Interstellar Intercoms - Episode 4: Between a Flock and a Hard Place

Squelch is up ahead and a flock of angry mutant birds are behind, just a bit further and Simone will be home free.

Interstellar Intercoms is a podcast produced by WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2, student-run radio from NC State University. Like what you hear? Consider supporting it with a gift to the WKNC Enhancement Fund. Visit our podcast page to hear more and follow us on all social media platforms @WKNC881. Thanks for listening.

Creators and Guests

Host

C. Questing

What is Interstellar Intercoms?

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Good, you've been added to the Interstellar Intercom system. Please stay on the line while we explain.
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Interstellar Intercoms is an Audio Drama that follows a team as they infiltrate, explore, investigate and document various intergalactic crimes and phenomena. Episodes will be Serialized with each adventure taking 5-7 Episodes. The two main characters are Simone, a rather snarky on the field informant who doesn't always have the best foresight but is great under pressure and Brynn the rather panicky dispatcher who is great at making and following a plan, not so good without them.
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Over and out.

Interstellar Intercoms is a podcast produced by WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2, student-run radio from NC State University. Like what you hear? Consider supporting it with a gift to the WKNC Enhancement Fund. Visit our podcast page to hear more and follow us on all social media platforms @WKNC881. Thanks for listening.

00:01
Simone
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

00:03
Brynn
Told you.

00:04
Simone
Yeah. Yeah, you were right. Where do I go?

00:07
Brynn
There is a staircase attached to the room up ahead. It'll be through a door on your right.

00:11
Simone
Squelch ahead.

00:12
Brynn
Yes, but the birds are behind you. Right.

00:14
Simone
Yeah. The good old. Would you rather fight 10 dog sized mutant murder birds or one truck sized murder goo thing?

00:21
Brynn
You'll have better luck in a one one than a one on ten.

00:23
Simone
True as that may be, I don't think Squelch is very affected by blunt force trauma.

00:27
Brynn
Don't you have your taser? Of course.

00:29
Simone
Let me just walk up to the Murugoo and tase it. I'm sure being 6 inches from it will end well.

00:34
Brynn
More talking about if worst comes to worst. Good news. The cameras in the room up ahead are working. Looks to be a conference room of some kind. Maybe a break room.

00:43
Simone
Bad news, Squelch is lingering up ahead real close to the door. And the murder birds have caught up.

00:55
Music
Thank you. Long distance.

01:03
C. Questing
Welcome to Interstellar intercoms Episode 4 Between a Flock and a Hard Place.

01:28
Music
One moment please.

01:33
Simone
Well, I'm not hiding in there. Maybe if I just hide inside this alcove.

01:37
Brynn
Don't corner yourself.

01:38
Simone
Right.

01:41
Brynn
Not good. Squ.

01:42
Simone
Not good. Welch hasn't spotted me, but the murder birds know my location. They slow down. I think they're also afraid of Squelch.

01:50
Brynn
Sensible creatures.

01:52
Simone
Should I be concerned that my left arm is going numb?

01:54
Brynn
Huh. Being concerned with that right now will not help you.

01:59
Simone
So that's a yes.

02:01
Brynn
Can you still use the arm?

02:03
Simone
Mostly. The grip is weak though. The birds are stalking closer. Squelch has gone. Still, I think it knows about the birds.

02:11
Brynn
As long as it doesn't know about you, it'll be fine. Alright. I've requested a variety of antidotes. We don't know which species the poison comes from, but one should work. You just need to get out. Okay?

02:22
Simone
Yeah. Yeah. What if I just break for it?

02:27
Brynn
I do not think that is advisable.

02:29
Simone
Too late. Please don't die. Please don't die. Please don't die.

02:36
Brynn
Simone.

02:39
Simone
Simone. I'm fine. I'm fine. The birds seem to be keeping Squelch busy for now. But I doubt that's gonna last for long. They're already trying to flee. Of course it's locked.

02:54
Brynn
Don't you have the override code?

02:56
Simone
It's a manual lock. Bolts on the inside. I can see through the small window in the door.

03:02
Brynn
I bet.

03:02
Simone
If you or I could just reach through the window. Shit. Sims what now?

03:07
Brynn
No more injuries and.

03:09
Simone
Heh. It's fine. There are paper towels in here. Definitely a break room. Okay.

03:14
Brynn
Okay. I just don't want you to take senseless risks.

03:18
Simone
Appreciate it.

03:21
Brynn
Do you see the door in the back? Right.

03:24
Simone
Yeah.

03:25
Brynn
That should lead you to the main floor. There will be a short hallway and then another door that leads to the staircase. Go up that and then take.

03:33
Simone
Not again.

03:35
Brynn
What is it now?

03:36
Simone
It's like Squelch has been a big fan of shattered glass. Neither am I, buddy. I think it hurt me. Doesn't have eyes or noticeable ears. How does it tell where I am? Clearly reacts to noise.

03:53
Brynn
It likely reacts to vibrations in its environment even if it doesn't hear. So to speak. Something that gelatinous must be sensitive to any sort of movement, wind or sound, vibration.

04:03
Simone
Okay. Okay. How do we test this? This H. What was that? Threw a succulent.

04:09
Brynn
What did the succulent do?

04:11
Simone
Nothing. But it did get Squelch's attention. Only for a moment. It's back to looking at me. Sims.

04:24
Brynn
God, Simone, what is going on?

04:26
Simone
It's a force blaster.

04:26
Brynn
Did it work on the specimen?

04:28
Simone
I didn't shoot the specimen. As I was saying, I shot a chair. It followed the force wave and then attacked where it ended.

04:35
Brynn
And it didn't when you threw the succulent.

04:38
Simone
Correct.

04:39
Brynn
Huh. I must have considered the succulent too small to hunt. That's also probably why it's leaving you alone right now. You're probably not making big enough waves for it to see you as a meal.

04:52
Simone
It's moving towards me. Shit. Shit. Simone Saw me, heard me. Echo located me.

04:58
Brynn
Okay. Okay. Where are you in the room and in relation to the specimen?

05:02
Simone
Under a table. I can see it at the edge of said table.

05:05
Brynn
Okay, stay very still and quiet. I'm going to cut the line. I'll still be listening when the specimen loses interest. Open the door to the staircase and make your way out. Over and out.

05:20
Simone
Wait. Fuck. Okay. Okay. I'll start crawling towards the door and if. Oh. Brynn said stay here and wait. Oh.

05:30
Music
Oh, no.

05:31
Simone
Don't stick your head under.

05:39
Brynn
Thank you, Long distance.

05:53
C. Questing
Thank you for listening to interstellar intercoms. The credits are as follows. Written and produced by C. Questing. The script was edited by DJ Starburst. Music is by Celia Shafer. The voice of Bryn is Sam Luke. The voice of Simone is C. Weston. One moment, please. All sound effects are for free sound and are used under a Creative Commons license. A list will be provided in the description.
Transcribed by https://fireflies.ai/
Episode 4 - Between a Flock and a Hard place_mixdo...
Meeting created at: 5th Sep, 2026 - 1:39 PM