[When the video comes on, it's focused on a black SD card dusted with white marks like stars sitting in someone's gloved hand. The video feed is accompanied by Kunsel's voice, though the camera never once turns towards his face.]

We found this a couple days ago. I left a note behind in the place where I found it, hoping to contact whoever left it there, but it's looking more like they moved on to somewhere else. If they're still here.

[It would make sense if they're on the move, trying to avoid being found.]

We've already transferred the contents to the public data app, but I'll copy it out here, too. Considering the messages that are showing up, this may be relevant. I think someone from a previous group is still here, and they might be responsible for both.

[He switches briefly to text.]

I am still here
I do not know what day it is
I am hiding
but I do not know for how long it will last
I cannot speak to @ADMIN but I will keep trying

[And now to audio.]

The thing I have to wonder is, who are they hiding from if it's not the Admin? I've suspected before that there's a third party involved, but that's more based on connecting dots than concrete confirmation.

*DELETED_001
GUYS. Has anyone been actually working on getting to new places?

*DELETED_002
no were just taking naps
naptime all the time here

*DELETED_001
NO ONE ASKED YOU. Look. The post office. There's that locked door, right? Didn't anyone find anything there? Like one of those weird techno-card things or a key or anything? There's gotta be CLUES.

*DELETED_008
Why would they hand out clues?

*DELETED_001
They hand out tons of stuff. There's just gotta be a way to open everything, unless we want to KEEP SITTING HERE AND FREEZING.

-----

*DELETED_009
[A series of still photos of some of the abandoned buildings. It looks like they're various places around the second residential area. No one is in any of the pictures.]

*DELETED_001
?????? THANKS?


-----

*DELETED_009
[A series of still photos of some of the abandoned buildings. It looks like they're various places around the first residential area. No one is in any of the pictures.]

*DELETED_002
wtf you're moving pretty fast dude

*DELETED_009
[A series of still photos of some of the abandoned buildings. It looks like they're various places around the ice tunnels. No one is in any of the pictures.]

*DELETED_010
Hey, wait, I'm in one of those rooms, how'd you get a picture of it empty?

[The feed opens with a figure in a hoodie - not to panic, it's only Shepard, who steps back from where she'd set up her tablet so she can talk to it hands free. Under the shadow of the hood her eyes are hard, bruised, bright. Burning glass. She shakes it off before she starts to speak, to fully show her face.]

In case we haven't been introduced, my name's Shepard. I'm a human, from Earth, 2168. Back home I'm a soldier, in command of the Systems Alliance starship Normandy. Miranda Lawson was my crewmate. My friend.

[She leans a little in, looking through the camera intently. She's used to doing this - giving orders, reaching out.]

I've been doing the same thing I'm guessing all of you have been, looking at the new information we've been getting today. I've also been looking at the obituaries. The rate we've been losing people. [Her jaw tightens and nostrils flare slightly. Contained rage, but difficult to contain.] I haven't got any more answers than anyone. I've only got what we all already know. If no one's made it out before, we're gonna have to be the first. Dying out is not an option. Whether we like it or not, the only way we'll get anything done is if we cooperate. And start thinking long term. Beyond survival.

[She reaches down, and pulls up a piece of cardboard. There's large, clear writing on it. DAY 58. REACHABLE SHELTER TO SOUTH, SOUTHEAST. SNOW BLOCKING TO WEST.]

I'm going to start leaving those in buildings I stop in. Until we've got a decent map, this might be the best we can do to help each other stay safe on the move. I'm heading towards the school - heard there's a source for supplies there, and maps I've seen show the funeral home is somewhere in the same neighborhood. I'm going to be establishing a supply route between them. Grabbing everything I can carry, and distributing it along the route. If more people pitch in, we can start securing regular routes and resupply bases that'll let us safely explore further. It'll be hard, miserable work. And it'll pay off.

Leaning back out again, she gives the network a nod, as though she's already gotten agreement. Maybe she will, maybe she won't; she'll do what she'll do, anyway. She feels like seeing Miranda's name in the obituary has woken her up. Like she'd wandered through a nightmare for those last few days, her body here but all of her that matters still back on Earth. That spell is broken. The next step is clear.]

That also means, as soon as I've found it, I'll be around the school for a while. Come meet me there. Let's see how many people we can get together, talk about our options face to face. Because our options have got to be better than this.

Shepard out.