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A
So long can't dodge the dawn Red light shines on and on and on.
B
And on and on but it's not the sea that's coming for me and it's not the storm no, it's not the storm so come sing me no songs Though once we go we are gone and gone and gone When I go to sea don't fear for me Fear for the storm. Fear for the storm. Folks, this is your pilot speaking. We are bearing down fast on Klisnay. I predict we make landfall within the next 10 minutes. Please look out your windows and. I can't. I'm sorry. I can't think of anything dashing or cool. Just. Let's get our friend back. Okay, Crush, out.
C
Thanks, Kresh. Okay, I know we've all got a lot on our minds right now. But lets break this down one more time. Mission review. What do we know?
D
Somehow, someone built a backdoor into the regime's defense software. Sanaa's biometrics can unlock the program and take out the drones. We've got her planetary coordinates from when she called Regimes. Regime's coming down fast.
C
Thanks, Park. Any word from Thazia?
D
We still can't get a hold of them. Our forces have their orders to start the attack at noon. If we can't clear the way, we. We have no means of telling them.
E
We have an hour, 27 minutes. Factoring in that, we won't have instant access to the security site that will scan Horiz. We have about an hour, 20 minutes.
F
Claisenay has been abandoned for maybe 100 years. The overgrowth will make it harder to run any kind of land vehicle down there.
B
The regime won't gut the whole planet because it's full of xenophauna. And there are a lot of regulations about first contact, sample gathering and so on.
E
They. Sorry. Having your life prioritized below animals doesn't.
C
I know. And I fully agree.
B
They.
E
They were arriving as we disconnected. So they've had a head start. That's their advantage.
D
But she'll be hiding from them. She won't be hiding from us. That's our advantage.
F
Thanks to Krezh's sources, we've got a pretty good map of the planet. Here's that. Here's as far as we think Tripathi could have made it inland.
B
We're assuming a water landing. Because she's, you know, still alive.
C
We know she found some way to transmit to us. Brian, I want you and Krej searching for whatever comms she used.
F
Right. And she referred to seeing the regime down on the beach. So we think it must be on something like higher ground.
E
Eliminating these islands, leaving this one.
C
What kind of forces would the regime send?
E
Any agents in the area would be pinged, as well as the closest armada.
D
To be clear, we want to get there, find her, and leave before the armada arrives. Most of them have tanks.
F
Hey folks, how will we know if we succeed?
C
We succeed if we get her back in time.
F
I mean, like, we can't reach out to the people who need us to do this because we don't know who they are. Regime news wouldn't cover a successful attack. And our news is spotty. How long will we just not know if we've done it?
C
That's a problem for the future. Arkady Patel to Krej. Hey, how are we doing folks?
B
This is your pilot speaking. Sorry about really fell down on the job for a sec there, Krej. It's fine. I think we're all having a lot of feelings right now. Well, we are coming up on Claisnay. Landing soon. Landing stealthily, landing with cat like tread. Woof, woof. Crash out.
C
Liu, you got your tools?
B
Hopefully everything.
C
I'll need you locked and loaded. Park, McCabe. Brian.
D
There's no ready in this situation, but we are armed.
F
I think that. I think it's still right.
C
Okay. Violet, McCabe, with me.
E
Yep, coming.
C
Violet, you want to go over targeting our trigger discipline again?
B
I've got it. But I'm still not sure I'll be able to kill anyone.
C
Don't be modest. Your aim's good.
B
You meant I am so far out.
C
Of my depth, you can't know what you'll do until it comes. In the service. I met some guys convinced they were killing machines till they got out there. Stay close by me and try not to overthink it. Even a kneecap or an ankle will help us. McCabe, how are you feeling? McCabe.
E
They'll kill her if they find her. They'll kill us if we let them. We need to hit first scale of.
C
1 to 10, where 1 is clear eyed and ready and 10 is just a helpless whimper. 4. I'll take. Knock, knock. Krezh. We're here for the grenade launcher.
B
Welcome, welcome. Why don't we. Oh, oh.
C
Armada beat us here.
B
Fellas, I don't mean to alarm you, but we've got some real eager beavers on our hands. Did we get close enough to set off their scanners? We did.
C
Hey, Krej, can you do me a favor? If stealth isn't an option, land with.
G
A flourish.
B
Crash Doll crew. Looks like we've got an audience. And I was born to entertain. Buckle up, buckaroos.
E
Crash out.
B
Jesus.
C
Fight. Here.
B
What? Thanks.
E
If you two have a moment. Passing a vomit bag. I'll need it next.
B
Passing through the atmosphere. Up in the sky. It's a bird, it's a plane. It's a model G75B fruit boot.
C
We're coming up on that ocean really fast.
B
All by design, Captain Tell. All by glorious design. Krez, do you see in full Technicolor? Dr. Liu, down on the water.
E
It's a fish.
D
It's a whale.
B
It's a model G75B fritbit. Think we drew the mothcat and Tripathi. If anything could have it, was that descent. Great work, Krej. Thank you. Thank you.
C
Not bad at all. Arcadey to all crew. Okay, listen up. Based on their position, they had eyes on our approach. Thanks to the trees, no clear line of sight. They should hold fire until they could see us. They're three clicks away. That gives us about 20 minutes. Less if they've got tanks. They've got tanks.
B
Brian, can you come up here, please?
C
Arcadypatel out. What do we need him for?
B
Same question, different move.
F
What's up?
B
I was thinking. Can you rig up our comms equipment? The enemy already knows where we are, but you. Maybe we could give Captain Tripati a hint on it.
C
Remember, Brian, you're with Krej. Violet, you stay with me. McKay, you and park know to keep together.
E
Right.
F
Aha. There we go. I've got a loop going out on all frequencies. With the bonus that it could jam up their comms too.
B
She'd love that.
C
Yeah, well, let's hope we get to hear it from her in person. Krezh, how's our front door looking?
B
Coast is crystal for now.
E
Cap' n Fel.
C
Arcady Patel, Tall crew. We got another plan B in effect. Places, everyone. We can do this. I know we can. Arcadi Patel out. McCabe, your grenade launcher.
E
Thanks. Empty. Park's got the grenades. How could I forget?
C
It's okay, McCabe. We're all going through it. Just focus. You're tracking how much time we've got till it's too late for the attack on the.
E
On the regime weapons facilities. And, yeah, the countdown is right here.
C
Good. Go get those grenades. Bye. You ready?
B
No. Let's do this.
F
Hell, yeah.
B
Maybe a bad time for this, but I love you.
C
Love you too. And no such thing. Oh, here. Your armor's showing. Let me just.
B
Thanks. Okay, let's Jesus. That's like three feet deep.
C
I got you. Are you okay?
B
The red grass looking stuff must be aquatic. It looks so solid. Marsh, forest and beach in one biome. Wish we were here for other reasons.
C
Me too. Come on. Vi and Arcady to crew. Come in.
E
Brian and Craig here the cave, and park here. Watch out for pits of standing water.
B
We think they're marked by bright red grass.
F
Ever the biologist, dude.
C
Remember, fan out and radio in if you come across anyone.
F
Copy that.
E
What?
D
Park, is that a camera?
E
There's hundreds of them. It's speakers, too. See the plant growth around them? They've been here for a long time. Dornian tech, not regime. McCabe and park to all crew, 52 minutes left. Copy. What?
B
Pointed the chip. Its swimming circle was a kilometer under the water. Confirmed. Either Chapati found a submarine or she gave us the slip.
G
Got it. We found the remains of a cat campfire. Brushed over, but still warm. Somebody's been here within the last 12 hours. Where's backup?
B
Approaching the newcomer ship due west.
C
Backup 2 approaching from the east.
G
Copy that. My team will cover quadrant three. She can't have gotten far.
D
McCabe, what are you doing?
E
I've got a clear line of sight.
D
I've got one eye. You think you can take them all down?
E
I got a shot.
D
Stand down. Priority is the intel. McAden. Park to crew.
E
We're here.
C
Me and Violet.
F
Me and Crash too. What's the situation?
D
Five agents in a clearing on the other side of the island. They found a recent campfire. Agents approaching the ship from the west and a tank from the east.
C
Headed straight for you. Damn.
F
You folks gonna be okay?
E
I don't.
D
We'll figure it out. I'm confident in my team.
F
Good.
C
Everyone stay sharp.
E
Okay. Tank headed this way. How are you?
D
All right. We get as much tree cover as we can. Watch out. Red grass.
E
Got it.
D
The tank will mow it down, but it'll buy us a few seconds.
E
I've got a plan.
C
Good. Brian and Krej, what's the news?
F
Getting real creep show vibes from this place. Abandoned looking building. Heavy on the broken windows. Smells like an orange somebody left in the sun way too long. It kind of looks like it too, if I'm right.
B
Through here.
E
Yup.
B
This is a computer control room.
C
You getting the lay of the land?
B
Over there. That terminal?
F
Someone's brushed the dust off.
B
Miami had this model, solar powered. See this gooey little panel? Universal adapter.
E
It'll take any format.
B
If you got it hooked up right. This must be what feeds into all those speakers and cameras? What are the odds they left it logged in?
C
No dice.
B
Needy permissions to make any commands. Without a login, of course.
F
What are you doing?
B
Giving myself permissions.
F
Ow.
B
Remember I said about flight simulators? Weaseling.
F
Yeah.
B
And bingo. What's their name?
F
Oh.
C
Crush if you can swing it. Code Orange.
B
Just in case the ho.
C
Keep us in the loop.
B
Have you ever done a mission like this before?
C
Not exactly, no.
B
This is a big island with a lot of COVID What are the odds either of us find her?
C
There's no way they're living letting her go free. However long it takes.
B
Do you hear something?
C
Behind here.
E
Back up.
C
Come in.
B
Sweeping the area with my team.
C
There's only three of them. Count of three, element of surprise, we pick them off. Shortest to tallest.
B
Got it.
G
One.
D
What?
C
Violet.
D
Lou.
C
On. Arcady Patel, by the authority of the.
B
Intergalactic Republic of Free Worlds, you are under.
C
What was that?
B
I don't see anything.
A
Good shots. Arcady.
C
Sanaa.
A
It's really you. Can I just. Can I just look at you for a moment?
C
Can you look and run? Because we don't exactly.
A
In a second. Come here. Both of you. Let me put down this rock and we can hug. As a down payment on a much longer hug later.
B
Can you. Captain, are you okay? Your side is bleeding.
A
Was bleeding. I cauterized it with a hot knife.
C
Maybe we.
A
Table dog.
B
That's.
A
I would not recommend it.
B
No, I was going to say badass. Hey.
A
I'll take it. How much time do we have?
C
About 40 minutes. McCabe's tracking the countdown. Park's with them. K and Brian are in the comms building. We got to move. How did you. The biometrics. How do you.
A
Thanks. Charlotte Williams, personal assistant to Major General Frederick, stole access to the drone targeting software and passed it along to me. Hopefully in time. What's the plan?
C
At this point, we're improvising.
A
You know how much I love a. Yes and.
F
Hey, folks. You got anything you want broadcast from any point on the island?
A
Come to think of it.
B
Captain Tripati.
A
Hey, Krish. Hey, Brian.
B
Camera party.
A
It is so, so good to hear your voices. Is McCabe there? How much time do we.
F
We can't get through to them. Not sure why.
D
Think it'll work?
E
The thing about infantry fighting vehicles is, in the older models, the glass isn't always 100% shatterproof. And the range on the cannon is shorter than you'd expect. So once the machine gets a little closer.
D
Is it closer yet?
E
Almost. A lot of Sniping is about patience. Setting up the shot before you take it. Almost.
B
Almost.
E
Damn, it must be a new one.
D
That plasma cannon's really heating up.
E
Run. How are we faster?
B
Did it just right into the bog?
E
I think so.
C
Come in. Come in. Park and McCabe, come in. Park. Park. McCabe, this is not a goddamn drill.
D
Can this wait? I've been shot.
A
Are you okay? Sanaa Jinson. I'm here with Violet and Arcady.
E
Where are you?
D
Graze.
B
It'll.
D
It'll heal. Or not. I'll be fine.
B
I've got supplies. I can take a look at it once we reconvene.
A
Looking Forward to it. McCabe. Time.
E
Oh, my God. Captain Jerpaki, you're here.
A
Time, please.
E
37 minutes, nine seconds.
A
Look, can you get down to the beach where the Regime landed? We're working on something.
D
What kind of something?
C
How do you feel about stealing an armada ship?
E
All Regime ships are heavily guarded.
A
Well, listen, can you still head for the beach?
C
We've got the start of a plan.
E
We can try.
A
That's all we ask. Thank you.
E
Parking. McCabe here. We've reached the beach. There's a whole fleet of warships. Not much cover left.
C
Arcady, Violet and Sanaa here. See you soon.
D
Think you'll ever get used to approaching an IGR craft, weapons drawn?
E
Not in this life. Hey, over there by the shore.
A
Is that Sanaa, Jinson and McCabe.
B
Hi. Your arm's looking rough.
E
Park.
D
Don't feel a thing.
A
Hey.
B
Hi.
C
McCabe. All good.
E
10 minutes, 4 seconds.
C
We can do this. We can do it. Where's.
F
Hands in the air.
D
All of you.
C
Sana Tripathi.
A
Yes.
C
Keep your hands up or we really will shoot.
A
See, I'm not sure about that. You could have killed me much sooner. You didn't. And I know you're not keeping me alive out of kindness. You need to know what I know. And that means.
C
Violet.
G
That's a gut shot. Fatal in the old days. Nowadays. Proper equipment, speedy medical attention. She could be okay if you follow orders right now.
A
What do I need to do?
B
Do?
G
Surrender yourself into IGR custody. But first. Arcady Patel, AKA K. Grom.
C
AKA hey, can we save all the names for when my girlfriend's not dying? Oh, my shoulder.
G
ARC Katie Patel, Riley, Joe McCabe and Jen sun park, line up along the shore.
C
I'm not leaving her.
G
Agent Hubbard, Agent Watkins, keep your weapons trained on Violet. Lou.
E
Arcady. Captain, you take one arm, I'll take the other.
C
Thanks, McCabe. Why the line?
E
It's a new regulation for Death by firing squad.
B
God.
C
Hey, Jeter. Get ready. Just like what we talked about.
G
Arkady Patel, you have been found guilty on 87 criminal characters counts. And as such, you are to be put to death immediately. RJ, you have been found 23 criminal counts and you are put to death.
C
She's not getting up.
G
Any last words?
A
Yeah, actually. Did you know in some circles they call me Saint Sana? I just want to. While I still have breath in my lungs, I want to put in a prayer to the universe. To change my nickname. What do saints do? They suffer. They ascend. They forgive those who hurt them and those who hurt their friends. They leave all that behind me.
G
That's enough, agents. Take aim. In the name of the Intergalactic Republic of Free Worlds, You.
A
I'm not done. What's that?
G
It's a blank. Love. Take aim.
A
I love deeply. Always have. But I'll be honest. I don't feel a shred of forgiveness for you. I know they say resentment weighs you down, but I think I'm fine bearing that weight a little longer.
G
Agents, Aim your weapons right now.
A
See, I'm no saint. I hold a grudge, but not as much as these guys. What the hell is that?
C
Don't let them get away.
B
Back up.
G
Got a priority too.
B
We need you right now, alive.
A
Someone help up. Violet, grab Arcady and let's go.
E
On it.
C
Violet, are you okay?
B
Bruised, not broken. I think this armor's spent though.
D
What just happened?
A
The eels really hate that song. Come on, let's go.
F
Greg and Brian to everyone else. Meet you at the ship.
C
McCabe, how much time do we zero? Hey, McCabe. The eel stunt probably only bought us a few minutes. They're still right behind us. We need to.
E
It's over. We're out of time.
C
See, didn't we have a seven minute cushion to access the defense software?
A
McCabe, honey, you've gotta run. Please.
B
They're still behind us. We still want to live.
E
We only have six minutes left, and it can't be done in under seven.
C
You're right. But you know what? Definitely has access.
B
Oh, my God. The warships run.
E
Three minutes.
D
Two guarding the headship.
E
Two minutes, 55 seconds. We can't get in without an identification.
B
You mean like this?
F
Turns out the computers up there have 3D printers. If you're very, very good at weaseling.
B
As requested, we put in a call to Forager Campbell. He says, hey, Crewma park, catch. Meet my husband, General Brock Blaze.
F
Hi.
C
Entry is clear. Brian, follow the prompts and re key the door behind us.
F
Aye, aye.
C
Main hall is clear.
E
2 minutes 38 seconds.
A
Where is the computer?
C
Side room is clear. Wrong way. Double back.
E
Stop. McCabe, I see movement on your three.
C
Everyone behind McCabe.
E
It's a cat.
B
Hey, people, in here.
C
There it is. Krej, get to the steering console and standby.
E
McCabe, two minutes.
C
All right, I'm in Sanaa.
E
One minute, 54 seconds.
G
Sanaa.
B
Folks, I'm in the cockpit looking at the external cameras and the regime labs are back. They're training anti aircraft on us. We need to be in the sky yesterday.
E
We don't have time.
B
Override needed.
A
Computer scan.
B
Iris scan commencing. Please do not blink. I'm taking off.
C
We need to stay still for the scans.
E
One minute, 47 seconds.
B
They're going to hit us.
C
Then activate every shield we've got.
B
Shields at 78%. Scan complete. How can I help you.
C
Now? Crash.
B
Shields at 56%.
E
Let's go.
A
Computer, disable all drones.
D
Are you sure you want.
B
Scene? Yes. Shields at 37%. Program drones disabling.36 seconds. We have liftoff. Accelerating. Danger craft. An immediate pursuit. They're on our tails.
A
Crash.
C
We've got weapons again. Hit them.
B
Shields at 14%. Danger craft in.
E
Got it.
B
Vi, I found the weapon system. Triage. Sometimes you triage. Achieving warp speed.
E
8 seconds.
B
Program drones disabled.
A
Did that.
D
Did we?
C
For sure. Till we hear back.
F
Holy crap.
A
Holy shit.
D
Sana.
F
I'm fine.
B
I'm fine. I'll be fine. Just. Hey, fellas. So, do we have a cat now? This episode features Brie Lafever as Krish.
C
Ishani Kanitkar as Arkady Patel and Cindy.
B
Chu as Violet Liu, Jamie Price as.
E
Brian Jeter, Jackie Andrews as RJ McCabe.
D
Chris Choi as Jinsun Park, Alicia Atkins.
B
As Agent 1 Oliver Knight as Agent.
D
2, Ryan X Mesher as Agent 3.
C
Hannah Fletto as Agent 4, Jason Warner as Agent 5, Rukmini K. Desai as.
B
Sanathrapathi Philip C. As Pleasant Voice Nick.
D
Fien as Security Computer written by Jessica.
C
Best, directed by Lauren Grace Thompson.
B
Production coordination by Eleanor Hyde Sound design by Jeffrey Nils Gardner Opening credits music.
C
Is Fear for the Storm, written by.
B
Jessica Best and Essie Winters and performed.
C
By Chiron Starr with Aaron Bauman on.
B
Vocals and harmonies arranged by Jamie Price. Going to Fall is written and performed by Tail Light Rebellion. It was exclusively created for the Strange Case of Starship Iris and will be the lead single single off their upcoming.
C
Album the closing credits.
D
Music is rocket science by Amber Devereaux.
C
Of Tin Can Audio. The fable and folly network where fiction producers flourish.
Podcast: The Strange Case of Starship Iris
Host/Writer: Jessica Best (Procyon Podcast Network)
Date: October 9, 2025
This episode plunges the Starship Iris crew into a high-stakes rescue mission on the overgrown, abandoned planet Claisnay. The team races against the clock and the militarized forces of the Regime to retrieve their comrade, Captain Sanaa Tripathi, and prevent the regime from regaining control over deadly drone weapons. The crew balances technical improvisation, emotional vulnerability, and split-second decision-making in a tense, action-packed story about loyalty, trauma, and survival—underlined by humor and found family dynamics.
On fear, leadership, and vulnerability:
On trauma and resistance:
Humor under fire:
Defiance in capture:
Survival, found family, and love:
Triumphant, if uncertain, escape:
The episode expertly blends high-stakes action, sci-fi espionage, and deeply personal stakes. Humor and sarcasm punctuate even bleak moments. The crew’s found family dynamic is underscored by repeated acts of care, affection, and concern, both spoken (“I love you,” “Let me just—Thanks”) and unspoken (sacrifice, risk-taking, covering for each other). The episode closes on a note of exhausted relief and lingering uncertainty, encapsulating the show’s ongoing tension between hope and hazard.
Summary prepared for listeners seeking a detailed yet engaging recap of key events, emotions, and dialogue from "Recovery."