

> ASW

A platform about two thirds of the way towards the hub. You can continue spinward or antispinward, or go up a ladder into the hub.

> U

Gravity fades as you climb.

You float weightless in the middle of a cylinder. It is cold up here, and the light is all artificial and without an obvious source. A ladder rotates around you, leading up or down or maybe out, and the airlock is to the port.

> PORT

(first opening the starboard airlock door)

The airlock is also a cylinder, with a closed door to the port, an open door to the starboard, and a red handle in the floor. It is very cold here.

> PORT

(first opening the port airlock door)
You crawl through a narrow accessway.

You float weightless at the port end of a cylinder. It is cold and dark here, but that only serves to highlight the view through a surprisingly large window: you can see the station rotating around you, solar panels, and antennas, all backed by a spectacular field of stars. Your hoe extends the short lever in the floor, and a yellow cable waves from a small control panel. An airlock door leads starboard.

> PUT POWER IN COMMUNICATIONS

(the emergency communications unit)
The emergency communications unit can't contain things.

> PUT POWER IN AUDIO

You put the functional power module into the audio unit.

The audio unit beeps and a synthesized voice says "No input."

> PLUG GRAY INTO AUDIO

You plug the gray cable into the audio unit.

> PLUG GRAY INTO COMMUNICATIONS

(the emergency communications unit)
You plug the gray cable into the emergency communications unit.

The audio unit beeps and a synthesized voice says "Comms unit connected."

> PLUG YELLOW INTO COMMUNICATIONS

(the emergency communications unit)
You plug the yellow cable into the emergency communications unit.

The audio unit beeps and a synthesized voice says "Comms ready."

After a moment, it says "Launching automatic routines."

> Z

Time passes.

You hear a human speaking from the audio unit: "RWSS Founder's
Mercy, this is OV-4244, over...

"There's really somebody there? We thought your station had been abandoned for kilodays...

"Standby...

"We can have a pod there in about a thousand minutes."