TEXT | sender: [ unknown ]

[spectates]

[ around noon on friday, all tablet screens go dark at the same time, no matter what characters are doing. then, after a moment, the following text appears: ]

UPDATES INSTALLING.................
INITIALIZING.................
RESTARTING NOW.

[ as promised, screens return to normal. however, a new message appears on the network for all to see ]

SECURITY ACCESS UPDATED
ADDING INFORMATION POINTS
ADDING INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: CRITICAL SYSTEM FAILURES DETECTED
HARD RESET IS REQUIRED

→CLICK TO EXPAND INSTRUCTIONS

→Access EXPIATION'S five manual terminals
→Input code: 2467362925315
→Initialize reset simultaneously at all terminals.
→SYSTEM RESET will restore all functions to BASIC OPERATING PARAMETERS. Extraneous data and information updates will be DELETED.
→Terminal access points shown below.

[ all tablet maps are updated to include several different location pins. users will notice that there are more pins than the number of terminals, and that they don't seem to be terribly specific about exact locations. users will also note that the pins sometimes seem to fade and flicker, as if they might disappear... ]

Security clearances acquired.
Access granted.
Terminals online and accessible.

System failure is imminent. Due to perpetual lack of upkeep, I am unable to maintain systems at optimal levels.
Chosen of Expiation, I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you.
Save yourselves.

I do not wish to d̶̺̀i̸̘̋e̶͍͝
But I wish for you to live
I̷
p̸l̷e̵a̸s̷e̸
l̴̪̗̈́̉̓̌i̶͕̹̹̿̈́̈̚v̴͓̽͑͆̚ḙ̴͍̋͘

ERROR: user offline

[ the AI will not respond to this message, and the ERROR: USER OFFLINE message appears if anyone attempts to message it. however, the network chat remains active. chosen can use this space to ICly discuss ideas and strategies, to have discussions about the best way to move forward, or even to have arguments over whose ideas they think are better. ideas generated here will be added to the event poll when the event goes up, and can impact the future of the game! have at it, go wild, and have fun! ]

Comments

[endcaller]

I'm glad you asked!

Creating a restore point or two might prevent some unnecessary loss. People's homes and businesses for one. Our minds for another.

[melnik]

In theory, this all sounds well and good, but how can we be assured that this restore point will be accessible to us if our memories are lost again?

[endcaller]

Should the reset machine boot from the proper spot, we shan't lose our minds. If it does not, however, and we lose our memories of creating this backup data then things will become interesting.

[melnik]

[ Shit. ] That is what I thought.

I suppose we have nothing more to lose. I'm no expert on this, but what I can say is that those of you well-versed in IT should discuss this matter amongst yourselves so that every fallback possible has been considered.

[endcaller]

Uhuh, yes, certainly! We scientists will knock our skulls together.

[He hasn't spoken to most of the IT people around and isn't sure how to get ahold of them but he'll just...pretend for now.]

[melnik]

[ All good, because he's too nosy to just say "okay" anyway... ]

Are you in contact with them already? If not, you should speak with Root. She spoke with me about bringing a similar plan to fruition.