Udal Singh

Udal Singh, commonly known as Singh, is a Pioneer who was part of the AISV Cicada crew that crashed onto Proteus. He is the partner of Iso. As a xenobiologist, Singh has taken a great interest in studying the Axum. His curiosity and lack of fear have brought him very close to the Tailings, resulting in his death on at least two occasions.

Singh's last known death occurred approximately 250,000 hours ago when he asphyxiated after being caught in a net by Tailings. He was successfully reprinted following this incident. His last known location was Camp One, where, having joined Jubilee, he left a note reading: "Flares will distract the big predators. — Singh".

Blackbox Locations

The following blackboxes belonging to Udal Singh can be found in various locations across Proteus:

1. Blackbox - Singh (impaled)

• Location: Under a BFJ with a large clump of Cherimoya Rotsac North of Camp One.
• Depth: 45 meters
• Coordinates: -327148, 394463, -4540
• Dialog: [ No dialog ]

2. Blackbox - Singh (impaled)

• Location: On a Pioneer Seabase platform North of the Digestion Angel Comb.
• Depth: 35 meters
• Coordinates: -331434, 413315, -3625
• Dialog: [ No dialog ]

3. Blackbox - Singh (impaled)

• Location: Under a Coral Dome above the Graveyard.
• Depth: 95 meters
• Coordinates: -306895, 458743, -9519
• Dialog: [ No dialog ]

4. Blackbox - Singh (depth 205m - unknown attacker)

• Location: Near the Therapy Room wreck on the outskirts of the Karakorum Power Plant.
• Depth: 200 meters
• Coordinates: -135588, 453278, -20400
• Dialog: Singh: "Iso! The Tailings - they got Tuba, they took Mel's tanks! Go help him, I'll -" [ Sound of impact ]

Databank Entries

Profile: Udal Singh

Udal "Singh" Singh

Gender: M Mission role: Survival xenobiologist Pay rate: Bagatur [hero, knight; expired Mongolian Free States trademark for a specialized/valuable worker]

Biography: Sikh born in the Kampung Bintang. Extreme risk-taker, but unlike partner Rauli Isotalo, not motivated by thrill. Biobed imaging diagnoses him with a possible amygdala lesion, leaving him unable to correctly sense danger. Strongly motivated by curiosity and excitement.

Notes: Good test case for therapeutic reprinting.

Blackbox Records

Blackbox: Singh, Udal (Impaled)

Event: Print loss POSTMORTEM Cause: Penetrating trauma by spear Complications: Metal poisoning, viremia Nearby pioneers: 0 Time: ~250,000 hours ago Reprint: Successful (Habitat) Remarks: Remains disturbed post-mortem FORK CONTINUED

Blackbox: Singh, Udal (Asphyxia/Entanglement)

Event: Print loss POSTMORTEM Cause: Asphyxia after entanglement Complications: Metal poisoning, viremia Nearby pioneers: 0 Time: ~250,000 hours ago Reprint: Successful (Habitat) Remarks: Trapped in net, tools removed, remains disturbed post-mortem FORK CONTINUED

Blackbox: Singh, Udal "Singh" 03 (Thoracic Trauma)

SINGH: "Iso! The Tailings — they got Tuba, they took Mel's tanks! Go help him, I'll—" [sound of impact]

POSTMORTEM Singh died of thoracic trauma. He was knocked against metal and lost consciousness. His chest was compressed by a vise or claw until his lungs were too bruised to function. Singh died near two coworkers. Singh died about 236,000 hours ago. Singh's blackbox transmitted him to a biobed in a nearby base camp. Despite elevated levels of contamination (particularly heavy metals and retroviral DNA), Singh was reprinted without a reset. Singh's life continued.

Blackbox: Singh, Udal "Singh" (Collector Attack)

Event: Print loss AUDIO: Vocalizations removed (no information content) POSTMORTEM Cause: Cervical dislocation Complications: Viremia, malnutrition, metal poisoning Nearby pioneers: 0 Time: ~240,000 hours ago Reprint: Successful (nearby field worksite) Remarks: Picked up and moved rapidly, with contralateral pressure applied to head and spine. FORK CONTINUED

Field Notes

Singh - "Why are the Axum hostile?"

Field notes, Udal Singh, observing the Axum Tailings in the Karakorum ruins. My reprint site is base camp near the observatory.

This time they killed me right away. They really don't like us coming into the ruins. They are obviously capable of communication and social behavior. Why are they so damn hostile?

According to Nahema's research we are the only life on this world not infected by the Proteavirus. Maybe the virus provokes violence against the uninfected? I don't know. It feels too convenient. "The natives hate us because they're sick!" More likely they have good reason to distrust humans.

And they know we come back when they kill us. So maybe they are communicating. Maybe they're trying to teach us: you cross this line, you die.

Singh - "Electricity before fire"

Field notes, Udal Singh.

The Karakorum ruins imply a civilization that developed to the same level as pre-Expansion Earth. They had electrical power, industrial metals, digital computers, orbital spaceflight, the whole suite. But they arrived to the same place along a different path.

They got electricity FIRST. I think they — hang on a minute, I've got to hide - I think the Axum themselves can sense electricity. Like sharks. And they figured out, hey, these long bacterial fibers - these things carry an electrical current. Then some clever Axum wrapped those fibers up into a generator. And once you've got a generator you can make your own electricity and start pulling metal from the seawater. Farming the sea to make tools. All without one spark of fire.

Imagine it. Undersea cities as old as Troy or Harappa, but with telegraph lines and electric lighting. Thousands of years before the first flame. To us, electricity means modernity. To the Axum...it's as old as bronze.