# Copyright (c) 2022 by Zitchas
#
# Endless Sky is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
# terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
# Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
#
# Endless Sky is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
# WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
# PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
#
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# this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.



mission "Remnant: Visit to Paradise 1"
	name "Hoverboarding with Taely"
	description "Take Taely to visit <stopovers>, then return to <planet>."
	minor
	source
		government "Remnant"
	destination "Caelian"
	stopover "Vail"
	to offer
		has "event: remnant: cognizance calm"
		or
			and
				random < 70
				not "Remnant: Visit to Paradise 1: defer"
			and
				random < 30
				has "Remnant: Visit to Paradise 1: defer"
	on offer
		conversation
			`	You are just settling down at a table in the cafeteria when Taely slides onto the bench opposite you. "Greetings, <first>. How is life as an adventurer?"`
			choice
				`	"Exciting as always."`
				`	"I am taking a break right now."`
			`	She nods sympathetically. "Things have been a bit hectic lately, what with dimensional pockets and mysterious new aliens. I can understand wanting to slow down a bit. With the launch of two new ships in such a short time, I know I feel like I need to just relax a bit." She sighs. "It makes me feel guilty, honestly. I have accomplished so much, and there are so many things to be grateful for, but I even have more projects in development to focus on." She looks lost in thought for a moment.`
			`	Taely looks up at you. "Could I ask you something about life back in ancestral space?"`
			choice
				`	"Sure."`
					goto askquestion
				`	"Not right now."`
			label vaillater
			`	"Oh, maybe some other time, then." She looks disappointed, and settles in to eat.`
				defer
			label askquestion
			`	"I have been reading through the history archive you brought back, and I came across a mention of Vail." She shakes her head in amusement. "The idea of an entire planet devoted to hoverboarding and leisure activities seems so extravagant... Well, I am curious to visit it. Now, this is not a mission we are asking you to do, so I cannot offer any logistics compensation. I could, however, show you some of our history in exchange. Are you interested?"`
			choice
				`	"Yes, that sounds fun."`
					goto vailfun
				`	"Sure, I have done a bit of hoverboarding myself."`
				`	"Maybe later."`
					goto vaillater
			action
				set "remnant: hoverboarding"
			`	"Really? The description sounded useful for exploration, and it looked challenging." Her commlink shifts to display a hologram of a hoverboarder executing a jump with an artistic poof of snow around them. "Anyway, I think this trip should be a good diversion for us both. I will meet you onboard the <ship> shortly."`
				accept
			label vailfun
			`	"Excellent. I will meet you onboard the <ship> shortly."`
				accept
	on defer
		set "Remnant: Visit to Paradise 1: defer"
	on stopover
		conversation
			branch science
				has "outfit (flagship installed): Research Laboratory"
			`As you approach, your navigation system picks up the beacons designating the approach path, and before long you are automatically guided to a landing pad on the outskirts of the main spaceport.`
				goto vaillanding
			label science
			`As you approach Vail, the specialized sensors from your Remnant Research Laboratory detect parts of the weather control network tasked with increasing the amount of snowfall on the planet. Your navigation system picks up the beacons designating the approach path, and before too long you are automatically guided down to a landing pad on the outskirts of the main spaceport.`
			label vaillanding
			`	Looking outside the ship, you can see a multitude of tourist-oriented facilities overwhelming the normal spaceport functions. You can pick out a small sign off to the side that indicates professional commodity and banking facilities, but otherwise the area is dominated by businesses offering mountain touring, sports classes, and vehicle rentals. Next to you, Taely alternates between peering out at the signs and reading brochures on a new commlink. "Here, <first>. This one sounds more interested in providing a challenge and less pampering. What do you think?"`
			choice
				`	"Looks good to me."`
				`	"Alright, should be good."`
			branch havehoverboarded
				has "remnant: hoverboarding"
			`	The resort in question is a more exclusive facility, and is located away from the main train lines. You rent a hovercar from one of the rental companies and make the short trek out to the resort. The rest of the day is spent out on the slopes, where both you and Taely eventually develop sufficient skill to graduate from the easy runs up to the medium difficulty. You both fall repeatedly, but Taely's good humor is contagious as she takes the inevitable facefuls of snow in stride.`
				goto vailheadhome
			label havehoverboarded
			`	The resort in question is a more exclusive facility, and is located away from the main train lines. You rent a hovercar from one of the rental companies and make the short trek out to the resort. The rest of the day is spent out on the slopes, where you teach Taely the basics of hoverboarding. By the end of the day Taely has impressed you with her quick learning and you finish off with a few runs down some of the more challenging slopes. Taely spills a few times, but she takes her failures in good humor, and never seems to make the same mistake twice.`
			label vailheadhome
			`	Heading back to the spaceport after a day of hoverboarding, Taely surprises you by pulling the hood open on the hovercar and spending almost an hour going over the internal systems before closing it up with a nod. "Well, that was interesting. The hovercar, I mean." She gestures at it with her commlink. "So many different manufacturers were involved in making this vehicle. Sometimes I wonder if humanity appreciates the luxury such diversity affords them." She looks thoughtful, then gestures toward the ship. "Well, <first>, I promised you a tour of a historic Remnant district. Caelian has perhaps the best example of one, so I would recommend we go there."`
	on complete
		conversation
			`Taely directs you to a landing pad on the outskirts of the main spaceport, in an area that seems mostly filled with Gulls and Pelicans shifting larger quantities of products. Disembarking from the <ship>, she leads you down a large series of escalators that branch off in several directions, occasionally connecting with large ramps filled with steady stream of cargo traffic. After a few minutes they deposit you on a large platform.`
			`	Approaching the edge of the platform, Taely puts out her arm to stop you from advancing any farther. "Watch out for the barrier," she says as she puts a hand out and touches something in mid-air in front of you. As she leans on it you can see faint ripples around her hand. "They are an essential safety feature, but they can still hurt if you run into them." She gestures to easily recognizable hazard markings on the floor. "With time you will learn to notice the faint shield ripples in the air, but meanwhile, just remember that anywhere that has the 'stand-back' lines on the floor likely has shields above it most of the time."`
			`	Moments later, you see why the barriers are in place as a large train whooshes into the station at high speed before quickly coming to a stop. The barrier vanishes, and Taely leads you onto the train. Looking up and down the length of it, you can see hundreds, maybe even thousands of Remnant entering and exiting the train. Within moments the doors close, and the train starts moving again as you are pressed back into your seat. You see a few lights flicker past outside the window, but soon there is nothing outside but a monotonous dark blur.`
			`	Taely notices your gaze. "Sorry, but there will not be much to see out there. The entire train line is quite far underground. Far enough to simply pass under terrain obstacles like rivers, valleys, or chasms." She nods to herself in satisfaction. "This will not be a long trip: we will only spend a few minutes at top speed before we start decelerating near our destination. I would recommend buckling into the harness."`
			choice
				`	"I am looking forward to seeing where we are going."`
					goto ourdestination
				`	"How fast does this go?"`
			`	"The C3-L0 Maglev has a maximum rated velocity of 11D.E78 meters per second, and can sustain that almost indefinitely so long as the track remains powered. In practice, it rarely maintains that velocity for more than a few minutes at a time, as it is a local transport train. We do have some that go faster, but the amount of acceleration required to make use of them on short tracks is not terribly practical." She looks wistful. "Many people are working on solving the inertia problem, but Embers only know when that will result in something practical."`
			choice
				`	"Interesting. How long until we arrive?"`
					goto ourdestination
				`	"Why is that number so precise?"`
				`	"That sounds like the speed of light."`
			`	Taely smiles. "After all the safety factors, margins for error, and assorted other adjustments were taken into account, someone noticed that, when expressed in scientific notation, the coefficient of the rated value was calculated to be 1.1DE79, a fraction above the coefficient of the speed of light in a vacuum, so they adjusted the rated maximum velocity down only slightly so that they would match."`
			choice
				`	"Thanks for the explanation."`
					goto ourdestination
				`	"What is a coefficient?"`
				`	"What is scientific notation?"`
			`	"Here, I will switch to base 10 to make it easier for you to understand." She pulls up a hologram with 299,792,458 m/s on it. As she speaks, the number shifts to 2.99792458x10^8 m/s. "When we write out a number such as the speed of light, it is typical to break it into parts. This is generally referred to as scientific notation. This is done to facilitate comparing and working with large numbers. The first part, 2.99792458 in this case, would be called the coefficient. The second part, x10, is called the base; and the third part, ^8 is the exponent." The display shifts again to show 1.1DE784Ax10^7 m/s. "So this would be how we typically write the speed of light when we are using it in our research. So, 1.1DE78 is the coefficient of both the speed of light and the speed of the train, just with a different exponent." She pauses, then vanishes the display. "We will be arriving momentarily, so I should probably stop there."`
			label ourdestination
			`	After several minutes, the lights in the train car suddenly pulse several times, and the train starts to decelerate heavily. You can feel yourself pushing into the harness as the train slows and comes to a stop. Unbuckling, Taely leads you out onto the platform, and then up a long escalator to the surface. Emerging into the sunlight, you find yourself looking around at a scene that seems almost anachronistic.`
			scene "scene/remnant remote spaceport"
			`	Taely looks around with pride, and then watches your reaction with amusement.`
			choice
				`	"I do not know what to make of this."`
				`	"This is a spaceport?"`
			`	She nods, and guides you amongst the stream of camel-drawn hovercarts heading for the gate. "This is one of our earliest spaceports, before we learned new techniques better suited to our new home. Our founding ships brought as much as they could, of course, but as it turns out, the earliest phases of expansion look much the same, whether one is looking at historic pre-flight eras or modern settlement efforts."`
			scene "scene/remnant remote spaceport"
			label questionloop
			choice
				`	"It still seems odd to see camels pulling levitating platforms."`
					goto camelcart
				`	"Stone walls seem like an odd thing to build."`
					goto stonewalls
				`	"Are those wind turbines?"`
					goto windturbine
				`	"All these wood products seem surprising."`
				`	"I think I have seen enough."`
					goto mainreturn
			label woodproducts
			scene "scene/remnant remote spaceport"
			`	Taely picks up a board from a nearby pile. "We were fortunate that Caelian had some vegetation that could be used like this. The native vegetation is biologically quite different from the trees of Earth, but they have similar structural characteristics and grow plentifully in many areas." She offers you the board. "The decision was made early on that anything that could be made from locally sourced materials, should be sourced locally. We wanted to conserve our limited supplies of metals and other rare resources for things that required it." She taps on a barrel. "These are a prime example - a few metal straps enable the wood to hold a significant amount of liquid. It is much the same as how a comparatively small amount of bone in our bodies can provide the necessary structure for a large volume of soft tissues and organs to function."`
				goto questionloop
			label camelcart
			scene "scene/remnant remote spaceport"
			`	"Is that so? The engineering advantages are quite simple: with the mechanics of the cart focused entirely on supporting the load and the camel providing horizontal motion, the cart can support much larger masses than it could if it had to split the forces." She looks wistful. "In truth, I am somewhat envious of the industrial capacity the ancestral worlds contain - we have accomplished much, but we have had to make choices, and one of those was the decision as to where to spend our industrial capacity. We chose, obviously, to focus on spacecraft and heavy industrial applications. We have no cars, no personal vehicles at all, really. Even these hovercarts are basically the repulsor systems from our spacecraft that have been repurposed to carry massive loads."`
			`	Taely gestures out through the gate at the distant landscape. "It is ironic that, in many respects, the distant stars are more accessible to us than the metaphorical far side of the mountain. Those of us who explore our worlds often resort to long expeditions with camel trains to carry all their scientific equipment. Spending months away from friends or family while on a project is commonplace, even for those who never leave the surface of our planets. Many of our explorers, in fact, live nomadic lifestyles - moving every couple of weeks to a new research location as they study, document, and analyze the world." Her gestures take on a reverent tone. "Many of our most important discoveries can be attributed to these explorers."`
			`	Her tone shifts to one of amusement. "We were lucky, though. Our camels were able to sustain themselves on several categories of local vegetation right from the start. It took quite a bit of experimentation with bacterial cultures, however, before we were able to enable them to really forage properly. Now they thrive here. Some experts suspect that, if we were to ever leave, the camels would probably continue to survive here for millennia to come."`
				goto questionloop
			label stonewalls
			scene "scene/remnant remote spaceport"
			`	Taely's expression becomes mournful as she leads you over to the walls. "We discovered soon after we arrived here that this planet was not as safe as it appeared. It had a variety of natural predators, including swarms of predatory creatures that were very aggressive in hunting us. They preferred darkness, and while they had excellent eyesight, their hearing was even sharper. A swarm could triangulate the position of a person from a single spoken word at great distances."`
			`	She gestures up at the edge of the wall. "Fortunately, we discovered that while they were quite competent climbers, they could not navigate overhangs. So while such lips are generally considered a structural vulnerability when defending against modern weapons, they are indispensable for containing local wildlife. These walls served as well later on, too, when we had to deal with Korath ground attacks and other more complex threats."`
				goto questionloop
			label windturbine
			scene "scene/remnant remote spaceport"
			`	"They are indeed wind turbines." She steps through the gate to a spot with a better view. You can see that while the ones on the wall are only a couple of meters tall, the ones on top of the towers are significantly bigger. "Our ancestors rightly guessed that anywhere that had sufficient atmosphere to dispense with pressure suits would also have wind. The vertical style also has the advantage that it handles high wind speeds and rapid variation in direction much better than some of the shapes that were more traditional at the time of the exodus. It seems to be a good precaution, as it has enabled these to survive the harsh windstorms that can sweep across the continent. While they have been repaired and improved over the centuries, these wind turbines still provide sufficient power for much of the agricultural uses out here, so we let them continue. They are also useful to remind us from where we have come."`
				goto questionloop
			label mainreturn
			`	Taely leads you around the area for a few more hours, pointing out historical features, places where they resurrected trades and skills from before the advent of flight, and other interesting things. Eventually she heads back to the train station, which deposits you back in the main spaceport.`
			`	"I hope you enjoyed the tour, <first>. It was interesting to see our history through fresh eyes." She smiles mischievously. "And I enjoyed the hoverboarding, too. Maybe we can do it again sometime." She pauses for a moment, focusing on something you cannot see. "Looks like duty calls. Embers guide your way, Captain <last>." She waves, and heads off into the crowd.`



mission "Remnant: Celebration 1"
	name "Deliver Celebration records to <destination>"
	description "The Remnant have asked you to take records of their celebration to <destination>."
	minor
	source
		government "Remnant"
		attributes "remnant primary"
	destination "Ssil Vida"
	to offer
		has "event: remnant: cognizance calm"
		has "license: Remnant Capital"
		random < 50
		"day" = 7
	on offer
		conversation
			`You stop by the starport just in time to see a large group of Remnant departing. A few of the nearest notice your interest and begin gesturing recognition or various invitations to accompany them, but before you are able to respond, Taely appears from the stream of people and approaches you.`
			`	"Well met, <first>. We were just going to the monthly Celebration of Remembrance. Would you like to accompany us?"`
			choice
				`	"Yes, I would."`
					goto celebrationattendance
				`	"What is that?"`
					goto celebrationdefinition
				`	"No thanks."`
			label celebrationdeclined
			`	She nods. "Well, may the Embers guide you, <first>." With that, she rejoins the stream of people as they vanish from sight.`
				decline
			label celebrationdefinition
			`	"The Celebration of Remembrance is a gathering; we take a moment to remember where we have come from, appreciate where we are, and express hope for where we will be in the future." Her gestures take on a critical tone. "That sounds very formal, but it is more artistic than defined." She glances at the slowing flow of people. "It will be starting shortly, and I want to attend this month, so I should get moving. Would you like to join us?"`
			choice
				`	"Yes, I would."`
				`	"No thanks."`
					goto celebrationdeclined
			label celebrationattendance
			`	As the two of you join the flow of people, Taely gestures once again. "If you would like, I could provide you with some commentary and explanation, but it is more about feeling than doing anything specific. Together, we remember and celebrate through free-form dance mixed with singing and music. You are welcome to participate, but try not to disrupt or impede others in the way you join the dancing."`
			choice
				`	"No, that is alright. I will just experience it."`
					goto celebrationbegin
				`	"Yes, that would be appreciated."`
			action
				set "remnant: celebration: annotated"
			label celebrationbegin
			`	The crowd you have joined merges with other flows of people as you all stream onward, eventually emerging from the typical hallways into a massive cave. On one side, a large opening, framed by rough stone and a handful of shield emitters, looks up towards the night sky. Stalagmites with matching stalactites above them ring the perimeter of the room, but there is no sound of drips or traces of lingering moisture here. While the walls are still rough, natural stone, the floor and all the stalagmites have been polished smooth. With a quick glance, you estimate that there are already over a hundred people in here, and more are still filtering in around you and through several other doors. Taely leads you through the crowd, frequently gesturing greetings to those she passes by.`
			`	Taely gestures quietly to you. "We start with the ritual query and response asking if we are safe. Safe in this moment, at least."`
				to display
					has "remnant: celebration: annotated"
			`	Without warning the room stills, and all the doors close. A flurry of gestures washes out from the center of the room, as if everyone is repeating what someone has said, but you cannot see anyone starting it. "Perimeter secure?" comes the gestured question, followed by an answering ripple from the edges of the room back toward the center: "All clear."`
			`	Suddenly, you become aware of a drum beat building in the silence, and then realize that it had already started with the first ripple of gestures, so quiet that, until now, it was unnoticeable. The beat builds gradually: a slow, steady rhythm.`
			`	"Thump."`
			`	"Thump."`
			`	"Thump."`
			`	"Thump."`
			choice
				`	(Look around the room.)`
				`	(Move in time with the beat.)`
			`	At your side, Taely gestures again. "Existence starts with the patterns of the universe, and our story starts with life."`
				to display
					has "remnant: celebration: annotated"
			`	The beat echoes in the cavern, but you quickly manage to locate the source: an elderly Remnant using her hands to drum against a polished stalagmite that, judging by the resonance, appears to be hollow. As you watch, a child steps up next to her and starts also hitting the rock with their palms, slightly off-beat, changing the pattern into a hauntingly familiar one:`
			`	"Thump-thump."`
			`	"Thump-thump."`
			`	"Thump-thump."`
			`	"Thump-thump."`
			`	Looking around the room you can see people starting to move in time with the beat. Some are swaying, and some are nodding their heads or tapping their feet. Standing next to you, Taely has a hand on her heart, tapping softly. Soon you hear other drummers join in as the beat resonates throughout the room. Now people are not merely swaying to the beat, but dancing. Some spin in place, others rock back and forth between different stances, and a few have joined hands and begun moving in a circle. Everywhere you look there are people dancing in countless variations.`
			`	Out of the chaos you hear a voice rise in song. You cannot make out what it is saying, but it carries the tones of anticipation. You can, however, clearly decipher a chant from many other voices, cutting through the solo voice in time with the drumming:`
				to display
					not "remnant: celebration: annotated"
			`	Out of the chaos you hear a voice rise in song. You cannot make out what it is saying, but it carries the tones of anticipation. You can, however, clearly decipher a chant from many other voices, cutting through the solo voice in time with the drumming but not overwhelming either:`
				to display
					has "remnant: celebration: annotated"
			`	"...6...5...4...Ignition...2...1...Liftoff!"`
			choice
				`	(Look around with anticipation.)`
					goto countdown
				`	(Look around nervously.)`
			`	Taely notices your anxiety and gestures reassuringly: "All is well."`
				to display
					not "remnant: celebration: annotated"
			`	Taely notices your anxiety and gestures reassuringly. "They sing of the days of humanity's infancy; when we first ventured out of the cradle."`
				to display
					has "remnant: celebration: annotated"
			label countdown
			`	On the final word the chant ends and dozens of deep voices join together in a roaring crescendo before fading away, replaced by many new voices expressing tones of wonder. At this point, it seems that almost every single person in the room is drumming, dancing, or singing - many seem to be doing several simultaneously.`
			`	As the stars wheel through the night sky above the mouth of the cave, you note the flow of the ceremony seems to be telling a story of some kind. You understand very few snippets of words, but the emotion conveyed in the singing is clear. The early tone of anticipation shifts to the roar of excitement and then on to a peaceful tone of wonder.`
			`	As the ceremony continues, this shifts again to a steady, almost mechanical feel, which is in turn abruptly penetrated by a piercing thread of excitement, leading to the entire tone of the song becoming one of curiosity over another driving beat. The melody then seems to wander more, caught in duel tones of regret and anticipation, mourning and rejoicing, terror and hope, disorder and structure, disappointment and awe, and countless other deeply emotional pairings before finally culminating in a return to the original, unified heartbeat as the singers' voices come together, reaching upwards in hope before finally everything trails off into silence.`
				to display
					not "remnant: celebration: annotated"
			`	As the ceremony continues, this shifts again to a steady, almost mechanical feel, which is in turn abruptly penetrated by a piercing thread of excitement, leading to the entire tone of the song becoming one of curiosity over another driving beat. The melody then seems to wander more, caught in dual tones of regret and anticipation, mourning and rejoicing, terror and hope, disorder and structure, disappointment and awe, and countless other deeply emotional pairings before finally culminating in a return to the original, unified heartbeat as the singers' voices come together, reaching upwards in hope before finally everything trails off into silence.`
			`	Through it all, Taely offers a running commentary on how each stretch of the ceremony represents a different piece of their collective history, ranging from the launch of the first human into space to its commercialization and then the new age of exploration opened by the advent of hyperdrives. It also includes numerous conflicts, disasters, and wars. Much of it is rather familiar to you from what you know of human history, but the later part is strange and unfamiliar. Filled with stories of first contact, strange ruins, alien invasions, desperate last stands, and brilliant discoveries, you are left with the impression that, despite the Remnant's current security, they have been on the precipice of extinction for much of their existence.`
				to display
					has "remnant: celebration: annotated"
			choice
				`	(Stand still and absorb the moment.)`
				`	(Look around to see what is happening next.)`
			`	Around you, everyone has gone still. Most look exhausted, and some are sitting on the floor or leaning against the walls. A few people look like they have been crying, and those nearby are hugging them or simply touching their shoulder. Most of the people you can see have reverent and joyful expressions. After the silence lingers for what feels like several minutes, the doors open and people start to leave. In short order the cave is nearly empty.`
			`	"I always find these Celebrations of Remembrance to be invigorating," Taely says. "What did you think of it, <first>?"`
			label celebrationquestions
			choice
				`	"I think I will have to get back to you on that later."`
					goto celebrationrequest
				`	"That was awe-inspiring."`
					to display
						not "celebrationawestruck"
					goto awestruck
				`	"Why were some of the people crying?"`
					to display
						not "celebrationaskedcrying"
					goto askcrying
				`	"Who leads these ceremonies?"`
					to display
						not "celebrationaskedleader"
						not "celebrationaskedomitted"
					goto ceremonyleader
				`	"That seemed both well-rehearsed and very disorganized."`
					to display
						not "celebrationaskedrehearsed"
					goto celebrationrehearsed
				`	"You said 'virtually.' Who is omitted?"`
					to display
						has "celebrationaskedleader"
						not "celebrationaskedomitted"
					goto ceremonyomitted
				`	"What constitutes your most serious crimes?"`
					to display
						has "celebrationaskedomitted"
					goto celebrationcrime
			label celebrationrehearsed
			action
				set "celebrationaskedrehearsed"
				clear "celebrationaskedleader"
				clear "celebrationawestruck"
				clear "celebrationaskedomitted"
			`	Taely smiles at that. "Well, it is and it is not. We hold these several times a month, though most people take part in only one every few weeks. Most of us have attended hundreds of these. Although as far as that goes, every one of these celebrations is different. Each person's participation and style is entirely up to them, so the details and feel of the group celebration as a whole are unique every time." After explaining this, she makes a singular gesture you have come to realize encompasses the idea, "If you have more questions, ask them."`
				goto celebrationquestions
			label ceremonyleader
			action
				set "celebrationaskedleader"
				clear "celebrationaskedrehearsed"
				clear "celebrationaskedomitted"
				clear "celebrationawestruck"
			`	Taely's gestures take on a tone of conviction. "For something like this, or anything of a social or spiritual nature for that matter, we determine who takes the lead for various parts at the moment, based on who is present. Whether we are talking about our connection with society, or our connection to the Universe, we must each forge our own understanding of it. As such, when we gather together for ceremonies such as this, virtually anyone could be chosen to take the lead for one of the segments.`
			`	"As a result, each celebration takes on a different feel - after all, each of us has our own unique perspective, and bring our own experiences to contribute." She pauses, and adopts a respectful tone. "The ceremony is not just about major events, either. Everyone who takes part brings their own life experiences and memories to the story we tell. Memories of friends and family who are no longer with us are common as well."`
				goto celebrationquestions
			label ceremonyomitted
			action
				clear "celebrationaskedleader"
				set "celebrationaskedomitted"
			`	Taely scowls a bit at this. "Only those guilty of the most serious crimes cannot stand as a lead." She pauses, and continues with an amused tone. "Even children take the lead now and then, usually with a parent or sibling to guide them." She smiles at that, then gestures for you to continue asking your questions.`
				goto celebrationquestions
			label celebrationcrime
			action
				clear "celebrationaskedomitted"
			`	Taely gestures harshly. "Crimes against society, of course. Acting against the best interest of our collective well-being is the single most destructive and senseless act someone can perpetrate."`
				goto celebrationquestions
			label askcrying
			action
				set "celebrationaskedcrying"
				clear "celebrationaskedrehearsed"
				clear "celebrationaskedleader"
				clear "celebrationawestruck"
				clear "celebrationaskedomitted"
			`	Taely gestures gently. "Many were friends of the crew of a ship that was recently destroyed while studying a black hole. They acquired ground-breaking data from it, but perished in the process. Their friends and families are proud of them, of course, but that does not change the fact that they are lost to us mortals. Sometimes the whole experience is simply overwhelming, and some of us still sorrow for other losses in our stories."`
				goto celebrationquestions
			label awestruck
			action
				set "celebrationawestruck"
				clear "celebrationaskedcrying"
				clear "celebrationaskedrehearsed"
				clear "celebrationaskedleader"
				clear "celebrationaskedomitted"
			`	Taely nods in agreement and simply gestures expansively at the cavern around you, giving you a few moments to contemplate it. Eventually she gestures asking if you have any further questions.`
				goto celebrationquestions
			label celebrationrequest
			`	Taely strides over to a console near the closest door and retrieves a crystal from a compartment within. She slips it into a case and turns back to you. "Our celebrations are something that bind us together, and we share in both the memory of the departed and the hope for the future. As such, we keep recordings of them so that those who are not present at a particular event may still experience it too. This recording is destined for those working in Postverta, as a friend of one of those being mourned today is stationed there. Could you deliver this to them please?"`
			action
				set "Remnant: Attended Celebration of Remembrance with Taely"
			choice
				`	"Yes."`
					accept
				`	"Sorry, I'm not headed that way."`
			`	She looks disappointed, but merely shrugs and pockets the crystal. "I will find someone else to transport this, then."`
				decline
	on complete
		payment 50000
		conversation
			`When you arrive on Postverta there is a small group of Remnant waiting at the landing bay for you. As you hand the crystal to one, another gestures, "Thank you for bringing this to us, Captain <first>. Being able to join in the Remembrance will help me to celebrate those who have gone on before." The group heads off into the depths of the station, leaving you in the bay.`
			`	Taely never mentioned anything about compensation, but as soon as the Remnant leave, your commlink notifies you that you have been assigned <payment>.`



mission "Remnant: Teciimach Deployment"
	invisible
	minor
	landing
	name "New EMP deployment"
	description "The Remnant are deploying a new version of the EMP, and invite you to watch."
	deadline 7
	source
		attributes "shipyard"
		attributes "remnant"
	to offer
		has "event: remnant: cognizance calm"
		has "event: remnant: research update bjd1"
	on offer
		event "remnant: teciimach deployment"
		conversation
			`You note a disturbance in the shipyards before the <ship> even touches the ground. Every pad is filled with ships, camels pulling wagon trains loaded with canisters trundle out of the outfitter, and technicians clamber everywhere. As you step out of your ship, Taely slides down the side of a Merganser resting next to you.`
			`	"Good timing, Captain! We just rolled out an upgrade to some of our oldest equipment, and our Mergansers finally have something to carry as first-strike weapons. Interested in taking a look?"`
			choice
				`	"Yes."`
				`	"Sorry, but I'm a bit busy at the moment."`
					goto empno
			`	She turns and heads towards a nearby lift where another crew of Remnant had just moved several EMP Torpedo canisters into place. "Well, you have probably seen us use EMP Torpedoes now and then, right? Well, as you probably noticed, they have a few tactical issues. They are slow, they often hit our ships almost as much as our targets, and they take up space we could otherwise be using for more important things like laboratories or scanners." She taps a few commands into the console, and the lift begins raising the canisters towards the waiting ship.`
			`	"Over the past decades we have had a few teams working on improving them from different angles. Some focused on the torpedoes themselves, others focused on the launcher. The surprising development, however, was from a team working down in the Warren. They figured out a way to shave a few cubic meters off the systems that assemble the torpedoes, and compress the whole structure. Very impressive work, and the results should be in the outfitter for you in the next day or two."`
			`	She looks at you and nods contemplatively. "One thing worth noting - you are making great strides in learning our language, so new items that appear in our outfitter will be listed under their proper name instead of substitutes from the ancestral tongue."`
			choice
				`	"Whatever makes things easier for everyone."`
					goto empno
				`	"Thanks. What names were changed?"`
			`	She looks amused. "Mainly weapons. If something is named an adjective that describes what it does, then it was a name we made up on the spot to include in the linguistic overlay we put in place for the displays. We did that so that you would have an easier time understanding what something does. Thankfully, you no longer need such aides."`
			choice
				`	"Thanks for the explanation."`
					goto empno
				`	"Thanks! Circling back to our earlier topic, what does 'Warren' mean?"`
			`	"It is our term for the network of caves, tunnels, and spaces deep underground. All three of our main worlds have them in some form or another. We know a little about the original people who built them, but not nearly as much as we would like. They called themselves the Zitchal Maudrakoi, and one of the most distinguishing features we have been able to learn about them is that they do not seem to attach much importance to directionality. For example, in a control room we found, there were instruments and controls on every available surface, with just a scattering of handholds to support the operator." She shrugs. "Plume or Dusk would know more than I about them. I mostly focus on understanding their equipment."`
			label empno
			`	"Well, I should get back to work, then. Next time you are in space, take a look at how our ships fare in battle. Hopefully you will see an improvement." She grabs a couple components from a nearby lift, and scrambles back up the side of the Merganser to continue working on a new bay.`
				accept
	npc
		government "Remnant"
		personality staying uninterested disables plunders
		fleet
			names "remnant"
			cargo 3
			commodities "Food" "Clothing" "Metal" "Plastic" "Medical" "Heavy Metals"
			outfitters "Korath Exiles Remnant Donations"
			variant
				"Merganser (II)" 3
	npc
		government "Remnant"
		personality staying uninterested disables plunders
		fleet "Small Remnant"
	npc evade
		government "Korath"
		personality heroic plunders harvests staying
		fleet "Korath Ember Waste Raid"
	on complete
		dialog
			`Now that the most recent Korath raiders have been defeated, you decide to check your sensor logs to see how the new EMP Torpedoes Taely talked about performed. You note that the EMP bursts no longer have an impact on friendly ships. This could make them much more versatile.`
	on fail
		dialog
			`You recall Taely mentioning something about new weaponry, so you decide to check your logs to see what your sensors have recorded lately. Looking over the most recent combat details, you note that the EMP bursts no longer have an impact on friendly ships. This could make them much more versatile.`



mission "Remnant: Shattered Light 1"
	invisible
	landing
	source
		government "Remnant"
	destination "Viminal"
	to offer
		has "event: remnant: cognizance calm"
		random < 30
	npc "scan outfits"
		government "Ember Waste"
		personality uninterested waiting staying mute
		system "Caeculus"
		ship "Modified Dromedary Ghost" "???"
		dialog "This ship barely registers on your sensors, and you can clearly see through it. The Remnant will want to know about it. You should probably look for Taely on Viminal."
	on complete
		conversation
			`Looking around the Viminal spaceport, you spot Taely using something that slightly resembles a small catapult to launch a sizable rock across the cavern. A nearby Merganser leaps into the air and chases after it, pouncing on the rock and vanishing from sight before reappearing next to Taely, dropping it next to her. Without looking away from the Merganser she waves you over.`
			`	"Well met, <first>, how goes your travels? Found anything interesting?"`
			`	She listens to your description of the encounter with the ghostly ship whilst looking at the recording you pull up from your commlink. "This is very intriguing. I will need to consult a few people. If you are interested in investigating this, ensure your ship has a Research Laboratory installed, and meet me in the spaceport."`



mission "Remnant: Shattered Light 2"
	name "Searching for Ghosts"
	description "Take Ruach to find and scan the ghostly ship."
	blocked "Your commlink chimes with a note that this mission requires a Research Laboratory installed on your flagship as well as 2 tons of cargo space and 1 free bunk."
	cargo "equipment" 2
	passengers 1
	source "Viminal"
	to offer
		has "Remnant: Shattered Light 1: done"
	to accept
		has "outfit (flagship installed): Research Laboratory"
	on offer
		conversation
			`Your arrival in the spaceport finds Taely in deep conversation with an elderly Remnant, empty food trays cluttering the table before them. They both turn when you approach, breaking off their conversation.`
			`	"Thank you for coming, Captain <last>. I would like to introduce you to Ruach. She was a shipyard engineering prefect for many decades, but now spends most of her time as a teacher."`
			`	Ruach gives a polite bow. "Taely lays too many compliments on me," she gestures with amusement. "I fulfilled my duty doing the best with that which the Embers blessed me, nothing more, nothing less. But it has been rewarding watching someone take everything I taught them and fly with it to heights I could only dream of."`
			`	Ruach's gestures take on a more precise cadence. "Taely tells me that you have spotted a strange 'ghost' in Caeculus that bears a resemblance to ancestral ships. Could you take me to do a scan of it please?"`
			choice
				`	"Okay."`
					accept
				`	"Sorry, not interested."`
					decline
	on enter "Caeculus"
		dialog
			`Ruach pores over the scanning arrays before reporting that the subject is not present. She suggests searching nearby systems to locate it.`
	npc "scan outfits"
		government "Ember Waste"
		personality uninterested waiting staying mute
		system "Levana"
		ship "Modified Dromedary Specter" "???"
		dialog "This ship seems a bit more solid than it did when you first saw it, but it does not seem to be quite present."
	on complete
		payment 50000
		conversation
			`The <ship> hasn't even settled onto the landing pad when Ruach leaps down from the airlock and jogs a couple of spots down to stare up at the gills of an Albatross. A few moments later, Taely drops out of them, greeting Ruach warmly. By the time you join them, Ruach has a hologram of the spectral ship floating in the air. "It is lacking the confirmation codes or identification info, but I am confident that this is it," muses Ruach as you arrive.`
			`	"Sorry for leaving you behind, <first>, but this is just such an exciting discovery. This ship you found matches the profile of the Shattered Light - a large city ship that was part of the Exodus but never arrived on this side of the wormhole. There are so many questions to be answered! Anyway, the data is being distributed right now. Meet me in the cafeteria in a few hours to see what ideas have come up. Oh, and before I forget, we have allotted you <payment> for your assistance."`
			


mission "Remnant: Shattered Light 3"
	name "Ghost Touch"
	description "Help the Remnant experiment on the Shattered Light."
	blocked "As you approach the starport your commlink chimes with a message from Ruach requesting that you make space for 13 people as well as 19 tons of cargo."
	cargo "equipment" 19
	passengers 13
	source "Viminal"
	waypoint "Coluber"
	to offer
		has "Remnant: Shattered Light 2: done"
	on offer
		conversation
			`A group of people huddled around a hologram catches your attention, drawing your eyes to Ruach who gestures for you to join them. She introduces you to each person, before thanking you. "I would just like to start by offering our thanks for your assistance, Captain <first>. You have sharp eyes to pick this up as early as you did." She gestures to the hologram of the ship floating in front of you. "Other scouts reported it shortly thereafter, but you spotted it first.`
			`	"We have confirmed that this matches all available records of the Shattered Light, although it appears to have suffered considerable damage. One of the oldest mysteries here is what has happened to it, and what we should do about it."`
			`	Another Remnant steps forward and the hologram changes to show a scene from a cave with a large object. Other Remnant appear to aim some equipment at it, and after a moment or two, the object expands to several times its original size. "These are recordings from our explorations of the ruins, demonstrating the decompression of a Maudrakoi artifact. While not identical, these artifacts generate similar readings to those recorded during your scan of the Shattered Light.`
			`	"As such, our proposition is to use the same equipment we used for decompression to stabilize the Shattered Light's weft field, and, if possible, bring it fully into synchronicity once again." She nods firmly, clapping her hands together to make the hologram vanish.`
			`	Ruach takes the lead again. "So, Captain, we will need you to bring us in close to the Shattered Light so we can give this a try. Our sentries have reported seeing it in the systems near Coluber, so it may take some searching."`
			choice
				`	"Looks good. Start loading the <ship>!"`
					accept
				`	"Wait, 'Maudrakoi'?"`
			`	The Remnant who showed the video looks startled, and then embarrassed. "My apologies, I did not realize you had not been familiarized with them." She looks around the room, then gestures. The hologram returns, now showing a large room with many shelves around the edge and several large objects within it, including some that look like Point Defense Turrets.`
			`	"We do not have time for an in-depth presentation, but the short version is this: the Maudrakoi are the primary civilization that lived on these worlds before we arrived. They are not the only civilization to have lived here, but they are the one we find most often in the archeological record. Fortunately for our research, it seems that they lived extensively underground in complexes such as this one."`
			`	Her gestures take on an appreciative tone. "The Maudrakoi made extensive use of the materials that make our ships and architecture so distinctive, and this has allowed their cities and technologies to survive the eons since they went extinct. One technology of note is they had an interesting ability to manipulate space. They used this to make large, highly complex objects, and then, for lack of a better term, partially embed them in pocket dimensions so as to not be entirely present. They used this frequently to allow equipment and materials to be much smaller than normal." She shrugs, and gestures with a frustrated tone. "We cannot replicate it, but we have figured out how to disrupt the compression, and thus recover the artifact."`
			`	The hologram shifts back to showing the Shattered Light. "This ship does not show the same signatures as the Maudrakoi artifacts, but we think it is sufficiently similar that our equipment should work on it too. Hopefully. In any case, though, time is passing, so we should start loading." With that, the Remnant gather their equipment and head out.`
				accept
	on enter "Coluber"
		dialog `Ruach briefly checks the scanning arrays before reporting that, unsurprisingly, the ship seems to not be present. She suggests searching nearby systems to locate it.`
	npc "scan outfits"
		government "Ember Waste"
		personality uninterested waiting staying mute
		system "Lucina"
		ship "Modified Dromedary Specter" "???"
		conversation
			action
				set "remnant: scanned specter"
			`As the scan results arrive the data is relayed down to the team in the cargo hold. Your video feed shows a large hologram of the system floating in midair above one of the pallets. Nearby, terminals flash rolling readouts and analyses. As the data on the spectral ship solidifies, cones of projected courses appear on the display. Line by line the cone tightens in as additional data flows from your telemetry, closing in on a path intersecting with the nearby world.`
			`	While the system continues to refine the orbital paths, the team seemed disinclined to wait: Ruach activates her commlink, broadcasting quickly to you. "It is on a crash course for Far Monad!" she exclaims. "Quick, land there!" Behind her, you can see her team scrambling to move equipment around near your cargo door and seal their spacesuits.`
	to complete
		never



mission "Remnant: Shattered Light 4"
	landing
	name "Shattered Light"
	description "Escort the wreck back to Viminal."
	source "Far Monad"
	destination "Viminal"
	to offer
		has "remnant: scanned specter"
	on offer
		fail "Remnant: Shattered Light 3"
		conversation
			`With the Shattered Light careening towards the surface of Far Monad, you push the <ship> into a dive. As you focus on finding a safe place to land within close proximity of the approaching ship, you notice out the corner of your eye that the Remnant team have all suited up and are pushing their equipment to the cargo hatch. A message appears on your console.`
			`	"Ready for drop, Captain. Just get us along side the Shattered Light without too much forward velocity. We can handle the rest."`
			branch livingship
				or
					has "flagship model: Peregrine"
					has "flagship model: Merganser"
			`	Moments later you spot a gaping hole on the ship. Focusing on it, you fly the <ship> down and hold position just above it. A glance at your cargo hold display shows the Remnant vanishing out the back lock. Your exterior cameras show the equipment falling into it on repulsor pallets while the Remnant drop alongside it. A final message appears on your console.`
				goto dropsuccess
			label livingship
			`	Moments later the <ship> pings a point on the Shattered Light indicating a gaping hole on the ship. Nodding your assent, your ship swoops to a hold position just above it. A glance at your cargo hold display shows the Remnant vanishing out the back lock. Your exterior cameras show the equipment falling into the hole on repulsor pallets while the Remnant drop alongside it. A final message appears on your console.`
			label dropsuccess
			`	"Drop success. Get clear of the arrival zone and pick us up after the dust settles."`
			branch livingclear
				or
					has "flagship model: Peregrine"
					has "flagship model: Merganser"
			`	With their confirmation, you quickly pull away from the approaching wreck and retreat to a safe distance.`
				accept
			label livingclear
			`	The <ship> veers and accelerates away from the approaching wreck without waiting for your approval and retreats to a safe distance.`
			`	Eventually, you find a good vantage point, several kilometers away, where you can watch the approaching ship. The Shattered Light falls through the sky with deceptive slowness, made all the worse by the fact that you can see clouds and sky passing through it. As it nears the surface you see a ripple in the air explode out from it, followed by a concussive shockwave as the Shattered Light suddenly becomes very solid. Its engines flare to life with a roar that rattles your bones and the ship lurches to a stop in mid-air, before crunching down into the forest.`
			`	The dust and debris settle within a few minutes, and soon you and the <ship> are skimming over the vegetation. The approach gives you ample time to appreciate just how massive the Shattered Light is; everything that one could need to lay the foundations for a new colony is packed into a single ship. You note large gashes in the hull, massive sensor arrays, and a shattered dome on top. Based on the mismatch of parts, this ship has been substantially modified from its original hull, and survived untold damage.`
			`	As you slow to a hover alongside the ship, Ruach appears on your viewscreen. "Well met, Captain! Our theory worked! We managed to snap the Shattered Light back into the Primary Weft, and are now onboard. The systems are dubious, though, so we dare not shut anything down lest we cannot restart it. We would appreciate your assistance in escorting us back to Viminal."`
				accept
	npc accompany save
		government "Remnant (Research)"
		personality launching timid escort
		planet "Far Monad"
		ship "Modified Dromedary Wreck" "Shattered Light"
	npc evade
		government "Korath"
		personality entering plunders harvests
		system "Lucina"
		fleet "Korath Ember Waste Raid"
	on complete
		payment 250000
		outfit "NDR-114 Android" 5
		conversation
			`The Shattered Light is so massive that traffic control directs you to a large valley next to the spaceport, where you discover that a section of the chasm has been covered to create a semi-enclosed area. Judging from the equipment and stacks of cargo, this area looks like it is predominantly used by bulk freight shipments and little else. Now, however, as the Shattered Light slowly moves in, a flock of Pelicans scatter in front of it looking like nothing more than a flock of plovers in front of an approaching camel.`
			`	Down on the ground, you see Ruach and her team exit an airlock on the side of the Shattered Light and jump down to the ground. They gather around, giving hugs. "<first>!" exclaims Ruach. "We have recovered a lost piece of Remnant history. Thank you for helping. I do not know what this will mean for us in the long term, but there will be a lot of careful examination for the next few weeks."`
			choice
				`	"I have things to do, so just let me know if I can help."`
					goto shatteredhelp
				`	"So, what happened?"`
			`	The team of Remnant are almost too excited for you to understand their gestures, but one calms down enough that their signing is comprehensible. "To be honest, we were expecting this to be the first of several trips doing detailed scans and trying out different sorts of synchronization fields. But when we saw that it was heading to the planet..." She trails off, and another one continues. "We already had the sensors running as we approached, so we jumped and triggered the fields as soon as we got a reasonable match."`
			`	He frowns a bit. "It worked, although not perfectly. There are chunks missing, some of which seriously impair its functionality. But it is back in the Primary Weft, so now we have time to work on it and figure out what happened to it."`
			choice
				`	"I think I get the picture. Let me know if I can help."`
					goto shatteredhelp
				`	"What is this 'Primary Weft' you have mentioned?"`
			`	Another Remnant steps forward. "The Weft is what we term the mesh of dimensions, energy, and time that form a subset of the universe. A layer, of sorts." He looks thoughtful. "What you probably know as 'Hyperspace' is what we technically call the Secondary Weft. There are a few others we are fairly confident exist, and several that we have hypothesized might exist but we have no means of confirming. Practically, each of these overlaps with the Primary Weft to some extent." His gestures take on an amused tone. "Of course, what we call the Primary Weft is only primary to those of us who live here. For all we know, there may be people living elsewhere that consider their own weft to be the primary one. Nothing says ours is special or the best or anything of the sort. Actually, it has been proposed that we call the Primary Weft the Warp. It is an old weaving term that serves as a reasonable analogy to how the warp and weft interact, and might better reflect its status instead of being labeled 'Primary.'`
			label shatteredhelp
			`	"In terms of help, could you go to Caelian? We have sent word ahead, and our engineers are retrieving some of our remaining equipment from the time of the Exodus. We are hoping that it might be of use to help us repair the Shattered Light, or at least understand what happened to it.`
			`	"Before you leave, though, there was some stuff that survived intact we would like to share with you." Behind her five androids emerge from one of the cargo holds, each one carrying a large trunk of equipment.`
			scene "outfit/android"
			`	"These are known as NDR-114 Androids, and were cutting edge innovations back when the Exodus occurred. Don't expect too much of them. They are not self-aware, sentient, or even particularly advanced artificial intelligences. They are, however, excellent extensions of a ship's self-maintenance systems. As it turns out, a large number of these androids were instrumental in keeping the Shattered Light flying all these years. We have plenty to study, so we thought you might appreciate having a few." She makes a dismissive gesture. "If they end up not being helpful for you, our outfitters will be able to re-assign them to another ship.`
			`	"Embers light your path, Captain <first>." With that, the crowd disperses.`



mission "Remnant: Shattered Light 5"
	landing
	name "Brilliant Energy"
	description "Retrieve a team with their equipment from <destination> to help research the Shattered Light."
	source "Viminal"
	destination "Caelian"
	to offer
		has "Remnant: Shattered Light 4: done"



mission "Remnant: Shattered Light 6"
	landing
	name "Shattered Light"
	description "Ferry the team and their gear back to <destination>."
	blocked "From your count at the information desk, you estimate that you need space for 11 people as well as 18 tons of cargo."
	cargo "equipment" 18
	passengers 11
	source "Caelian"
	destination "Viminal"
	to offer
		has "Remnant: Shattered Light 5: done"
	on offer
		conversation
			`On <destination> the spaceport is awash in conversation, and you spot snippets here and there of people talking about the recovery of the Shattered Light. Many are speculating as to what happened to it in the first place, while others are discussing the technical merits of what the research team did to recover it. Details travel quickly, it seems.`
			`	The team you are sent to pick up are waiting next to the information desk. They have a collection of pallets nearby, and a small crowd is gathered around them in animated conversation. They spot you and the crowd start waving their goodbyes as the group pick up their bags and head towards you.`
			`	"Ah, <first>! Thank you for transporting us. We are excited to see the Shattered Light and start studying this mystery you have found." They briskly head to your ship.`
				accept
	on complete
		event "remnant: shattered light"
		event "remnant: shattered light research" 60
		conversation
			`The Remnant spend the trip busily discussing what is known so far and exchanging theories, eagerly asking you questions about what you saw and reviewing your sensor records. By the time you reach Viminal, they have a whole collection of theories and have a preliminary plan of what studies they hope to do. When pressed, however, they all acknowledge that their top priority will be documenting the ship. Every scratch, every oddly charged component, every minor modification. "After all," they say, "knowing how it is now is the first step to determining how it arrived here."`
			`	The entire complement of Remnant crowd the windows when you settle into the final approach for the covered valley that houses the Shattered Light. You can see that the Remnant have been busy setting up large equipment towers around it, including several small encampments of tents. As you settle in for a landing, you see a camel team maneuver a sled with a large anti-aircraft battery into position, where it is promptly shrouded in a tent that blends into the rest of the camp.`
			`	Traffic control directs you to a pad near a large door of the Shattered Light. Ruach and a small group of Remnant are gathered around a hologram of the ship, and seem to be co-ordinating teams exploring it. Large mounds of equipment appear to have expanded from the sides of the ship, some of which appears to be functional. As you go through your landing checks, the team thank you for the transportation and begin offloading their equipment.`
			`	"Welcome back, <first>!" signs Ruach from across the pad. "We have made considerable progress already." She appears set to explain what they have discovered.`
			choice
				`	"Great, but please spare me the details."`
					goto shatteredrequest
				`	"You figured out what happened? Great!"`
			`	She looks crestfallen. "Well, we know what the ship thinks happened, anyway. It is likely that what actually happened differs significantly." Her posture takes on a more positive stance. "We have had the opportunity to start querying the onboard systems and piece together a little of the Shattered Light's history. Particularly the logs.`
			`	"As we all know, it was part of the Exodus fleet that entered the Terminus wormhole. Unlike most of the other ships, however, it never emerged from the other side. Fortunately, it had a significantly larger array of instruments than was normal for ships of its type, and it looks like at least some of the databanks survived."`
			`	At this point another Remnant takes up the narrative. "Based on the initial incident logs, it appears that something in the stabilization fields failed during transit. The data is not clear whether the systems failed, or if something in the wormhole fluctuations exceeded the parameters that the systems could handle. In any case, the ship appears to have been shunted laterally from the wormhole in mid-transit.`
			`	"It is unclear what happened after that, but the ship was subject to significant forces including unidentified impacts that caused multiple system failures. The data loses some coherence at this point, but it basically seems to have been semi-permanently stuck out-of-phase with the prime weft until an energy surge destabilized it and it wobbled back into prime coherence. At that point, it started being visible again, and shortly after, you spotted it."`
			choice
				`	"Interesting. Well, let me know if I can help."`
					goto shatteredhelp
				`	"I am curious as to what you will do now."`
			`	"The first step will be to unpack the Shattered Light and set up all its equipment. Taking detailed scans of each piece as we do so, of course." She gestures around at the equipment expanding out of the side of the ship. "As you can see, we have already started the process and found that much of it is operational."`
			`	One of the other Remnant continues. "The Shattered Light carried what amounts to an entire heavy industrial factory. Everything from smelters to welding equipment and everything in between." They smile and their gestures take on a tone of irony. "In fact, the ships we have now are in no small part due to the Shattered Light's absence. Without these capabilities, the choice about whether or not to commit to learning the techniques of those who lived here before us was much easier. If the Shattered Light had arrived on schedule we may well still be building ships out of the traditional materials prevalent at the time."`
				goto shatteredrequest
			label shatteredhelp
			`	"Thank you, Captain. Of course we do not want to keep you waiting, so rest assured that we will contact you if your assistance is needed in the future."`
			label shatteredrequest
			`	Taely gestures take a tone of curiosity. "One thing that you could help us with, if you wish, is resources. Right now we do not have any real need to put all this machinery to work, and as such we do not have the resources to spare to get it fully operational. That being said, if ever you would like a replica of the Shattered Light, we could use this equipment to build one."`
			`	Her gestures take on an apologetic tone. "It will not be a perfect replica as we will have to use our own systems for most of the internals, and the resource allotment cost will be significantly higher than it would have been back at the Tycho Crater shipyard on Luna... but if you have the resources and interest, the opportunity is there. The shipyard will have more information for you in a day or two." Her gestures trail off with a sign that indicates vast possibilities.`
			`	"Someday, Captain <first>, much may come from this. But for now, it will be months before we have analyzed everything. Thank you for helping recover a piece of our history, Captain."`



mission "Remnant: Scent of Rain 1"
	landing
	name "Search for the unknown Korath ship"
	description "Chilia has asked you to find and conduct an outfit scan of the Korath ship that can carry three 'olofezes, then report back to <destination>. The Remnant believe it will be found in one of the southern Korath systems."
	source
		government "Remnant"
	destination "Caelian"
	to offer
		or
			and
				has "Remnant: Cognizance 25: done"
				not "flagship planet: Ssil Vida"
			has "event: remnant: cognizance calm"
	on offer
		event "remnant: tubfalet appearance" 20 31
		conversation
			branch scentssilvida
				has "flagship planet: Ssil Vida"
			`You step out of your airlock to see Prefect Chilia striding towards you. "Captain <first>! I read a report mentioning that you dealt with a trio of 'olofezes out in the Postverta region. Would you be interested in doing some reconnaissance for us? We would like to track down where those came from."`
				goto scentrainchoice
			label scentssilvida
			`You step out of your airlock to see Prefect Chilia striding towards you. "Captain <first>! I read a report mentioning that you dealt with a trio of 'olofezes patrolling alone near here. Would you be interested in doing some reconnaissance for us? We would like to track down where those came from."`
			label scentrainchoice
			choice
				`	"Yes, I could do that."`
				`	"I would rather not."`
					goto rathernot
			`	He signs appreciatively. "We admire your willingness to help." He pulls up a hologram of the Ember Waste, and it shifts to display the systems towards the core. "We are concerned that the Korath may have a new ship that can carry three fighters. Based on the Korath's typical movement patterns, we suspect that - if such a ship exists - it should be somewhere in the nearer Korath systems. We will upload an algorithm to your targeting system to look for ship profiles that have no matches in our database. Please do an outfit scan of whatever ship you find, and report back to me on <destination>."`
				accept
			label rathernot
			`	He nods respectfully. "Well, thank you for all that you have done for us. I will see who else is available." With that, he heads off into the starport.`
				decline
	npc "scan outfits"
		government "Korath"
		personality staying target
		system "Kor Zena'i"
		ship "Tubfalet" "Ra'puk At 333"
		dialog `In poor lighting, this ship might have passed for a Palavret, but scanning reveals major structural differences. These suggest this is at least a new generation of the model, or perhaps an entirely different design. Time to report this to Chilia.`
	npc
		government "Korath"
		personality staying
		system "Kor Zena'i"
		fleet
			names "korath"
			cargo 3
			commodities "Food" "Clothing" "Metal" "Plastic" "Medical" "Heavy Metals"
			outfitters "Korath Basics" "Korath Exiles"
			variant
				"'olofez" 3
	on enter "Kor Zena'i"
		dialog
			`The algorithm quickly parses the ship signatures present here, and notifies you that one in particular does not match its database: the one identified as the "Ra'puk At 333." This must be the ship that Chilia would like a scan of.`
	on complete
		payment 150000
		conversation
			`Chilia is waiting for you when you land. Judging by the hologram floating before him, he appears to already be reviewing the data from your scan. As you approach, he pushes it to the side to focus on you. "This is interesting data," he comments. "What are your thoughts, having seen it first hand?"`
			choice
				`	"You were right in suspecting that this new ship carries an additional fighter. One more fighter might not change much in combat, but if the Korath are building new warships, they may also be building stronger fighters."`
				`	"An extra fighter bay isn't the only thing this new ship has. It also comes with an extra gun, bigger engines, superior shields and hull, and likely other unseen improvements. Overall it's much more formidable than its predecessor."`
			`	He listens attentively to your account of visiting Kor Zena'i, nodding thoughtfully at various insights.`
			`	"Thank you for investigating this, <first>. I will ensure that our engineers get your data immediately, and brief our patrols to be aware of this increased capacity." His gestures have a tone of anticipation and regret.`
			choice
				`	"You are welcome."`
					goto scanningpayment
				`	"Are you expecting something?"`
			`	Chilia smiles wistfully. "Do you know that feeling, when the whole world is still and the skies are clear, and yet you know in your bones that a storm is coming?" He continues without waiting for a response. "Well, I have had that feeling for decades, growing ever stronger. And now..." He pauses, drawing a deep breath. "Now, it feels like this is the first scent of rain. The first thing I can actually identify as a solid indicator that a storm is brewing."`
			`	He shakes his head. "But no matter. Planning for the storm is my duty, not yours, and the front is yet to appear.`
			label scanningpayment
			`	"We have allocated you <payment> for the risks undertaken. Please use it wisely. While it is my duty to anticipate threats to us all, it is your duty to ensure you are prepared to face the winds they may bring." He turns and strides away, quickly vanishing into the tunnels beneath the spaceport.`



mission "Remnant: Will Not Someone Please Think Of The Children"
	minor
	landing
	name "Sympathy For The Korath"
	description "Travel to the <waypoints> system to disable a stranded Kas'lor Ik 582. Do not destroy or capture the ship, as it likely has a large civilian population."
	source
		government "Remnant"
	waypoint "Vaticanus"
	to offer
		random < 30
		"remnant: broken jump drive count" >= 10
		or
			has "event: remnant: cognizance calm"
			and
				has "Remnant: Cognizance 25: done"
				not "flagship planet: Ssil Vida"
	on offer
		conversation
			`You step out of your airlock to find Prefect Chilia waiting for you with a worried look on his face. "Captain <first>, I have a sensitive request for you.`
			`	"Our scouts are reporting a stranded Korath ship in Vaticanus, a Kas'lor Ik 582 to be precise. If it were a typical warship obstructing our operations, we would request you track it down and eliminate it, but because ships of this type tend to be home to a large civilian population, destroying or capturing it outright may instigate a reprisal, especially in that sector.`
			`	"Would you be up for disabling it, so the threat is eliminated while preserving the lives of the innocents on board?" His signs shift from a questioning tone to a confident one. "After you are done we can disarm the ship and fix their jump drive. If they adhere to their typical doctrine they should decide to head back home."`
			choice
				`	"Happy to help those in need, even the Korath."`
				`	"I have no intentions of risking my neck for some Korath."`
					goto rathernot
			`	"I am grateful for your understanding and willingness to help here. Together we can ensure everyone gets home safely."`
				accept
			label rathernot
			`	He nods in acknowledgment and his gestures take on a staccato phrasing. "I feared my ask was too much. I understand the sentiment. Perhaps I was naive to think such an outcome was possible."`
				decline
	npc disable save
		government "Korath"
		personality heroic target marked staying disables plunders
		system "Vaticanus"
		ship "Kas'lor Ik 582 (Stranded)" "Fligrookor"
		dialog `You have disabled the Kas'lor Ik 582. Time to report back to <planet>.`
	npc
		government "Korath"
		personality timid disables plunders swarming
		system "Vaticanus"
		fleet
			names "korath"
			variant
				"'olofez (Digger)" 3
	on enter "Vaticanus"
		dialog `As you enter the system you spot the target ship. You imagine the small town's worth of people inside, many of which are probably children.`
	on abort
		dialog `The Remnant are puzzled at your aborting of this mission, but they tell you they will send someone else to do this work. They warn you they will not propose any more of the sort to you again.`
	on fail
		"reputation: Remnant" -= 250
		dialog `You where unable to disable the Kas'lor Ik 582 without destroying it... The Remnant will not be pleased...`
	on complete
		"remnant: disable and save count" ++
		payment 2500000
		conversation
			`You find Chilia with a relieved look on his face when you land.`
			`	"These assignments are typically handled by our most trusted teams, as taking on the larger Korath vessels is a sensitive matter. Most of their larger ships are home to large groups of Korath civilians, including children. I must admit there were concerns you might not be those children's best chance, but our fleet was occupied elsewhere at the time. I am glad I was not wrong in my assessment of you." He signs with a content smile on his face.`
			`	"We must be careful not to let ignorance of Korath society result in the unnecessary destruction of similar ships. Now that you have shown you can handle these tasks with the proper finesse, you can expect these to turn up in the task board in the future." Chilia then walks away with a confident pace.`
