Work Text:
The following is a transcript of the audio log recovered from the Borealis, regarding its expedition into the star system Delta Corvi
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_01.
Hello, this is Alan Shepherd, Chief Science Director of the Borealis, making the preliminary report regarding expedition ID: 02203045.
In approximately 48 hours from the time of this recording, we will be embarking on our scheduled expedition to explore the star system Delta Corvi. Delta Corvi is a system composed of a K class star, which is orbited by 5 planets. Our target of interest in this system is Planet DC 5657C, the third planet outwards from the star. We suspect, based on satellite readings from preceding journeys, that this planet has potential to harbor extra terrestrial life, of which our primary goal is to search, explore, and categorize any species that we encounter on our trip.
We have a crew of 15 people, and enough rations to last us for the duration of our trip and the return journey. Our itinerary is as follows: We will enter cryo sleep on our way to the phase gate, following which we will engage in FTL travel to the desired destination.
[Papers rustling]
We shall cooperate with UNE regulations throughout the duration of this journey, and all findings will be released to the public databases upon return. I will also submit a longer digital report to correspond with this audio report for record keeping purposes.
[Recording ends]
Curator’s Note: A preliminary report was located in the records of the UNE Exploratory commission that had an audio file that was identical to the one recorded above.
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_03.
Alan’s Log. We approached the phase gate today. Fortunately, due to the size and nature of our ship, we were able to get fast tracked through the approval process and quickly made our way through the queue. Captain recommended we enter cryo sleep prior to jumping, which I get. I’ve heard too many horror stories of what happened to crews who jumped to the wrong coordinates, or went through the phase gate without entering cryo. Hopefully all goes well and we get through the jump smoothly.
[Recording ends]
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_06.
Alan’s Log.
We arrived at the Delta Corvi system today. According to the travel logs, We spent [Data corrupted] hours within the phase gate, and thankfully none of the crew experienced any issues with the cryo-stasis. Matthew, our crew doctor, says to spend at least a week adjusting from cryo-stasis before any serious activity be done by the crew, so at this moment we are just orbiting DC 5657B and taking in the sights before we touchdown on the planet.
So far our recon has confirmed the satellite data: 1 star, 5 planets, not a lot else to consider. What’s interesting is that we’ve also encountered some small clumps of dirt as we’ve entered orbit around 5657B. Eh, no biggie. We got shields for that reason.
In the meantime I’m probably gonna get a closer look at some of the areas I want to check out. In particular, there’s this crater system that I really want to check out. It's a cool spot overall, with what seems like a forest canopy right next to what appears to be a cave system. Can’t wait to finally stretch my legs down there.
[Recording ends]
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_09.
Alan’s Log, First Expeditionary Day.
The team finally got clearance from Matthew to touch down planet side, and honestly? Things are looking pretty good. The metrics seem far better than we expected, eerily earth like in terms of composition. The team was very tempted to take off their life support and just breathe fresh air for a change. However, Matthew was very not pleased when John, our rookie, tried it just for fun. Gave him a stern talking to when we got back to the ship, poor kid.
Oh and, we saw life! We landed in a plain next to the crater, and were instantly surprised with a swarm of winged snake-like creatures. They were all over us, we had no time to react before they flooded our vision. However, they didn’t seem hostile, or overly aggressive. No one really experienced any. It's always cool seeing another planet’s wildlife. The fauna is also weird. The ground is carpeted in some sort of red ferns, got some samples which I’ll analyze back at base.
*Sigh*
Can’t wait to go into the crater tomorrow. Who knows what we’ll find.
[Recording ends]
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_09.
Alan’s Log. We went into the crater today, and man, we really underestimated the sheer diversity of life we’d find. I mean, our measurements predicted we’d see signs of life, but not this many! It’s like a damn jungle down there, with trees that tower over everything, snake like creatures flying everywhere, and some gelatinous slime like organisms duking it out over space. Honestly, for what seems to be invertebrates, they fought very intensely. Wish I got that on video.
Anyways, I’ll go to check out the crater, and set up some cams and traps around the caves. We still don’t know a whole lot about the local wildlife, but I doubt they’d be able to resist a good steak, regardless of if its synthetic or not.
[Recording ends]
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_12.
Alan’s Log. We went to the caves today, around half of the crew. Some helped to set up the trail cams and traps, others went around to collect samples for further analysis and tests, leaving me and John to go into the caves.
And, first off, these caves are huge! I think the mouth of one of the caves was roughly 30 feet high, and 10 feet in diameter, but it got smaller as we went further inside. Inside, it was quite a maze, with a long networks of tunnels made of some brown, silty material. At some point, I think I lost John in one of the tunnels, at which point I decided to go back out.
At the mouth of the cave I found John. He seemed rattled, definitely must have seen something in there that spooked him. He must have ran out in a hurry too, with his suit banged up scratched. I escorted John back to the ship, and spread the word back to the rest of the crew, to exercise caution when exploring.
The weird part was that I didn’t hear anything out of the ordinary in the caves. No echoes, no screams, no nothing. Weird. I’d always thought that noises would echo in caves. Eh, but I’m not a cave expert, so I think I shouldn’t assume too much.
[Recording ends]
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_15.
Alan’s Log. John has been acting weirdly ever since he came back from the cave. He hasn’t spoken a word at all since we’ve gone back to the ship. Additionally he has refused to take off his helmet, even when we got past the airlock and made it into the HAB. No one know’s what up. Matthew said this is reminiscent of a dissociative episode, which can happen after traumatic events.
Poor rookie, it was his first expedition and to have something like that happen? Damn. But I guess that’s just part of the job ya know? Theres all sorts of weird shit out there in space, you’d find anything out here.
[Recording ends]
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_18.
No, that can’t be. Its not HIM. It can’t be him. There's no way. Impossible.
Wait but then. . .
*Heavy Breathing*
I have got to tell the rest of the crew.
[Recording ends]
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_19.
Crew member 1: You sure it’s him?
Alan: I’m sure. You can’t mistake it. The body, it’s got his ID tag, one that our “John” doesn’t have.
Crew member 2: That's crazy, there's no way. He’s been on the ship with me the entire time since he got back
Alan: Has he taken off his helmet yet? It’s been 5 days
Crew member 2: No, but.
Alan: Yeah, cause it’s not him. The real John is dead. Come, I’ll show you.
[Recording ends]
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_20.
Alan’s Log. We are fucked. So fucked.
John’s body was still there in the caves when we went to check out his corpse. The DNA results came back positive. Which meant that our John was dead. Had been for a while. We just never knew. Damn. Poor rookie.
After going back to the ship we decided to confront “John” about it. But when we tried to look for him, he was gone. We looked all over the ship for him, but its like he just vanished.
I think he got into the captain’s chambers somehow. When we went to look for the captain, we found his bloodied corpse over the control panel.
Fuck.
[Recording ends]
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File 0.02203045, Log_Entry_22.
Alan’s Log. This is bad. It figured out the autopilot, and it initiated an emergency takeoff procedure. I’m still not even sure how it managed to do so, but at this point I’m not even sure I know what’s going on at all.
[Recording ends]
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File: 0.02203045,_Log Entry 23.
I’m blowing up the ship tomorrow. Everyone else on this ship is dead, think they
I’ve already rewired the fuel lines and read over the blueprints. Just a little fire in some crucial locations and this entire ship will disintegrate, becoming nothing more than a hunk of junk floating in the vacuum of space, inhospitable for any living creature. Any that we understand at least.
We never should have come here, at least not after knowing what we’d find.
[Recording ends]
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File: 0.02203045,_Log Entry 24.
Alan’s Log. I guess this is it then. The fuel is ready, the fuse is set, and all I need to do is press this button and the Borealis will explode.
It’s a damn shame our trip went the way it is. But, for anyone who might find the borealis later, consider this your warning.
There is nothing of value to be found here. The crew, who have served valiantly, is long dead. This ship, who once served a mighty purpose, is now desecrated by a shameless, cowardly, alien imposter who dares wear the uniform of one of our own. We served bravely to advance the frontiers of knowledge, science, and human kind. Leave us to our rest. Godspeed
*Click*
*Explosion*
[Recording ends]
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Curators Note: The wreckage of the Borealis was recovered by the Aurora. No survivors of the Borealis were found.