This Is A Game About Aliens.

(if: (count: (history:), "Node 1") is 0)[After accepting the mission, you and Jim are on the ISS within 48 hours. As you leave Progress, the shuttle that brought you up, you ascend into the ISS. You lead Jim through the two Russian-owned compartments until you reach the american side. You float into Node 1 and look around. To one side, a table along the wall with food rations in cabinets near the window. A large window allows you to look out at the dark void that is space: billions of stars, galaxies, and planets are floating all around you and it feels as though you are in a tin can, a very technologically advanced tin can.] Towards the aft (behind) is the [[FCB->Functional Cargo Block (FCB)]], which is an acronym for something you can’t recall. Fore (ahead) of you is [[Destiny, the U.S. lab]]. To the port (left) side, you see [[Node 3]], with its workout machinery, bathroom, and cupola at the end. To starboard (right), the [[Airlock]] for the american side. [[Open the map->Map]]

You enter the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). It is the largest single module dimensionally, and it feels like it too. You count 10 science racks and 13 storage and systems racks, more than double of what the Columbus module has. Ahead of you is the [[JEM Exposed Facility]]. Behind you is [[Node 2->Node 2(2)]].

You move down the JEM, carefully avoiding the science racks. You get to the end, and move aside a canvas covering the one of the two windows. Looking out, you see a large platform with an assortment of boxes and other sciencey looking stuff. Closing the canvas again, you look at the airlock in the middle of the wall. This must be how they take experiments in and out of the ISS. Above you is the [[JEM Experiment Logistics Module]]. Behind you is the rest of the [[Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)]].

You ascend into the Experiment Logistics Module. It is a comfortable sized area, with storage compartments on all sides except for the passage below. It feels like a wonderfully quiet place to relax with a book and read. Below you is the [[Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)]].

As you enter Node 2, the first thing you notice is the 4 sleeping compartments. The ones above and below you appear to be closed, but the ones to either side seem available. As you get closer, Jim sticks his head out of the right compartment. "Hey, there you are. This one's mine. I think these two are closed so you get that one". He waves his hand at the closed compartments before pointing across to the open one. [["Thanks, I'll move my stuff in once I finish exploring"->Node 2(cont.)]] [["Yeah, obviously."->Node 2(continued)]]

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You enter the airlock module. Inside, two spacewalk-ready suits sit in their respective frames. These frames allow the suit to be put on without floating away. To the left is the control panel for the airlock itself, which is directly ahead of you. [[Return to Node 1->Node 1]]

You enter the Columbus Orbital Facility. Launched in 2008, Columbus is the European Space Agency's (ESA) contribution to the ISS. Like the U.S. lab, Columbus is outfitted with tech from head to toe. While many of the racks are dedicated to science experiments, 3 are filled with life support systems and their respective control panels. You're not sure what all of them are, but you can clearly see an oxygen indicator, temperature controls, and cabin pressure. All seems to be in order. [[Return to Node 2->Node 2(2)]]

You decide to turn on the computer. First you check your email. A few half-hearted well wishes from staff and distant family later, and you almost close the tab out of boredom. For some reason, you decide to scroll one more page. The first email at the top is an email from your wife. She's an elementary school teacher, and got her class to write up some well wishes. Reading them fills your heart with happiness. What a perfect way to end your first day in space. Smiling, you shut your computer, curl up in your sleeping bag and [[decide to go to sleep->The Next Day...]]. <style> tw-story { background: url(https://www.itprotoday.com/sites/itprotoday.com/files/styles/article_featured_standard/public/win10deskhero_1.png?itok=pQHzUucY) no-repeat center center fixed; background-size: cover; } tw-passage { background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); color: white; } </style>

You flip 180 degrees and enter the Cupola. In front of you is the MMS computer. If you float a bit father, you can look out the window comfortably in all directions. Look out the [[Window]]. [[Return to Node 3->Node 3]]

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You yawn loudly, and Jim shoots you a look. Ignoring it, you turn, grab your few belongings, and slide into the narrow, but cozy, compartment. The sleeping bag is vertical, and you wonder what it will be like to sleep weightless. In front of you is your [[Computer]]. You might have some emails to check. Who knows, the internet might even be working well enough to browse reddit a bit. Or you could leave the emails 'til tomorrow and go to [[sleep->The Next Day...]].

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This is a title screen."THIS IS A GAME ABOUT ALIENS". That's the title. Got it? Got it. Also, wear headphones. This game's got cool dude sound effects and I wouldn't want you to miss out. Okay, you can press START GAME now. It's right down there. .....|.| .....|.| ..\.|.|./ ...\|.|/ ....\./ .....V (set: $timer to 1200) [[START GAME ->INCOMING MESSAGE]]

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You have been assigned to a new case with JIM ROBERTS. Another message has been received in the same language as one from four years prior. JIM ROBERTS has determined it to be the same species of alien. Location tracking places the source of the message much closer than the last message. Your mission is to decide whether the aliens are harmless, or if they are a threat to the people of Earth. JIM ROBERTS will be your only partner for this mission as he is the most qualified. [[ACCEPT MISSION BRIEF->SHUTTLE LAUNCH]] [[DENY MISSION BRIEF->SIGH.]]

<p>As you board your cylinder of metal and fuel, you start to feel apprehensive. Thoughts of shuttle crashes blossom in your mind. No matter what you do to try and think about anything else, explosions play over and over on repeat. You swallow deeply, trying to control your nerves. It was probably a good thing you trusted your friend and took a laxative the day before. The thought of the ambassador of earth soiling himself relieves your tension a bit, just in time for the countdown to begin. 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... As the tiny cockpit shakes and the G forces increase, you feel woozy. Your vision blurs, and you pass out. It was probably for the best anyways.</p> [[CONTINUE->Node 1]] <style> p { /* Start the shake animation and make the animation last for 0.5 seconds */ animation: shake 1s; /* When the animation is finished, start again */ animation-iteration-count: infinite; } @keyframes shake { 0% { transform: translate(0.25px, 0.25px) rotate(0deg); } 10% { transform: translate(-0.25px, -0.5px) rotate(-0.25deg); } 20% { transform: translate(-0.75px, 0px) rotate(0.25deg); } 30% { transform: translate(0.75px, 0.5px) rotate(0deg); } 40% { transform: translate(0.5px, -0.5px) rotate(0.5deg); } 50% { transform: translate(-0.25px, 0.5px) rotate(-0.25deg); } 60% { transform: translate(-0.75px, 0.25px) rotate(0deg); } 70% { transform: translate(0.75px, 0.25px) rotate(-0.25deg); } 80% { transform: translate(-0.25px, -0.25px) rotate(0.25deg); } 90% { transform: translate(0.25px, 0.5px) rotate(0deg); } 100% { transform: translate(0.25px, -0.5px) rotate(-0.25deg); } } </style>

It's reasonable. Maybe you're too old for this. Maybe space is not your thing. I get it. What I don't get is why you decided to play this game. I mean, it's pretty obvious what it's about. Nobody forced you to play it. (I hope) Or, maybe you're just a rebel and you wanted to decline. fine. I'll give you another chance. But just one you hear me? I can only delay the launch for so long. [[Return->MISSION BRIEF]] [[Decline Again->End.]]

Ahh Destiny. Such an american name. As you move into it you spot the exercise bike, very much an american activity. The walls around you are filled with racks of technology probably used for sciencey stuff. To the left you spot the computer and joystick used to control the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) and to the right the accompanying trainer: exactly the same setup but not connected to anything except practice software. If you use the arm it would be a good idea to get a few practice runs in first. Ahead of you is (if: (count: (history:), "Node 2") > 0)[ [[Node 2->Node 2(2)]]] (if: (count: (history:), "Node 2") is 0)[ [[Node 2]]], and behind you is [[Node 1]]. [[Open the map->Map]]

Node 3 is the rec room of the ISS. Mounted on the right wall is the treadmill. (if: (count: (history:), "Use the Treadmill") is 0)[It seems a bit odd that the treadmill is on the wall, but you turn to step onto it and your brain reorients your body. You are reminded of how useless directions can be in space. [[Use the Treadmill]]] Past the treadmill is the toilet. It's nothing special, just a bit of suction for your #2 to keep the smell (and the contents) inside, and a long tube for your #1. It looks a bit uncomfortable, but a small discomfort is worth the avoidance of the smell. On the left is the air filtering system and the water reclaimer/purifier, as well as the oxygen converter. You think it makes the oxygen from water, but you don't recall how. It's probably in a manual somewhere. Finally, past the life support is the end of Node 3. To the right and left are an airlock and another module, both currently being used to hold supplies. Below is the [[Cupola]], a small area with one computer and joystick to control the Mobile Servicing System (MSS), and a hemisphere of glass window to look out of. [[Return to Node 1->Node 1]] [[Open the map->Map]]

Ahh. Functional Cargo Block. That was it. Anyways, that's the russian side. No need to be rooting around in their stuff while they're gone. [[Return to Node 1->Node 1]]

It's been a week since you first declined to take the shuttle, and despite them delaying launch for you, you decided to stay home anyways. You get up from mercilessly declining the pleas of your fellow countrymen asking you to do your part to represent ''America'', and opened the door to your kitchen. Unbenownced to you, a robber broke onto your house. You meet them on your way to grab an apple from the fridge. Panicked, the robber pulls out their gun and shoots you. 15 times. In the chest. You're dead. Very dead. Should have taken that ambassador job after all. THE END

You glide into the cupola and let out a small "Whoa" as you look out the window. Above... err, below... err, in the direction you're looking, the earth is bathed in sunlight. Clouds glisten white on a background of green and blue. You can make out part of North America. "Hey, I can see my house from here" you think with a smile. You linger for a bit on this thought, taking in the view before sliding back down into [[Node 3]]. <style> tw-story { background: url(https://i.ibb.co/3fsXLDY/spacegif.gif) no-repeat center center fixed; background-size: cover; } </style>

You strap yourself into the contraption and run for about 20 minutes. In space your body atrophies quickly, so it's a good idea to get a run in whenever possible. Winded but not exhausted, you slow to a stop and unstrap yourself. Being weightless again feels a bit odd, but the feeling passes quickly and you move back to looking at [[Node 3]].

"Alright, cool, but don't take too long. I know day and night is a bit wacky here, but our bodies still follow their own clock. We should stick to that". You nod and continue through node 2 to the next [[intersection->Node 2(2)]].

"Hey, no need to get moody with me. I'm just trying to help" he mutters. You shake your head and continue through node 2 to the next [[intersection->Node 2(2)]].

Ahead you see a small storage area. To the left you see the [[Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)]]. To the right, the [[Columbus Orbital Facility]]. Just behind you is your [[Sleeping Compartment]] and past that, [[Destiny, the U.S. lab]]. [[Open the map->Map]]

You are awoken by the sound of blaring alarms and red lights. Bleary eyed, you get out of your sleeping bag and open the canvas flap from your sleeping compartment to [[Node 2->Node 2 2]]. <p id="uslab"></p> <style> tw-story { background-color: red; } </style> <script> var audio2 = new Audio('http://soundbible.com/mp3/Alarm Alert Effect-SoundBible.com-462520910.mp3'); audio2.addEventListener('ended', function() { if (document.getElementById("uslab") != null) { this.currentTime = 0; this.play(); } }, false); audio2.play(); audio2.volume = 0.2 </script>

You enter the airlock, and see Jim already messing with the panel, trying to turn off the airlock alarms. He finally shuts them down and says to you, “I don’t understand why they went off, all the airlocks were secure.” [[“It was probably a malfunction in the system, we can send an alert to NASA”]] [[“Maybe it was the aliens haha”]]

“Yeah good idea, that’s probably the most likely explanation. I’ll take care of it,” Jim walks away. You stand there for a moment before your stomach lets out a loud grumble. You decide to go grab breakfast. [[NODE 1->Breakfast]]

As you finish breakfast, Jim comes from the direction of Destiny and says, “We have a situation now! I tried to translate the message, and there’s the word exterminate again.” [[ “I was unaware we had a new message, when did that come in?”]] [[ “Oh no! What’s our course of action?”]]

Jim gives you a confused look, “You’re worried about when the message came in and not the fact that aliens are threatening us after invading our land? I’m starting to think you don’t understand how bad this really is.” You look at Jim. “Sorry, I’m just bothered that I didn’t receive the message as well, along with your translation to my handheld. To be fair, we know nothing about this alien species.” “Well out of us both I’m the only one qualified to translate these, regardless of what we know they are aliens. They don’t belong here, they don’t belong anywhere,” he storms out again. Something seems fishy, but you understand his concern. All of earth is depending on the two of you. You decide to make a video log to document what has happened so far. [[Sleeping Compartment->Vlog]]

“We should be prepared and get ready to fight back. If they are planning an attack we need to be ready”. Jim hurries off. You feel a weight in your gut that this species, while you know little about it, might really be a threat to the earth. You are scared, but need to remain calm to help solve the problem and take the actions necessary to keep humanity safe. You decide to make a video log to document what has happened so far. [[Sleeping Compartment->Vlog (2)]]

Before heading back to your compartment, you go through Destiny and unplug the tablet assigned to you. You turn it on and the familiar startup sound puts you at ease. You slide into your sleeping bag and it seems like it is no different than being on a camping trip. You open the video log application and it crashes, no big deal. You wait a moment and try again, an obnoxious feedback sound begins emanating from the tablet. You restart the tablet, a bit more concerned. You’ve never had that problem before. You are finally able to open the program, but all you see on the screen is a distorted image of yourself; all the logs you try to record are distorted visually and audibly. [[Tell Jim there is an issue]] [[Don't tell Jim]]

You find Jim and express your concerns. He takes his tablet and assesses the issue. You discuss it with him, and bring up the possibility that it could be the aliens interfering. He turns to you and says, “I’m glad you’re finally seeing it how it is. I knew from the beginning they were never harmless. I had better run some more tests on these to see what I can learn." [[Give Jim your tablet]]

You locate Jim and alert him of the problem, showing him the distorted video logs. As he tries his own tablet to double check the issue, you send a report to base asking them to look into the problem and alert you when it is fixed. “I don’t think this is an issue they have control over, the aliens may have infiltrated our system,” Jim anxiously rambles on about how the aliens are sabotaging the ISS. You cut him off, “Jim, if they wanted to sabotage the ISS I don’t think they would be messing with our tablets.” "Maybe, but I'm not so sure. This could be some larger EMP-type device..." He rambles on again for a bit, until finally he runs out of things to say. He askes for your tablet to run some more tests, but you hesitate. [[Give Jim your tablet]] [[Keep your tablet->Tablet Trouble]]

(if: (count: (history:), "Don't tell Jim") > 0)[As you plug the charging cable into your tablet, you feel an odd lip on the back. You unplug it](if: (count: (history:), "Tell Jim there is an issue") > 0)[ You decide to keep the tablet. Jim can run tests on his own, and then you can both confer later. Once you enter your compartment and close the canvas door, you investigate the tablet further. Nothing is out of the ordinary until you feel an odd lip on the back. You turn it around] to take a closer look, and see a small ridge on the tablet the size of a microSD card. You remove it from the tablet. The material looks foreign, but nothing NASA wouldn’t have access to... You remove it and your tablet boots up normally. The small chip seems to be what was causing the issues with the tablet! There’s only one way this could have happened… [[A human planted it.]] [[An alien agent infiltrated and hacked the equipment]]

You investigate further, using some of the equipment in Destiny, you decide based on what you see with the equipment and tests that the material is 100% man-made. The only person that could have placed it was Jim. This explains his odd behavior and why he was pushing so hard that the aliens were the enemy. You knew he did not like other species, but not enough that he’d frame them as evil and try to annihilate them. [[Confront Jim.]]

You investigate further using equipment in Destiny. Based on what you see with the equipment and your test results you come to the conclusion that the material is alien-made. Jim was right all along, the aliens had been what was messing with your equipment trying to sabotage the ISS and your mission! They must be doing this to distract you from what they plan to do with earth. You have to [[find Jim ASAP and let him know what you have discovered]].

You confront Jim about the SD card. His face goes white before turning to a crimson red. "I... it was the aliens! They must be on board! Quick, I brought my knife for this! I.. I knew it all along!" Those were his last words as you grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and, bracing against the wall, launched it as his head. Luckily, you did shot putt in high school, and the end of the exinguister hit him in the back of the head with a thud. As both the extinguisher and Jim floated down into Node 2, you call up NASA, and tell them the news... [[The aliens aren't evil after all.]]

You confront Jim about the SD card. His face turns a crimson red. "I... it was the aliens! They must be on board! Quick, I brought my knife for this! I.. I knew it all along!" Hours of searching turned up nothing, until, after you had given up, an alarm started to sound and Jim cried out in a tone of simultaneous triumph and dismay. You rush over to find Jim trying to fix a small hole in the side of the airlock. You help him out, and together you patch it up enough for the time being. You immediately dial NASA, and request a service crew, along with the grave news. [[The aliens are evil after all.]]

A few weeks later and all is well. After studing hard for 2 weeks, you successfully learned enough of the alien language to communicate. Unfortunately all your hard work was in vain, as they learned english even faster. In the span of just a few hours between recieving a radio mesage from the president upon entering the solar system and arriving in orbit outside earth, the aliens were nearly fluent. They spoke with unnatural eloquence and grace, which mirrored their smooth movements. As it turns out, they were a group of refugees from a neigboring solar system that got destroyed by the expansion of their star. All they asked was for asylum on earth. Thankfully, due to the nature of their planet, they happily populated a section of the sahara that was totally uninhabited previously, where they lived, content to ignore and be ignored by the rest of the planet. [[THE END]] <style> tw-story { background: url(https://i.ibb.co/3fsXLDY/spacegif.gif) no-repeat center center fixed; background-size: cover; } </style>

A few weeks later and all is hell. After 2 weeks of fear aboard the ISS, you and Jim are brought down to earth to a world preparing for war. But it was all for naught, as the aliens never made it into the atmosphere alive. Two nuclear warheads were launched, one from Russia and one from the United States. They struck with a silence that was worthy of the death they brought. Amateur stargazers were dissapointed when pointing their telescopes at the ship was not rewarded with a large explosion. Many thought the bombs had been snuffed out by the aliens. Mass panic ensued, as government officials and scientists alike tried to assure the population that there would be no explosion because there is no air in space. Nevertheless, it wasn't until the ship came down in the industrial district of Pittsburgh that the public was well and truly convinced that the war had been ended as quickly as it began. It was scavenged, but the materials seemed to be nothing more than reinforced steel. Useless, without the working machinery. You and Jim are heralded as heroes, but something just didn't feel right. Every night you ask yourself "What if the aliens weren't evil?" and every night you have no answer. [[THE END]] <style> tw-story { background: url(https://78.media.tumblr.com/3f77c9c45500eeae8fb4e4ce18c0c51d/tumblr_my48oki9UA1saxfomo1_1280.gif) no-repeat center center fixed; background-size: cover; } tw-passage { background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); color: white; } </style>

Jim turns to you with a stoic look on his face, “You know that isn’t funny right? Do you understand how dangerous they could be, they are invading our planet and you think it’s okay to joke about it? The entire planet could be at risk because of these vermin,” Jim storms off. You stand there for a moment, a bit confused about his anger, but decided to go eat breakfast as your stomach lets out a loud grumble. [[NODE 1->Breakfast]]

<img src=https://i.imgur.com/HEo1NLA.png> (link:"Close Map")[(goto: (history: )'s last)]

Before heading back to your compartment, you go to the storage bins and unplug the tablet assigned to you for video logs. You turn it on and the familiar startup sound puts you at ease. You slide into your sleeping bag and it seems like it is no different than being on a camping trip. You open the video log application and it crashes, no big deal. You wait a moment and try again, an obnoxious feedback sound begins emanating from the tablet. You restart the tablet, a bit more concerned. You’ve never had that problem before. You are finally able to open the program, but all you see on the screen is a distorted image of yourself; all the logs you try to record are distorted visually and audibly. [[Tell Jim there's an issue->Tell Jim there is an issue 2]] [[Don't tell Jim]]

You decide to keep it to yourself for now. Jim has enough on his plate without you worrying him with a technical issue that will probably just resolve itself anyways. [[You walk away to return your tablet to the charging area->Tablet Trouble]]

(if: (count: (history:), "Node 2 2") is 0)[You trip over the hastily unzipped flap and cartwheel into Node 2. Steadying yourself, you look around.] Ahead you see a small storage area. To the left you see the [[Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)->Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) 2]]. To the right, the [[Columbus Orbital Facility->Columbus Orbital Facility 2]]. Just behind you is your [[Sleeping Compartment->Sleeping Compartment 2]] and past that, [[Destiny, the U.S. lab->Destiny, the U.S. lab 2]], which seems to be where the alarms are coming from. [[Open the map->Map]] <script> audio2.pause(); </script>

(if: (count: (history:), "Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) 2") < 2)[A quick glance around the JEM reveals nothing out of the ordinary. All of the experiments are neatly stowed on their racks or in compartments.](if: (count: (history:), "JEM Exposed Facility") > 0 and (count: (history:), "JEM Experiment Logistics Module") > 0)[The exposed facility and experiment logistics module look just like when you saw them yesterday] (if: (count: (history:), "JEM Exposed Facility") is 0 and (count: (history:), "JEM Exposed Facility 2") is 0)[[[Explore the exposed facility->JEM Exposed Facility 2]] ] (if: (count: (history:), "Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) 2") > 1)[All of the experiments are neatly stowed on their racks or in compartments.] [[Return to Node 2->Node 2 2]]

(if: (count: (history:), "Columbus Orbital Facility 2") is 0)[Guessing that Jim was already at the airlock, you slide into Columbus to check the life support systems. At first glance, everything seems fine. Actually, on second glance everything seems fine. All of the gauges read well within the normal limits, and the logs show no abnormal activity for the past 24 hours. If there was a breach, it would've been obvious here. Puzzled, you leave Columbus and head back into [[Node 2->Node 2 2]].](if: (count: (history:), "Columbus Orbital Facility 2") > 0)[Everything seems fine here. Return to [[Node 2->Node 2 2]]]

Seeing no fires or gaping holes in the hull, you sigh and slip back into your compartment. You could just go back to sleep and wait until the alarms go off, or you could go back out and try to fix it yourself. [[Go back to sleep]] [[Return to Node 2->Node 2 2]]

You turn around and push off towards Destiny. As you get in, you notice the alarms still seem to be farther ahead, but this is definitely the right direction. [[Check around Destiny first to make sure everything's okay.]] Ahead of you is [[Node 1->Node 1 2]], and behind you is [[Node 2->Node 2 2]]. [[Open the map->Map]]

(if: (count: (history:), "Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) 2" , "Columbus Orbital Facility 2" , "Check around Destiny first to make sure everything's okay." , "sleeping compartment 2") < 2)[You burst into Node 1. To the right is [[Node 3->Node 3 2]], ahead of you is the [[Functional Cargo Block (FCB)->Functional Cargo Block (FCB) 2]] and to the left is the apparent source of the alarms, the [[Airlock->A Rude Awakening]].](if: (count: (history:), "Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) 2" , "Columbus Orbital Facility 2" , "Check around Destiny first to make sure everything's okay." , "sleeping compartment 2") > 1)[As you float into Node 1, you see Jim casually sipping on some water while heating up a breakfast packet. "what happened?" you ask. "I'm still not entirely sure," responds Jim. "I was up early working out, and the airlock just went haywire! I finally got it fixed, no thanks to you, sleepy head". With a mock sigh, he takes out the packet and turns back to some operations manual he was reading. You smile and grab some breakfast of your own. [[Later that morning...]]] [[Open the map->Map]]

As you turn into Node 3, Jim's voice pipes up from behind you. "And where do you think you're going?" [["To the bathroom"]] [["To work out"]] [["To the cupola"]] [[Return to Node 1->Node 1 2]]

Still the russian side. Still no need to be rooting around in their stuff while they're gone. Creep. [[Return to Node 1->Node 1 2]]

You decide to take a second to look around Destiny, just to make sure everything is in order(if: (count: (history:), "Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) 2" , "Columbus Orbital Facility 2" , "sleeping compartment 2") > 0)[, when suddenly the alarms go off. Jim either fixed the problem, or something else turned off the alarms. You hope it's the first option, and go back to your sweep]. The science racks all seem fine, but then again space science is far from your field of expertise, so you're not entirely sure. You're about to continue on to Node 1, when something catches your eye. The tablets that were given to you and Jim for the duration of the trip were at diffeent angles to when they were placed there originally. Jim's is understandable; he could have used it for any number of purposes. Yours however...you haven't touched yours since docking. You could take a closer look, but (if: (count: (history:), "Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) 2" , "Columbus Orbital Facility 2" , "sleeping compartment 2") is 0)[the alarms are still going off and] you should check on the airlock to see what's going on. [[Investigate further]] [[Continue on to Node 1->Node 1 2]]

You move down the JEM, carefully avoiding the science racks. You get to the end, and move aside a canvas covering the one of the two windows. Looking out, you see a large platform with an assortment of boxes and other sciencey looking stuff. Closing the canvas again, you look at the airlock in the middle of the wall. This must be how they take experiments in and out of the ISS. Above you is the [[JEM Experiment Logistics Module->JEM Experiment Logistics Module 2]]. Behind you is the rest of the [[Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)->Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) 2]].

(if: (count: (history:), "Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) 2" , "Columbus Orbital Facility 2") is 0)[The alarms suddenly turn off, and you look in the direction of the airlock. "Jim must have turned them off" you think, turning away. ]Overwhelmed with curiousity, you reach out and grab your tablet. You turn it on and the familiar startup sound puts you at ease. However, that ease diminishes a bit when you try to open the video log application and it crashes. "No big deal" you think, but the hair on your arms begins to stand up, and a shiver runs down your spine. You wait a moment and try again, and an obnoxious feedback sound begins emanating from the tablet. You restart the tablet, feeling very concerned. You’ve never had that problem before. You are finally able to open the program, but all you see on the screen is a distorted image of yourself; all the logs you try to record are distorted visually and audibly. Confused and a little distressed, you think about what to do when Jim's head pops out from Node 1. [[Tell Jim about the tablet]] [[Don't tell Jim about the tablet]]

You locate Jim and alert him of the problem, showing him the distorted video logs. As he tries his own tablet to double check the issue, you send a report to base asking them to look into the problem and alert you when it is fixed. “I don’t think this is an issue they have control over, the aliens may have infiltrated our system,” Jim anxiously rambles on about how the aliens are sabotaging the ISS. You cut him off, “Jim, if they wanted to sabotage the ISS I don’t think they would be messing with our tablets.” "Maybe, but I'm not so sure. This could be some larger EMP-type device, the airlock was acting up too!" Noticing your confused expression, he continues, "That's what caused the alarms this morning." You nod and ask, "What should our next course of action be?" Jim thinks for a moment, then replies, "I think we should get out of here, do you agree?" [["Yeah, let's go."]] [["No, we should stay and face the aliens"]]

Instinct tells you to not tell him about the problems. Quickly, you hide the tablet as you turn to greet him. "Hey, is there a problem over here? I heard some odd noises." "No, nothing's wrong," you reply. "Are you sure?" "Yeah, seriously I don't know what you're talking about." "Okay..." Jim hesitates, but then turns around and enters another room. You breather a sigh of relief, and quickly [[go to your sleeping compartment.]]

You began to make preparations for the meeting with the Aliens, with Jim begrudgingly following behind. When the time came, you accepted their boarding pod, and they stepped into the ISS. You greeted them with a quiet grace, like an old man finally letting death lead him away from the corporal plane. But death did not come. In fact, the aliens were quite well spoken, and reasonable in their request. They were a group of refugees from a neigboring solar system that got destroyed by the expansion of their star. All they asked was for asylum on earth. Earth accepted, on the condition that they would take the necessary steps to assimilate into society. Many groups formed against them, but the aliens were stoic in their resolve. They stayed, and worked tirelessly to earn their place in the world. Eventually, they came to call Earth their home, just like the rest of us. [[THE END]]

Jim was gone in 20 minutes. All alone, you prepared for the meeting with the aliens. If Jim would not die for his planet, it was your duty to bear the task of being the first line of defense. When the time came, you accepted their boarding pod, and they stepped into the ISS. You greeted them with a quiet grace, like an old man finally letting death lead him away from the corporal plane. But death did not come. In fact, the aliens were quite well spoken, and reasonable in their request. They were a group of refugees from a neigboring solar system that got destroyed by the expansion of their star. All they asked was for asylum on earth. But it was not to be, for Jim had arrived on Earth, and convinced them that the aliens had control over you, and that they menat to enslave the whole human race. Thus, even as you exchanged pleasantries while you waited for Washington to respond to a message that had not made it there, two nuclear warheads bore down on the alien ship.They struck with a silence that was worthy of the death they brought. All of the aliens died from the burst of radiation, including those on the ISS. You survived for a few hours in shock, before cardiac arrest ended your life. This was not how you had expected to go. [[THE END]]

"Oh, did you get scared by the alarms? Boo hoo" He makes a mock crying face. Noticing your lack of laughter, his face softens. "Go on. Have your morning sit on the pot, then get ready. We have work to do." [[Later that morning...]]

"To work out?? Don't you think you could've helped me first?" he replies in a seemingly joking manner, but with just enough edge to make it fall flat. "You seemed to have it under control" "Well you could've at least come over and asked!" Again, you sense a hint of bitterness, but you don't understand why. He did fix it himself right? You weren't needed. "I'll be sure to help out next time one of our systems fails," you say. With a small huff, Jim goes and makes himself some breakfast. You turn back to the treadmill with a smile. No major systems had failed since 2013, when one of the two Carbon Dioxide Removal Assemblies (CDRAs) shut down due to a temperature sensor malfunction. The system was built with redundancy so rather than replace the temperature system they simply use the second CDRA now. 5 years without major issues made you pretty confident that an airlock issue was going to be the worst of your problems. [[Later that morning...]]

"Ugh, stargazing(if: (count: (history:), "Window") > 0)[ again]?" "I like to look at the earth from this angle. It's so... small. A tiny ball holding all of human existence." Your eyes unfocus as you imagine it. "Not all of it," Jim huffs. "Well go on I guess, but don't spend too long. We have work to do." [[Later that morning...]]

You meet Jim in Destiny, where he is typing furiously on his computer. Looking up, he says, "I tried to translate the new message we just got, and there’s the word exterminate again.” “Oh no! What’s our course of action?” you respond. “We should be prepared and get ready to fight back. If they are planning an attack we need to be ready”. Jim hurries off. You feel a weight in your gut that this species, while you know little about it, might really be a threat to the earth. You are scared, but need to remain calm to help solve the problem and take the actions necessary to keep humanity safe.You decide to make a video log to document what has happened so far. [[Sleeping Compartment->Vlog (2)]]

Thankfully, you weren't out of your sleeping bag long enough for it to get cold. You let out a contented sigh as you slip back in, and soon enough the alarms fade out as you drift into a wonderful dream about ice cream. [[*Later that morning... ]]

You wake up to dead silence. Normally it's quiet, but this... this is eerily quiet. As you contemplate whether to get up or snooze even more, you notice a breeze against your face. This is quite odd, as the air recycler only has a small vent in your compartment. It has never done this before, and shouldn't even have the air pressure to create such a breeze. There's only one thing that could be causing this... [[Go to find Jim]] [[Get on your computer and let Houston know]]

In a daze, you go outside to find Jim. You find him hurrying through node 1, his arms full of equipment. "Finally you show up! The aliens breached a hole in Node 3! I'm going to try to patch it now but I think we need to fix it from the outside!" You mumble something about the wireless connection being off. Jim turns to you with a... smile? but that quickly turns into a mask of worry. "Oh, the aliens must be jamming our communications as well. We should fix this and get out of here!" You and Jim go to the airlock. Putting on your suits, you double check that you have all the required materials. Jim seems to know a lot about space station repair for a linguist. With a deep breath, you close the door to the airlock and depressurize the room. The door to space opens and you carefully climb around the outside of the ship towards the hole. Suddenly, you feel a huge impact to your side. You lose your grip and tumble away from the ship. After a few turns, you remember the thrusters on every space suit. You find the button, wait for your rotation to face you in the right direction, and then fire. And nothing happens. You keep tumbling, unable to stop the movement. "Jim... Jim!" you scream into your suit. No reply. Houston gives no response either. You are [[alone.]]

You hastily pull open your computer to alert NASA about the possible problem. Jim probably has already, but there's no harm in being safe when something like this occurs. You start to panic as the computer lags on startup, but it still loads the home screen with no problem, and you log in as fast as your fingers can type. You load up email, type out a quick message with the relevant details, and hit send. Doesn't work. You hit send again. Still nothing. You check your wireless connection, and your heart sinks. You are offline. In a daze, you shut the computer and go outside to find Jim. You find him hurrying through node 1, his arms full of equipment. "Finally you show up! The aliens breached a hole in Node 3! I'm going to try to patch it now but I think we need to fix it from the outside!" You mumble something about the wireless connection being off. Jim turns to you with a... smile? but that quickly turns into a mask of worry. "Oh, the aliens must be jamming our communications as well. We should fix this and get out of here!" You and Jim go to the airlock. Putting on your suits, you double check that you have all the required materials. Jim seems to know a lot about space station repair for a linguist. With a deep breath, you close the door to the airlock and depressurize the room. The door to space opens and you carefully climb around the outside of the ship towards the hole. Suddenly, you feel a huge impact to your side. You lose your grip and tumble away from the ship. After a few turns, you remember the thrusters on every space suit. You find the button, wait for your rotation to face you in the right direction, and then fire. And nothing happens. You keep tumbling, unable to stop the movement. "Jim... Jim!" you scream into your suit. No reply. Houston gives no response either. You are [[alone.]]

Two weeks after the First Encounter, things have mostly turned back to normal on earth. The aliens all died to radiation poisoning, and their ship carreened into the atmosphere where it burned brilliantly over Russia and crashed deep in a forest. It was scavenged, but the materials seemed to be nothing more than reinforced steel. Useless, without the working machinery. Jim Roberts is the new American Hero, and you are commemorated as well as the only casualty of the First Alien War. The thousands of aliens aboard the ship are, of course, not mentioned. Soon you will be forgotten, and the human race will be doomed to repeat the same mistakes that plagued them. [[THE END]]

(live: 1s)[(set: $timer to it - 1) (if: $timer is -1)[(stop:)] (if: $timer is 0)[(go-to: "Meteor Meme")]]

Out of nowhere, the ISS explodes. No fire of course (this is space after all) but everything went everywhere. You are very dead. As it turns out, a meteor zoomed out of space and blasted you to smithereens. Better luck next time! 20 minutes sure can go by quickly, eh? ;)

Once you enter your compartment and close the canvas door, you investigate the tablet further. Nothing is out of the ordinary until you feel an odd lip on the back. You turn it around and see a small ridge on the tablet the size of a microSD card. You remove it from the tablet. The material looks foreign, but nothing NASA wouldn’t have access to... You remove it and your tablet boots up normally. The small chip seems to be what was causing the issues with the tablet! There’s only one way this could have happened… [[A human planted it.]] [[An alien agent infiltrated and hacked the equipment]]

You pack up your things and prepare to leave. On your way towards your compartment, you spot one of the space suit's mics floating in the airlock. It seems odd, but you can only stop for a minute before you pull your eyes away and continue your preparation. [[Alert NASA and leave the ISS]]

"Are you crazy? Staying is a death wish! They're literally here to kill us!" [["It is our duty to be ambassadors to the aliens."]] [["I don't think they're here to kill us."]]

Hi! It looks like you reached the end of the game, congradulations(if: (count: (history:), "The aliens aren't evil after all.") > 0)[for getting the best ending], and thanks for playing! (if: (count: (history:), "The aliens aren't evil after all." , "you stayed and it turned out the aliens werent so bad") > 0)[You correctly deduced that the aliens weren't evil, and because of that, you saved many lives. However, more lives are at stake. Real lives. Innocent refugees are starving at the U.S.-Mexico border. If you have the ability, please <a href="http://www.borderpartnership.org/donate-993748.html" >DONATE HERE</a>. Thank you.] There are 7 total endings to this game, I encourage you to find them all! And remember, all your actions have consequences ;)

You give Jim your tablet. He says something about fixing it ASAP and hurries off. You do your routine checks on life support and such, and within the hour he is back. "Hey, you have got to see this!" he calls out. You meet him in Destiny and he shows you your tablet. "I got it working again, and found this!" On your screen is a jumbling of letters and words, and you look up quizzically. "Right I suppose this is hard to read for you. Basically, it says something about how we harmed them, and that they are here ready to bring death and destruction!!" "Okay, thats not good," you reply. "What should our next course of action be?" Jim thinks for a moment, then replies, "I think we should get out of here, do you agree?" [[Alert NASA and leave the ISS]] [[Stay and face the aliens.]]

You immediately dial NASA, and request an immediate evacuation, along with the grave news. [[The aliens are evil after all.]]

"Are you crazy? Staying is a death wish! They're literally here to kill us!" "I'm not sure we have sufficient evidence to conclude that they are trying to kill us at all," you argue. Jim sputters, "We do! Look!" He pulls out his own tablet and after a few taps shows you a transcript of what looks to be another alien message. You look up quizzically. "Right I suppose this is hard to read for you. Basically, it says something about how we harmed them, and that they are here ready to bring death and destruction!!" "Well I'm staying. You can do what you want." "You're insane. Well I'm out of here, you have the next hour to come to your senses our I'm leaving without you." [[Alien Encounter->you stayed but jim left]]

"It is our duty to be ambassadors to the aliens." "But... But...Look!" He pulls out his own tablet and after a few taps shows you a transcript of what looks to be another alien message. You look up quizzically. "Right I suppose this is hard to read for you. Basically, it says something about how we harmed them, and that they are here ready to bring death and destruction!!" [["You have a manual for the translating alien, right? Let me see it."]] [["Okay. Then we stay, and we die."]]

"I'm not sure we have sufficient evidence to conclude that they are trying to kill us at all," you argue. Jim sputters, "We do! Look!" He pulls out his own tablet and after a few taps shows you a transcript of what looks to be another alien message. You look up quizzically. "Right I suppose this is hard to read for you. Basically, it says something about how we harmed them, and that they are here ready to bring death and destruction!!" [["Okay. Then we stay, and we die."]] [["Well I'm staying. You can do what you want."]]

"You have a manual for the translating alien, right? Let me see it." With a grumble, Jim moves off to go find it. When he returns, you pull up the original message and decode it yourself. As you're flipping through the manual, you notice the page numbers don't line up. When you question Jim, he is hesitant, but eventually breaks. "Okay, so I took some of them out. You weren't supposed to notice." "Why though? Why do you not want me to translate this?" Jim says nothing. "Jim if you don't tell me the truth I'm going to find the rest of the pages myself" "FINE! I faked the bad parts of the messages because I don't trust the aliens! They're going to be the death of us! I know it!" "But you have no evidence supporting this claim?" "The first message was translated accurately I swear!" "Most of those words were incoherent. It seems likely that they didn't have a grasp of the translations yet. We're going to stay here and talk to them. It's our job after all." [[Alien Encounter->you stayed and it turned out the aliens werent so bad]]

"Okay. Then we stay, and we die," you say solemnly. Jim looks at you unconvinced. "Why?" [["Because we will die so the rest of Earth will survive. We will be heroes, Jim."->you stayed and it turned out the aliens werent so bad]] [["Because there is always a chance they aren't evil. They deserve a face to face meeting"->you stayed but jim left]]

"You're insane. Well I'm out of here, you have the next hour to come to your senses our I'm leaving without you." [[Alien Encounter->you stayed but jim left]]

Suddenly, you hear the cracking of the comms. Your heart races. "Please save me!" you scream, over and over, until you break down in sobs. But when the voice comes on, it is not directed at you. "Jim Roberts this is Houston can we have confirmation that you and your partner are in need of emergency evacuation?" Jim replies, "Yes, but it's only me. The aliens attacked. I'm sorry to say that I was the only one to survive our encounter." You see Progress detach from the ISS, and with it the only way for you to get home. In an instant, your view is filled with metal. The alien ship is here! You gaze on its intricate surface with awe, temporarily forgetting your death sentence. Then, two rockets come up into view from earth. Are these other ambassadors? Are you saved? The answers are yes, but they are not the ambassadors you'd hope for, and the only salvation they bring is from the long death of suffocation that awaits you. These are nuclear warheads. They speed past you, right into the heart of the alien ship. You shield your face, expecting a huge explosion, but there is none. Puzzled, you lower your arm, feeling momentary relief. Then the radiation hits you. In your final moments you see a flashing of images in shocking clarity from the recent past. Jim trying to patch Node 3, and behind him, the drill he used to make the hole, floating towards the end of node 3. The mic of your suit, poking out of one of the compartments in the airlock. Jim must have ripped it out before you went outside. The "I'm sorry" mouthed by jim right after he kicked you to your [[death.]]