Turning point (6)
「The mission we were assigned was to find something here. We were never told what that was. The access clearance required to view that information was so high that even those of us working on-site didn't have enough clearance.
Ah, just because command didn't tell us didn't mean we were completely clueless about what we were looking for. We were only pretending not to know. It was probably that new material currently at the center of a fuss... I believe it was called "Blue Crystal," or something like that.
I didn't know any of the details. To be exact, I didn't even want to know. It's better not to dig too deeply into this kind of business, and even better not to get involved at all.
But what choice did I have? I had to do this to survive. Now that I was already entangled, the best thing I could do was focus solely on my own job.
This was my last chance. The only organization willing to use someone like me, pushed to the edge, was the Earth Government. As long as they paid me as stated in the contract, I would willingly go to hell if I had to. Nox, end of recording.」
The recording wasn't very long. At the end, someone urged him to hurry up, suggesting he stopped the recording in a rush.
"Judging by the timing, it does seem like this was a transitional period."
"It hasn't been more than 100 years, though."
"Right. Even so, it is still an artifact from the old era."
Celestia examined the next record. Data recovery was incomplete, so the files were out of order, making it unclear whether this was the end of the audio log or if there was more to follow.
While Licorice organized and arranged the files, we decided to read the immediately following file, 'Resupply Report from Observation Post 3'.
「Reporter: Nox.
Affiliation: Saturn Sector, Titan Observation Post 3, external Exploration Team.
Security Clearance: Level 3.
Cargo loaded aboard the drop pod was lost during atmospheric entry. Attempted recovery with a search robot, but it seemed completely incinerated and could not be found. With the supplies left at Observation Post 3, we can survive for 16 days at most.
There are 28 days left until the next drop pod arrives. To continue our mission, we must contact other observation posts and get spare supplies from them.」
"The environment must have been quite hazardous, since terraforming hadn't been completed. Supplying resources with drop pods... That's really tough conditions. Was it because of cost issues?"
"The next file seems related as well."
I scrolled the screen. This time, the file was titled 'Report on Internal Facility and Critical Electronic Component Malfunctions.'
「Reporter: Nikita.
Affiliation: Saturn Sector, Titan Observation Post 3, internal Facilities and Equipment Maintenance Team.
Security Clearance: Level 3.
The ongoing resupply problems are causing delays in facilities and other equipment maintenance. Since discovering the new material, the unique waves emitted by the material and neighboring ice have grown stronger.
Perhaps due to that influence, equipment that operated perfectly until moments ago keeps suffering nonstandard malfunctions, such as circuit burns or sudden energy backflows that melt cables—malfunctions one can't attribute to simple aging.
Everything keeps breaking down more and more every day. If this situation isn't resolved, even our life support system will cease functioning before long.
We don't even have spare protective suits to wear for external exploration anymore. All we can do now is watch as this steel base becomes our tomb.
This is a very serious issue. I strongly urge upper management: send repair supplies or a support team within three days. And if something has gone wrong in orbit, let us know that as well.
We're keeping our side of the contract. You need to do the same.」
"That's odd... No matter how dangerous Titan's environment is, the danger is mostly personal. Given that their upper management is the Earth Government, the very fact that these problems occurred is hard to accept. It's an important logistical issue, but the solution is surprisingly simple: resupply."
Celestia crossed her arms and drummed her fingers as she continued.
"Even if it's difficult to recover drop pods, you just use brute force to send more. And even a hundred years ago, the technology to reach Titan wasn't something one could take lightly. It forms the foundation of current technology, after all. Plus, there should have been a Titan Station in orbit."
Before full-scale Blue Crystal mining began, warp technology did not exist. That seemingly impossible technology only became viable after the appearance of a material with enormous energy.
Celestia figured that Titan Station, packed with supplies for decades-long missions, orbited above and was responsible for resupplying the numerous outposts on Titan.
"Even so, the fact that there were resupply issues means there was a specific reason proper resupply couldn't be performed?"
"That's how I see it."
In response to my question, Celestia pointed out that the resupply and equipment malfunction reports were spread over a significant period.
There was a gap of several months between Nox's initial mission recording and the two reports. This meant the mission had run into trouble from the very start.
Such missions are extremely long-term projects. Plans are double and triple-checked to minimize problems, with staff stress management also being an upper management responsibility.
Unless you're a robot, some conflict is inevitable. From the records, we got the sense that the outpost's staff were reaching their limits. From upper management's perspective, who expected smooth exploration, this would have been extremely unwelcome news.
"The station itself likely wasn't short on resources. Even then, asteroid mining technology existed. So if there was a problem, it must have been a terrorist attack."
"Terrorism..."
Upon hearing "terrorism," one group came to mind: pureblood supremacist groups. Now that I knew those who first discovered Blue Crystal would go on to form that group, my reaction was more confusion than suspicion.
"It couldn't have been the pureblood supremacists. Considering their goals, they would have supported, not sabotaged, the effort."
"I agree. The ones who stood to lose when Blue Crystal was adopted as a new energy source would have been likely behind any opposition."
Change never brings only positive impacts. Change inevitably brings many side effects, and those side effects forced countless corporations to fall in line with the flow—or die.
Firms that managed to keep up with the changes survived, while those that could not disappeared without a trace. Giants of a previous era became nothing more than names from the past.
'So the station was dealing with its own survival and couldn't resupply?'
That was probably the most plausible guess for now. To unravel this mystery, I had to check other records.
'Still nothing concrete yet.'
This place—the third observation post in the Mithrim Montes mountain range—was certainly where the sprout had reacted. Yet, based on the records so far, I couldn't tell what exactly had drawn it here.
Records from a century ago were certainly fascinating, but they didn't answer whether they would be useful to our current situation.
Figuring something might turn up if I kept checking, I tapped on the next file, 'Staff Psychological Instability Issues and Countermeasures.' A rather long document unfolded.
「Reporter: Adam.
Affiliation: Saturn Sector, Titan Observation Post 3, medical Team.
Security Clearance: Level 2.
There are now psychological instability issues among the surviving personnel at the outpost. It can't be attributed simply to stress.
Through a control group comparison, I found out what the cause was. The waves emitted by Blue Crystal were affecting consciousness.
Until now, the issue never came up because of the small size of samples. Previously, we had only extracted 2–3 centimeter pieces, but the Blue Crystal recently mined from the underground tunnel exceeds a combined length of 20 centimeters.
No amount of precaution could counter it. In my opinion, control is impossible with current technology. This is a problem that must be solved urgently.
This wave is not infectious, but those influenced by it might do unpredictable things to the others. The unprepared body cannot withstand much exposure.
If we remember the case of Observation Post 5, this third post is by no means safe. No one but myself currently knows what happened there, but once this becomes known, things will certainly get worse.
Below is an excerpt from the autopsy report of one crew member from Observation Post 5:
- Height 184 cm. A total of 42 lacerations and stab wounds all over the body including the limbs, conjunctival hemorrhage of the eyelids, severely contracted torn muscles, abnormal swelling.
- The deceased suffered insomnia due to failure to adapt to the environment. (Pictures from initial arrival on Titan and after death are displayed together.) All prescribed drugs failed.
- The security officer at Observation Post 5 reported that the person went on a rampage, screaming and displaying abnormal strength, causing over half the personnel at the post to be killed or critically injured before being shot.
- Due to subsequent disturbances, the post was completely terminated. No survivors.
This event was not natural. It is clear Blue Crystal induces psychosis. The third outpost is not safe either. Titan itself is unsafe.
I know the station is currently beset by various extremist factions. But, unlike the station, we've already reached our limit.
Psychological instability factors must be minimized or eliminated for the mission to proceed. Elimination is impossible, so if you want us to continue, open communications. It does not have to be positive communication. I'll be monitoring it anyway.
I am proving my worth. Not surrendering my duty is proof enough.
It has been discovered that the powerful scanning device used for meteorological data collection can double as an antenna. The team here already eavesdropped on upper management before.
Through this communication, we confirmed that the stress levels of personnel dropped dramatically. News from outside has a positive effect.
To aid clear transmission, I am attaching a text extract of a recorded counseling session instead of video.
00:00:02 "Nox, how are you feeling?"
00:00:09 "Why do you ask. Like shit."
00:00:13 "At least the supplies issue got somewhat resolved."
00:00:20 "You call that resolved? I don't think so. Nothing's changed at all. If anything, it's gotten even shittier. Especially since coming back from that damn fifth outpost."
00:00:37 "Ah... right. That place really was a mess. Who could've known a quake would trigger a landslide and wipe out the entire base?"
00:00:53 "Instead of being glad we salvaged supplies, I keep remembering those red stains, clear as day. And... wait, are you recording me right now?"
00:01:16 "It looked like the conversation would run long, so I started recording. Every single one of these logs can become evidence to pressure upper management. Sorry if it bothered you."
00:01:33 "Hoo... Not really. Just made me pause, thinking of my first day here."
00:01:44 "If you don't mind, would you keep talking with me? Share what you've been holding inside. This log will only be shared with me and upper management, nowhere else, so you don't have to worry about it leaking."
The recording paused briefly, then resumed.
00:01:45 "Adam, do you think upper management even reads our reports?"
00:01:53 "Of course."
00:01:55 "So they know that Observation Post 5 is completely destroyed, that we lost two people retrieving supplies from there, and there's a gravity anomaly happening at the center of Mithrim Montes, right?"
00:02:30 "Yes, they know, and they're trying to resolve it. And, just so you know, it was an accident, nox. It's not your fault. Unlike here, the terrain over there is extremely rough."
00:02:51 "Should I be relieved that at least Post 3 is built on flat ground...? I don't know. Really don't know. What does it matter if it's flat? We're trapped here—can go anywhere but nowhere at the same time. That's our reality. Without a suit, you can't even go outside, and we're only eating into our hard-earned stores."
00:03:15 "Nox, are you still struggling with insomnia?"
00:03:19 "Always. While we're at it, can you prescribe some more sleeping pills?"
00:03:26 "Sorry, but we ran out as of yesterday."
00:03:32 "Oh, damn..."
00:03:36 "Try not to worry. The next resupply is coming soon, so hang in until then. I can't give you medicine, but I do have something good to share—news about the station in orbit."
00:03:44 "What is it? I know there's a war going on up there with extremists."
00:03:50 "That's not good news, is it? This is just for you—don't tell anyone. ... My group is coming here soon."
00:04:01 "... A group? Don't tell me it's those so-called pilgrims attacking the station. I hope not. Do you know why we're suffering here?"
00:04:10 "Of course not. We're different from them—completely different. Nox, I heard you found a huge Blue Crystal vein in the tunnel near Observation Post 5? My group wants to check it out. They want you as their companion."
00:04:50 "... You want me to crawl back into that hellhole? Are you serious, adam?"
00:05:12 "I'm just making a suggestion. You don't have to if you don't want to. But keep in mind—we can give you anything you want, as long as you can find what you're after."
00:05:20 "..."
00:05:21 "Ah, I just remembered—I have one sleeping pill left. It's not much, but at least you'll sleep well tonight. Here, take it."
00:05:34 "... I'm not religious. That's why I despise the so-called pilgrims who oppose Blue Crystal mining. If you're trying to preach to me, you're barking up the wrong tree."
00:05:46 "Neither am I—"
00:05:47 "—But as long as the contract is honored, I'll follow through. No matter how shit this job is, the Earth Government pays well. That money is my daughter's lifeline. That's all I have to say."
00:06:19 "You're a good dad."
00:06:23 "A foolish dad—certainly not a good one. Anyway, I'll be going now. Oh, I almost forgot to mention—can you spread the word for me? Tell everyone not to go outside for a while. There's a storm coming. Not that anyone's trying to leave right now anyway."
00:06:59 "Sweet dreams, nox. You won't be afraid of the night anymore."
#End of counseling session video.
Disguising ourselves as the Earth Government was a good choice. The trust in the word "government" was not insignificant.
I know our existence must not come to light yet. But to succeed in what is to come, expanding our scale is essential.
Before the pilgrims who oppose mining fully take root on Titan, we need to plant seeds here.
Everything described in this report is based on fact, and I suggested courses of action that benefit us accordingly. Since we cannot stop the real Earth Government from arriving and executing protocol, we will hide ourselves at night.
I end the report by reaffirming that I am proving my worth.」
"......"
"......"
Celestia and I instinctively looked at each other. Our mutual thoughts were clear in our shaken gazes.
As things stood, we were in the third observation post. The records suggested it was built on flat ground. But that couldn't be, as this area—Mithrim Montes—was known as the highest peak on Titan.
What exactly was going on? The information we had and the records contradicted each other. How were we supposed to identify where we were?
Should we accept this as Mithrim Montes, as we had always believed?
'... No.'
I concluded that was not the case.
This place is—
– Lee Hyun-woo, can you hear me? I just discovered new records about someone called a pilgrim and the Archive. But I'm not sure if what I'm seeing is correct—according to the records, ... Mithrim Montes is not this place.
━This isn't Mithrim Montes.
Licorice's trembling voice overlapped with the conclusion we had both reached.
***
New Names/Terms Introduced: