A farewell to monkfish

[Knights of Sidonia]

Drawbacks: Homing Beacon, The Swarm, Deep Space Dysfunctional Syndrome, At Death’s Door (1600)

Researcher, Age 25

Modifications: The High Priestess, The Empress, The World, The Lovers, The Chariot, Judgement (2200)

Scenario: Exodus (2400)

Progress Demands (Free)
The Next Stage (2300)
We Played God (2100)
Chimera (1800)
Placenta Vat (1500)
The Chimera: Yion Green (1400+300)
-Placenta Growth (1400+250)
-Rapid Growth (1400+200)
-Alternating Armour (1400+100)
-Autonomous Growth (1400)
-Adapted Particle Collector (1350)
-Assimilation Appendages (1300)
-Heigus Particle Cannon (1200)
-Particle Claws (1100)
-Mimicry (1000)
-Harmonization (900)

Heigus Particle ContainerX10 (400)

Derelict ship out in space. Broken time/space engine. Sure, sounds like fun-it's been a while since I've done any adventurer archaeology. Yion, pack the kiloverse capacitors won't you? Fair Eyes, Makoto and Secret-let's not have a repeat of the HALO ring joyride incident, please. Kayle, Avacyn, Brigid-let's take some darklight scanners to get some SPOOKY pictures. And Davy? Remember, no swimming too far into space until you grow up.

A shame the Sidonia will be so far away, but it'll be going through a rough patch for the most part. Best to let it settle.

I...don't suppose those food supplies are monkfish? Thanks for the batteries, though.

Captain's log, stardate 3394.1 In preparation for maximising exploration this vessel I have issued an exploratory avatar designed to worm through every available nook and cranny, and equipped with various dimensional wavelength analysis modules. It resembles a mix of sea slug and cuttlefish observed under LSD, with mandelbrot fractals for tentacles.

I have inserted myself into a nearby terminal, while folding a few thousand more microtentacles into other nearby sockets on the ship. Applying psychometric analysis. Ship name recovered: Angela.

Conceptual encryption engaged. Observation: The ship's internal systems are unable to be reactivated in their present state. I will have to wake them up, from inside this ventilation shaft. By bidding local circuits to run before the rest of the hardware comes undone, this ship can most certainly be saved from the derelict it's become.

Heigus Reactor located-ah, and so are my companions. Alright guys, let's get everything IMPORTANT working. Stop starting at my tentacles. I should start making progress before nearby companions start swooning in ecsta-OH COME ON GUYS, you have perfect defences! Use them!

Starting Resource Units: 130
-The Engineering Bay (125)
--Synthesizer (124)
--THI Gravity Furnace (118)
--Gauna Furnace (112)
--Structural Improvement (110)
--Biological Constructs (106)
-The Theory Lab (101)
--Gauna Composition (99)
--Megastructure Refinement (95)
--Datastream Compiler (94)
--Artificial Intelligence (92)
--AI Cosmology (86)
--Anomaly Core (84)
--Probability Core (82)
--??? Beacon (78)
--??? Engine (74)
-Hydroponics (69)
--Stellar Agriculture (68)
--Stellar Fetiliser (66)
--Aeroponics (64)
--Cornucopia (58)
--Resource Acquisition (56)
--Placenta Manipulation (52)
--Nutritions Supplements (48)
--Photosynthesis (44)
-The Manufacturing Bay (39)
--Automatons (38)
--??? Engine (34)
--Assembly Llne (32)
--Harvester Drones (30)
-The Astronomy Lab (25)
--Stellar Topography (23)
--??? Beacon (19)
--Stellar Combustion (13)
--Deep Space Signal Tracing (12)
--Gravitational Wave Anchors (10)
--Singularity Probes (6)
--Singulaity Stabilisers (2)
--Signalling Drones (0)

Learmond Irons
-Mass Union (200)
-True Body (0)

Observation: Productivity increases greatly when one is entirely concealed within the ship and giving orders over loudspeaker, despite slight loss in morale over tentacular unavailability.

What's that, Kayle? Nah, starting the main reactor's as good as an invite to any local Gauna swarms. Here's what we're going to do-You do that thing with the molten gold bubble, right? Then Avacyn, YOU seed the parameter with white mana and Brigid uses her divine fire powers to supercharge this shell, blessing it with invincibility.

Then Makoto and Fair Eyes can use this nanoforge to work a kiloversal matrix of the Five Magical Materials. Dad bless shaping technology, and you guys bless this stuff so it stays permanent on leaving reality. Make sure the gemtech-Shard purity in the things is acceptable. And Secret installs some void pylons near the divine cyst, while I calculate the 16 dimensional mathematics needed to harness this module as a space-folding energy sequence.

Pay attention, Davy. Essence-Oblivion dual reactions are tricky to get right. The important thing is-the engine has been concealed under another engine that can outrun and outfly the Gauna at point black range.


Captain's Log, stardate 3394.6: Through the magic of void relic refinement, Aeonic nanoparagons and dark star generator technology we have activated almost all systems. The exception is the crew, for which I have determined the local ressucitation protocals are somewhat risky. So Avacyn will restore them with holy healing instead, once I finish renovating the ship.

By which I mean, turning the ship into a biomechanical maze of eldritch gemometries of course. All Gauna composition, placenta manipulation and furnace modules have been set on overcharge to pump out more cores! Cores all up in this motherfucker. Cores for days. Because it's clear what the dominant lifeform in this universe is, and so our best chance of survival is to make more of it and then lead it to a bright new future.

We're going to start with the Reverse Phase Imaging Polymer and its' derivatives or catalysts-Juhki/Shimajuhki extract, regenerator cells-and the particle-wave phenomena that apparently Safeguards are made of. Fortunately Gauna cores are seemingly such efficient little biological mechanisms that it's pretty much as simple as just dumping gallons of the stuff into a big ol' placenta vat teeming with cores. Next we're going to use an Eternity Flame-reinforced Escafil Device merged with demon fusion technology to transfer the gestalt bioarcanic template of a Chim-Homunculus, high-grade Fatima and mannikin into the cores as a catalyst. Then we'll supplement their diet with Dark Matter to include dimensional folding capabilities. We'll also tailor their growth using Chemical X: A potion brewed from SCP 999's extract, SOLUs, herbs extracted from a Gaian Bastion, Fold Quartz and 100 alchemically fused [STAND] jawbreakers refined through SCP 914 on the Fine setting to make them Essence users that with advanced capabilities of advanced communication, Chimera-like maneuverability and matter-energy transmutation, and endowed with a Stand representing their collective mental strength.

I...hesitate to use this plan. It's strategically sound; the Gauna appear to react to external stimuli as some form of macroorganism, so the logical ideal countermeasure would exploit their own adaptation. And refinements of the Protoculture's technology has proved extremely effective against a similar species-the Vajra. But in the short term, we're playing with some very dangerous forces I'm reluctant to work with under normal circumstances.

That's where you come in, Yion. You a hive queen now.

Captain's Log, stardate 3395: Growth is proceeding roughly as expected. By now the entire ship has been converted into a biomechanical ecosystem which simultaneously supports a virtual model of the ambient space environment. The ship itself has effectively become the second-largest super-Gauna lifeform and appears to regard Yion as its' mother; most of its' controls and subsystems remain in fleshy/cartiligenous/bony/globular effigy, but the ship as a whole has expanded a great deal in a man. AI populations have stabilised and through hardlight digitisation are coexisting with the super-Gauna society inhabiting the ship; after some very rapid growth using pyreflies to teach them advanced subspace engineering was necessary to avoid claustrophobia.

Davy got stuck in a bladder for a while. He's taken to flying in space for hours at a time to feel clean again. Also I can't seem to find Makoto amidst the other hyperenenergetic blobs.

Observation: Despite best efforts to remove tendencies towards societal harmonisation from the SOLUs, not only have cute girl forms come into vogue for my super-Gauna (even though they do not possess gender) but they are using hugs as a currency for the crude shapings of gestalt biomass they're making out of their own placenta. AIs appear to be matching these preferences, such that it is not uncommon to see the average Gauna equipped with shoulder-Vocaloids perched on whatever counts for shoulders.

At least the between the ship and its' subsystems, voyaging's pretty much automated. Setting course for the Sidonia.

Captain's Log, stardate 3395.1: Reviving the crew today. The resuscitation protocals are somewhat primitive, so we'll just be using magic. Here goes-

-oh bugger.

The crew simultaneously panicked and attempted to mutiny upon realising the entire ship was literally nothing but Gauna. Casualties include threww broken ankles, a crewmember who fainted when a blob attempted to hug her and the Manufacturing Bay's AI ran away crying after being called an abomination of nature. At least that Learmond Irons fellow seems fascinated even as he prepares to accept death.

Guess I'll have to address the crew myself.

Captain's Log, stardate 3395.4: Most of the crew has calmed down (relatively speaking) on realising the super-Gauna and AIs have every intention of peaceful coexistence. Tension remains from humans having to coexist within a hyperdimensional fleshscape where the scenery keeps trying to come over and hug visitors. Brigid's telling campfire stories to some of the kids, who're actually coping the best out of most folks here.

Note to self: Remind Hera not to make the ship do a barrel roll when she's bored, human crewmembers are scared enough already.

Did some business with Learmond. Still unsure how I managed to store CP until now or spend it, but for some reason his technology only worked when I paid him with something I can't even describe. He's just confused as I am. He thought he asked me for normal Earth currency.

Observation: All human crew members have Abnormalities. Strange, I don't remember getting any foreign contaminant on them. When question most of them seem just as confused.

Addendum: Because of Tadohomi's little breakthrough, the super-Gauna have start wearing each other. The hugging outbreak is rapidly going out of control.

Captain's log, stardate 3395.6: Hostile Gauna swarm detected. Deploying Cruicible projection array. Recalibrating moefication plate with Piece of Eden synergistics. As Yion has my genetic reconstruction of the Star Singer's biological template, she will begin testing the Deculture Protocal through which the remaining Gauna in the universe will be pacified through.

Captain's log, stardate 3395.9: Most of the crew are somewhat alarmed by the fact that despite having FTL capabilities, current engagement strategy is based around releasing vast clouds of Heigus particles to bring the Gauna in range to be sung at until they start obeying the super-Gauna. However, a few of them are excited to see that said strategy is also working quite well, as the symbiotic pet Gauna ringing our ship is proving an effective deterrant to future attacks. All pilots have been equipped with sonic projectors to further extend Yion's singing reach. Super-Gauna and AI residents are volunteering themselves to as amplifiers for the song.

...

...I guess everything's going just as planned, but. It's rather alarming to see in person. I've been constructing relays elsewhere in the universe to eventually provide a wider area of effect burst.

Observation: Finally found Makoto. Apparently she's been organising a bunch of other super-Gauna to play a game of sorts: Converting and gathering as many wild Gauna as she can find to roll them up into a Katamari Damacy-like ball of cores. Human crew panicked later today when a massive Mass Union Gauna eclipsed the nearest star, struggling to move under its' own weight. Most of its' motion appears to come from Makoto towing it, and Fair Eyes lodged up its' rear cavity with a rocket ship.

Captain's log, stardate 3396.9: Super-Gauna insisted on taking their "new friends" to wherever we were going. Unfortunately they insist on making friends at every opportunity, and dissuading them from recruiting every Gauna in the universe has proven to be the most difficult part of our journey so far. Finally broke out some TOHA tech to lock down local space-time coordinates to come with us on activating the bizarre engine.

Damn thing broke, though. Repairs took five whole minutes, must've been the bottom of the barrel of hyperspace drives.

Captain's log, stardate 3396.6: Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Seed Ship Angela. Its who-knows-how-many year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to terraform and seed suitable planets with human life, to boldly go where no man has GET THE FUCK OFF ME NO I DON'T WANT A HUG.

I have barricated the bridge to avoid being hugged while writing captain's logs. The super-Gauna have largely respected my wishes, although that hasn't stopped them from asking if I've changed my mind.

>XM-103

Avacyn led a team to the planet's surface to stabilise the seismic activity with a weave of white magic. Ended up tearing off a mere continent of crystals to use for magically growing more crystals within the ship.

>XL-108

Decided the planet made for an interesting snow globe, and physically put it in a force dome before sealing it away. Planet is currently on my desk and makes for a decent paperweight.

>XL-213

Secret reported that the planet smells like a Neverborn's diarrhea. Learned valuable insight on Primordial posthumous metaphysiology today, I guess. Nobody wanted to go down there so she summoned an army of hekatonkhieres to lug up a few chunks for analysis.

>XM 220

Fair Eyes accidentally cracked open the planet while trying to frack it for minerals. An honest-to-Emperor C'tan popped out, took one look at me and ran for the nearest star systems. All attempts at hugging by curious super-Gauna were ignored.

>XM-666

Found the Aposimz today. Strangely enough some psychic traces of children remained which some of the crew tried to rationalise as hallucinations-basically science ghosts. Got Secret to grant them eternal rest.

Today the crew reminded me the ship has a directive to terraform and seed human life on suitable planets. To which I replied that technically we have given that I've been instructing the super-Gauna to form vast biological bridges out of the pet Gauna to assimilate and carry chunks of habitable planets with us.

>XM-719

Found an unusual breed of Gauna with advanced stealth capabilities and multiple Cores. Once tamed, this adaptation led to significant advances in super-Gauna development. Terraforming carried out with minimal alteration to local ecology, although some debate has arose as to whether the super-Gauna colonists count should count as human life, Gauna life or part of the ship.

>XM-913

Unprecedented unity among super-Gauna due to the discovery of new friends. Despite human crewmembers' alarm, they were outvoted and while the planet remains nonviable for colonisation, my creations have decided to form a Mass Union ship around the planet and thus tow it with us.

>XM-414

Super-Gauna have begun plans to turn this planet into a holiday resort, with the main attracting being surfing on the Whale Gauna. Gave the crew a nice, relaxing vacation on one of the few beaches on the planet. Crew had lots of fun, largely because transhuman enhancements are becoming increasingly popular

>XM-1400

Planet accidentally destroyed when the super-Gauna's other planet crashed into it. Gave them a stern lecture about responsibility.

>XM-444

It appears whatever accident befell the Aposimz stranded it in multiple parts of space and time. Found unusual shapeshifting Gauna and a placentatech device. Super-gauna reported that said device gives them really, really good vibes man. Hypothesis: Device is actually some sort of Heigus particle drug refiner.

Captain's Log, stardate 3396: Found three Mass Union ships. By now the friendly Gauna surrounded the ship is going to make jumping to whatever location the bizarre engine's apparently locked on to difficult, because I'm pretty sure it's not programmed to bring so many Gauna with it. Jumping delayed as I try to reconfigure it with dimensional mana. On a happier note, I finally finished building those relays.

Captain's Log, stardate 3396.5: That creepy little man with the spiral obsession tried to make a run for it. Fried him and his blood nematode into stardust. Yion has requested deployment to engage Ochiai. As all other forces are currently making an ally out of the Mass Union ship and terrifying the defender pilots she's got the green light to do that.

I'd better get on board the Sidonia to explain the situation-and my solution-personally. It'll be a hard sell, but hopefully suborning the Mass Union ship will demonstrate the cost effectiveness of my work.

Update: Yion just made a GBE-lightsaber out of her own placenta and deflected Ochiai's beam right back at him. Whelp, that was eas-oh, he's still just barely alive.

Talked to him a little about my work and compared notes. Nice to meet a kindred spirit! He seems pretty chuffed I've validated the basic concept of his work.

Captain's Log, stardate 3398: It took a lot of explaination and even more arguing, but it's go time. In T-minus 8 seconds Yion will sing the song that compells Gauna to stop attacking other organic lifeforms. The Sidonia's repair has gone smoothly thanks to our advanced energistic systems, although the crew is absolutely terrified by the Angela's modifications.

All that's left to do is contemplate the long-term consequences of forcibly moeifying an entire species. We pacified the Gauna...but at what cost?