Station Operations Manual: Uncommon Occurrence Addendum
This is the Uncommon Occurrence Addendum to the Station’s Operations Manual. If this is not an emergency or you found this book by accident, please return it to its proper location and wait for further instructions from ground control. Someone will be in contact with you shortly. Otherwise, turn to page 2.
Page 2
Remain calm. Refer to this addendum only if communication with ground control is impossible. This supplement is designed to help you troubleshoot the most extreme circumstances that NASA engineers could foresee and contains scenarios you were not briefed or trained on due to their sensitive and highly secretive nature. For assistance, please determine the specific section that best describes your current situation. To preserve station security, please refrain from looking at sections of the addendum that do not pertain to your particular inquiry.
1) For an emergency based onboard the station such as an infestation, deliberate sabotage, or stowaways, turn to page 10.
2) For an Earth-based emergency, such as an approaching unscheduled launch, nuclear war, ecological disaster, or a breakdown of the chain of command, turn to page 67.
3) For an emergency of extraterrestrial origin, turn to page 102.
Page 102
WARNING—Unless prompted by an emergency scenario fitting this description, close this manual and await orders. Failure to comply with this command will result in severe and dire consequences. Please turn the page if the appropriate conditions apply.
Page 103
Remember to remain calm. Your actions may have lasting consequences.
The first step is to ascertain the nature of the extraterrestrial event. Use your best judgment to determine if the scenario meets the criteria for more than one of the following options.
1) If the emergency is naturally occurring or geological in nature, turn to page 106.
2) If the emergency is mechanical in nature, turn to page 130.
3) If the emergency appears to have biological components, turn to page 172.
Page 172
To the best of your ability, determine if the biological emergency demonstrates any of the following qualities. Do not attempt any sudden movements or any form of contact.
1) Is the subject behaving in a uniform or consistent manner?
2) Is the subject displaying the ability to complete complex tasks?
3) Is there any sign of intelligence or sentience that is easily observable?
If the answer to any of these three questions is “NO”, stand down and perform a passive study of the entity until communication with the ground can be re-established.
If the answer to all three questions is “YES”, please turn to page 206.
Page 206
In the event that complex, intelligent, and sentient life is confirmed, please prepare to initiate first contact protocols to the best of your ability. Help will arrive as soon as it is possible.
HOWEVER—if the ship that you have identified is triangular and green, with red writing on the dorsal plating, turn to page 207.
Page 207
Immediately shut down all non-critical systems on the station and go silent. If the station survives, use the escape craft to return to what is left of Earth. The survival of the human race will rest with you and your crew. Refer to the second volume of the addendum for additional instructions. Good luck.
About the author:
George loves writing science fiction stories and has previously been published in “Daily Science Fiction”. Whether you loved or hated the story, George would love too hear from you and can be found on X (twitter), Threads, and Instagram @georgerhea…
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