This is a Chain story passed between @zakludick and @therneau. Each writer authors a post based on the events of previous episodes and carries on the story.
There is very little collusion between the writers as it is challenging to discover and develop a story by attuning the writing to the partner's plot, style, and presentation.
Last Time on Space Lore ZT
Thorne managed to hint toward Freyai that they go for a meal, in order to replenish themselves and calm things down a bit. This was also an opportunity for Thorne to ask a few questions about their new allies.
As per Thorne's request for pen and paper, there were a few cryptic notes passed between the two, as the strange new character, Cantankerous Fool, proceeded to serve them in the Galley Hall.
As the Queen got closer to earth, she commanded her swarm to divert some resources toward a cloaking system.
She’d passed by some ships and satellites, completely disabling their electronics as she came within range, to ensure there are no disruptions to her plan. Some of the ships were able to recover, restoring them back to a functional state, however, there were a few who weren’t as fortunate. Most of these were human staffed, which eventually led to oxygen depletion. A slow, cruel death.
When her cloaking was complete, the Queen cruised toward her destination, completely untraceable.
She scanned the planet’s resources and set a course for Africa where she can mine the bulk of her energy requirements.
She landed in a remote part of the DRC and immediately started mining into previously undiscovered cobalt reserves in the middle of the rainforest. Before sending 6 cloaked pods out across the earth to scan for human signatures, a bunch of her bugs scrambled out to start drawing other energy reserves from nearby plants, trees, and wildlife.
It spread like a disease, as her cycle of draining energy, creating more bugs, and filling her reserves created an ever-expanding ring of death and destruction.
Humans have long since learned the importance of preserving the earth’s natural resources. The planet was constantly scanned and surveyed for any illegal mining, fishing or hunting operations.
One of Professor Gray’s students came bursting into his office. He found him busy as usual amid a globe-like holographic display, picking off information about life and sustainability amongst various planets and species. He was always looking for ways to reduce energy consumption.
“Ahhh, Peter, you’re here. I wanted to show you a fascinating method the Asbertians implemented -.”
The professor stopped mid-sentence when he saw that Peter’s face looked as pale as a sheet.
“Peter, what’s wrong?”
“Professor, I’m not exactly sure, but I don’t know how else to say it.”
“Well, go on then,” Professor Gray said as the digital book went flying back into its shelf with the flip of a wrist.
As the professor stepped toward Peter, the holographic disappeared.
“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Something is rapidly destroying the Northeastern Congolian lowland forests,” Peter said, as he flicked his screen to open a display.
The professor leaned forward and scrounged his eyes, attempting to understand what was unfolding.
“Are you sure it’s not a glitch on the system?”
“No professor. We’ve checked everything and there’s no way it could be a glitch.”
By this time the professor was rubbing his chin in between his index finger and thumb, still scrounging as he stared at the display.
“I don’t understand, there’s nothing else there. No humans, no machinery. Hmmm.”
“Professor, we picked this up 45 minutes ago. At the current rate, half of the lowlands forest will be destroyed in two days.”
“I noticed it was rapid, whatever it is. If I look at the information here, it appears to be more like 7 days.”
“That’s the thing, professor. It appears to be accelerating.”
The professor’s eyes went wide as saucers, as the words seemed to hit him like a freight train.
“Send me everything you have right away. I need you to call Elizabeth immediately while I get hold of the local authorities.”
“Elizabeth? Professor, you don’t really intend on going there?”
“Aren’t we the closest thing to scientists where this is happening?”
“Yes professor, but what if it’s dangerous?”
“What could be more dangerous than having one of the last rainforests completely obliterated within days? We’re an hour’s drive from the location, and we’ll be able to report directly about whatever it is that’s busy transpiring.”
Professor Gray could see Peter still seemed uncomfortable.
“Peter, I’m getting the local army to escort us along the way, and we’ll be careful. Besides, no one knows these parts of the world better than Elizabeth, right?”
Peter lightly nodded his head in agreement.
“Alright, let’s hurry. I do hope to God that it’s some kind of a glitch we simply haven’t experienced before,” Professor Gray said, before stepping back into his holographic display to make some calls.
As Peter stepped out, the professor started delving into some old folklore he'd uncovered about a giant bug that had been created by the most advanced AI's hundreds of years ago.
It was said that The Queen, as they'd referred to her, had begun hoarding Ocophial, and escaped their advanced society, in an attempt to establish an intergalactic colony of her own.
During her attempts to evade The Collective, she'd grown smarter and stronger over time, eventually managing to lose their ability to trace her altogether.
Log SLZT #26 completed!
Now the keyboard is passed on to @zakludick to add in SLZT Log #27 of the story!
| by @zakludick | by @therneau |
|---|---|
| SLZT#1 | SLZT#2 |
| SLZT#3 | SLZT#4 |
| SLZT#5 | SLZT#6 |
| SLZT#7 | SLZT#8 |
| SLZT#9 | SLZT#10 |
| SLZT#11 | SLZT#12 |
| SLZT#13 | SLZT#14 |
| SLZT#15 | SLZT#16 |
| SLZT#17 | SLZT#18 |
| SLZT#19 | SLZT20 |
| SLZT21 | SLZT22 |
| SLZT23 | SLZT24 |
| SLZT25 | You are here #26 |
| Next up! #27 |
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