Episode 47: Into the Depths

Wolf 359

The episode opens with a philosophical thought experiment about identity and cloning before plunging into a crisis aboard the Hephaestus, where Captain Loveless appears to have been replaced by an alien duplicate following a contact

Key takeaways

• Colonel Warren, an alien entity, temporarily possesses Captain Loveless to communicate with the Hephaestus crew during a massive psywave radiation flare.
• Commander Minkowski initially refuses to disarm or stand down, citing his own loss of control and distrust after previous traumatic events.

Main topics

• Alien contact and possession
• Chain of command and crew mutiny

Notable quotes

Are they really you? And if they're not? What makes this person that has your body and your memories and believes with every fiber of their being they are you? Not you.

Conclusion

The episode masterfully escalates the alien contact narrative while using it as a

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:00) Hey guys, Zach Valente here. Welcome to Season 4 and whoa, whoa, whoa, hold your horses. I know, I know, the suspense, it's killing us. But just three quick things before we get started. First, you probably saw this on Friday, but we just dropped a new special episode about Loveless' original mission. And you should really listen to that before you listen to this. It's big. It's fun. It's over two hours of brand new content that we're really excited about. Can't you tell? If you haven't heard it yet, go to hearspoke.com slash wolf359. It's totally free to stream. And while you're there, we recommend you sign up for a free account with Spoke. It's an awesome new social audio app from SiriusXM that's all about finding great podcasts. And, you know, we think you'll love it. Plus, there's a... bunch of bonus content about the special and maybe a few other surprises. Once again, that's hearspoke.com slash wolf359. Second thing, while we're talking about the special, in addition to our partners at Spoke, we want to thank our amazing patrons who helped make it possible by getting us over our $2,000 a month goal on Patreon. If you haven't yet, Go check out our Patreon page and look at the other insane stretch goals, like a complete deep space survival procedure and protocol manual. You can find all of that at patreon.com slash wolf359radio. And last but not least, in case you haven't heard, the official Wolf359 merch store is live! Go check out store.wolf359.fm and buy our wares! Right now you can get t-shirts featuring all the main characters and keep your eyes peeled for some new items coming soon. Once again, that's store.wolf359.fm. And now, without further ado, welcome to Season 4 of Wolf 359. Speaker 5 (2:33) So here's a story. Pay attention. Speaker 6 (2:36) This will be important. Speaker 6 (2:40) I heard this story at, well, I didn't so much hear it as have it cramped into my head with absolutely no consideration on whether I wanted it there or not, a long time ago. It's a thought experiment. Speaker 6 (2:52) Suppose there's this person. Could be anyone, really. For the sake of convenience, let's call him... You. Speaker 6 (3:02) One day, you're walking through a swamp when suddenly you're struck by lightning. Speaker 6 (3:11) You fall into the swamp and you sink. Speaker 6 (3:17) sick Speaker 6 (4:15) like yours down to the nerve. think like you, talk like you, make poor decisions about their personal diet like you, they will walk out of the swamp believing they are you. Speaker 6 (4:31) They'll go back to your life, show up at your job, love who you love, and live your life and die your death. Speaker 6 (4:42) will go on. Speaker 6 (4:47) Are they really you? Speaker 6 (4:52) And if they're not? What makes this person that has your body and your memories and believes with every fiber of their being they are you? Not you. Speaker 6 (5:05) What is it that makes you... You. Speaker 6 (5:22) Ready or not? Speaker 2 (5:50) 359. Speaker 2 (6:42) Loveless. Speaker 4 (6:43) Like I said, it's- Speaker 2 (6:44) Stop saying that! My fault, you're freaking out! Yes! I- Speaker 6 (6:48) I invite you to freak out with me! Would you get it together? No! Speaker 6 (6:56) How is she... Speaker 4 (7:14) Something very few people have seen, Kira, but which I think you will understand. Think of it as a physical reboot. Speaker 8 (7:23) And you knew? You knew this would happen? Speaker 4 (7:28) Not exactly. Jacoby, Speaker 8 (7:30) you didn't know about this? Of course I didn't! How is this even supposed to be a- Ah! Speaker 6 (7:38) Kira, can we stabilize? Speaker 4 (7:46) Eh, we got time. This should still take a few minutes. Speaker 2 (7:49) What should take a few minutes?! Would you just explain what is happening?! Speaker 4 (7:56) Officer Eiffel. It's just a simple matter. Speaker 3 (8:01) Medulla! Speaker 3 (8:12) Yes, oblongata if you have it, but if you don't, I'll settle for the hypoglossal nucleus. No, wait, that's not right. Speaker 2 (8:19) It's okay, Captain. Oh, Speaker 3 (8:20) is it, Lambert? No, wait, not Lambert. You're the other one. The funny one. Well, not the funny one, but the one that thinks Speaker 2 (8:27) he's funny. Yes, Speaker 3 (8:28) you're my friend. Speaker 2 (8:30) That's right. It's me. Conan the Destroyer. Speaker 3 (8:35) Conan the talk show host. Speaker 3 (8:39) mid-level Wall Speaker 2 (8:40) Street broker? Speaker 3 (8:40) Broker, yes. No, that's not right, is it? Oh, well, it's not not right. Well, it's not not not right. And that's what counts. Kepler? What is happening? Speaker 6 (8:56) She's reintegrating every- Speaker 6 (8:58) Does this happen to you when you reboot? Speaker 3 (9:05) You're still here! You know, I was worried for a moment. Or maybe it was an aeon. Speaker 3 (9:12) Probably Speaker 8 (9:12) somewhere between a moment and a neon. What is she even talking- Oh, Speaker 3 (9:16) Huey, you're here too! And Dewey, Dewey, and of course, who could forget the last member of the trio, Chernabog from Bald Mountain. Speaker 4 (9:26) Good to see you, Captain. Good Speaker 3 (9:28) to see you too. Good to see you, and also... Also, also a little bit not. Yes. No, no, no, no. Well... Maybe. But also, no. You did a bad thing. You did a thing. You did a rude thing. You were rude. Speaker 5 (9:47) Yes. Let's maybe get away from the rude man. No, Speaker 3 (9:52) stop. I need to find the right wavelength. This is all very caveat emptor. Of course it is. No, that's not a good thing. We have to get back. To the place with all of the bendy and figure out who invented the swirling and the... VASA motor sensor. Speaker 5 (10:17) Whoa! Easy, Eiffel. I got her. Is she- Out, but fine. At least, I think she's fine. Speaker 4 (10:24) Getting there. Speaker 4 (10:26) We need to talk. Speaker 5 (10:27) No, we need to get her to a bed, make sure she's stable. Then I'll deal with you. Eiffel, help me. Speaker 2 (11:06) How's she doing? Speaker 5 (11:07) She's... asleep, I think. Muttering to herself, but she's settling. Speaker 6 (11:13) Hira, Speaker 5 (11:13) give me some good news. Speaker 5 (11:23) Good job. Thank you. You explain Speaker 4 (11:28) I think by now you've all realized that the person you've known as Captain Isabel Loveless isn't really that person. Or human. Which you've always known. Which I've always known. She is a very convincing duplicate of Isabelle Loveless, sent here by the presence you established contact with. Speaker 2 (11:50) This is- Speaker 2 (11:53) So you've been lying to us, and she's been lying to us? Possible, Speaker 4 (11:58) but unlikely. When I say a duplicate Eiffel, all evidence suggests that that includes mental infrastructure. I don't think she knows. I think she's under the impression that she is the real Isabelle Loveless. How Speaker 2 (12:12) in the name of God could you possibly Speaker 5 (12:14) know