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Episode 12 - The Shipwright
60 Plays1 month ago
In the isolated lunar colony of Miskatonic, faith, machinery, and dark traditions collide when a mysterious stranger crashes into the lives of the youth disciples. Secrets buried deep beneath rock and ritual begin to surface, forcing one young believer to question everything he knows. But when the truth awakens, will the colony ever be the same?
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Transcript
Digging for Latinum: Survival at Miskatonic Moon
00:00:01
Speaker
60 months before the incident.
00:00:06
Speaker
Beyond the protective dome of the Miskatonic Moon colony, the air is thin and unforgiving. The youths of the Universalist Church of Lovecraft toil outside the shield's perimeter, their breath misting in the cold visors of their space suits.
00:00:22
Speaker
They dig for latinum, a precious metal vital for the colony's survival, as much a necessity as it is an offering to the old.
00:00:41
Speaker
Ease up on the drill, Jules. Watch your pressured gauge. We don't need another blowout. Copy that. Things acting up again. You know, if we haul out more latinum tonight than the other campers, they will definitely raise your ranks among the young disciples of the God Machine.
00:01:00
Speaker
I'm not worried about a
Quotas and Rumors: The Race for Latinum
00:01:01
Speaker
promotion, Jules. We need to get enough latinum before the end of the winter. Reminder to all discipleships. Latinum extraction quotas must be met by week's end.
00:01:12
Speaker
Rumors of Terran proximity to Miskatonic are unfounded at this time. Repeat, unfounded. ah If you ask me, we could just buy what we need from the Carnate.
00:01:26
Speaker
Don't they protect us from the bank of the Alpha Quadrant?
00:01:31
Speaker
You know why. The church needs the latinum. We don't rely on strangers. The elders say the only gods Terrans believe in is their chairman. Right. Strangers.
00:01:43
Speaker
But they don't bother us, and we don't bother them. Right? Exactly. And that's how everyone likes it.
A Crash and a Rescue: D'Artagnan's Valor
00:01:54
Speaker
What in Carcosa was that?
00:01:59
Speaker
Fall back by the Yellow King, everyone fall back. Disciple D'Artagnan, report. What just happened? A giant mechanized man crashed into the dig site.
00:02:13
Speaker
I think there's someone inside.
00:02:16
Speaker
Disciples of the God Machine, do not approach. Wait for your elders and go back to your quarters at once. Oh God. Is he dead?
00:02:27
Speaker
This man needs medical attention. We have to help him.
00:02:33
Speaker
Do not engage. Too late, Eldutusolde. He's got the guy by the armpits. Chaos preserve us, that boy.
Starship Voodoo's Mission and D'Artagnan's Recognition
00:02:48
Speaker
There's a name on his uniform. It says... eba
00:03:01
Speaker
Space. The heartless darkness. These are the records of the starship voodoo.
00:03:19
Speaker
Its task to secure, contain, and protect against the entities and phenomena that pose a threat to the people of the United Socialist Connate.
00:03:48
Speaker
We are Khan.
00:04:11
Speaker
and Noelle Arthur as John Coltrane. Other voices provided by the usual Dark Trek cast.
00:04:37
Speaker
The Shipwright, written by Zeke Brown and Ruth Hinkle.
00:04:52
Speaker
He's going to wake up, right? Thanks to your quick thinking, D'Artagnan. You saved this man's life. The Church is proud of you.
00:05:03
Speaker
I only did what I was trained to do, Aunt D'Zo'oday. You, more than anyone, are proof that tradition and skill are our greatest strengths.
Faith and Leadership: D'Artagnan's Path
00:05:14
Speaker
He will heal. And his... vessel. Can I help with the repairs? I suppose we should get him home quickly.
00:05:30
Speaker
Where am I? A medical bay on the Miskatonic Colony where you crashed your war machine. What were you kids doing out there?
00:05:41
Speaker
I remember being past the shield. Observing the personal and private rights of our religion. Giving sacrifice to Lord Dagon of the Deep. Right.
00:05:52
Speaker
Not trying to pry, but I don't recall seeing an ocean on this moon. Didn't i read somewhere that Dagon is a fish god? Something about Red Hook. Or is it Innsmouth?
00:06:05
Speaker
Excuse me, I must leave for the Elder Committee meeting. and need you to return to your prayers as soon as possible, D'Artagnan. Don't let this stranger distract you from what's important.
00:06:19
Speaker
Don't mind Auntie Dissolde. She's had a long day. So, how come you're stuck with me? I volunteered after pulling you from that machine. That's complex work.
00:06:32
Speaker
You're a sharp kid. Thanks for that. Machines are the gods' expression of order in a chaotic world. That's why I love them. What's your name, kid? D'Artagnan Washington, sir.
00:06:44
Speaker
Well, I don't know if I believe in gods, D'Artagnan. But I know you must be one hell of an engineer. What you did takes a lot of skill. Uh, sir, what's your name?
00:07:02
Speaker
Right, um sorry. Crewman John Coltrane, no relation. Nice to meet you. Is this like a training camp? Relation to who? It's a youth leadership camp. The kids here have a bright future in Miss Katonic's religious order.
00:07:17
Speaker
You don't know who John Coltrane is, but you know who H.P. Lovecraft is? Aren't you John Coltrane? Who's H.P. Lovecraft? but Never mind.
00:07:29
Speaker
Guess you've never been off this moon. Me though? I've lived all over, kid. Planets where the sky is red. Where the oceans and moons that rise and fall like waves.
00:07:40
Speaker
Whole cities that float on the clouds. Cities in the clouds? That sounds beautiful. By the way, what's an... ocean?
00:07:52
Speaker
What's an o...
00:07:55
Speaker
That's the call evening prayer. I have to go, but I'll check in on you later.
00:08:05
Speaker
Easy on that panel, kid. Too much force and you would short the whole system. You've got the hands for it, though. What is this machine, anyway? Talitz! Tell this kid what a Tetsagen is.
00:08:18
Speaker
The integrated impulse mechanical frame Mark II, Tetsujin, aka Iron Man, is a Borg starfighter and mechanized exosuit designed for heavy combat, mining operations, and deep space exploration.
00:08:33
Speaker
It combines advanced weaponry with industrial-grade engineering, allowing for both protection and destruction in hostile environments. Wow. What's a Borg?
00:08:45
Speaker
Ah, Don't worry about it. That's a tough one. Talus 9, play us a Love Supreme by John Coltrane.
00:08:57
Speaker
You made this? No. John Coltrane, the jazz musician my mother named me after. It's jazz. It's wild, free, it moves through you.
00:09:10
Speaker
Ever heard anything like this?
00:09:14
Speaker
Never. It's alive. It's definitely not like anything from the hymnal.
00:09:22
Speaker
So, you get to use these incredible engineering skills of yours around here? I love engineering, but my future is with aesthetics. If my service to the church is worthy, I'll get to tinkering my free time.
00:09:35
Speaker
How do you feel about that?
Engineering Dreams vs. Church's Path
00:09:36
Speaker
A man once told Shub-Nikaroth, I want happiness. Then Shub-Nikaroth replied, first remove I, that's ego, then remove want, that's desire.
00:09:48
Speaker
See, now you are left with only happiness. You mean the Buddha? Who? I know you're Orion, so I shouldn't expect you to know the Buddha, but still, I've seen humans on this colony.
00:10:02
Speaker
None of them are. Humans who aren't born in the church are considered, uh, strangers, unholy. The elders say Terrans from the Khanate have demons in their blood, and earthlings are full of greed. That's not accurate.
00:10:16
Speaker
Completely. Look, you got talent, kid. Real talent. The Khanate Coalition could use someone like you. Engineers with minds like yours could shape worlds, not just dig through.
00:10:28
Speaker
I heard the Khanate hates us Orions. They blame us for the last civil war. They wouldn't accept me anyway. Some of us are mad that your government didn't pay its debts. But no one is mad at a kid stuck in a cult on the moon.
00:10:45
Speaker
Taney welcomes all types, especially kids like you. We're not a cult. Our gods are real. You don't know anything. I just hate to see you waste your gifts mining latinum for a bunch of snake oil salesmen.
00:10:59
Speaker
I know what those are. I wish we could sell snake oil, but St. Cthulhu drove all the snakes off Miskatonic centuries ago. The church needs that latinum. The colony depends on it. Taney, think.
00:11:12
Speaker
Think about what you could do for the colony if you were representing them for the coalition, huh? I've never seen a Lovecraftian sir. Maybe... Maybe... You could be a missionary?
00:11:28
Speaker
I've never thought about it that way. Yeah, D'Artagnan Washington. First Lovecraftian officer in the colony.
00:11:39
Speaker
Has a nice ring to it, actually.
00:11:57
Speaker
It's been three days already. When will you complete repairs on this machine? Today. Mr. Coltrane is doing the final repairs right now. Good.
00:12:08
Speaker
Dismissed. Actually, Aunt Isolde, can I speak with you? Of course, D'Artagnan. Come. Sit.
00:12:17
Speaker
Now, what's on your mind? I've been thinking about my work and the old god's plan for me. Go on. What if... What if there's more to my purpose than staying here?
00:12:33
Speaker
I mean, is it wrong to think that maybe I could serve the gods in a different way? Beyond the colony? The Connick Coalition? I know it's an unusual path, but I could be a missionary, a chaplain. And where exactly would you serve, D'Artagnan?
00:12:49
Speaker
What would be out there that our gods, your elders, have not already given you? I'm not saying I'd leave permanently, but maybe, maybe I could just help the colony from the outside.
00:13:03
Speaker
I've read about other places. You haven't read anything I haven't let you, boy. But the Khanate builds things, explores the stars. Maybe there's room for me to do something more. I could be a missionary. No.
00:13:18
Speaker
No? It's not possible, D'Artagnan. But why? Do not be swayed by the temptations of men and war, D'Artagnan. The Khanate fights for conflicts and chaos, but the Universalist Church of Lovecraft...
00:13:35
Speaker
has guided the Orion people for millennia. Say it with me.
00:13:49
Speaker
Thus we covenant with one another. So you see, you don't need to go out to seek chaos. It will always be here waiting for you.
00:14:02
Speaker
But the Khanate... You only have one purpose, D'Artagnan, and that is to attend to the shield generators on the day that our gods return. This is your destiny.
00:14:15
Speaker
has been written. I... see. I just... We are done speaking of this. Dismissed.
Coltrane's Mission and D'Artagnan's Crisis of Faith
00:14:29
Speaker
thank a
00:14:35
Speaker
Coltrane Akane Command.
00:14:38
Speaker
Damn, they've got this place locked down.
00:14:44
Speaker
Talos 9, I'm transmitting visuals of the chapel. Can't get anywhere near the mine. These images match existing records of Lovecraftian iconography.
00:14:57
Speaker
Obviously, Talos. Are you catching anything new? Mr. Coltrane? Hey kid, what are you doing here? I come here to pray. It's a chapel.
00:15:10
Speaker
What are you, are you thinking about converting?
00:15:16
Speaker
and and No, mean I I'd heard the chapel was a grand work of art. I came to see for myself. What do you think?
00:15:27
Speaker
Beautiful, brutal. You okay, kid? You seem down. Mr. Coltrane, I can't leave. Auntie DeSoldi, she's right. The old gods, the rituals, that's my path.
00:15:41
Speaker
How are you so sure? My destiny is written, Mr. Coltrane. Like in book somewhere? who Who wrote it? H.P. Lovecraft or your dear Auntie DeSoldi?
00:15:52
Speaker
Do you... Do you think there are other gods? I mean, you've traveled across the stars, seen other worlds. Do they all have gods like ours?
00:16:05
Speaker
Oh. There are gods out there, D'Artagnan. Plenty of them. Every world's got its own stories, its own legends. Some worship the stars.
00:16:17
Speaker
Some worship old spirits. Some pray to things they barely understand. Even some of my people worship the chairman.
00:16:28
Speaker
Let me ask you something, kid. Why are your gods any different? What makes them more real than the others? What do you mean? Our gods, the the old ones, they've always been here.
00:16:43
Speaker
They protect us. The church teaches... Churches teach a lot of things. But how do you know? I don't... I don't understand.
00:16:54
Speaker
The gods are real. We serve them. Everyone does. Do they? Out there in the galaxy, there are people who've never heard of your gods.
00:17:06
Speaker
You think they're all lost? do you think maybe, just maybe, your gods are only one story among many? But the rituals.
00:17:21
Speaker
The gods give us power. I've seen it, felt it. It's real. I'm not saying you haven't felt something. But I'm telling you, kid, sometimes what we think is real, it's just a story someone told long enough that we started to believe it.
00:17:45
Speaker
Your church, this whole faith you've built your life around, it's based on the works of a writer. A man named Howard Phillips Lovecraft.
00:17:59
Speaker
He made it all up. That... that doesn't make sense. Lovecraft was a horror writer, Earth, centuries ago.
00:18:11
Speaker
He created stories about gods like Cthulhu and Naryala Hotev, just like the ones you worship now.
00:18:21
Speaker
It was fiction. Dirtanian. Stories. That's the truth your church uses to make children work in mines.
00:18:34
Speaker
That's not true. The church, the elders, they wouldn't lie about something like that. Maybe they believe it too. Maybe someone told them, and someone else told the generation before that.
00:18:48
Speaker
But the truth doesn't care about belief, kid. It just is. There are no fishermen, and they certainly don't live on a moon. No, you don't understand.
00:19:00
Speaker
No, kid. You don't understand. The Khanate sent me here to find out if kids are doing the dirty work while your so-called leaders live off the profits. Why?
00:19:13
Speaker
In case Comic Command needs to start an inquiry to come here and save you all. The elders were right. You want to bring war and chaos to our community because you hate the old gods.
00:19:25
Speaker
War? I said an inquiry. Jesus, kid, you're smart. I know you've seen the cracks already. You just didn't want a admit it. You're lying.
00:19:37
Speaker
I can prove it to you, D'Artagnan. Talus 9 is a robot. You believe machines are an expression of the gods, right? Well, Talus can't lie. He can show you everything the Connick knows about your religion.
00:19:56
Speaker
I don't believe you. Talus, give that kid access to everything we have on Lothcraft and Mr. Tonic. Who come to you?
00:20:08
Speaker
Acknowledged.
00:20:14
Speaker
Hilda DeSoldi, you just missed your nephew. You shouldn't have done that. You can't keep a mind like that locked up here for forever. The galaxy is not kind, Terran.
00:20:28
Speaker
But that boy is. And to believe, he almost convinced me to let you go. And what will happen now? You are going to help me undo the damage you've caused.
00:20:42
Speaker
You're going to help restore young D'Artagnan's faith.
00:20:50
Speaker
Hello, D'Artagnan. Talos 9, what do you know about the Universalist Church of Lovecraft? The Universalist Church of Lovecraft, founded shortly after the Orion Civil War, is based on the fictional works of American horror writer Howard Phillips Lovecraft and extremist Unitarian Universalists.
00:21:14
Speaker
Known primarily... What do you mean fictional? Lovecraft was a 19th century horror writer. After Confederate and Kane intervention, Orion and human refugees blended their occult ideologies as they settled the Rutherford expanse.
00:21:31
Speaker
The Outer Gods from Lovecraft's works are the basis of the Elder Gods seen in the modern day church. What? No.
00:21:44
Speaker
Characters such as Nyarlathotep, Cthulhu, and Shub-Nigguroth feature prominently. Stop. Stop it.
00:21:55
Speaker
Prove it.
Truth Revealed and Action Taken
00:21:57
Speaker
The workshop is bathed in an airy glow as the Tetzagen displays holographic images of H.P. Lovecraft, followed by drawings and descriptions of eldritch horrors conjured from the darkest corners of imagination.
00:22:12
Speaker
So... it was all a lie? But our gods are so real. I don't... understand. Wait.
00:22:23
Speaker
What is Mr. Coltrane's mission? Pilot mission objective. Confirm reports of unauthorized child labor on Miskatonic Moon Colony. Give me his report.
00:22:36
Speaker
Culturing to Desai. Commando, they crashed and burned right into one of their child labor sites. So, that's confirmed. I think Elder DeSolday suspects my mission.
00:22:49
Speaker
I'm not sure I'm getting out of this one alive. What does he mean by that? Agents assigned to Lovecraftian intelligence are 43% more likely to die or disappear.
00:23:02
Speaker
The prevailing theory is that the church kills them to maintain secrecy. No, that's completely outside the dictates of our scripture. There's no way. Pilot biometrics not detected.
00:23:16
Speaker
Connection severed. Activating proxy emergency extraction protocol. Codename, Jazz. Wait, what does any of that mean? D'Artagnan.
00:23:28
Speaker
If Coltrane is deceased, bring me his head.
00:23:33
Speaker
His head? Are you insane? Kid, if you're hearing this, I'm probably dead. If you want to leave, bring my head to Talos 9.
00:23:45
Speaker
You'll need my implants to operate the Iron Man. Vespers! Talos, don't tell anyone else about this. I'll bring back Coltrane and we'll get you out of here.
00:24:16
Speaker
Gods, the smell.
00:24:25
Speaker
The fire purifies. His flesh, now sacred, nourishes us all. Coltrane. John Coltrane, headless, disfigured, is the centerpiece of a massive altar.
00:24:41
Speaker
His ribs splayed wide like the wings of some monstrous bird. His flesh is torn and carved, the skin hanging loosely.
00:24:53
Speaker
His threat has been consumed, offering for us to the nourishment of this colony. Bless you. For love is the doctrine of this church. To quest in darkness our sacrament.
00:25:12
Speaker
And chaos is our prayer. To dwell together in fear. To seek freedom in suffering. In the end, that all souls grow in harmony with the crawling chaos.
00:25:27
Speaker
Thus we covenant with one another.
00:25:34
Speaker
You roasted him like an animal? We honored him. He's no different than any sacrifice. you expect You expect me to eat this? When a family member offers you a meal they have prepared, it is rude to decline, but you are free to do as you wish.
00:26:00
Speaker
this strengthens us?
00:26:04
Speaker
Yes, see for yourself. The Ardagnan's vision blurs as the room fills with smoke and incense. A figure, twisted,
00:26:19
Speaker
Ny'la Hotep, the Trawling Chaos. Do you see now, D'Artagnan? Our gods are real. They protect us from strangers, like Coltrane.
00:26:35
Speaker
No, no, no.
00:26:39
Speaker
Eat, D'Artagnan, be devoured. crawling chaos. A shadow, writhing and shifting. Limbs folding into themselves as they consume and are consumed endlessly,
Escape and New Beginnings
00:26:58
Speaker
forevermore. Yes, Aunt D'Zolte,
00:27:03
Speaker
I see it I'm so proud of you, D'Artagnan. Aunt D'Zolde, may I honor his sacrifice with a proper burial?
00:27:13
Speaker
His flesh is gone, but I can bury the head. It seems right to honor him.
00:27:20
Speaker
You show wisdom beyond your years, D'Artagnan. Yes, bury him with our blessings so that his spirit may never return to trouble us.
00:27:52
Speaker
How the heck do I pilot this thing? Place the head near the regeneration alcove, above the headrest. The what? Put it under the plate that looks like it is filled with green lightning.
00:28:06
Speaker
John Coltrane. Call sign. Bebop. Biometrics confirmed. System override complete. Awaiting departure commands.
00:28:16
Speaker
Here goes nothing.
00:28:20
Speaker
It's now or never. Talos, put on some jazz. Warning, we cannot proceed with takeoff. Why not? We are currently inside a roof structure.
00:28:33
Speaker
This is a starfighter, right? Blow the roof off the workshop. Isn't this your home? Not anymore. Firing phasers.
00:28:44
Speaker
Begin takeoff in five, four, D'Artagnan, return at once. You don't understand what you're leaving behind. Three.
00:28:56
Speaker
Go now in peace, Auntie. You belong here. Your destiny is... That's enough of that. One.
00:29:06
Speaker
This is Black Tower 817 to Bebop. Do you read? Bebop is dead. Who is this? How are you piloting the Tetsujin? I have his head. I presume you're one of the Lovecraftian children then?
00:29:19
Speaker
Our agent found an illegal mining operation, didn't he? Yes, you have to come now. Burn the place down. They they ate him. They ate Coltrane. Look, kid, galactic politics aren't that simple. You can't just storm a moon because some kid said a bunch of church folk ate a Section 13 agent.
00:29:38
Speaker
That does explain where they've been hiding the bodies, though. They ate him. Yeah, yeah, I heard. Unfortunately, latinum doesn't mind itself and nobody wants to live in the Expanse.
00:29:50
Speaker
But listen, it sounds like you're out of a home now. Someone like you would be perfect for Section 13. Section 13? Are you the Khanate Coalition?
00:30:05
Speaker
Let's get in touch when you land. You can't miss me. I'll be surrounded by Marines pointing guns at your head.
00:30:18
Speaker
Wait, so that's why you're called Bebop? That's fucked up, man. Commander Desai picked it for me. Christ. I suppose that's one way to recruit an impressionable mind.
00:30:30
Speaker
Yeah. Let's talk about what happened to you during our mission on Bacchus II. I know it sounds crazy, but I know what I saw was rosy, but it wasn't.
00:30:43
Speaker
It was the black goat of the woods with a thousand young. Had you seen her before? Like you did the crawling chaos? No, no. But I know the stories.
00:30:56
Speaker
I've seen depictions. It was her. Shub N'Gurath. Can you describe her appearance in more detail? The stories say that the Elder God's true form was incomprehensible, but when I saw her, she looked like a beautiful woman with goat legs.
00:31:12
Speaker
And you're sure you haven't been briefed about the White Tower incident? No, sir. Why do you ask? No matter. That'll be all for today, Shipwright.
00:31:26
Speaker
N-log. Addendum. The active presence of Tikalusi represents a significant threat to the Carnate. And I have a suspicion that she has somehow made it on board the ship.
00:31:42
Speaker
It's like a presence. I can feel it close by. I thought it was Ensign Gomez, but she left with the other dead Klingons for Stovokor.
00:31:54
Speaker
Something just doesn't feel right, but I have no evidence. CIO PLA glows malevolently inside its containment unit, if an inanimate object can do such a thing.
Looking Forward: Future Episodes and Thanks
00:32:24
Speaker
So we went on a bit of a hiatus during the winter break. We are back and we will be finishing up season one with our last two episodes, 13 and 14, coming mean up pretty soon.
00:32:40
Speaker
Please stop by our Patreon and thank you to all of our fans on the Star Trek cruise. We look forward to seeing you next year.