Estranged: The Departure (Literature)

All dialogue for Estranged: The Departure.

Prologue

Breakfast Burst TV News Ticker

• Shares in Arque Corporation (ARQ) fell by 5% after reports of a fire at one of their fuel divisions, adding pressure to an already turbulent year for the company.
• Box office sales exceeded all expectations for the remake of "World War Ninety", a dystopian film centred around a successful social media mogul running for world leader, and the dark implications for the world.
• Storm Edwin means that many of the main roads and public transport routes will be disrupted, please use caution when driving during this time.

STORM EDWIN

• Ensure food and water for two days
• Calm today, worst yet to come
• Public transport links will be non-operational
• Worst storm in 50 years

Chapter #1

Liam Jones' Computer

Wentworth Herald Issue #317

ARQUE CORPORATION COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF PHILLIP'S PHARMACEUTICALS

The acquisition of local pharmaceutical company Phillip's Pharmaceuticals was completed late last week, as all fifty employees were let go, twenty more workers than originally planned.

The news came as Arque Corporation announced its plans to expand into the region for unstated research purposes.

The former owner and founder Phillip Beaumont was forced out of the company after his very public breakdown, in which he was arrested after running around the island nude. We were unable to contact Phillip for comment, however his ex-wife described the takeover as “probably strategic”.

It now appears the new owners had no interest in Phillip’s Pharmaceuticals and its employees, they were instead more interested in the facility and the land on which it was built.

Ben Killamock, an ex-employee was frustrated that his livelihood had been taken from him. Job opportunities on the island are few and far between, and for the majority of ex-employees, moving away from the island is the only option.

“I’ve been working at Phil’s for over 10 years, and they just let me go. It’s heartless.”

The current owners of the closed Liam Brothers’ Mine site are also reportedly in talks with Arque Corporation. The mine is close to the Phillip’s Pharmaceuticals facility, and appears to be of strategic value to the corporation.

We contacted Arque Corporation for comment, however they declined, stating that “the corporation follows all local employment laws, and has offered fair compensation to all re-deployed employees”. The newspaper has discovered that the “compensation” is covered by a non-disclosure agreement, so actual monetary figures provided to ex-employees are unknown.

SHIPS "DANGEROUSLY CLOSE" TO COLLISIONS WITHOUT LIGHTHOUSE

Ships passing near to the island are "dangerously close" to crashing, with the closure of the Redton lighthouse, according to fisherman John Alexanders.

The Wentworth Herald covered the saga exclusively last week, as the lighthouse was set to be decommissioned amid suggestions that its cost outweighed its usefulness.

The Department of Maritime Traffic Investigation declined to comment, after stating in last weeks' issue that they were "confident that this won't impact any passing traffic".

RED ALGAE NUMBERS STRONG

The colonies of algae situated on the island remain strong, as recent surveys show a vast increase in the amount of so called "red algae", the island's very own unique species of algae continues to take over lakes, and other natural bodies of water.

Local resident Rosie Hardman considers the algae a menace, and would be happier if it were gone, saying "It [the algae] is taking over, we need to get rid of it as soon as possible. I don't want all of the water on the island to be stagnant. What is it good for anyway?"

Liam Jones' Email

Thank you for your request - AGO Badge Services <ago.badgeservices@arqueglobal.com>

Hi,

Thank you for your request for a new security badge. For reference, your ticket is AGO15824.

What are the next steps?

A member of the AGO team will respond to your request. Please note that you may be asked to provide additional information depending on the severity of your request.

Thanks,

Arque Global Operations Badge Services

This is an automated email, please do not respond.

Please, think before printing this message. The environment is in danger. Trees are one of our major concerns here at Arque.

In fact, it is a requirement that all employees replace their wood fires with coal fires. Remember, save the trees, save the world.

RE: AGO15824 - Hugo Webber <hugo.webber@arqueglobal.com>

Hi Liam,

We have received your request for a new badge. Due to the clearance level of your role, I need to verify a few details about how the badge was misplaced.

Please respond with as much detail as you can about the incident.

Thanks,

Hugo Webber Senior Arque Global Facilities Security Support Specialist

RE: RE: AGO15824 - Hugo Webber <hugo.webber@arqueglobal.com>

Hi sorry my badge was taken by a fox , i am not sure where it wnet but i cant get into the door anymore and i cant do my job

thanks

Liam,

Could you please outline how exactly your badge was misplaced, and where it is now? We need to know that it it is not outside of the facility - if it is that is a very serious problem for the company.

By fox do you literally mean the red furry animal? That seems very unlikely, your claim is that a fox broke through our security at the base? Surely that means you are not doing your job properly? Does this mean people can just stroll into your facility?

Since your location has very patchy access to global internet services and the Arque Global VPN, it is not possible to de-activate active badges remotely.

Tell me, where do you believe your badge to be?

Yours,

Hugo Webber Senior Arque Global Facilities Security Support Specialist

Wentworth Herald #317 - Lucy Beeshaw <lucy.beeshaw@arqueglobal.com>

Team,

Please see attached for most recent edition of the Wentworth Herald. Note the mention of Arque - do we need to investigate this?

As a reminder, please do not speak to the local media without the proper authorisation.

Lucy Beeshaw

PR Senior Specialist

Chapter #2

Debbie Logan's Computer

Wentworth Herald Issue #316

LIGHTHOUSE DECOMMISSIONED

The lighthouse situated in Redton on the land outjut is set to be decommissioned by the local mayor John Menn, following an investigation carried out by the coastguard.

"We're confident that this won't impact any passing traffic" commented Bill Hayak of the Department of Maritime Traffic Investigation. "Whilst at one time you could see cargo ships just off the coast of Redton, now it's no longer the case with shipping routes from the mainland being altered" he added.

When questioned the mayor refused to comment until he had released an official statement about the closure of the lighthouse.

"TOO FEW" SHIPS TO BE SAFETY ISSUE, SAYS COASTGUARD

Local residents aren't happy with the change, one local resident was concerned about its effects on small trade vessels that still port at the island, saying that it was the final nail in the coffin for the island's quiet dock. "It stops a lot of the island's business" he said.

Sometimes the lighthouse is the only thing that allows smaller vessels to come and trade with local businesses, it's something that we're all worried about - what happens when there's no import business left here?

LOCAL SCARECROW COMPETITION UNDERWAY

One of the most popular competitions Redton holds is back for its annual event.

The community comes together every year to create the most fearsome and ghoulish scarecrows to keep away the birds. Last year's winner was eight year old local school boy Joshua Fenton who's representation of his Grandmother won over the panel of judges.

This year the winner of the competition gets a fine selection of cakes from Julia Menn, the mayor's wife who recently opened her own cake shop on the island.

The festivities don't stop with the scarecrows - that are on display all week, there are stalls and other activities taking place all across the town. If you haven't seen the scarecrows yet head on down to the annual event to see what all the fuss is about and sample some of the finest food and drink Redton has to offer.

If you can't get down to see the scarecrows check out the next issue, where we will have a full run down of the entries.

LOST

Two weeks have gone by since local Arque employee Christian Plithe lost his black cat 'Lucky'. He has urged anyone who sees the cat to contact him immediately.

ARQUE CORPORATION ACQUIRES PHILLIPS PHARMACEUTICALS

Thirty workers were handed notices early last week as the giant Arque Corporation completed its acquisition of local pharmaceutical manufacturer Phillips Pharmaceuticals. The buyout follows a very public breakdown of the previous owner, resulting in a search for investors.

Debbie Logan's Email

Air Vent - AGO Facilities <ago.facilities@arqueglobal.com>

Hello,

We have had reports that an air conditioning vent in your office location has been damaged.

We apologise for the inconveneince this may cause.

Thanks,

Arque Global Operations Cross-Geo Facilities Co-Ordination Support

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