JaeA lanky initiate is leaning over the cogitator, an expression of extreme mental effort on his face, his fishlike round eyes peering into the screen. "Grant me understanding, Master, grant me wisdom..." He winces as you approach. "Your Lordship/Ladyship? How can I be of service?"
YOU"I have found the sources of the confessions. You have nothing to worry about now."
Jae"Nothing indeed! I will pass the confessions on with a note regarding your personal involvement." The initiate looks at you with equal parts astonishment and admiration. "May the Emperor protect Your Lordship/Ladyship!"
end of branch
YOU"Who are you and what do you do here?"
Jae"I am Klotus, junior cleric. I sort recordings from the shrine confessional to pass on to higher-ranking clergy."
YOU"Tell me more about this confessional."
Jae"Our parishioners come here to repent, to share their innermost thoughts and observations of their neighbours. The sacred machine records all confessions and alters the voices beyond recognition."
YOU"Tell me more about this confessional."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there a way to find out who made which confession?"
Jae"There is not." Klotus shakes his head resolutely. "That would undermine the usefulness of it. The first prototype wasn't anonymous, so those confessions might as well have been carbon copies of each other. Everyone was impeccably diligent and pious and whatnot. But as soon as the machine spirit started keeping the names secret, the parishioners opened up."
YOU"Tell me more about this confessional."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there a way to find out who made which confession?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tell the machine the truth about your heinous deeds] "Leave me, servant. I need to confess."
JaeThe initiate leaves you alone with the machine. You pour out all your unholy secrets and dark desires onto the hapless mechanism, describing your profane accomplishments in great detail. After the confession, not a trace of guilt or shame remains — only a satisfying sense of impunity.
YOU"I have found the sources of the confessions. You have nothing to worry about now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you and what do you do here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It appears you are having difficulties."
Jae"Nothing escapes Your Lordship/Ladyship's notice. As it so happens, I am struggling to categorise three rather peculiar confessions. I wouldn't have dared tell you about them, but, I think, they may have been left by senior officers. Which would make this a matter of the highest order, one that is far beyond my meagre understanding."
Jae"These confessions, you see, are far from being examples of pious conformity. I dread the very thought of dissent or heresy poisoning the minds of some of the most eminent members of the crew, but... I cannot change what I heard." He bows his head in reverence. "I cannot share this with anyone but the Emperor's anointed, nor can I allow anyone but Your Lordship/Ladyship to listen to these messages protected by the secrecy of confession."
YOU"What makes you think these confessions were made by senior officers?"
Jae"These parishioners are well-spoken, meaning they are used to addressing an audience. Perhaps they issue orders and are vested with power. And, well, after categorising so many confessions, I have learned to notice the subtle differences between them."
YOU"What makes you think these confessions were made by senior officers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let me hear them."
JaeThe initiate steps aside, putting the cogitator at your disposal.
Jae"One question has troubled me for years: why are some destined to perish in the warp while others must go on living and preserve the memory of the dead? Worthier and more luminous souls have been lost, and yet I am still here..." Light static is distorting the recording, but you are confident that the speaker is male.
YOU[Recording 17FL.2. Alleg. dissent, impious doubt]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 134D.U. Alleg. theft of ship property]
Jae"The orphans on the ship have already been provided with the bare essentials, but every so often I consider increasing their rations and ordering more sets of clothes for them. That will not replace the families they lost, but it will improve their lives somewhat, especially given that the ship has enough resources to cover that comparably trivial expense." Despite the poor sound quality, you determine the voice to be male.
YOU[Recording 17FL.2. Alleg. dissent, impious doubt]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 134D.U. Alleg. theft of ship property]continues where this line first appears above
Jae"Lop-eared kleppas display a high degree of socialisation both among their kind and toward their owners. These animals adjust well to a voidship's lower gravity, since it is similar to their homeworld's conditions. Lop-eared kleppa meat is edible, should necessity demand it." The voice sounds muffled, as though from behind a thick layer of glass, but is unmistakably a woman's.
YOU[Recording 17FL.2. Alleg. dissent, impious doubt]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 134D.U. Alleg. theft of ship property]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 502M.M. Alleg. coded message, irreverence, ???]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Step away from the cogitator]
JaeThe initiate looks at you, intrigued, but does not say a word.
YOU"What makes you think these confessions were made by senior officers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let me hear them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am curious to know who left these confessions. I will seek them out."
Jae"I suppose those confessions truly are special if Your Lordship/Ladyship is giving them his/her personal attention." The initiate bows deeply. "Never would I have imagined the Rogue Trader him/herself coming to my aid."
YOU"I have found the sources of the confessions. You have nothing to worry about now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you and what do you do here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It appears you are having difficulties."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Regarding your confession-sorting problem..."
Jae"Have you come up with something, Your Lordship/Ladyship?"
YOU"What makes you think these confessions were made by senior officers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let me hear them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am curious to know who left these confessions. I will seek them out."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough about that."
Jae"Of course, Lord Captain."
YOU"I have found the sources of the confessions. You have nothing to worry about now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you and what do you do here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It appears you are having difficulties."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Regarding your confession-sorting problem..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will leave you to your concerns."
JaeThe initiate replies very solemnly, "I labour for the glory of the Emperor and House von Valancius."
end of branch
YOU"I will leave you to your concerns."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough about that."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Step away from the cogitator]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 502M.M. Alleg. coded message, irreverence, ???]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Step away from the cogitator]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 134D.U. Alleg. theft of ship property]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 502M.M. Alleg. coded message, irreverence, ???]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Step away from the cogitator]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am curious to know who left these confessions. I will seek them out."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough about that."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let me hear them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am curious to know who left these confessions. I will seek them out."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough about that."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Regarding your confession-sorting problem..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will leave you to your concerns."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Good thinking, making it anonymous. Keep up the fine work."
Jae"I will endeavour to do so, Your Lordship/Ladyship."
YOU"Tell me more about this confessional."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there a way to find out who made which confession?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tell the machine the truth about your heinous deeds] "Leave me, servant. I need to confess."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Good thinking, making it anonymous. Keep up the fine work."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No more anonymity, but keep this change under wraps. Establish a confession quota. If there is a decline in the number of confessions, the crew will face disciplinary measures."
JaeThe initiate blinks in surprise. "As Your Lordship/Ladyship wishes... I suppose that would be... prudent. I defer to your... unique experience."
YOU"Tell me more about this confessional."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there a way to find out who made which confession?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tell the machine the truth about your heinous deeds] "Leave me, servant. I need to confess."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Good thinking, making it anonymous. Keep up the fine work."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No more anonymity, but keep this change under wraps. Establish a confession quota. If there is a decline in the number of confessions, the crew will face disciplinary measures."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."
Jae"What does Your Lordship/Ladyship wish to know?"
YOU"I have found the sources of the confessions. You have nothing to worry about now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Who are you and what do you do here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It appears you are having difficulties."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Regarding your confession-sorting problem..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will leave you to your concerns."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No more anonymity, but keep this change under wraps. Establish a confession quota. If there is a decline in the number of confessions, the crew will face disciplinary measures."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tell the machine the truth about your heinous deeds] "Leave me, servant. I need to confess."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Good thinking, making it anonymous. Keep up the fine work."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No more anonymity, but keep this change under wraps. Establish a confession quota. If there is a decline in the number of confessions, the crew will face disciplinary measures."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Is there a way to find out who made which confession?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Tell the machine the truth about your heinous deeds] "Leave me, servant. I need to confess."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Good thinking, making it anonymous. Keep up the fine work."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No more anonymity, but keep this change under wraps. Establish a confession quota. If there is a decline in the number of confessions, the crew will face disciplinary measures."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have other questions."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It appears you are having difficulties."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Regarding your confession-sorting problem..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will leave you to your concerns."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 4
Jae(sequence)
Jae(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 3 of 4
JaeYou have heard the bridge officers gossiping that the High Factotum has taken personal charge of the orphans.
YOU[Recording 17FL.2. Alleg. dissent, impious doubt]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 134D.U. Alleg. theft of ship property]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 502M.M. Alleg. coded message, irreverence, ???]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Step away from the cogitator]continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 4
JaeYou do not know who on the ship is in charge of the orphans, if anyone.
YOU[Recording 17FL.2. Alleg. dissent, impious doubt]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 134D.U. Alleg. theft of ship property]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Recording 502M.M. Alleg. coded message, irreverence, ???]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Step away from the cogitator]continues where this line first appears above