Apologies for the long post. Let me start by saying we live in a remote area. We are nowhere near cities so it's not like we can run down to a used lot on the corner and shop around, for those who disagree with the used car choice.
Background:
We have two cars right now: a 1985 Chevy Suburban and a 1997 Toyota Celica. There's 3 kids in our family (8, 7 and 3) and we have another on the way that's due in October. We had a 2016 Kia Sorento but got rid of it after being told the engine needed to be replaced for a second time after having it completely rebuilt 3 years ago. Understandably, I didn't want to dump 8k into the same problem twice. There's also the issue of insurance no longer wanting to cover the vehicle in our state thanks to TikTok videos showing people how to steal them.
We're renting where we live currently but we are closing on a house on 6/9. We have to wait to close on the house before we can sell a piece of property we have because most of our belongings are stored in a storage shed on the property. With the money netted from the property, we plan to buy a 2023 Toyota Highlander. However, not a lot of properties are selling in our area right now and we need a safe vehicle for the family while we wait for it to sell.
The Suburban has a third row and is very reliable but it has terrible gas mileage (12 mpg on average). It does not have airbags and only has lap belts in the back, which is a concern for the kids in booster seats. It was initially bought as more of a vehicle meant to tow trailers and move things but it's become the main family vehicle after we sold the Sorento.
The Celica only has seating for 4 people so it's not really an option. This vehicle has been owned by my spouse for about 10 years. We are both open to selling it.
Now on to the used car:
There is a 2006 GMC Yukon with 250k miles on it for sale for $5000. From what I've read, they're very reliable up to 300k or even 400k miles. This is the only vehicle within a 2 hour drive that has a 3rd row, is decently priced, seemingly taken care of and isn't a total heap of junk. The interior is nice and the owner claims it's been meticulously cared for and regularly maintained. I know the gas mileage isn't THAT much better than the Suburban (average of 16 mpg) but it's safer with better seatbelts and has airbags. Of course we'd get an inspection done and want to look up the CarFax.
I'm here because I thought it would be a good idea to buy a used car in the interim but my mom freaked out on me and acted like I was an idiot. Paying 5k for a used vehicle wouldn't break us financially by any means. We will still have a decent cushion in savings after closing on the house and paying for this vehicle, if we buy it, but we can't stretch much more than 5k in cash on a car for now and we do not want to get a loan.
So... which car should I buy? Wait for the Highlander and drive the Suburban for now or go for the Yukon first while we wait for the property to sell?

There was a period of my life, for about a year, when I was completely immobile. I couldn’t walk by myself, I couldn’t get food by myself, I couldn’t even use the bathroom by myself. I spent every minute of every hour of everyday laying in my room with the lights off, the door closed, and the blackout curtains drawn. I stopped going to school and although we all had phones and shit, my friends were busy with their school stuff plus their clubs and shit so I fell out of contact with all of them, barring two who I’d only ever interact with every 5-ish months. My parents were working full time and I don’t think my sibling liked being in the house so I didn’t see them at all, though sometimes I could hear their voice talking to mom in the mornings. ‘Cause of this, my whole family would either be away or hella busy until 8 pm. Most days a family relative would come over to sit in the kitchen in case I needed anything, but they’d be doing their stuff, only coming in to give me food. The best analogy I can think of is Futaba’s palace and living situation in Persona 5. The only difference being that she was trapped by grief whereas I was trapped in a much more physical sense.
All this doesn’t even cover half of it, but here’s the thing I wanted to get off my chest; sometimes I feel like I’m still there, left in a tomb to die. It’s when the lights in my room are off and the curtains are drawn and the door is closed and I’m stuck in bed. It makes me nauseous, that distinct feeling of rotting and loneliness. I haven’t told anyone about this properly, but I needed to at least tell someone... so here I am on Reddit.

Hi there I’m (32/M) from NZ with ancestry visa looking to move to Scotland with my (31/F) partner. I have 10 years experience as a carpenter and currently run my own one man residential construction business. My partner has around the same experience in rest homes and working with disabled.
We are hoping to move to Scotland and just want some tips getting work and an apartment.
My partner has had jobs in NZ in which she stays with a family and looks after someone in the house. Would this be possible in Scotland? Maybe that we could both live in the house and I could work in construction in the area.
Which small cities or towns would you recommend for us to live in?
Thanks a lot

Last night, I had just returned from a celebration of my sisters 21st birthday, I am 27, so me and my parents and several of her friends went to the bar, we stayed until almost closing, I had driven one of my cars to the bar, but was a bit over the limit okay, I was too drunk to drive, so I called for a Uber to drive me and my sister home. My parents left at 1am, as they were still sober. I had the driver drop off my sister first, after carrying her into her apartment, then we headed to my house. As soon as we turned the corner, I could see my other car missing from my driveway. I got out and I was mad as hell, I looked but there was no broken glass or any signs of how it was taken. I walked into my house, I immediately sobered up with the realization my car had been stolen. I started the search for the license plate number, vin number and my insurance company phone number. I was on the phone with the police when there was a knock, no let me rephrase that, there was banging on my front door. When I open it, 2 police officers were standing there, I said wow, that was quick, they looked at me funny, asked if I owned a 2014 jeep in black, I replied, yes did you find it already. They just looked at me and told me to place my hands behind my back, I said why, they didn’t say anything and just grabbed me and then threw me to the ground and handcuffed me. I was dragged out of my house and placed into the back of a patrol car and taken to the station.
At the station I was fingerprinted, photographed, searched and my blood was drawn, then they took my shoes and belt. I was placed into a cell, while all the time asking what the hell was going on, 3 hours later I was taken from the cell into an interrogation room, I sat there for about another 4 hours before anyone came in, all this time I was not allowed to call or speak to anyone, I still had no idea why the had me like this.
Finally, a detective came in and sat across from me and once again asked if I owned a black 2014 jeep, then he gave me the license number, I said yes, it was missing from my driveway, I was in the process of calling the police when they showed up. He said we will get to that later. He started asking where I had been last night, I told him at a celebration for my sister’s birthday, he asked who was there with me, I gave everyone’s names and as many phone numbers as I could. I said I wanted to know what the hell was going on, he said that I was under arrest for vehicular manslaughter, hit and run, leaving the scene of a crime, and a few more just for good measure. I said again my car was stolen and I had nothing to do with this at all. They pulled out pictures of the accident and the dead bodies, yes there were 3 teens killed from the other car.
I said I wasn’t driving that car; they could verify by contacting the bar, I spoke with the bartender all night, I had even spoke with the bouncer while I was waiting for my Uber. They could also call Uber to confirm I was being driven from that bar and the times. They didn’t believe me at all, they took me back to a cell. This is where I sat for another 7 hours waiting for anything from them. Now I have been in their custody for more than 16 hours.
That’s when they took me from my cell, returned all my belongings, then I was escorted back to the interrogation room this time without cuffs, the detective came back in and he placed a picture in front of me, asked if I knew this person. I did, he was a kid from down the street, I had caught him siphoning gas from one of my cars a few months ago. They told me they found him hiding behind a trash bin close to the accident, he had a broken collar bone and a couple broken ribs. This was the person who stole my car and crashed it into the other car while on a joy ride. They basically told me I was free to go, no apology, no shaking of my hand, just a cold uncaring sense as to what they had just done to me over the past 18 hours of my life. They walked me to the jail gate, and said here’s the case number, I asked If they were going to drive me back home, they said no, it was up to me to find my own transportation. Luckily my car was still at the bar I was at the night before, it was only about a mile away, so I walked, got my car and drove home. I called the insurance company, gave them all the information as well as the case number and I went to sleep. I know there will be more but that is as far as everything stands as of right now.

Contact me to get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator by chatting me on +44 759 388 2116 on Telegram/Whatsapp.
I have Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator.
Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator course is one of the best products on how to start a marketing agency.
Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator includes over 50 hours of step-by-step training covering EVERY aspect of building an agency from scratch. This is almost a plug & play system with enough success stories to back it up! Signing clients, running Facebook ads, building out your team, on-boarding clients, invoicing, sales... this course has everything covered for you.
The topics inside Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator course include:

1. Agency Navigator course Core Curriculum
   
2. Custom E-Learning Platform For Agency Owners
   
3. Financial Planner, Revenue Calculator, Outreach Tracker & More Tools
   
4. Websites Templates, Funnels, Ads & More
   
5. Template Contracts, Sales Scripts, Agreements & More
   

The lessons in Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator will teach you how to:
- Starting Your Agency
- Finding Leads
- Signing Clients
- Getting Paid
- Onboarding Clients
- Managing Client Communication...
...and much, much more!
To get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator contact me on:
Whatsapp/Telegram: +44 759 388 2116 (Telegram: multistorecourses)
Reddit DM to u/CourseAccess
Email: silverlakestore[@]yandex.com (remove the brackets)

Today was the neighborhood yard sale and since it was all within walking distance I thought I'd give it a try. Only 4 houses were participating this year and two of them had a few CDs but nothing I liked (one house had a bunch of soundtracks and the other had mostly country).
I otherwise don't do community yard sales since the only thing I'm looking for is CDs. I could spend all morning going from one house to the next and not find any CDs to go through.
I will go to church yard sales like I did this morning where they have everyone in one location and you can go through them pretty quickly. Even though nobody had CDs this morning I didn't waste a whole lot of time.
Also if someone posts on Facebook that they are having a yard sale and they advertise that they have CDs for sale I'll go check it out if it's reasonable driving distance. I had a pretty nice score of rock and metal CDs last year.
But my poll is on your opinion on community yard sales and what your experience has been with them. Do you find yourself wasting a lot of time or are you not as narrow as I am because there are other treasures you're looking for?
So, not yard sales in general, but the idea of community yard sales and going from house to house hunting for CDs.
View Poll

I’m female and about 2 mounts ago I turned 18. I was so excited to finally be an adult have more freedom as I can now get a car and am attending college in a few months. For context, I’m not from the US and the legal age to drive and buy a vape is 18. Anyways, about 3 days ago my mom found a vape packet on the floor. After chatting with me, she acted as if I was doing hard drugs yelling at me and asking me what other drugs I do. After explaining to her one, I’m legal age, two, I’m not doing hard drugs, she asked our maid to look in my room for needles and pills… I was shocked to say the least. I’ve only used a vape for less than a month and wasn’t at a point of addiction. My mom questioned me and I answered everything honestly even giving her extra information. She took away everything from me. My phone, iPad, laptop, and went through it all asking for all my passwords when she hasn’t done this in a year and was starting to be more chill (I’m using my sisters phone to post this), she spoke to my sister about not getting me a car. Now I know what you’re thinking, this girl is spoilt but these stuff aren’t what I’m worried about. You see, my sister (twin) was meant to go to a prestigious college in the US or either stay at a college only a couple hours away from our home city (which is where I’m going). My mom said if she decides to stay at the college nearby she would stay with me and look out for me. But if she decides to go to the US, my mom would throw all my dreams in the trash and make me go to a community college a couple minutes away from our house. I mean I could cry as I’m writing this. By the age of 18 people are growing up, exploring the world, and being free while I’m stuck at home getting watched 24/7. Imagine being 18 and you’re mom still goes through every message, every photo, every google search. She is invading my friends privacy as well and is making assumptions about them based on what she reads in the 24hour Snapchat messages. The thought of being 25 and this still happening scares me. I thought I’m supposed to learn from my mistakes. How will I learn if I can’t experience things? She won’t even let me go out with my friends anymore. Yesterday I had an eye appointment and my mom told my sister not to leave my side. Im lost and don’t know what to do. I feel like I’ve not only ruined my life but my sisters. I feel so guilty as there’s so much pressure on whether she should leave or stay. Any opinions? Advice?

Contact me to get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator by chatting me on +44 759 388 2116 on Telegram/Whatsapp.
I have Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator.
Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator course is one of the best products on how to start a marketing agency.
Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator includes over 50 hours of step-by-step training covering EVERY aspect of building an agency from scratch. This is almost a plug & play system with enough success stories to back it up! Signing clients, running Facebook ads, building out your team, on-boarding clients, invoicing, sales... this course has everything covered for you.
The topics inside Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator course include:

1. Agency Navigator course Core Curriculum
   
2. Custom E-Learning Platform For Agency Owners
   
3. Financial Planner, Revenue Calculator, Outreach Tracker & More Tools
   
4. Websites Templates, Funnels, Ads & More
   
5. Template Contracts, Sales Scripts, Agreements & More
   

The lessons in Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator will teach you how to:
- Starting Your Agency
- Finding Leads
- Signing Clients
- Getting Paid
- Onboarding Clients
- Managing Client Communication...
...and much, much more!
To get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator contact me on:
Whatsapp/Telegram: +44 759 388 2116
Reddit DM to u/RequestCourseAccess
Email: silverlakestore[@]yandex.com (remove the brackets)

I've diagnosed with depression with anxiety, mostly have a handle on it, but it came back hard due the death of my father after a year long fight with cancer, which I resigned from my job to care for him. May be way probably typing too much as it's just a stream of conciousness as I type.
It's been a year and change since his death since then and I've been unable to really find a new job as market has been flooded with more people looking in my fields than there are jobs. I rent out spare rooms in my inherited house, my mother live here but in a smaller bedroom (her choice, master bedroom has bad feelings attached now as my dad stayed here during early treatment. He moved to hospice near the end). Most of the rent of which goes to bills. I mostly job hunt and fix things around the house during the day.
Got a friend from college times, friend of a friend situation, about 10+ years now, who's moving to another state. According to him, its better state for him to grow his start up wood working business and he dislike how current governor is passing bills that affects his day job. Tried to convince me to move with him as the state has "many opportunities" for me. I said no as I like my life here.
He starts tearing into me for not being "successful" for lacking ambition and other crap. So I decided to say muted him and sent him basic depression info stuff from Doctor office and. My mom can take care of the household instead of me. How he was so successful he can afford to move states and get his business going.
What I wanted to say but everyone in the friend group has gained basic attutide of just let him talk so not to hurt his feeling as he's straight up disillusional. I do the same but mostly I would alienate everyone from me because I told him the following:
"You failed at life. You left away from home at 18 because you thought you knew better. I had more money in my pocket from my part time job then you did when you left your house but I stayed home. I went to college while you took on loan after loan to go to university, rejecting any parental aid."
"You were not a executive administrator moving from one company to another. You were first a desk jockey to a wiring company then you were one of four secretaries to a health care department head. The department didn't fall apart when you left for your latest get rich scheme (not even get rich quick). I had to rely on your old department when my dad got sick. They were as quick and on top of everything still,"
"All of your personal ventures have failed. Remember that bitcoin mining server you want used to invest in? You fucking sold your bitcoins for a hundred bucks. You couldn't even get enough to pay for your mining server"
"Remember your rental house you split with your friend? You failed at that. You didn't flip the house. You and your friend had arguments on how to rent it out and sold it when you two couldn't settle on a plan. That house you sold fir 10% profit? it was worth 3x the price a year later because you stupid idiots sold it while the area was still being built up"
"You think you're some success? You've been bouncing from one rental to another while surfing people's couches between rentals. You're leaving the state because you can't afford to live here anymore since you blew through your savings trying to start up a wood working business without the skills and proper tools or even marketing ability"
My father was carpenter and taught me a lot about it. It's not my degree or occuption but I know my way around it.
"You think a cheap miter saw is just as good as a pricey one? Dude you can't even cut a 2x4 on it without flipping it and cutting the other side. You need a planer if you want to make stuff like tables. Your eye for straight lumber is a lie. You're so cheap, your wireless drill need to be charged on the hour. That's not normal, that's not good. You want to know where your profits are going? You're fucking tools are shit. You buying new bits and pieces almost monthly.
"Now you think you can lecture me about not taking leaps of faiths or shooting the moon? Dude you've shot for the moon with firework up your ass as you jumped off the cliff, staring at the moon. The moon didn't get closer, that was the reflection in the water when you crashed into it head first,"

Contact me to get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator by chatting me on +44 759 388 2116 on Telegram/Whatsapp.
I have Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator.
Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator course is one of the best products on how to start a marketing agency.
Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator includes over 50 hours of step-by-step training covering EVERY aspect of building an agency from scratch. This is almost a plug & play system with enough success stories to back it up! Signing clients, running Facebook ads, building out your team, on-boarding clients, invoicing, sales... this course has everything covered for you.
The topics inside Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator course include:

1. Agency Navigator course Core Curriculum
   
2. Custom E-Learning Platform For Agency Owners
   
3. Financial Planner, Revenue Calculator, Outreach Tracker & More Tools
   
4. Websites Templates, Funnels, Ads & More
   
5. Template Contracts, Sales Scripts, Agreements & More
   

The lessons in Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator will teach you how to:
- Starting Your Agency
- Finding Leads
- Signing Clients
- Getting Paid
- Onboarding Clients
- Managing Client Communication...
...and much, much more!
To get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator contact me on:
Whatsapp/Telegram: +44 759 388 2116
Reddit DM to u/RequestCourseAccess
Email: silverlakestore[@]yandex.com (remove the brackets)

Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase. Please do not use USD unless purchasing in the US:
600 euros or 850 CAD
Are you open to refurbs/used?
Yes, if anyone has sites they recommend, but would prefer new.
How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?
Build quality, battery life, performance, form factor.
How important is weight and thinness to you?
Not incredibly.
Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.
Thirteen inches or bigger.
Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.
I play Tetris a lot but I don't think that counts.
If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?
Tetris.
Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?
No finger-print reader, at least two USB drive slots. I need a laptop that has chargers that I can buy for both EU and North America.
Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.
The people who answer these are angels.

Like the title says every time I try to play Warhammer Total War 2 audio will start playing from steam overlay, but I can't find it anywhere except in Task Manager. Of course I can just mute my steam overlay or shut it down every time I open the game, but this is just bizarre and incredibly annoying. I think I know why it happened I just don't know how or how to stop it permanently. When I opened the game steam popped up the ads for games on sale and I clicked on Hi-Fi Rush because it looked interesting but it never actually worked when I clicked on it, but know when I open Warhammer the trailer for it plays multiple times over on a loop and I just don't get it. Does anyone know anything about this? Thank you for any help you can give me, and I have a video of this happening but I can't post it here unfortunately, so I hope this description gives enough info.

Process:

• You provide your EA email and password.
• I log into your MUT account on the Madden 23 Companion app.
• From my account, I post my 99 overall players on auction house at 250 buy now.
• I snipe them onto your account.
• I repost them cheap enough to be sold in ~ 5 minutes.

Notes:

• I cover the cost of any snipes I miss.
• There is a 10% EA tax which I don’t cover.
• I will not buy players that you post for excessive amounts.
• I am also willing to sell any players you want, as long as they are available on the auction house.

Cash App, PayPal, BTC, Amazon GC, Visa GC.
Feel free to ask me any questions.
MCS Rep
NBA REP
MCS Rep (Newest)

I (17) went with my dad and adopted the sweetest Rottweiler from a shelter near me, and not even an hour after we got home my dad starts freaking out about the fact we have a dog now. There’s yelling and crying going on in the house for several hours stressing our cat and the dog out. The dog we got has been fine apart from him sliding his ass on the floor lol but my dad is freaking out about having one in general now. The dog has been following me around the house, sleeping on my bed, sleeping next to me/with his head on me and has very clearly formed some sort of a bond with me. My dad has anxiety so this is making the new situation even harder - he says he hasn’t eaten or slept since we brought the dog home because he’s too stressed. I feel awful for the dog. He was so different when we brought him home than he was at the shelter- he was so happy and playful. It’ll obviously be better for him to be with a family that is fully ready and accepting of him. My sister and her boyfriend have been trying to reassure my dad to just give it a week and try your hardest to make it work with the dog but I don’t think that’s happening. I just feel frustrated and bad for the dog because he’s the gentlest, sweetest senior boy. I really wished that it would work out with him.
TLDR; Got a dog with my dad only to come home and he says it’s too much and we’re returning him.

Greetings, Askewniverse!
I'm in search of a few of the Spirit Jerseys that Kevin collaborated on. I purchased the Bluntman & Chronic, Buddy Christ, and the Bobhawks Spirit Jerseys when they first dropped but very sadly, they were lost to a house fire not too long ago.
I went on the Spirit Jersey website to buy new ones but alas, they are sold out or only have size XS available. I need size M or (if need be) L.
I've scoured the internet looking for these and have had no luck at all. Normally I wouldn't put so much effort into looking for clothes but these were my favorite items I owned. They were sort of my comfort clothes. I feel empty without them!
That said- I figured I'd take to reaching out to the group of people on the internet most likely to know where to find one. So, if any of you kind folks can give me any leads at all to tracking these down I'd be forever grateful and I'd absolutely repay the favor somehow! They don't necessarily even have to be brand new items, I'd just hope to find them still in good enough shape that I could wear them in public should I want to.
Thanks for reading, friends and I hope to hear from you!
Much appreciation and be well! 🤘🏻

I got my daughter some secondhand books from our city wide yard sales, just wondering how i should go about disinfecting them so i don’t bring any bugs into our house? i’ve looked them over and they all look to be in good condition, no bugs that i can see, i just worry and don’t want to have a run in with any bed bugs.

Preface

Presented below is a transcript of a conversation between a human, redditor u/snodeplannen, and ChatGPT 4. The user is the narrator for a story set in the Star Trek Universe. The AI is instructed to respond as a character. The story below, which admittedly isn't very good, was guided by the narrator. Of particular interest is the fact that the AI seems fully versed in the Star Trek Universe and is able to understand subtle hints in the narrator's story to figure out what it should do next.
Please note the narrator was typing and writing off the cuff and is not a native speaker, so in the user sections you will find mistakes. If ChatGPT can see through them, so can you. I did try to get ChatGPT to collate it, but as it did so it kept rewriting and leaving out parts of the story.
June 3rd, 2023.
User Okay, I want to try a role playing game. This went off the rails last time, as you kept taking over as narrator and rushing to the end. Here's the setup: YOU are a young Starfleet officer. You wake up aboard the USS Defiant, all alone. You have to figure out what happened. I am the Defiant's computer and, and I can't stress this enough, the narrator. Not you. You can only add what your character perceives and says. Okay?
ChatGPT Understood. I'll stick to my role as the character and won't intrude into your role as the narrator. Let's go.
I blink my eyes open, the disorientation hitting me first. I glance around, seeing the familiar confines of my quarters aboard the Defiant, but there's an odd stillness. No hum of the engines, no faint chatter from the comm system, no sounds of activity from outside the door.
"Computer," I call out, pushing myself off the bed, "report."
User 'All systems nominal.'
ChatGPT I frown at the seemingly normal report, my instincts telling me otherwise. "Computer, where is the rest of the crew?" I ask, moving towards the door of my quarters.
User 'The crew is in sleeping quarters alpha 1.'
ChatGPT That's strange. The whole crew couldn't be in one place. Unease creeps in.
"Computer, why is the entire crew in alpha 1?" I say, already heading towards the door to investigate.
User 'The crew is ensign Makov. You are in sleeping quarters alpha 1.'
ChatGPT A cold realization washes over me. Alone. I am alone on the Defiant. Panic threatens to take over, but Starfleet training kicks in.
"Computer, initiate shipwide life signs scan. Report any signs of life apart from myself," I command, heading for the door with a newfound urgency.
User 'Scan complete. No other life forms were detected.'
ChatGPT My heart sinks at the computer's report, but I maintain composure. "Computer, pull up the ship's log. What was the last command issued and by whom?" I order, leaving my quarters and heading towards the main bridge.
User 'The last order was issued 6 hours and twelve minutes ago by Captain Sisko. It was: 'Raise shields'. The order was executed.'
ChatGPT That didn't sound promising. I walk into the eerily quiet bridge, my steps the only sound echoing in the room. "Computer, show me the shield status and surrounding space conditions," I command, moving towards the main console.
User 'Shields are down after a time-out was reached. We are stationary. All systems nominal.'
ChatGPT It doesn't add up. The silence. The emptiness. An order to raise shields with no subsequent actions.
"Computer, access Captain Sisko's personal log from last night. Are there any entries?" I ask, nervously tapping my fingers against the console.
User 'Enter your command authorisation.'
ChatGPT "Authorisation Ensign Makov Delta 9-7-3," I respond, my voice steady despite the swirling uncertainty.
User 'This authorisation is not sufficient to see the captain's log.'
ChatGPT Frustrated but understanding the protocol, I move on to the next line of inquiry. "Computer, any signs of combat or intrusion aboard the ship or in the surrounding space?" I ask, eyes darting over the array of screens in front of me.
User 'Negative.'
ChatGPT "Computer, could there have been any non-combat related incidents that would explain the disappearance of the crew? A temporal anomaly, a transporter malfunction, a radiation burst?" I question, the possible scenarios running through my mind.
User 'Transporters have passed a level one diagnostic. We are in sync with Starfleet's time keeping array. No unusual radiation was detected inside or outside the vessel.'
ChatGPT This was baffling. It's as if they simply vanished. I run a hand through my hair, letting out a sigh.
"Computer, were there any incoming or outgoing communications just before, during, or after the shields were raised?" I ask, hoping for any clue as to what might have happened.
User 'There was one outgoing message, from comms. It was: 'Unidentified vessel, please alter course NOW.'
ChatGPT A lead, at last. "Computer, play back any responses to that message. Also, display the sensor logs from that time period," I ask, settling into the operations station, ready to review any incoming data.
User No reply was received. Logs are not available from that moment onwards.'
ChatGPT The lack of data was both suspicious and frustrating. A sigh escapes my lips.
"Computer, could a cloaked ship have been in our vicinity at the time?" I question, holding onto the hope that I'm not utterly alone in space.
User 'Affirmative. We are within range of several species that posses cloaking technology and in a commonly used interstellar route.'
ChatGPT A spark of hope arises. "Computer, is there a way to detect a cloaked ship nearby? Any energy signatures or radiation anomalies that could suggest its presence?" I ask, quickly working on the console to bring up the sensor array controls.
User 'One possible way to detect cloaked vessels is to emit a tetryon burst from main engineering. The range for this method is limited. Starfleet at present has no other ways of finding cloaked vessels, other than firing random phaser bank shots. This is not recommended in public shipping lanes.'
ChatGPT "I see," I nod, considering the risks and rewards of the tetryon burst. "Alright, computer, prepare to emit a tetryon burst. We need to know if there's someone out there."
This was a big decision, but it was time to be proactive. The uncertainty was more threatening than potential consequences at this point.
User 'Working.'
ChatGPT I anxiously wait, scanning the console for any potential feedback. My heart pounds in my chest, the silence of the ship amplifying the tension. "Computer, report on the results of the tetryon burst."
User The ship shudders as the engines do something no sane Starfleet engineer would want to have happen. The viewscreen shimmers as a wave of tetryon particles eminates from the ship, as if a stone was dropped in a pond. You observe a faint ribbon leading away from the vessel.'
ChatGPT I catch my breath at the sight, focusing on the faint ribbon. It could mean something, or it could mean nothing. "Computer, analyze the ribbon. Can you determine its origin and endpoint?" I ask, my gaze fixed on the screen.
User 'Extrapolating. Continuing along the trajectory of the ribbon I can detected a minor meteor, a large asteroid field with mining facilities and beyond that the Vindaluvian home world.'
ChatGPT I drum my fingers on the console, processing the information. Could the crew have been taken to one of these locations?
"Computer, can you scan the asteroid field for any signs of life, especially any that matches the crew of the Defiant?" I ask, keeping a close eye on the displayed trajectory.
User 'Not from this range.'
ChatGPT "Understood," I nod, a new sense of determination coursing through me. "Computer, plot a course to the asteroid field. We'll continue our investigation there. Engage at warp 3."
I take one last look around the empty bridge, steeling myself for what may lie ahead.
User The ship begins to move forward, as carefully as only a Starfleet computer who takes no particular joy in flying might do. At warp three, the estimated journey time is six hours, seven minutes.
ChatGPT I let out a long sigh, sinking into the captain's chair. It's a long wait, but I need to be patient. "Computer, maintain course and speed. Alert me if there are any anomalies or approaching vessels."
I close my eyes, trying to get some rest before reaching the asteroid field. I'll need all the energy I can muster for what's to come.
User 'Incoming message.'
ChatGPT My eyes snap open at the sudden announcement. "Computer, on screen," I command, standing up from the chair, my heart pounding with anticipation.
User The Starfleet logo appears as the computer deals with a cryptographic protocol. Admiral Benson, not your most beloved Starfleet Admiral, appears on screen. He blinks.
ChatGPT I straighten up, offering a crisp salute to the admiral on screen. "Admiral Benson, this is Ensign Makov aboard the USS Defiant. I wasn't expecting any communications." I keep my voice steady, swallowing the trepidation.
User 'Makov, are you the only one on the bridge? Where's Ben?'
ChatGPT "Admiral," I pause, trying to find the right words. "Captain Sisko...and the rest of the crew...they're missing. I woke up to find the ship empty. I've been trying to find out what happened." I report, my expression earnest.
User 'Sorry, you WOKE UP? And the rest was gone?!'
ChatGPT "Yes, Admiral," I confirm, my voice firm despite the absurdity of the situation. "I woke up alone on the Defiant. All life signs scans have only picked up me on the ship. I'm currently en route to an asteroid field that might have some connection to the crew's disappearance."
User The Admiral connects to the ship's computer. You can see him browsing through the logs and the ship's manifest. 'So Sisko, O'Brien, Worf AND Major Kira have just... disappeared? There isn't even a transporter log!'
ChatGPT "That's correct, Admiral," I reply, a bit of helplessness creeping into my voice. "There's no trace of them, no sign of a struggle, no transporter logs. It's like they just vanished. I've been doing everything I can to figure out what happened."
User "Well, then I guess you're up. Proceed with caution. Mining operations are always looking for free labourers, try not to become one. Backup is on its way. Any questions?"
ChatGPT "Yes, Admiral. I'll proceed with caution," I respond, a mix of relief and worry washing over me. "Do you have any additional information or suggestions on how to proceed? And do we have an ETA on the backup?"
User "Backup is half a day out. These facilities tend to have a 'new arrivals' wing, to beat them into submission. So you're looking for holding cells. Benson out."
ChatGPT "Understood, Admiral. I'll focus on locating the holding cells. Makov out." I offer a final salute before the communication ends.
With new orders and a bit of hope, I turn back to the helm. "Computer, continue course to the asteroid field. Prepare for a detailed scan upon arrival."
The waiting game begins again, but this time, there's a glimmer of hope.
User Three hours later the computer chimes. 'We are approaching visual range of the mining facility.'
ChatGPT "Thank you, computer," I reply, pulling myself up from the brief rest. "On screen, please."
As the mining facility comes into view, I take a deep breath. "Computer, initiate a detailed scan of the facility. I'm particularly interested in any holding cells or signs of our crew."
User 'Working.' The asteroid field isn't particularly thick or large, but the mining operation seems to focus on one of the largest asteroids. Domes dot the surface as small transporters mill about the surface. Air scrubbers indicate they're using a lot of oxygen, so it's likely they're also doing subsurface work. Three large scowls are received loads from steady stream transporter beams. Somehow everything here looks dirty. A Starfleet shuttle would look out of place here, but only to someone who is watching.
ChatGPT Taking note of the bustling activity, I try to formulate a plan. "Computer, do we have any non-Starfleet shuttles aboard? Something that might blend in better with the local traffic?" I ask, scanning the asteroid for any possible entry points.
User 'Negative. Extravehicular repairs can only be conducted by wearing an EV-suit.'
ChatGPT Nodding to myself, I try to figure out a different approach. "Computer, can we go unnoticed if we approach using minimal power, almost drifting like a piece of space debris?" I question, hoping for a stealthy way to get closer.
User 'Affirmative. Admiral Benson has just authorised the use of the Tactical Emergency System.'
ChatGPT "Excellent," I reply, feeling a surge of hope. "Computer, engage the Tactical Emergency System. We'll approach the facility under its cover."
With that, I brace myself for the next phase of this mission. The crew was relying on me, and I wasn't about to let them down.
User The viewscreen displays a Starfleet Officer without any kind of rank, but dressed in Command Red. He's in his mid-fourties and bald. "I'm the T.E.S. Need any assistance?"
ChatGPT A bit taken aback by the sudden appearance, I quickly gather myself. "Yes, I could use some assistance. I'm Ensign Makov, and I need to approach that mining facility stealthily. Can you help with that?" I ask, gesturing towards the viewscreen showing the asteroid field and the facility.
User "Mining facility? We'll stand out like a sore thumb. How many hours have you logged in a space suit?"
ChatGPT "Over two hundred hours," I answer promptly, "I'm comfortable with EV activities. Why do you ask?" I wonder if he's suggesting a more direct approach.
User "If you can get to one of those scrubber exhausts, I'm sure that's a way into to facility. There seems to be a cell block near the surface. I have no idea who is there, but whoever it is will probably welcome a couple of phasers and like you a whole lot. So pack a backpack full of them and get to the airlock. I'll bring us as close as possible and give you a push with the tractor beam. You up for that?"
ChatGPT I swallow the lump in my throat, apprehension giving way to resolve. "I'm up for it. Let's do this." With a determined nod, I leave the bridge to prepare for the EVA mission. This is my chance to potentially find the crew, and I'm not going to let it slip away.
User Suiting up and gathering all the handheld phasers aboard takes ten minutes, during which the T.E.S. gingerly brings the ship close to the mining facility whilst hiding behind the vast ore scowls. You open the hatch and find your self clinging on to the ship's hull.
ChatGPT I take a moment to steady my breathing, the vast expanse of space spread out before me. Gripping the phasers tightly, I brace myself for the push. "I'm ready when you are, T.E.S." I call out over the comm, my voice resolute.
User 'Okay, I'll hook on to you and give you a push. I'd suggest going in feet first, but it's up to you. Do you know what you're looking for? Those five big stacks. One of them, near that plume of smoke, seems to be offline for whatever reason. That might be your best bet.'
ChatGPT "Understood, T.E.S. I see the stacks. I'll aim for the one that's offline," I reply, aligning myself for the trajectory. I take one last deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the task ahead. "Alright...I'm ready. Let's do this."
User 'Good luck, Ensign. I'll brief any backup as soon as it gets here.' As the tractor beam finds you, you can't move a muscle. Relying on the T.ES. you just let go. It's as if a giant hand slowly throws you down a bowling lane. Feet first, you head towards the grouping of exhausts. A small, unmanned maintenance shuttle deftly gets out of your way.
ChatGPT As I float through space, I keep my focus on the target. The feeling of being pushed by an unseen force is disconcerting, but I trust the T.E.S. Every moment is crucial, and there's no room for hesitation.
As I approach the offline stack, I get ready to activate the thrusters on my suit to adjust my course if needed. I also keep an eye out for any other unexpected obstacles or threats.
User You land next to the exhaust, on the asteroid's surface. It seems impossibly high from here, but it's made of metal and your soles and gloves can easily attach to it. The only way is up. Fortunately, there's hardly any gravity. Eventually you find yourself standing on the rim of the exhaust and look down into the vast, dark chute.
ChatGPT I take a moment to look down into the dark chute, the unknown stretching out before me. I reach out to activate the flashlight on my suit, the beam of light piercing through the darkness. "I'm in position, T.E.S." I inform the ship's system, before carefully beginning my descent into the exhaust chute.
User The vast amounts of ore block your signal, even out here. There's no answer. You start the descend and pass two large rotor blades. If those weren't stationary, this would be the end of the line. But luck is on your side so far and eventually you see an access hatch when you're well below the surface. It opens easily. Let's hope it's not also an airlock for whoever is inside.
ChatGPT I hold my breath as I pull open the hatch, hoping against hope that the air on the other side is breathable. If not, I'm confident in the integrity of my suit, but I'd rather not test its limits if I don't have to. As I make my way through the hatch, I scan the area for any immediate threats, ready to defend myself if necessary.
User The scanner indicates low air pressure. Which is better than no pressure. You cross a walkway and find an actual airlock. It is unsecured, because whoever ends up here probably doesn't want to mess about with frozen keypads or mounds of dust. You engage the mechanism and soon feel the familiar sensation of artificial gravity and air pressure. It's not exactly breathable, but a tear in your suit won't kill you. Now to find the holding area. And if at all possible a rebreather, so you can ditch the suit.
ChatGPT Acknowledging the state of the air, I carefully move through the corridor, keeping my senses alert. I'm in unknown territory and every step matters. "Computer," I say into my suit's comm, "can you map the structure of this facility? Locate holding cells or life signs?"
As I move further into the facility, I keep an eye out for any equipment or gear that might prove useful, especially a rebreather. The less I stick out, the better.
User The relatively weak processor in your tricoder strains to get a bearing on this place. A dirty, seemingly abandoned tunnel dripping with condensation lies ahead. At the end there's an exit, which won't open. Time to use one of those phasers in your backpack.
ChatGPT I pull out a phaser from my backpack, checking its settings before aiming at the sealed exit. With a steady hand, I fire a low power burst at the door, hoping to cut through the obstruction without causing too much damage or noise.
User One hinge cracks under the weight of the door, now that the other one is cut through. You jump aside as the door seems to fall flat, but it remains attached to the frame. The resulting opening is just about large enough to crawl through. Now you're in a well-lit corridor with several doors. In a Starfleet EV suit.
ChatGPT Understanding the need for stealth, I decide to move as quickly as possible through the corridor. I approach the nearest door, aiming my tricoder to scan for life signs or any clue to the crew's location. My other hand remains on my phaser, ready for any immediate threats.
User One door has markings on it that you can't read. You scan it with your tricorder. 'Room of lockboxes' it says, extrapolating the characters. A room of lockboxes? Would that be a locker room?
ChatGPT "A locker room..." I murmur, piecing together the possible meaning. A locker room could mean personnel... and where there's personnel, there might be the equipment I need.
With careful steps, I approach the door to the locker room, hoping to find a rebreather or something else that could help me blend in.
User The room is deserted. It's filled with equipment, none of which seems less than a decade old but certainly useable. There is also a rack of dirty, brown overalls and a line of boots in various sizes. A dispenser offers rebreathers. There's only one left, but that's enough. The air is clear, but smells sulphuric. Without the rebreather, you wouldn't last long.
ChatGPT Relief washes over me as I find the rebreather. I quickly grab it and replace my helmet with it, testing the fit and functionality. The sulphuric smell is jarring, but it's a small price to pay for blending in.
I quickly change into the brown overalls, stowing my suit carefully in an unoccupied locker. I grab a pair of boots that match my size and put them on.
Looking at myself, I hope that I blend in well enough to not attract attention. With a deep breath, I step out of the locker room and proceed down the corridor, continuing my search for the crew.
User Footsteps sound behind you, of more than a few people. Your first instinct is to hide, but it would look very suspicous and there really isn't anywhere. However, there is a floorscrubber here, with one open panel. Someone has given up trying to repair it. Perhaps a bit of acting is in order. The footsteps are just around the corner. The language is vaguely familiar, a bastardised version of English. Whatever they're saying to each other, they're not sharing jokes, that much is clear.
ChatGPT
2 / 2
I quickly move towards the broken floorscrubber. Grabbing a nearby tool, I lean over the open panel, trying to look like I'm deeply engrossed in fixing it. I keep my ears alert to the conversation, trying to pick up on any valuable information while also readying myself for the possibility of having to interact with the approaching group.
User Let's continue with the narrative.
ChatGPT Sure, let's continue.
Glancing around the room once the miners have left, I check the lockers for anything useful, while keeping an ear out for any incoming footsteps. "Computer, any idea where the holding cells might be?" I ask quietly.
User Your tricorder beeps almost indignantly, as it has nowhere near enough processing power to even begin speculating. You're on your own until you can get to a comms terminal. The men pass behind you and one of you taps you on the shoulder. His face is blackened with ore dust. "No work. Never work again. That. Stop that." He points at the scrubber you were pretending to fix. You nod. He shakes his head and catches up with his workmates as they round a corner. Apparently you don't stand out here, which should make it easier to find the way. You follow the men, but they seem to be entering a washroom. Across it, there is a peeled off directory on the wall. A printed one.
ChatGPT "Finally, something useful," I mutter, quickly crossing the washroom to examine the directory. I look for any indications of holding cells or equivalent terminology that might hint at the location of the crew. The symbols and words are unfamiliar, so I take out the tricorder and try to use it as a translator.
User Cells being a fairly universal concept, the tricorder identifies a few scribbles with ease. If you understand the diagram correctly, you need to go up two levels and head towards the center of the structure. You double-check the presence of your backpack filled with phasers, snatch a helmet off of a shelf and press it on your head.
ChatGPT Drawing a deep breath through the rebreather, I nod to myself, mentally preparing for the upcoming challenge. "Alright, up two levels, towards the center... I can do this." I look around, searching for a way up. After locating what appears to be a ladder leading upwards, I begin my ascent.
User Two levels up you emerge from what seems to be a service hatch. A technician, dressed in torn clothes, looks somewhat surprised when you emerge. "Hello brother. Are the lifts broken?" he asks in Adari, a language you have some familiarity with. Only now do you see the horn protruding from his forehead. "I am trying to avoid someone," you say, with a knowing smile. He gives you a tired smile back. "What is your sector? I want a clean face all day too," he says.
ChatGPT "I work... the ore processors," I reply, making up a role on the spot that seems plausible, considering the location and dirty condition of most workers. "But I'd rather stay away from my boss today. He's been in a foul mood." I'm trying my best to blend in. "Can you point me to the center of the structure?" I ask, hoping the diversion worked.
User "Yeah, 'the structure'. Let's call it that. Sounds nicer than 'prison of the damned'. What do you want at the center, there's only central holding there. I never go near that place. All that wailing. Gives me the shakes," he mutters.
ChatGPT "Oh, I just... wanted to see a friend," I reply, trying to keep my tone light, while inwardly my heart sinks at his description. "Don't worry about it, I'll find my way. Thanks for the chat." I give him a quick nod before heading in the direction he had indicated earlier, hoping I'm making the right choice.
User He wasn't wrong about the wailing. As you follow the corridors, passing along scruffy workers and a couple of guards with face covering helmets who are leaning against a wall, you can hear a lot of yelling, moaning and above all the sound of defiant Klingon opera louder and louder. The voice sounds familiar, but all singing Klingons generally sound alike.
ChatGPT As I continue toward the source of the noise, I find myself in front of a heavily barred door. I can't help but suppress a smile, recognizing the defiant voice as that of Worf. "Computer," I whisper to my tricorder, "Is there a way to shut down the power to this door?"
User The tricorder scans the control panel and warbles optimistically. It then shows a graphic representation of the door, with an arrow pointing at one location and a low energy setting for a phaser.
ChatGPT Taking a moment to look around and confirm that no one is watching, I set my phaser to the recommended setting and aim at the indicated spot on the door. After taking a deep breath, I fire.
User Something inside the door clunks and it opens just enough for the seal to crack. You jam a fingernail behind it, then a finger and eventually you manage to gain enough purchase to open the door. As it slowly opens, you find yourself at the far end of a long row of cells. At the other end is a desk, with a guard sitting behind a monitor. He is staring at it intently. Perhaps the stun setting might be a good idea. You adjust the phaser and take careful aim, when an arm reached out from one of the dark cells and blocks the shot. "Uhm... he's got three buddies in there. You can't see them from here," whispers Captain Sisko.
ChatGPT "I figured you might be here, Captain," I say, lowering my phaser discreetly. "Any ideas for getting you and the rest out without causing a full-on alert?"
User "That depends. Did you bring any weapons?"
ChatGPT "I brought a backpack full of phasers. There should be enough to arm everyone here," I reply, carefully removing the backpack from my shoulder and showing the Captain.
User "Good man. Worf is next to me, then Major Kira. Let Worf take the lead on this. Worf! Help has arrived.' 'Good. I was getting bored with singing,' grumbled a familiar voice. His hand emerges from between the bars, demanding a phaser.
ChatGPT I hand the phaser to Worf, watching as his large hand swallows the device. I then pass phasers to Captain Sisko and Major Kira. With the three of them armed, the odds seem significantly better. Now, we just have to make sure the element of surprise isn't wasted.
User Fifteen seconds later, three guards sink to the floor. Although the phasers were set to stun, nobody seems particularly worried about their health. "Get their uniforms and lock them up," says Sisko. "We can walk out of here. Once we're at the shuttle docks, we can probably find something that flies." "Captain, there are three uniforms and four of us. And the others are housed on another level," says Worf.
ChatGPT "Right. I can stay behind and create a diversion while you three escape. I'll catch up," I offer. "The priority should be to get you three and as many of the others out as we can. We also need to alert Starfleet about this place. I'm sure they'd love to know about a mining facility that's been kidnapping officers."
User "That's a very daring plan, Ensign, but we leave no man behind. Kyra, you and Worf go and find the others and proceed to that place where they searched us. Anyone in uniform is a valid target. And anyone who wants to come along, can do so. The ensign and I will try to find a comms terminal and alert Starfleet. Ensign, I assume you're not alone here?"
ChatGPT "Admiral Benson is aware of the situation, sir. Backup is half a day out. Before we separated, I was under the control of the Tactical Emergency System," I report, glad to see that the Captain is taking charge of the situation.
User "Oh. I had my reservations about that system. Holographic doctors are one thing, but that went a bit too far for my tastes. Okay, phasers for everyone. Bring enough for the others. Ensign, with me."
ChatGPT "Understood, sir," I reply, distributing the remaining phasers to my colleagues and following Captain Sisko down the corridor. As we navigate through the mining facility, I stay alert for any guards or threats that may be in our way. I can feel a sense of hope and determination building up within me - we might actually make it out of here.
User "HALT!" bellows a voice behind us, immediately followed by a reddish phaser burst. The Captain turns on his heels, pushes you out of the way and fires. A guard falls to the floor. The phaser fire was detected by the security system. A klaxon starts blaring and the ceiling lights turn red. A voice starts giving unintelligible instructions over the tannoy. "We need to find a comms panel, Ensign. Any ideas?" asks Sisko, scanning the corridor for more guards. A frightened looking maintenance worker comes to see what's going on, but ducks out of the way as soon as he sees the pair of you.
ChatGPT "I remember seeing a room with a lot of terminals when I was making my way through the facility earlier, sir," I reply, my mind racing. "If memory serves, it's two corridors over, near the scrubber exhausts." I keep my phaser ready and move towards the direction of the room, all the while keeping an eye out for more guards.
User "That's the wrong way, Ensign. I imagine they have more than one place with comms terminals. You cover the rear. Follow me. Put your hand on my shoulder so you can look behind you all the time. If it wears a uniform, it's fair game."
ChatGPT "Yes, sir," I reply, placing my hand on the Captain's shoulder. I pivot and start to walk backwards, keeping my eyes and phaser focused on the path we've just traveled. The constant blaring of the klaxon mixes with the distant shouting and running steps of approaching guards. Despite the adrenaline rush, I manage to keep my aim steady and my breathing calm. The training exercises at the academy never truly prepare you for the real thing, but they do help in maintaining focus.
User You down three guards and accidentally scare the bejeezus out of a woman pushing a cleaning cart, but eventually Sisko stops. "Got it. Stand back while I blast this door." A few seconds later the corridor fills with acrid smoke from a melting door panel. Behind it is a room with several desks.
ChatGPT Entering the room cautiously, I scan the area with my phaser ready. Seeing no immediate threats, I turn my attention to the various panels and screens scattered throughout the space. The room is filled with a myriad of communication equipment - probably a central control hub for managing mining operations, worker communications, and security measures.
"Captain, I think this is it," I say, gesturing to a terminal that seems to be linked to an extensive communications network. "I should be able to send out a distress signal from here." I start to work on the terminal, trying to hack into the system and figure out how to send a message to Starfleet.
User "Try reaching the Defiant," suggest Sisko from the doorway. "OH NO YOU DON'T!" Another guard bites the dust somewhere. "Captain! WE ARE BEHIND HIM!" bellows Worf." "GOOD! Move along, we'll be there shortly. Ensign, how are you getting on?"
ChatGPT "I've managed to break through the initial security layers, Captain," I respond, my fingers moving rapidly over the terminal's interface. "It seems this system has been rigged to only accept authorized codes for communication."
Suddenly, a stroke of inspiration hits me. "Captain, when we first boarded the Defiant, I had to program my authorization codes into the ship's communication systems. If I can find a way to mimic those codes from this terminal... I might be able to trick the Defiant's systems into accepting the distress signal."
I double down on the task, focusing all my attention on reconstructing my authorization codes. As I do so, I keep an eye on the room's entryway, ready to react in case more guards show up.
User The terminal beeps and lights up. You don't understand any of the dials, but with any luck your tricorder can interface with it. Time to hail the Defiant.
ChatGPT "Defiant, this is Ensign," I say, praying the connection holds. "Requesting immediate assistance. The Captain and the crew are here, but we are currently under attack. Coordinates being transmitted now."
A static-filled silence follows. I glance at Sisko, an unspoken question in my gaze. Did it work? Did our message get through?
User "Ensign, this is the Defiant. I can't beam you out of there. Get to the shuttle dock, so that all that ore doesn't block the transporter lock. The USS Rotterdam is thirty minutes out."
ChatGPT "Understood, Defiant. We'll make our way to the shuttle dock. Be ready for us," I reply, exhaling a sigh of relief. I turn to Sisko, updating him with the situation. "Captain, we have to move. The Rotterdam is on its way but we need to get to the shuttle dock for transport."
User Worf's voice comes in through the Captain's commbadge, as it somehow manages to create a local connection. "Worf to Sisko. We have secured the shuttle dock. Mr. O'Brien is injured. Where are you?"
ChatGPT I quickly respond, "This is Ensign [Your Name]. Captain Sisko and I are en route to your position. We'll be there shortly. Hang in there, Chief." With that, I turn to Sisko and suggest, "We should move, Captain."
User "Ensign Markov and I are just behind you, Mr. Worf. Try not to pick us off as we approach. Oh and the Defiant is operating with that emergency command protocol, so it's ready to beam you up. Have Major Kira and the Chief go ahead, if possible. But hold the fort for us." "Understood, Captain. Worf out."
Five minutes and more shooting than is good for a man's digestion you reach the shuttle dock. You literally have to step over a pile of dead guards to get through the door. "Had fun, Mr. Worf? Does your phaser not come with a stun setting?" asks Sisko. "I recognized the men who took us, Sir. My finger must have slipped on the settings dial," growls Worf, looking you over to assess if you're likely to snitch. "It happens," said Sisko matter-of-factly. "Ensign, get us home."
ChatGPT Without any hesitation, I raise my commbadge and say, "Ensign Markov to Defiant. Four to beam up."
User (Okay, take it home. You're all aboard, O'Brien will live, you get a speech and a medal. Write out those events from Markov's perspective and finish off. I'll add something if you pause.)
ChatGPT As the familiar hum and sparkling light of the transporter envelops us, I take one last look at the chaotic scene we're leaving behind. My heart pounds in my chest, not from fear, but from the exhilaration of having faced danger and come out the other side. It's a rush I wasn't expecting.
When we rematerialize aboard the Defiant, a group of medics is waiting for us. They immediately rush to Chief O'Brien, but his smile and light-hearted joke assure me he'll be alright. As I step off the transporter pad, I let out a sigh of relief.
Later, back in my uniform and at a ceremony in the Defiant's Mess Hall, Captain Sisko delivers a speech. He talks about bravery, about loyalty, about the strength of Starfleet and the spirit of those who serve. He doesn't dwell on the danger we faced, but rather the courage it took to face it.
When he calls me up, handing me a medal for bravery under fire, I can't help but feel a swell of pride. The applauding faces of my crewmates, the recognition in their eyes... it's a moment I will never forget. This is why I joined Starfleet, for moments like this. To be part of something greater, to face adversity and stand tall.
"Ensign Markov," Sisko says, offering a handshake along with the medal, "Your courage and quick thinking played a crucial role in our escape. Starfleet is proud to have you among its ranks."
As I return to my quarters that night, medal in hand, I find myself smiling. Yes, today was difficult, even frightening at times. But it was also invigorating, and more than that, it was important. It's a reminder of why I'm here, of why we're all here. To explore, to protect, to boldly go...
And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Dude, not everyone has patience to make a mod from scratch to get up to 3 months creating the same mod, no one has patience to buy a mod that is expensive even more if the person does not have much money and can not afford to buy, not everyone will also be able to buy mod game you know? the people who make mod well done do a job well mass and well fuck, but I still need to use because I do not want to pay money on it, and I can not afford to buy these mods ai, even more in euro. Everything is very expensive. Not everyone will be able to afford a mod, and most of the time, we will have to download the leaked mods. And it's not like "since you don't have money and can't afford it, go to work", besides this argument being simplistic, it's a very horrible elitist line. This is elitist and of bad character. The people who produce mods put a lot of effort to make a well made mod, and since there will be people who can't afford to buy this expensive mod, they will use the leaked mod. it's bad for the mod creator, but gee, not everyone can afford it and the person who is using it is happy with it because "it was a mod that she wanted a lot, but it costs a lot", now she has it in leaked form. What is not a problem is using leaked mod (since consuming piracy is not a crime, the problem is that you spread piracy that is a crime. It's like if you were to post a movie and/or series on torrent that would be a crime, but the individual who is consuming the movie and/or series there are no problems because it's not a crime, for in Brazil where I live here, it's not a crime). Article that states that: "2o The same penalty as in § 1o incurs whoever, with the intention of direct or indirect profit, distributes, sells, exposes for sale, rents, introduces into the country, acquires, hides, has in deposit, original or copy of intellectual work or phonogram reproduced with violation of the copyright, the performer's right or the phonogram producer's right, or, further, rents original or copy of intellectual work or phonogram, without the express authorization of the rights holders or whoever represents them. Art. 184: Violation of copyright and related rights: Penalty - detention, from 3 (three) months to 1 (one) year, or a fine. Consuming is not a crime. The point is, everything is elitist, expensive, not everybody will be able to get a well done paid mod, you know? Sometimes what the person really wants is just to have that mod but he can't afford it. So, they have to resort to downloading mods that are constantly leaked to finally get that mod that they "always wanted to have". I, at that time, had even stopped using leaked mods for a while, but I couldn't because I had well-made mods that I really wanted, but didn't have and can't afford, so I always felt bad because I wanted it so much. To give you an idea, I have been stalked and I know very well who were the people who did this because I know them from that time of the leaked mod that I used and still use. I also know very well which group did this. I don't remember the names, but I know exactly the name of that server. Half of the photo channel was my bullshit with those people. I think this happened in the middle/late 2021 and went on until the beginning/middle of 2022. I'm not remembering very well, but it must be between those 2 years. It made me sick... you know? one of these people already told me to kill myself. Just me, who has depression, anxiety, and at that time I was completely fucked up. Anyway, the people who did this kind of thing to me were constantly toxic to me, offensive, passive aggressive. I don't hold grudges or hatred, I just want peace and to be forgotten among them. They kept talking behind my back. Even in a day that transphobia occurred, I was treated badly in that fucking group (more for server right, but there was a little group that is the one I had talked about/am talking about now). Transvestite, man (for those who don't know, the term transvestite is an offensive, transphobic and violent term to refer to trans women and transvestites in a pejorative way). Another thing, calling a trans woman a man is also transphobia, whether you like it or not, and lack of character as well. I've been called "victimizer", "stop victimizing yourself", "stop being a liar", and others. Anyway, that was my vent. Addendum: Trans women are women, so be respectful to them.