Journal of Dr. Jacob Morgan
AL 0 Day 1
I wasn’t sure how to put the date for this journal. Days, months, and years don’t really apply in this new world compared to home. The days are a little longer, the year by our reckoning is longer, and months have no meaning for that same reason. For now I will simply log it by year and day after the landing.
AL 0 Day 42
We have been busy since the landing. Surprisingly enough the plant life isn’t too far off of what has become known as Terran Standard. The flora has a similar mix of edible and poisonous as we would expect back on the homeworld, and the fauna is as diverse. Most of the animals are wary of us, but not more than one would expect. The strangest part is that they have odd crystal formations within their bodies. We checked and it appears every living thing on the planet seems to develop these formations, and we are monitoring ourselves to see if they develop.
AL 0 Day 95
It’s confirmed. The crystalline formations are showing up in our systems. As far as we can tell there is nothing harmful about them. One of the shuttle pilots took a trip up out of the atmosphere to test if there were side effects to leaving the planet after they developed and there were no side effects except that the growth halted.
AL 0 Day 100
There was a bit of a celebration today. Some of the scouts decided to bring in some of the local fauna and have a barbecue. We needed the relaxation it offered, all work and no play makes for a tense environment. Captain Anders seemed to agree as he stepped us down from the high alert we had been on since we landed. Personally I am more interested in examining the crystalline core of the boar analogue we had for dinner. There is something about it that is bugging me.
AL 0 Day 167
I don’t know how it works, but I figured it out. The cores are concepts, literal crystallized concepts. They interact with the formation within a living being to augment that concept. The core within the boar augments the strength and fortitude of the animal. The age old saying of “A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind” is way too applicable in this situation. One of the techs somehow absorbed the core from the boar and from a medical scan it appears to have merged with the crystalline formation within him. Testing has revealed that his physical strength and stamina have augmented by a noticeable degree. I have been tasked with further research into this phenomenon.
AL 1 Day 62
The research into the crystal cores has continued to be a fascinating subject. We have found two definitive facts. Fact one: there is a hard limit to the number of cores that can be assimilated at once. The number for an adult is limited to nine cores. The second fact is that some combinations of cores will change the entire structure of the formation within a body and allow more cores to be absorbed. The research remains ongoing, but we have found that there is almost a template that can be followed for the cores to merge with the formation. I’ll let someone else come up with a name for it.
AL 1 Day 234
Almost two years of our five year survey mission and we have had our first death. Private Masterson was killed by some form of feline predator. Anders has ordered all hunting parties to be composed of three people to prevent this sort of situation in the future. We have gotten a bit relaxed in our security due to not finding any sentient life. I hope this writing doesn’t come across as callous when I bring up the new piece of research the death has brought forth. Private Masterson’s crystal formation, which had evolved once, extracted itself from his body. Scans showed that he still possessed a formation, and other augmentations from cores he had absorbed. The captain has authorized examining the core as it was ejected on its own, but I have had to discipline one of my researchers to not disrespect the dead soldier by trying to extract more of the formation for testing.
AL 2 Day 91
We have managed to isolate and map the structure of the crystal cores and can make reasonable assumptions as to the concept within them. There is a pattern to the internal structure of the crystal that can be used for identification. The cores are being cataloged and labeled using a newly created standard.
“Mr. Alexander Morgan,” said a voice interrupting my reading.
I looked up at the orderly, an average height blonde in a lab coat holding a clipboard was looking around the hospital waiting room. I tucked my dad's journal into my coat and stood while saying, “Yes, ma’am.”
She gave me a professional smile and said, “If you will follow me. We will get your testing started.”
I absentmindedly rubbed that back of my head as I followed the nurse through the halls. I didn’t see much point to this exam as I had a physical just before my discharge from the military not that long ago. I had entered service at seventeen after my father left with the crew of the Genesis. A month ago I had opted to not renew my contract when the colony ship applications were announced. My CO wasn’t thrilled he was losing me, but understood the draw of a new world. Two weeks ago I had received a care package from my dad that included his research journal and one of the odd crystal formations he had discovered. Between my discharge, and getting everything in order to be accepted onto the Excelsior colony ship I hadn’t had much time to read through it. If I was accepted I assumed that there would be time to read it during the six month FTL trip to Nova Terra.
The nurse efficiently performed the basic tests: blood pressure, temperature, height, weight, drawing some blood for testing, etc. before leaving me alone in a small office to wait for a doctor. The doctor when he entered was a short elderly man with an easy smile and white threaded through his sandy hair. “Good Afternoon Mr. Morgan, I am Doctor Thomas. I saw you went through most of this already so we can skip those parts, unless you think something has changed in less than a week?”
I smiled and said, “No Doctor, I’m pretty sure I would have noticed if I was suddenly missing a body part or couldn’t walk.”
The man let out a snort of choked off laughter and said, “Well then, let me take a peek at the rest of this file.”
After flipping through the folder briefly he shook his head and said, “I can only assume they didn’t look at the file included when they sent you to this facility. Based on what is here you do need to go through the psychological questioning, but physically there is nothing stopping you from being accepted as an applicant,” I was about to interrupt when he raised his hand and said, “Don’t worry I can handle those questions as well.”
What followed was an almost hour long set of questions involving my reasons for wanting to go to Nova Terra and my general mental health. By the end of the discussion the two of us were more having a conversation rather than a question and answer session. As we finished up the Doctor surprised me by saying, “I hope to see you on the ship Mr. Morgan.”
“You are going too?” I asked.
The man nodded and replied, “Indeed, officially I’m one of the shipboard medics. In reality though I was planning to retire in the near future and I rather like the idea of seeing a new frontier.”
I smiled and shook the doctor's hand as he stamped my file as recommended. After a brief farewell to the doctor and the nurse who escorted me out I returned home to await my fate.
3 Months Later
Journal of Dr. Jacob Morgan
AL 2 Day 178
We found a volunteer to try and absorb the crystal core of Private Masterson. Due to it being a different form of core to the others we did not want to have it absorbed by someone with an already evolved formation. The results were more than we could have expected as it seems that Private Linda Carpenter, who has mostly spent her time working in the mess hall, now seems to understand how to track and hunt wild game. She seems to have gained a basic understanding of everything that makes a hunter and has seen significant improvement in her marksmanship. Based on the records of Private Masterson’s cores she seems to have gained the same benefits at about twenty-five percent effectiveness from just the single core.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
AL 3 Day 4
There was a new type of core discovered in what seemed to be a natural outcropping today. Based on the structure scans the core is based on the concept of change. When tested we found that it would cause the rejection of cores already assimilated, but would not affect an evolved structure. It is almost as if the core is designed to allow one to correct mistakes in a beings evolution.
AL 3 Day 92
We have managed to create an artificial formation similar to that found within a person’s body. Doing so has allowed us to create conceptual cores based on knowledge and skills. A young corporal has called them Class cores based off of video game concepts, and the name seems to have stuck. We are continuing to experiment with different combinations which I have taken to copying in the appendix of this journal.
AL 3 Day 219
(Written in Code) Alex, I hope you haven’t forgotten this code we created when you were younger. I discovered something regarding the Change concept when paired with the Class Cores and Hybrid Cores we have created. I used myself as a test subject for this as the Research Officer in charge of the team has been pushing for more extreme testing on what he seems to consider the useless members of the expedition. When used as the first core of an evolution the Change Core can grow the structure of your evolution along branching paths. It takes some practice to switch between the patterns but it allows for flexibility in personal strength.
I closed the journal and stowed it in the carryon bag for the trip along with three sets of clothing, personal grooming supplies, and the crystal dad had sent me. The coded entry explained what it was, and probably Dad’s intention for sending it to me. The old man knew I would want to come to Nova Terra with the first colony ship and was determined to give me a leg up. I slung the bag over my back and picked up the other two duffel bags before leaving the dorm room I had been assigned when I was accepted for the colony operation. Today was the day we would set out from Earth. A day to travel at sub-light speed past Pluto and then cryo-sleep for the six month journey, followed by a week to wake everyone up before landing. I couldn’t help but grin as I joined the throng of people in the walk to the loading shuttles that would begin our journey.
Approaching Orbit of Nova Terra
A faint beeping noise was the first thing I heard as I came out of cryo sleep. Opening my eyes I saw the low red pulsating light of the ship alarm and I tensed up. There wasn’t a technician waking up the bay, instead it seemed we were in an emergency thaw. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, pushing out the last remaining chill as I reached up above my head for the emergency release latch for the pod. A hiss sounded as the locks disengaged and I gave the lid a quick shove as I stepped out. Looking around I saw that a few others, mostly former military who had been trained in their usage, were exiting their cryo-pods. I reached down to the storage cabinet under the pod and pulled out my carry bag and quickly dressed, hanging the crystal, which was suspended in a wire frame, around my neck next to my service identification tags.
“If you know how to operate the pods please help make sure everyone has exited,” called out a voice.
Looking to the source of the order I saw an officer with a Major’s rank insignia, typing quickly in a terminal by the door to the pod bay. Ingrained reflex to obey the order of a superior officer took over and I started moving along the line of pods and helping out those within. With the number of former and active military that were on this expedition it didn’t take long. I moved over to the Major and saw that he kept receiving Access Denied errors as he tried to gain an emergency override into the system.
“Major, can I assist?” I asked.
The officer glared at me with ice-blue eyes and cocked a blonde eyebrow before asking, “Do you think you would have higher clearance than I do to get this door opened?”
I shook my head and said, “No sir, but I might be able to work around it to at least get us some answers.”
After a brief contemplation the officer stepped aside and motioned to the terminal. A quick glance confirmed that it was an Omicron 9 model, serviceable and robust like many military and industrial systems. They all had a similar flaw though, one that I had found during my own tour of duty. I quickly opened up the side panel and swapped some of the internal wiring before hitting a series of keys in rapid order. A smirk crawled onto my face as I saw the access screen show: Manufacturer’s Override accepted. The Major spoke up, “That is a dangerous security flaw.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be. Normally if you enter the command to bring up the override you are prompted with Omicron’s security access portal with all the authentication you would expect, it also can’t be remote accessed. It was while I was repairing the hardware a year ago that I found the wiring issue. I sent a code script to the company that they pushed through in the last patch that would require authentication from their tech support if the hardware had changed. I’m registered as an authorized technician so I could put in my codes and bypass that check,” I replied as I brought up the alert status.
I cursed as I saw the reason for the alarm and I snapped out, “Get these people into the escape shuttles. There was a hull breach when the ship came out of the jump. The pod bays are all pressurized but life support is limited and we are taking up more oxygen than needed. The ship is in emergency landing protocol. Some moron failed to seal the cryopods from automatic opening. We would have been decanted after landing otherwise.”
I heard the Major snapping out orders and people rushing to obey as my hands flew across the controls. Half the bays hadn’t triggered the pod release yet and it would be safer for them to stay in suspended animation. The cryo-pods were an extra level of protection for an emergency landing. The Major whispered, “Any other bad news?”
I answered back in an equally low voice, “Structural integrity of this bay and two others were compromised. I stopped the other two from waking their passengers so they should be fine, bit of a bumpy landing though. We however are going to have shortages in space on the escape shuttles.”
I took the datapad clipped to the side of the terminal and handed it to him, “Here is a list of family groups in this bay. Make sure they are grouped on shuttles.”
The Major passed the tablet and the orders on to a nearby sergeant and commented, “You seem rather comfortable giving orders.”
I snorted and lifted my tags out of my shirt and said, “Former First Lieutenant Alexander Morgan, 47th Raider Engineers.”
I caught his widening eyes before he started snapping more orders deferring emergency command to me, to nearby passengers who all had the bearing of soldiers. I wasn’t that surprised, the Raider Engineers were legends in the service up there with the American SEALS and the British SAS. Affectionately known as the MacGuyvers we were the soldiers that they sent in to fix a problem with whatever was to hand or we could lug with us. In any situation that required technical or engineering expertise we were the best there was.
“Corporal, check the model numbers of the pods. Get me a count of series 700 models and tag them,” I snapped out as I continued flipping through windows on the terminal.
“Talk to me Lieutenant, what is the plan?” the Major asked.
“The hull for this bay is going to break apart either during or shortly after reentry. There is something growing on the hull that is weakening the integrity. Series 700 models were originally designed as drop pods, complete with drag chutes. They have the hardware to clamp into groups and slave themselves to a primary. If we can get them locked in we can use them as landing pods. It will be a rough landing, and there won’t be any way to aim.” I answered.
“But it will get us to the ground in one piece?” he clarified.
“So long as we break up after passing through the thermosphere before we are jettisoned, then yes,” I said.
I stepped away from the terminal and motioned for a nearby soldier to monitor it for any alerts before I moved to the center of the room. Almost all the evacuation shuttles had been filled and discharged leaving a much smaller group on hand. Someone had taken a roll of duct tape and left crude numbers on each of the pods. I called out, “Okay listen up. I need enough type seven pods for everyone here moved to the center of the room. Group them in sixes. Type eights should be moved to the edges of the room; they have increased thermal shielding so should provide a buffer if we have a breach early. Strap yourselves in and if you feel the need use the sedative. Each grouping should have at least two armed soldiers in it. The planet has aggressive wildlife so be careful when you land. Our trajectory is going to put us somewhere on the same continent as Landfall Base so your radios should reach them. Any questions?”
A tall man with long blonde hair tied back raised a hand and asked with a bit of laughter in his voice, “Is there a size requirement to ride this amusement park attraction?”
Laughter filled the hold and I nodded at the man for reducing the tension, “Yes there is, you my friend are too tall to ride with anyone but me.”
More chuckles followed as the people broke off to accomplish their tasks, the tall blonde moving over to me and quietly asking, “You gave them hope they will make it. Did you mean it?”
I responded, “I’m not too worried about getting to the ground. It’s lasting long enough for evac after that's going to be the issue. I don’t know what the fuel situation planetside is, or half a dozen other issues that we will encounter on touchdown. If we don’t microwave on entry we will make it to the ground with bumps and bruises.”
He nodded and assisted me in locking the pods together before I went to each grouping and entered the commands that would revert the pods to their prior design. I gave Major a salute as he strapped in which was returned before I finally settled into my own pod, the laughing viking next to me. With the work done and the waiting to come I took the emergency sedative from its case on the inside of the pod and injected it. Peace crept in as the ship started to rattle as we began the process of reentry. I closed my eyes and whispered the lyrics to an old song as the rumbling stopped and the hull began to break. Darkness overtook me as the sedative took effect, my last sight being the open sky and distant land as the pod screamed through the air in a ballistic trajectory towards our new home.