Mark is joined in-studio by a person who does things with computers, and is called Stuart Langridge. Stuart's projects include the Brum Tech Scene interviews, Riddling for iOS and Android, and the Bad Voltage podcast. Stuart plays the first chapter in an ongoing space opera, which sees him battle zombies, work with robots and decipher codes

Opening scenario

You’re in the mess hall aboard the deep-space mining vessel RMS Spacey McSpaceFace, when the ship’s sensors alert you and your crewmates to the presence of an abandoned ship nearby.

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You’ve been running low on supplies after having stalled on the hard shoulder of one of the largest interstellar lanes in the galaxy - you knew you should’ve asked for directions but no, your navidroid new better. Anyway, you take a vote and it’s decided that someone should board the ship to see what can be salvaged.

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You all draw straws, and you draw the shortest one, so you don your hazmat protection undergarments, zip up your spacesuit over it and snap on your helmet.

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Your tiny shuttle docks with the vessel, which identifies itself as the AMS Donald Trump, and proceed to relay your findings back to the crew.

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The ship’s got breathable air, gravity and pan-pipe renditions of Coldplay on the PA. You drop your helmet in the galley, open a packet of Space Doritos you find lying around, and munch as you lazily walk through the ship.

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In the corridor leading to the sleeping quarters you notice what appears to be the detached arm of some kind of android. You touch the panel to open the sleeping quarters and enter. The crew are asleep (mostly in their bunks, but with one prostrate on the floor). You notice a desk with some papers, a small desk lamp and a computer.

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As you look closer you realise the crew aren’t asleep, but stone dead. You try to press your palm against the exit panel but the door won’t budge, and now there’s a strange smell coming from the air vent above your head.

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Suddenly you find you’re unable to breathe. You calculate you’ve got about six minutes before you suffocate. You need to find something to fix the door panel so you can get back out to the corridor. What do you do?

Spotify playlist

https://open.spotify.com/user/marksteadman/playlist/6rk9RS5acWK0jPjklxd8wT