Quantum Sickness
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Quantum Sickness[edit | edit source]
| Chapter 8: "Quantum Sickness" | |
|---|---|
| Major players | Universal Council The Twin Sun mercenaries Borealis Inc. |
| Vote outcome | The mercenaries are to undergo the procedure on station Ignis |
| Major events | Death of nearly all Twin Suns mercenaries Discovery of possible neurological link between survivors Discovery of sentient-like Quantum |
| Timeline Chronology | |
| Previous Chapter | Next Chapter |
| "The Void" | "Groundswell" |
Summary
Amidst the consternation caused by the unrest on Ichthys-β, and the arrival of the class-B ships at the light anomaly (“The Void”), the surviving members of the Twin Suns mercenaries from the Pinnacle incident ("The Crossroads") were reported to have been successfully extracted and were under medical supervision. The mercenaries had been suffering from severe muscle spasms and delirium - symptoms which had not subsided with conventional medicine. The Universal Council’s attempts at removing the Quantum fused into the mercenaries’ bodily systems also proved to be fruitless - signs indicated that their own cells were rejecting the removal of the Quantum.
With the recent death of one of the mercenaries, pressure was on the Council to accelerate the treatment process lest they suffer another casualty. The Council proposed an experimental, albeit highly risky procedure that would most likely see many of the mercenaries perish; Federation Councilor Elijah Burke on the other hand suggested transferring the mercenaries over to Borealis Inc., a corporation that specialized in genetic enhancement and possessed technology capable of advanced cellular division - technology that very well stood a greater chance of success. Taking this option would, however, see the transportation of the mercenaries to the heart of the Federation systems at Struve-214 where Borealis Inc. was housed. In consideration of the numerous circumstances in play, the Council opted to put the decision up to a vote, with the seated Councilmembers briefing their respective factions accordingly.
With all three factions unanimously voting to have the mercenaries undergo the procedure on Ignis, the necessary arrangements were made, and the Council's medical team on the station prepared to receive the mercenaries.
Transcript
Report from the 24th conference of the Universal Council: time of ζ Sagittarii 3.32
Held on board station Ignis, in the neutral center of the Core Systems.Councilmembers for the Empire: Ji Young-Joo, Ferus Haden, Thulani Ade’k
Councilmembers for the Federation: Áurea Adonis, Victor Huxley, Elijah Burke
Councilmembers for the Union: Aish Fenix, Mandla Bankole, Haley NguyenThe following is a transcript of the briefing on the relevant vote for those involved in the Explorer program:
… we will continue to observe the situation on Ichthys-β as it develops.
Additionally, the first of the Universal Council’s class-B ships have made contact with the fleet beyond the Core Systems. The stabilization of the light is persisting, and an initial reconnaissance operation into the center has already been deployed. There is a chance we will receive their first report by the conclusion of this very conference. At the very least, we will soon know for certain what lies at the center of the light.
Let us move on to a rising issue within the walls of this very station. Since extracting the surviving members of the Twin Suns mercenaries from the Pinnacle – the Union ship whose malfunctioning Quantum Drive caused the complete evacuation of Kepler-7 – our medical teams have been examining the bodies of the mercenaries- bodies which appear to have somehow become fused with the Quantum they were exposed to.
The initial symptoms, those being delirium and intense muscle spasms, as well as fluctuating body temperature, have not receded through conventional treatment. What’s more, any attempt to dampen the Quantum energy coursing through the patients’ bodies has been met with resistance by the their own cells, almost as if the body is rejecting the removal of Quantum entirely.
Nonetheless, the subjects remain in considerable pain. While there remained hope among our staff that this “Quantum sickness” might pass with time, the recent death of one of the mercenaries has put paid to those hopes. Now, there is reason enough to accelerate procedure. In this case, that involves the use of a highly experimental technology, namely forced cell-division. The procedure is quite complex, but suffice it to say that the process will forcibly divide the Quantum-fused cells from the regular ones.
An operation like this has never been attempted before, and the chances of catastrophic failure are quite high. If the operation is performed, it is estimated that most of the Union mercenaries will not survive.
There is, however, another option: during the preliminary discussion of this issue, Councilor Burke put forward the possible alternative of transferring the Union mercenaries to Struve-214, the planetary office for Borealis Inc. This corporation, itself focused on genetic enhancement, possesses the equipment necessary for several forms of advanced cellular division, and with the word of a Federation president, they could not refuse to offer the Union members treatment.
Councilor Burke has stated explicitly that this offer is extended as a manner of recompense; a way of mending ties between the Federation and Union after the tensions around Morn. However, as this current situation has arisen out of the tumultuous occurrences around Kepler-7, the ultimate decision in this case falls under the jurisdiction of the Universal Council. Thus, the vote placed before the Council is as follows:
Does the Council use the recently developed forced cell-division technology, and attempt to alleviate the patients’ symptoms on station Ignis, or does the Council allow the Union mercenaries to be transported of the station to Struve-214, where they will be placed under the care of Borealis Inc.’s medical staff, a procedure they are much more likely to survive?
Your faction contact will issue a statement shortly in your respective vote channels before the commencement of the vote, twelve hours from now.
Faction Storylines
Transmission from Ana Plíšková, assistant to Victor Huxley, COO of VasTech
Good sol, Explorers. I must congratulate you on your decision on the last vote; it was a brave decision, and one not taken lightly, I’m sure. But, as Mr. Huxley remarked to me the other day: we must first suffer the consequences of progress before we may benefit from it.
It seems that President Burke has taken this sentiment a little too much to heart, however. While it is not my place to condemn the actions of one of our illustrious presidents, there are some within the Federation who believe this attempt to broker some sort of cordial relationship with the Union is not an acceptable path. We cannot trust a lawless faction to uphold agreements, and inviting a mercenary group into the very heart of our systems may be less than wise.
Then again, perhaps this is a risk worth taking. President Burke is a humanist to his bones, Mr. Huxley has assured me, so we can be sure that he is not seeing the bigger picture. If, however, Borealis Inc. were to make a significant discovery due to this experiment, they would be under no obligation to share it with the rest of the factions- it is their equipment after all. These mercenaries’ lives are already at risk, and so the Union would hardly have a right to appeal to the Council if the procedure turned out to be more volatile than was initially expected.
As a last note, Explorers, you need not worry about the Federation’s resources; they are plentiful. The issue in this vote is purely one of principle, and one I am sure you will be able to unravel.
Ana
A directive from Ji Young-Joo, emissary of the Emperor
Greetings, Explorers! As with all days, we have only our Emperor – may he outlive the stars – to thank for blessing us with the continued majesty and prosperity of the Empire.
It is very possible you may during the course of the conference have caught wind of the rumours of civil unrest surrounding Ichthys-β. You will all be relieved to know that these are rumours are mere speculation, flights of fancy indulged only by those wishing to blight the Empire’s untarnished reputation. Some citizens have been causing a disturbance, certainly, but they represent a vocal minority, and will be dealt with as such.
Fascinating, is it not, that the Council, with all its farcical talk of unity, would lend credence to such rumours, while tasking Imperial citizens such as yourselves with deciding the fate of Union mercenaries? A system which requires such rabid consensus will never stand the test of time. These mercenaries may live or die- it will change nothing.
No, the lives of these Union wretches are not our concern. The true nature of this vote lies in the sickness itself. Though the other factions may tout their sympathy for this scum, no doubt they too are determining how to play the situation to their advantage. If, perchance, the operation on Borealis goes awry, who knows what may happen between the Federation and the Union? For us, it may be wise to divide first, and conquer later.
All the same, when I dared broach the subject in my communion with His Eminence earlier, Imperator Solas made it clear that the Oracle had imparted upon him the importance of these patients, and spoke, in his gilded tones, of the potential they had to reshape the balance of power in the Core Systems. Leaving this operation to the Federation may lead to a chain of events we cannot undo. These corporate slaves may be misguided, but we would be wise to not underestimate their technological prowess.
There is not much more to say, Imperials. The Oracle’s guidance resonates through our very bones, for we are the subjects of Imperator Solas. Let its songs lead you to what the future holds, and grasp the present moment firmly.
Sic itur ad astra.
Comm from Haley Nguyen, Union member and Vox representative
Good day, Comrades! A tough outcome on that last vote, but I suppose you're used to those by now. For what it's worth, I think you got the best out of a bad situation there- who knows what the anomaly might've done if it was left unchecked. At least now it's stable, and the fleet didn't put their lives on the line for nothing. On a sidenote, I've got some developments to report on the Vox's behalf too: we've finally been able to get some leads on Ojin-Kai operations. They've been avoiding the Vox's eyes for some time now, but the Tonocom Defense situation in particular seems to have put them on the back foot. With a man like Cillian Mercer spearheading the operations, it's only a matter of time before we secure some Ojin-Kai aboard the Bastion.
Speaking of Tonocom, I don't think I have to advise any of you against trusting the Feds in this vote. That being said, it's no secret that our fellow Union members are going to be far worse off with the experimental treatment, so it might still be worth sending them to Borealis, regardless of what we might think of the Federation. And hey, who knows? Some Federation tech might accidentally slide into their pockets while they're there; who are we to put a stop to that? Jokes aside, it might be a blessing in disguise to get some inside intel on a pretty central Corpo conglomerate. I'm still sceptical on the Federation's stance on this; I doubt we can just chalk this up to Elijah being a a softie. Borealis' got to have some reason for agreeing to this beyond "it's the nice thing to do". If they were Corpos in Kim's sector? Maybe. But Elijah's the worst kind of corrupt-the kind that doesn't even know it. Wouldn't surprise me if someone else planted the idea in his head to begin with. Seems like if we don't send the patients to Borealis, we'd be denying the Feds what they want, but losing an advantage ourselves in the process. The question is if that outcome is worth it...
Well, I've given you all the info I can, so I'll leave the decision in your capable hands. Make the Union proud, Explorers.
Here's to a brighter tomorrow.
Haley
Voting Results
The Universal Council has consolidated the votes of each of the factions: Treat them on Station Ignis 3 (Empire,Federation,Union) , Send them to Borealis Inc. 0 ()
The final vote is in favor of using the resources of the Council to perform the operation on the Union mercenaries. Instructions have been provided to the medical staff on board station Ignis, and we expect the first report from them in short order.
Quantum's Children[edit | edit source]
Summary
As the mercenaries’ conditions continued to worsen, the medical team on station Ignis found that the Quantum fused to them was affecting their glands and nervous systems, and may have already progressed to their craniums. The team also noticed the mercenaries repeating the words “Cradle”, “Travel” and “Children”, positing some sort of psychological link between the patients through the Quantum in their systems.
While the team attempted to perform the cell-division procedure on the mercenaries, even with the best of their efforts all but three of the patients ultimately died, presumably from the extensive Quantum fusion with their systems. The three survivors were found to be those that had the lowest Quantum density in their frontal lobes, a possible factor in their survival; however, they also exhibited behavioral peculiarities such as staring aimlessly into the distance, or occasionally cocking their head as if someone were talking to them. The survivors were ferried back to the Union, along with the remains of the other mercenaries.
After the operation, upon further examination of the substance extracted from the mercenaries, the medical team found that the fused Quantum exhibited signs of sentience, reforming its molecular structure based on external stimuli in an almost reflexive action. The team then moved to contain the substance on Ignis and submitted it to the Quantum research team for further investigation, reporting their findings to the Council.
Transcript
The following is a sequence of two transmissions from Jin Lan, head of medical operations for the Universal Council:
Report 1
Location: station Ignis, Core Systems
Dating: preceding the 24th conference - time of ζ Sagittarii 3.32
Designation: preliminary operation reportThis is Jin Lan, reporting on the initial preparation for the cell-division operation on the Twin Suns’ members currently afflicted by Quantum sickness. The patients’ condition continues to worsen, and we fear the Quantum fusing may have already spread to the brain. So far, we’ve determined that the substance is affecting the glands and the nervous system, but to what degree we still don’t know. We expect to determine the degree of affectation throughout the course of this operation.
It is worth noting as well that over the course of our oversight, the staff has noticed certain peculiarities in the patients’ speech. While most of their speech continues to be relatively disconnected, there are words that repeat again and again. The most consistently reappearing of these are “Cradle”, “Travel”, and “Children”. The cause of this correlation hasn’t yet been confirmed, but initial speculation points to some form of psychological link between the patients’ subconscious through Quantum. Perhaps upon the conclusion of this operation these theories can be examined in greater detail. For now, our priority is the survival and safety of these patients.
Report 2
Location: Station Ignis, Core Systems
Dating: preceding the 24th conference - time of ζ Sagittarii 3.32
Designation: conclusionary operation reportThis is Jin Lan, reporting on the results of the cell-division procedure performed on the Twin Suns’ members afflicted by Quantum sickness. The results, unfortunately, were as we feared: all but three of the patients did not survive the procedure. Initial results were promising, but as the operation progressed further into the center of the body we found that in most cases, Quantum had fused with the entire nervous system. If we had only been faster, we might have been able to prevent it spreading so far. Unfortunately, our caution in this operation was necessary, given the volatility of Quantum in its natural state and the experimental nature of the treatment.
The remains of those that passed on will be ferried back to the Union, along with the three surviving members; we’re counting on them to get their comrades home to their families and loved ones. An additional observation regarding the surviving patients: all three of them needed to have Quantum-fused cells removed from their brains. This was the case with every patient, but these three had the least high density of Quantum in the frontal lobe. Though this may be a factor as to why they survived, it may also explain their peculiar behavior since regaining consciousness.
None of the staff can vouch for these mercenaries’ previous demeanors, but they seem distant. They will respond to questions and greetings, but only vaguely, staring off into the distance at something just beyond their field of view. Occasionally, they will cock their head, as if listening and nodding along to a conversation only they can hear.
Of further note is the substance that was extracted from the patients’ bodies. The process of cell-division proved extremely effective in separating out the Quantum from the patients. However, the Quantum that was extracted is a completely different form than anything we have observed before. Where regular Quantum can reform its own molecular structure, this substance seems to do so reflexively, based purely on external input. It almost appears to be… alive, in some way. Whatever the case, we have contained the substance on the station, where it will be analyzed further by the Quantum research team.
This concludes the transmissions.
| Expedition to Mímir: | The Catalyst • The Shard • The Crossroads • The Void • Subjugation • The Cradle • Dire Straits • Last Stand |
| Assault on the Crimson Wolves: | The Crimson Wolves • The Ides • Groundswell |
| The Morn Conflict: | On the Brink |
| The Pinnacle Incident: | Quantum Sickness • First Steps |
| The Vargas Epidemic: | Blackout |
| The Opening: | First Contact |