From cb459197b2341339dffd2c1b0d815282ffa1b12b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: BodgeMaster <> Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:20:52 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] notes/story: rewrite most of the file so it is more readable The unfinished section is still Markdown. --- notes/story.txt | 298 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------- 1 file changed, 182 insertions(+), 116 deletions(-) diff --git a/notes/story.txt b/notes/story.txt index 6a9e11c..48161ee 100644 --- a/notes/story.txt +++ b/notes/story.txt @@ -1,95 +1,177 @@ -This is very out of date. I'm gonna update this and remove the Markdown -formatting whenever I feel like it. Bu I ron't feel like it atm. ;) +Big-picture story overview: +=========================== +Story begins on Tue, 2106-06-01 -**Big-picture story overview:** +[partial] Jack wakes up +-> finds himself trapped in a bunker +-> leaves Michelle frozen +-> attempts to fix the door to get out + -> [missing] no tools, improvisation + -> tries and fails to get a service manual from the computer dur to a + broken hard drive + -> [implied] connects to the AgriWorks computer + +[partial} Annie finds out about his situation +-> finds the terminal +-> [partial] figures out she (or anyone else for that matter) can't help + him directly +-> agrees to get him the manual +-> [partial] leaves work for the day + +[needs revision] Annie goes to the library +-> she doesn't get the manual +-> instead, she gets a mysterious invite + +[partial] Jack messes with the computer +-> [missing] inspects the damage on the hard drive +-> [missing] talks to Annie again + -> outcome of the library visit + -> Annie figures out shift and special chars + -> Annie asks a bunch of questions about Jack and his situation +-> [partial] Jack prints off the logbook + +[partial] Secret organization meeting +-> Annie meets with Lucas +-> [needs revision] finds out that Karl is also part of the group +-> [needs revision] Lucas needs to go but leaves his keys + -> [change] He needs to leave immediately + -> [missing] He says something to the effect of "leave them at xyz + location when you're done" +-> [missing] They decide to steal the manual, not because they know that + that's the right type of door but because they want someone on the + outside for strategic reasons + -> talk about Jack + +[needs revision] Annie and Isabelle steal the manual +-> [change] They search for the computer +-> They get the manual +-> They almost get caught + +[missing] Annie and Karl contact Jack +-> Jack is reading the logs when the bell on the teleprinter dings + -> The logs need to make it very clear that, presumably, there are + still ppl living on the moon +-> the file contents of the stolen manual are gibberish + -> Jack takes a look at the file + -> turns out it's encrypted +-> Jack can write a program to break the encryption but for that to + be feasibly, they need a computer with a Number Cruncher 2000 card +-> Karl asks if Jack could/would open the airlocks from the outside + +[missing] Next secret organization meetup +-> short interaction between Annie and Lucas + -> "You got your keys?" "I got my keys, thx." +-> relay the news from Jack + -> they decide to "borrow" a computer that has the right hardware +-> has to end with law enforcement arriving at the bar for an unrelated + reason and Kate telling them to gtfo + +[partial] Emily intro +-> Emily wakes up, Lena is in her room crying +-> introduce the fact that there is a dangerous pathogen wreaking havoc on + the moon +-> ??? +-> funeral + +[missing] Annie stops working at AgriWorks +-> (this chapter can be moved to wherever is convenient) +-> Annie talks to Jack over the terminal. They talk about all sorts of + things, the outside world, the inside world, ... (this might be just + hinted at) +-> She falls asleep and gets found there the next day +-> She either gets let go or quits + +[missing] secret organization plans the heist +-> new location (because day) +-> discussing two possible targets +-> discussing strategies for the heist +-> discussing what to do with the computer when they no longer need it + -> they obviously can't keep it so they will see if it's possible to + return it, if not get rid of it in another way + +[missing] planning for getting the power plant documents to Jack +-> (this chapter can be moved to wherever it is convenient) +-> While talking to Jack, the idea of messing with the power plant comes up + -> Jack doesn't like the idea of a terrorist attack but he is open to the + idea of performing some unscheduled but clearly communicated + maintenance +-> They decide that Annie should meet up with Jack at a train station to + get him all the documentation he needs + +[missing] The heist +-> four secret organization members pull up at the front entrance of a + company's building + -> Karl's friend backs his truck up agains the stairs leading to the door +-> two additional members arrive by other means +-> break-in + -> Annie, Isabelle, the company insider, and another member head inside + -> Karl and his friend wait outside +-> The group inside makes quick work of getting all the things + -> quick double check that the Number Cruncher 2000 is in the computer + -> Annie and Isabelle push the computer + -> The company insider collects all sorts of random bits and bobs + -> The other guy carries a terminal +-> they disperse in all directions + +[missing] setting up the computer at Karl's place +-> TV on with news about the heist +-> They hook it up to a modem so that Jack can get his program ready + +[missing] Some moon scene +-> Idk what exactly but it shows that Lena doesn't like the lab mice + (this is relevant later) + +[missing] Opening the bunker door +-> Jack goes outside and takes a look around +-> wakes up Michelle + +[partial] Exploring the Ivydale area +-> ??? +-> exploring the train yard +-> finding fuel +-> find an intact metro train + +[missing] returning the stolen computer +-> they get caught and run + -> leave the computer at the side entrance + -> some ppl get arrested (Lucas?) +-> another news segment along the lines of "In a bizarre turn of events..." + +[partial] Annie meets Jack +-> Jack drives a train into the dome +-> original plan was for Annie to hand over the documents + -> police are at Annie's drop-off point, arresting Karl's friend + -> she stays on the train and leave the city + +[partial] Annie sees the outside world for the first time +-> Annie enjoys the view from the side of the valley +-> They make their way to where used to be a bridge and climb down +-> continue towards the bunker + +[missing] James the nomad shows up at the bunker with his dog +-> looking for the Sentinel Shores observatory +-> decides he's gonna stay for the night +-> playing with the dog +-> Jack and Annie arrive +-> food +-> talk about the before times + -> James decides to postpone his trip to Sentinel Shores, the bunker has + turned out to be more interesting than expected + +[missing] failing to get in touch with the moon +-> Jack and Michelle troubleshoot + -> reading logs + -> computer equipment is fine + -> They go outside to inspect the dish + -> a river has wreaked havoc on important comms equipment +-> decision to check out the Sentinel Shores observatory + +[missing] Trip to Sentinel Shores +-> The comms eqipment looks good but all computer erquipment missing +-> talk about where to get computers from + -> James suggests the datacenter in Rogue Tides -* Story begins on Tue, 2106-06-01 -* \[partial\] Jack wakes up and contacts Annie, in the end he asks for a manual for the door -* \[partial\] Annie goes to the library but doesn't get the manual - instead she gets a mysterious invite -* \[missing\] Annie talks to Jack again at work - * Annie figures out how to use a keyboard properly - * Potentially written from Jack's perspective as not much of interest happens on Annie's side - * he could do something else as well, maybe working on improvising tools before or after talking to Annie -* \[partial\] Annie gets introduced to secret organization, learns that Karl is also part of it -* \[partial\] Lucas gives Annie the keys for the library and instructions on where to find the relevant computers - * for some reason he can't go get the manual himself (needs to be at an important event or something) - * Karl doesn't join bc he can't run if things go south, but he does give her a list of useful UNIX commands and a run-down of how to get one of these computers started - * They talk about Jack and why they would help him -* \[partial\] Annie gets the manual and drops it off at Karl's place - * she puts a note and the floppy disk into his mailbox -* \[missing\] Next morning from Jack's perspective - * incoming connection from Karl - * he says that Annie has procured a floppy disk with the manual - * it's not readable / the file is just gibberish - * Jack gets a copy of the header and determines it's encrypted - * he tells Karl that he can probably write a program to break the encryption but it's gonna take a powerful computer to do it within a reasonable time - * The ideal computer for this task has a Number Cruncher 3000 card and lots of memory - * Karl says he'll get back to Jack -* \[missing\] Next secret organization meetup - * Annie gives the keys back - * they come up with the idea of stealing a minicomputer from some company that someone has a link to - * also the idea comes up that they could ask Jack to help them in return for them helping him to get out - * has to end with law enforcement arriving at the bar for an unrelated reason and Kate telling them to gtfo -* \[partial\] Emily intro - * Before this chapter, there needs to be some sort of hint of what is coming (for example, Jack mentions the moon habitat or Annie asks why he was frozen) - * Emily wakes up, Lena is in her room crying - * introduces that ppl die from some disease on the moon - * breakfast - * funeral -* \[missing\] Annie talks to Jack again from the terminal at work - * she falls asleep - * next day she gets found there, someone makes a remark like "Why the sudden career change?" - * Annie thinks about it for a moment before replying "Actually, brilliant idea..." and quitting - * She leaves work and heads somewhere to meet up with secret organization members -* \[missing\] secret organization does secret organization things... - * new location (because day) - * who is there? - * preparations for the heist - * plans for Annie to meet Jack - * Jack will need some secret documents to help them (for messing with the power supply of the city) - * they decide to meet on a train - * Jack says he knows ways to get in and out -* \[missing\] Jack finishes writing the program and sends it to Karl -* \[missing\] the heist - * Annie, Isabelle, Lucas, and the inside contact go in and collect equipment and bring it to the front door - * Karl's friend is waiting to load it into the back of his pickup truck - * Karl is behind the wheel ready to take off - * once everything is loaded up, Karl's friend gets into the truck and everyone disperses in different directions - * they almost get caught - * Maybe Lucas and one other member of the secret organization stay behind to buy the others time and get arrested -* \[missing\] next morning, they set up the computer at Karl's place - * something in the news about a stolen computer lol - * "Hmm I wonder who could that have been? We wouldn't know where it is..." - * they break the encryption of the floppy disk (takes like three days) -* *\[missing\] some moon scene, possibly something that shows that Lena doesn't like the lab mice* -* \[missing\] Jack gets the bunker door open and wakes up Michelle - * they explore the Ivydale area - * find a working metro train somewhere that only needs some mild fixing up - * This may or may not remain unknown to Annie -* \[missing\] meanwhile, the secret organization works on getting the computer equipment back to its rightful owners - * they get caught and run/gtfo, leaving the computer at the front entrance - * there will have to be another news segment, something like this: - * "In a bizarre turn of events, members of a suspected terrorist group have returned the stolen computer to xyz corp. It had been stolen from their headquarters four days prior..." -* \[partial\] Annie meets Jack - * Jack drives a train into the dome - * original plan was to meet on a train and hand over the documents - * things go wrong and Annie ends up leaving the dome with Jack - * Annie sees the outside world for the first time -* \[missing\] James the nomad shows up with his dog - * only Michelle is there, Jack and Annie are still on their way - * He is mildly obsessed with space after seeing all sorts of images taken with telescopes - * on his way to Sentinel Shores because the observatory there is supposedly somewhat intact - * he wants to see if he can make a telescope work - * Something happens that will convince him to stay at the bunker - * possibly the topic of the moon base gets discussed -* \[missing\] Jack and Michelle will be working on getting in touch with the moon - * turns out their communications dish and equipment is far too gone to be repaired due to a river changing course or some other destructive event - * James suggests they should check out the observatory in Sentinel Shores -* \[missing\] They go on a "day trip" to Sentinel Shores to take a look at the observatory - * looks good but missing any kind of computer equipment (looted after or removed before the apocalypse) - * has an optical telescope and a dish - * when talking about the lack of computers, the nomad remembers that he saw a lot of computer stuff in Rogue Tides * *... missing things (not in order):* * *power plant shenanigans* * *secret organization has to do things like putting up banners in high-profile locations and/or distribute a manifesto* @@ -118,33 +200,17 @@ formatting whenever I feel like it. Bu I ron't feel like it atm. ;) * she realizes that she is descending waay too fast and tries mentally going through the emergency checklist * Emily lands -**Individual missions:** -* Underground organization (Annie, Librarian, Karl) - * from the underground city - * want the underground city to open up again - * they come up with the plan that Annie should escape the city since she has the contact with Jack anyway so that they can gather some intelligence on what's going on outside - * Annie discovers the hydro power plant - they end up messing with the power supply of the dome to force officials to stop the isolation -* Neotek Dynamics (Jack, Michelle) - * mission to get into contact with moon base to check in on them - * turns out the moon base is having a real bad time and everyone is dying - * There used to be many ppl but at the start of the story just a few are left - * the rest died of some disease caused by a dangerous pathogen - * the remaining ppl are infected and sick - * all but Emily will die - * Emily will recover and make her way down to Earth in an escape capsule - * she escapes the capsule with a parachute and the capsule leaves a crater in the ground -* James - * has found space images and is mildly obsessed with them - * has heard of a somewhat intact observatory in Sentinel Shores +Scene Ideas: +============ -**Scene ideas:** +Annie, in her search for an alternative to whatever the underground city +has as "coffee", obtains some drug from the electronics tinkerer. She +proceeds to get high as the sky and gets herself into a dangerous +situation before the others catch on to what's happening. Jack will end up +more or less forcing her back to the base and sit there watching her so she +doesn't do anything stupid. -* Annie, in her search for an alternative to whatever the underground city has as "coffee", obtains some drug from the electronics tinkerer. She proceeds to get high as the sky and gets herself into a dangerous situation before the others catch on to what's happening. Jack will end up more or less forcing her back to the base and sit there watching her so she doesn't do anything stupid. -* Emily wakes up. A relative is waiting in her room, silently crying. Emily, catching on to what's going on (and having experienced the bad news of the past how ever many weeks, months, or years), asks who died this time. Some other person, Idk. That leaves 5 alive ppl in the moon base. - * Followed by a moon funeral? Idk. -* When Emily recovers (in a different chapter), Lena says something to the effect of "that should have killed you". - * same chapter should have a dialog about how Lena took care of the mice despite originally not being too fond of them -* Lena dies sitting against a boulder next to the grave of her spouse. Emily sits there with her, periodically exchanging oxygen canisters until she dies. They talk over the radio. Lena tells her that she was ultimately right to use what Tony had left behind but it is too late for her now. After she dies, Emily returns to the base and lies down on the floor in a central room looking out though the ceiling for who knows how long (not eating or drinking for like 6h or so). - * Something should happen that gets her to get up and realize how incredibly hungry she is - possibly an incoming call / terminal beep from Earth -* Emily is alone, preparing for her descent to Earth. As part of the preparations, she releases the remaining lab mice into the biosphere module (they came from there originally). +Emily is alone, preparing for her descent to Earth. As part of the +preparations, she releases the remaining lab mice into the biosphere +module (they came from there originally).