All incidents and casualties related to Expedition - by Jimmy Manderson

[34th Brigade]

Case number: #1-833-C7
Date: 12/05/834
Category: Psychosis
Persons/units involved: Scientist Alexandra Sergeeva

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Details: On May 12, a scientist of the 34th Brigade, Alexandra Sergeeva, failed to show up for the morning roll call aboard the "SD-Observer" (Corvo-class ship). Roll call was scheduled for 6:00 AM, according to the workday schedule. At 6:05 AM, a crew member went to her cabin and discovered her dead. The cause of death was slashing her veins.

An autopsy revealed no evidence of drug or alcohol intoxication. Alexandra also had not committed any suspicious behavior prior to her suicide. A review of CCTV cameras revealed no cases of psychosis or infection transmission from ship crew members.

Based on previous incidents, a full-scale search of Alexandra's cabin and work area was conducted, during which all photo and video footage was checked for the "Motion Blur" effect. All footage was filmed using this effect, and therefore it was decided not to transfer it to the quarantine unit of the cruiser "Hades." An additional interrogation of the Observer's crew revealed that Alexandra was engrossed in determining the causes of the mental infection within the ranks of the 34th Brigade. A review of Alexandra's recent requests aboard the cruiser for materials from other ships, as well as her conversations with other researchers, confirmed this theory, which is now considered the only true and accurate one.

Clarification (1): Any video or photo with this effect is marked accordingly, which is only applied when the effect is activated. With additional adjustments, it was possible to ensure that any unauthorized attempt to disable the effect would be immediately transmitted directly to the cruiser Hades.

During a search of the cabin and work area, various notes were found, the handwriting of which matched Alexandra's. All the notes related to the scientist's work and personal life matters throughout the expedition.

Clarification (2): On February 6, 834 A.S, all scientific personnel were transferred from the cruiser Hades to Scientific ships to prevent accidental transfer of contaminated materials. Infantry units were also prohibited from interacting with scientific personnel, except in cases requiring protection or termination due to a Psychosis/Flashes.

All entries for 1 month before her death are entered into the journal.

13.04.834

"I'm still reeling from what happened to the 342nd Wing. So many deaths have occurred throughout the Expedition that I'm tired of reading these reports. We're trying to find a solution, and it feels like we're going in circles."

17.04.834

"Today Derek gave me a photograph. He gave it to me straight away. Out of habit, I closed my eyes to avoid seeing anything out of the ordinary, and only then carefully took it, folding it in half. He looked at me and asked, "Don't you trust me?"

Then he spent the whole day looking sullen, as if I'd touched something sensitive. Finally, I decided to run the photo through the scanner and apply the "Blur" effect. Even with that effect, it was clear it was a landscape from the planet Denver. I remember that only K'Vosh structures can infect, so I opened the photo. It's not that I didn't want to say it, but I was sure Derek was fine. I just acted that way out of habit, as if I'd been programmed.

Yes, it was just a landscape. He often talked about Denver to me personally and said he dreamed of returning there as a free man.

I'm such a fool... I need to apologize tomorrow."

24.04.834

"I decided to check the maps we compiled during the Expedition. I submitted a request to Hades. Jimmy forwarded the map to me and said it contained literally all the notes I was looking for. He wrote that: "There's literally everything so do not ask me 2, 3 or more times that there's something missing. If you missed something - look twice."

Asshole. You're not the only one who's fucking tired about this whole thing, cyka."

25.04.834

"I checked all the maps. The systems we visited are laid out strangely. Basically, it's as if we're floating along the edge, periodically venturing deeper. Even the structures become more numerous, then fewer, and some even repeat. And here's the interesting thing.

The gate that was the trap that tore Clotilda apart, if it were operational, would have led directly into the depths. It's as if something wants to keep us out. Messaged to Koji it would be interesting to hear his point of view."

Added that same day: "Koji responded almost immediately and said he'd been thinking about it himself from time to time. We agreed to meet the day after tomorrow. Helson allowed."

26.04.834

"Today was our day off. We stopped for a break, giving everyone time to get ready and do something other than the Expedition. I tidied up wherever I could. Derek asked me out that very evening. I accepted. What am I even thinking? I don't know, like I need to do it before it's too late. Well, I was told Jacob was incredibly upset about Clotilda's death. And this was after the death of his brother, Tyler. Adam imposed a strict ban on any personal relationships during the Expedition after that trap incident.

It's easy for you to say, you're a lone wolf, Captain. I'm sure if people dated, they'd at least feel more secure in this darkness."

Added that same day: "This night was magical."

27.04.834

"I met with Koji. I've already missed this old man who loves to mention his Home and lecture on its history. But everyone has their own quirks.

So, during the discussion, he explained that the entire Abyss is a single Daam-K'Vosh system, constructed by them for unknown purposes. He also pointed out that among all these structures, nothing habitable was found. Based on Dr. Sinclair's work, Daam-K'Vosh had what we're accustomed to calling "habitation."

But here, there's none of that. The structures simply exist. We discussed the enormous amount of radio interference when we fly into areas with numerous structures. It's like some kind of passive electronic warfare system that isn't fully operational... For some reason.

I told him that the gate that killed Clotilda was actually functional. It seemed the system simply blocked us from entering. And, most surprisingly, he agreed with this and showed me a map with his own markings. And then my jaw dropped: we'd literally avoided several more such traps after Clotilda's death. Moreover, Koji himself set the course and told us where the Brigade shouldn't poke its nose during the flight. He said that after all this time, he'd gotten a damn good sense of the Abyss and understood what was going on. But not completely.

Oh, right, I forgot to mention: I asked him to extract all the Psychosis and Flash cases from database so I could analyze them and establish connections. Koji brought them to me and asked what exactly I wanted to see in all of this. I said I didn't know yet, but it felt like I was close to solving the Psychosis in the Brigade. He hinted that Victor was working on it, and I shouldn't take his job away from him, to which I replied that Victor had given everyone a signal about how things worked, but to dig deeper, a brain alone wouldn't be enough in this situation."

31.04.834

"Another case of Psychosis was reported today. An ensign from the 351st Wing. He was found hanged. The entire room was covered in some surreal crap. They sent me photos. The only thing I can see is "GOD HAS COME."

And we're in "Abyss-28." Moreover, he hanged himself about 20 minutes after we entered this system. Oh, and his veins were cut. The guy simply went crazy out of nowhere because he had no suspicious photos or videos. The crew was also urgently checked. Nothing was found."

02.05.834

"I think I figured it out. I'll write later when everything's ready. So far, my guess is that the Psychosis can spread passively. That is, you can be infected with this crap without even realizing it. All that remains is to activate you at the right time, place, and moment.

I told Victor and Koji about this. They both told me they had similar thoughts. Victor also said he's been thinking for a month about the characteristics of passive carriers of the infection. As it turns out, from his observations, these carriers don't do anything special at all. And here's the scary shit. That Ensign could have been passively infected before being activated. So my question is: Who or what activated him? Could there really be anything other than visual contact?"

07.05.834

"Andrei and Jacob died. Fuck...

I met Derek today. I've never cried so much in my life. Andrei is my comrade from the Coalition, and I just feel sorry for Jacob. The guy didn't deserve all this crap.

Господи... Их то за что? ("God... Why did this happen to them?" - translated)"

09.05.834

"I can't sleep normally for the second day. I'm trying to figure out what this psychosis thing is. Something's wrong here, and that's a fact. I feel like I'm close to it all... I need to start writing down my notes and double-check everything. There's a connection!"

11.05.834

"Yes, I understood that!"

12.05.834

Added probably in night of 12.05.835: "These structures know about us. They've long since figured out everything about us, and who we are.

When we took our first step into the Abyss, everything was predetermined. What we see is the legacy of Daam-K'Vosh. It's the legacy of the Empire. These are literally THEIR worlds, created... For what? We haven't found any structures that could indicate their existence. We haven't found any evidence that they could have been here. That is, we haven't seen anything that would indicate anyone ever lived here.

Structures, structures, thousands of structures, each one of which DOESN'T DRIVE US CRAZY. Note that if we don't look at them, we're alive. We're perfectly fine. No voices in our heads, nothing at all that would allow them to penetrate our brains. We're literally making mistake after mistake, allowing them to penetrate our heads through our guys. All the madness happening around us is the result of someone making a mistake and allowing someone else to spread the infection.

They are studying us. Their methods are becoming more and more twisted, our every step is the exclusive favor of this SOMETHING that is watching us. The interference in the radio broadcasts isn't radiation, or faulty equipment; it's THEY whispering among themselves. Checking the maps, I realized they were leading us deeper, but not letting us go too far.

But there's something else. Who is behind all this? Even with all the security measures, despite all the attempts to bypass the infection, we continue to go mad. Someone is already walking among us, doing what they do. What if there are ten of them? What if there are a hundred? What if they are all of us, and the structures only needed access to our heads to take control at the right moment, at the right time and place?

Trust no one! Talk to no one! We could already be infected, every single one of us! I have to meet Adam. The expedition must end right now! Otherwise it will be too late!"

Added later: GOD HAS COME, GOD HAS COME, GOD HAS COME, GOD HAS COME, GOD HAS COME, GOD HAS COME, GODHASCOME, GODHASCOME, БОГПРИШЁЛБОГПРИШЁЛБОГПРИШЁЛБОГПРИШЁЛБОГПРИШЁЛ-

Further writing ceased. It is believed that Alexandra then committed suicide. Unlike the Psychosis case of April 31, 834 A.S., Alexandra left no other notes in her room except those written shortly before her death.

"Do we have the slightest idea what kind of God we are talking about?"

"Best guess: We've gotten so close that "God" is contacting them personally.

Worst guess: Someone is so infected that they've managed not only to kill themselves or someone else, but also to secretly spread the infection, fully aware of what they're doing. The shittiest part of this whole thing, Adam, is that we won't know until the last moment."

"I'll gather all commanders and we'll talk about ending of the Expedition."

On May 13, 834 A.S., an emergency meeting was held among the 34th Brigade's unit commanders to discuss aborting the Expedition and returning to the Sirius sector. After a lengthy discussion and weighing all arguments, the decision was made to continue.

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