The Watcher detects an incoming signal. It cannot get excited in the true sense of the word. Instead it has a variable level of mental activity that determines how much of an almost depleted resource is spent on mental activities. This signal triggers an absolute directive. Activity goes to the highest degree. The Watcher is aware that thus so much awareness is used up that the activation cannot be repeated without a recharge, which there is no reasonable expectation of. It does care for that in noting that no reserves are to be conserved.

The main receiver is operational but flooded. Resources to undo the flooding are not available. The primary alternate has been destroyed. The secondary alternate is operational. Its environmental conditions can be temporarily ameliorated. Resources to activate the security checks on arrivals are not available if the environment is to be ameliorated.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

After a short consideration the Watcher decides that a failure to establish livable conditions after a positive security check is the same as a failure of the security scans. Unflinchingly it unlocks the secondary egress and switches the receiver and the air refreshers on, leaving security measures off. For a few seconds it still can monitor the air in the vault improving. Its internal evaluation of performance signals an optimum outcome.

A mind that has existed for centuries shatters with an equivalent of satisfaction.

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A naked man-sized arthropodian creature is ejected from an arch filled with shadow. The lights go out again and the shadow dissolves, swept up in the ubiquitous darkness. The creature limply collapses to the tiled, dusty ground.

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A man with an aggressively average face looks up from a screen. He walks over to a radioteletype terminal and types „case antman green“.