6 January 2023

From the garage bay and the storage areas - in which we find five empty cryoberths, all labeled Willow Dawn - we make our way to the main lab. This is a massive space that seems to take up almost half the ring. It is in complete disarray. Heloise finds a working terminal and downloads whichever data she can get her hands on. There is some research data there, showing that sample 1077 (the 'succesful' serum, supposedly) was tested on at least 2 human subjects. Both anonynomized, of course.

Franky rummages somewhat and I assist a bit. When we find another nest in a distant corner of the lab, I am filled with disgust - it has been severely defiled.

Brick who has carried Pent around (she's almost mummified with tape), puts her down. She's beginning to wake up and is unpleasantly squirmy and grunty in the process.

After the lab, we proceed to clear a few more staterooms or cabins. We find one untouched room and manage to unearth a snub pistol there - a wicked little thing. Another room has a trap near the door (who _does_ that, even, it is such an unpleasant spikey club thing - Franky can't help but take it, of course) and another blanket fort (really, Pent, what were you thinking, darling) and two rooms are stripped of all soft bedding. She really is a blanket hoarder.

At the end of that hallway we locate the second hardpoint and the auxilliary bridge. Some fellow named Robert has hidden some personal effects with the hardpoint. We find a bottle of alcohol here and decide to take it with us.

On the auxilliary bridge we see one active terminal, but no further relevant information is stored on there - all we do is check eht release status of the pinnace clamps.

We then made double time in completing our circuit back to the lobby where the elevator to the pinnace is. Once there, we find one of the lab monkeys ahead of us - it has made it's way past the lobby, but seems content not to charge. Brick and Heloise keep their weapons trained on it, while Franky and I make our way up the elevator to clear the area around the pinnace and the craft itself. After a fortyfying sip of alcohol and the all-clear on the craft, Franky sends the elevator down for the rest of the team - I, meanwhile, begin flipping switches.

The lab monkey is content to stay where it is and soon all seven of us - Pent still restrained - have boarded. Franky takes to co-pilot chair and I attempt a bit of levity as we depart. Both Jan and Holly seem extremely relieved.

Soon enough I hail Murdok Starport. They tell us to prepare for decontamination and give us a port number. I manage to dock without incident to which the team (of course) applauds.

Decontamination protocol is somewhat delayed by having to instruct station staff on Pent's less than cooperative attitude. They get the gist of it soon enough and haul her off for medical services immediately thereafter, while I am informed that Rhys wishes to speak to me as soon as possible.

Heloise and I make our way to the Station Manager's office, and he gives us access to a little conference booth. Feeling soemwhat uneasy, I quickly check for listening devices, but find only dust. I will remember this for the cleaning budget allocations. The call with Rhys is short and to the point. Without much ado we transfer the necessary information with utmost discretion - truly, I would be impressed if an untrained listener would understand. Even the sharp-as-a-tack Heloise seems to struggle

Based on Rhys' comments, I abandon my plan to invite Jan and Holly planetside. It seems like whatever is strange about this matter has reached the surface too. It is ultimately clear that we must depart as soon as we reasonably can - the next shuttle leaves on the morrow and we shall be aboard.

We spend the night in the orbital bar, where I give my card to the bar tender and tell him to pull up something fancy for the table. I would like to wash the smell of shit and corpses out of my nose and a grand cru or a fine dram seems the way to do it. Jan and Holly join us, and we even get a brief health update on Pent who seems affected still, but not longer outright violent, if the nurse's reports are anything to go by. Of course we all offer blank stares and confused shrugs when he inquires about what may be the cause of her strange symptoms.

The next morning, bleary-eyed and having slept through out watches, we say goodbye to Jan and Holly. For a long moment Franky seems torn about leaving too. We reason with him for a time, and eventually we can persuade him to come with. I have promised to look into identifying the craft that he originated from, which I will do as soon as I regain access to my office.

We strap in for the shuttle ride with our fellow passengers and our departure seems smooth. Just as I plan to close my eyes and doze off, our craft is rocked violently. Looking out, we see the effects of an explosion sending debris in our direction.

Just as we hit the atmosphere, there is an explosion and something causes the shuttle to lose control. We begin to spin. We are told to brace for impact, and I, at least, send out a little wishful thought that the pilot training included a module on flying with one engine.

Something jostles me and I lose consciousness ...

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