Unity: Decoupled (2009/11/02)

[[Juni holds its hands over its head. Three blue heads the same color as its hair float in the background.]]
Juni: [[dreaming]] leave me alone
Juni: please
[[The top of Juni's head is opened up on a hinge, showing its eyes from behind. One its arms or legs or appears to be lying disconnected in the background.]]
Juni: [[backwards]] what are you doing to me?
[[A more humanoid Juni floats sideways, one of its arms and the rest of its torso below it.]]
Juni: this isn't right at all
Transcript

Unity: Tundra (2009/11/04)

[[Juni dreams it is freezing on the ice. Worm-like things poke or nibble Juni from the sides, while a mosquito-like thing drills into its head.]]
Juni: [[dreaming]] don't tell me what to think
Juni: [[in Homin]] push the button Frank
[[Hira draws a blanket over a shivering Juni]]
[[Juni dreams of itself as a baby platypus in a nest.]]
Transcript

Unity: Trepidation (2009/11/06)

[[Hira is sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of something. Juni stumbles in, blearily.]]
Hira [Kajoshi]: Good morning. Did you sleep well?
Juni: Mh. I hd some pretty messed-up dreams.
Hira: You keep your bedroom too cold.
Hira [cautiously]: So what is happening today?
Juni: I don't want to know. I can't even think about checking the schedule.
Hira: Isn't it important to know?
Juni: My whole future is probably ruined now.
Hira: Did you tell them the truth?
Juni: Yeah...
Hira: Did you break any laws?
Juni: No...
Hira: Then it should be fine.
Juni: It's not that simple in the South.
Hira: Oh, yes, it is "advanced" here.
Transcript
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Unity: Exoneration (2009/11/09)

Bailiff: Officer Juni Melrose, you are required for your court case.
Juni: And you just barged on in?
Bailiff: You have not checked your schedule and are now truant.
Juni: Bah. My rank must be meaningless now.
Juni: Fine, let me get some clothes.
Kila Rosha: Finally, we may commence. Good morning to you all. I am Arbiter Kila Rosha. I would like to thank you all for your respective cooperation in this difficult and complicated case.
Kila Rosha: Disclaimer: I only learned late in the tribunal process that my spouse was involved in this case. While their influence was broad, it was also shallow: neither I nor the adjunct members of this arbitration committee believe integrity was compromised.
Kila Rosha: Obviously, my views of the public government do not match those of Kali; our discussions tend to be quite... passionate. Moving on.
Kila Rosha: It is the opinion of this panel that Agency Captain Edward Lombard be exonerated of all charges leveled against him. It is clear that he was only doing that what was required of him, and he never placed anyone else in any actual danger, perceived threat aside.
Transcript
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Unity: Sentence (2009/11/11)

Arbiter Kila Rosha: However, this case has exposed some internal Academy issues with implications sufficiently far-reaching that a declaration of opinion is necessary. Based on the testimonial presented from all parties, we feel that Dean General Tamu Haring has acted irresponsibly.
Rosha: While his intentions were noble, his actions showed a blatant disregard for the safety and sanctity of others and the Scientific Method.
Rosha: This Court also believes that much of the blame rests with Organeer First Class Juni Melrose, who has subjected itself and others to undue stress.
Brin [translating to Kajoshi for Hira]: The Arbiter believes that some blame belongs to Juni Melrose, who has given stress to herself and others.
Hira [Kajoshi]: I see.
Rosha: We recommend it seek psychiatric counseling before it is allowed to return to its research; while science must proceed, it must not be at the expense of our sanity, individually or collectively.
Rosha: Addendum: for violations of Tribunal protocol, Lieutenant Sasha Tzernikov is to serve a period of ten days without benefit of personal translation devices. I hope it finds this fitting.
Rosha: Per standard protocol, anyone may dispute these findings within the next five days, after which all information will be released to the public record. Case 193857 adjourned.
Transcript
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Unity: A word (2009/11/13)

[[Juni and Ed hug by the exit to the courthouse]]
Juni: Ed... I"m so sorry you had to go through all that. And all for nothing.
Ed: Mm. Well. We had to try. At least I'm reinstated. But what about you?
Juni: I'll have to figure something out, I guess.
Juni: Kali implied they had a job for me... kind of menial, but at least it's not prostitution.
Ed: At the Axis? That's... couldn't you work for someone else in the Academy?
Juni: First I'd need to pass a psychiatric evaluation, and you know who gives those...
Ed: Oh.
Juni: Plus, after two court cases with a superior, nobody would want to touch me.
Tamu [approaching from behind]: Juni, may I have a word with you? In private?
Juni: Sure, I'd love things to get even worse.
Transcript

Unity: Something special (2009/11/16)

[[Juni and Tamu are in a dark gray room of some sort]]
Tamu: You made me out to be some kind of monster. I think you have misunderstood my intentions lately.
Tamu: I only got caught up in the moment, just like you.
Juni: Like me?! I only experimented on myself. I didn't play with other peoples' memories!
Tamu: Is this about Seth? I was merely testing his ability to "hear" the simulant. Nothing more.
Juni: It's not just about him. The simulants--
Tamu: Those simulants made unfortunate leaps of logic, and it's a shame you saw them as rational conclusions. A simple question would have cleared it up.
Tamu: Frankly, much about your species is a mystery. Finding one with a scientific curiosity like yours is rare. I thought we had something special.
Juni: We did.
Transcript
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Unity: Intents vs. Consequences (2009/11/18)

Tamu: Juni, where did this all go wrong? If you ever thought I was trying to suppress your research, I am truly sorry. That was not my intent.
Tamu: You were not in a good place. I needed to pull you back to reality. You were losing yourself. Goodness, you tried to fake your own death to keep this up!
Tamu: You may have had the best intentions, but where was it taking you? Look at all the lives you've upended along the way.
Juni: It... it was all for something better.
Tamu: Better for who?
Juni: For everyone. For Unity.
Juni [quietly]: For us.
Transcript
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Unity: Wants vs. Needs (2009/11/20)

Tamu: So where do we go from here, Juni?
Juni: I need to take Hira back to Kajoshu.
Tamu: I meant that a bit less literally.
Juni: I know... I want you to come too.
Tamu: What...? Why?
Juni: Because I want you to see that Kayohash have much more scientific curiosity than we both thought.
Juni: I want them to get an education. I want your help.
Tamu: I see. I have far too many commitments at present, but I will make it a point to visit at some time in the future.
Tamu: [leaving the room] Enjoy the rest of your vacation. I will see you in a dec.
Juni: Okay.
Juni [watching the door close]: Wait, what?
Transcript
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Unity: Lecture averted (2009/11/23)

Juni: Mom, are you ready to go back to Kajoshu?
Hira: Of course. Are we going to take an airship? I hated [Hiero]zero-V the last time.
Juni: That is such a misnomer. [Hiero]Tangent velocity matters because there is a hubward accel--
Hira: Juni, I don't want a lesson in [Hiero]physics.
Juni: Oh.
Juni: Sorry.
Juni: You'd rather spend a day and a half by sea?
Hira: Yes.
Juni: Well, I suppose that makes it easier to adjust to the [Hiero]circadian offset. Okay, we can take a boat.
Hira: Thank you.
Hira: On the way there, can you finally explain what this was all about?
Juni: I can try.
Transcript
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Unity: Catching up (2009/11/25)

Apparently, Funny Bunny is wandering around somewhere in Unity's archives.
Sasha: [[red text]] Interlink corruption minimal. Recovering from suspension. Adjusting endorphine levels.
[[demiJuni's disembodied face peers upwards on a blank white background.]]
demiJuni: What... ?
Sasha: Good afternoon. I apologize for the brief interruption to your existence.
Sasha: As a warning I will not be able to communicate shortly.
demiJuni: Oh, hello there. Sasha, was it? What happened? Why is it so quiet now? I think I just had the strangest dream.
Sasha: That is unlikely. Operation is nominal
[[Sasha appears in a border-less window. Juni appears fully embodied.]]
demiJuni: Wasn't I in the middle of something?
Sasha: Re-enabling Homin [device]. Please send my regards to physical-you.
demiJuni: Oh, goodness, such a mess to clean- Oh, yes dear. I am right here. ^_^ You missed me? I am sorry!
[[Several windows appear in the background, showing two drones in front of a leaky pipe, a rabbit-like creature with striped ears, the Kajoshu pod bay in the middle of being repaired, a list of observed planets' characteristics, and a view of a stellar fragment.]]
Tamu: [[in a speech bubble with round and square edges]] Thank you, Sasha.
Sasha: It is no trouble, sir.
Transcript
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Unity: Open seas, closed world (2009/11/27)

Hira: [[Kajoshi]] I got you some ginger root. The [[Hiero]] medic said this may help.
Juni: Urk... Thanks.
Juni: I hated the boat when I left Kajoshu, too.
Hira: But you actually enjoy [[Hiero]] zero - I mean, freefall?
Juni: Yes... it feels, well, free. It is much better in an observation pod. though.
Juni: Seeing the [[Hiero]] stars, knowing we are not aloine...
Hira: But we are never alone in a village.
Juni: Sure, and I have friends in the South.
Juni: And we'll never meet any of the other Homin colonists, but I can't help but dream.
Juni: Huh, I'm feeling better. Thanks for the ginger.
Hira: I think you're supposed to chew on it.
Juni: Eh.
Transcript

Unity: Return to the temple (2009/11/30)

Hira: Eugene Rumio, what are you doing in here, wearing my vestments?!
Eugene: Mother! You're back! I, uh, nobody wanted t' take over for ya, so I did.
Hira: A male broodwitch? Ridiculous. I just hope the eggs are okay.
Eugene: Well I kept th' room 'bout the same as you left it. Uh, a few hatched, and I had t'figure out whose was whose by their colors.
Eugene: 'Cept one, wasn't anyone's. I let Rumi have 'er.
Hira: Only one? Are you sure she was an orphan?
Eugene: Tsan never told me she laid 'bother egg. Guess she had other stuff on 'er mind.
Hira: Oh.
Hira: Yes, she did.
Hira: You've done well.
Transcript
[!]1 comment
Recap: 14.Determining
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2009/11/23: Effort!

[!]3 comments
I must say, it's pretty amazing that Smarasderagd took the time to reverse-engineer the font I use for spoken Homin text (Blambot's "Miskatonic") and then used it to figure out what Juni was mumbling on this strip. Of course, it would have been a lot easier to just enter [Homin text] and have me fill it in at my discretion, but it's the fact people are willing to take that extra little bit of effort which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

2009/11/11: When the end comes

[!]2 comments
I've mentioned this before, but within the next few months, Unity will be ending. I have decided that when it does, I will provide some options for a "collection" version. For various reasons that I won't go into, it seems natural to me that it should be released initially as a DRM-free ebook of some sort. So here are the options I am thinking of: If there is enough interest in a print edition I'd probably go the Lulu route, although setting that up would be a huge amount of work and, if it's in color (which is important to the story), it would also be enormously expensive, so that seems like something of a last resort.

Just to keep things simple for me, I'd probably use Dreamhost Files Forever, although its UI kind of sucks. If anyone knows of another digital file fulfillment system that lets me just set a price on files and have them provided to people when they pay money, I'd be open to suggestions (including something that uses the Google Checkout API or whatever).

I'd appreciate any feedback.