(size: 2)[Fantastic Voyage]
(set: $battery to 100)
(set: $enzyme to false)
(set: $mission to "not successful")
(set: $writingsection to 1)
<style> img {max-width:100%; max-height: 100%;}
</style>
<img
src=https://primaryscienceinanutshell.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/spa-6-submarine-fanstastic-voyage.jpg>
The hum of the medical laboratory filled the air, a blend of urgency and precision. Overhead, the steady beep of monitors echoed, tracking every vital sign of the unconscious figure lying on the operating table. The patient—a renowned political leader known for brokering fragile peace agreements—had collapsed hours ago, mid-speech. The diagnosis: a massive blood clot lodged in the left hemisphere of her brain.
Time was running out.
Suspended in the liquid of a syringe floated a cutting-edge AI miniature medical robot. Less than one hundredth of a millimetre long, the tiny, cylindrical device was invisible, even under under the bright surgical lights. SPA-6 was more than a robot; it was an autonomous doctor, equipped with precision lasers, clot-dissolving enzymes, and an arsenal of nanoscopic tools. Its onboard AI was programmed to make split-second decisions, adapting to the body’s chaotic, unpredictable environment.
Around the table, a team of physicians and engineers worked in tense silence. The lead doctor, Dr. Elena Castillo, glanced at the monitors. The clot was pressing on the speech and motor areas of the brain, threatening irreversible damage.
“SPA-6 is prepped and almost ready,” she announced, her voice calm but firm. "First the SPA-6 has to decide whether to take extra batteries, or a storage tank for clot dissolving enzymes."
You are the SPA-6. It is up to you to make the first mission decision:
[[choose extra batteries]] or [[choose an additional tank containing clot-dissolving enzyme.|enzyme tank]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 5)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
<style> img {
max-width:100%;
max heigh: 100%;
}
</style>
<img
src=https://primaryscienceinanutshell.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/circulation-map-internal_external-carotid-artery-1-1.png>
</div>
It is easier to travel in the same direction as the blood flow and you make rapid progress. Your sensors detect a branching passage ahead. One is on the left and one is on the right. Which one will you choose? Use the map to help you decide.
[[left|internal carotic artery]] or [[right|external carotid artery]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
(text-colour: gray) [Turn to space $writingsection in your booklet and explain why you chose to head towards the heart.]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
The carotid artery is wide and even though the blood flow is powerful, your motors are capable of driving you forwards. But forwards to where?
Your navigation sensor sends you a warning:
(text-colour: red)[NAVIGATION ERROR! You are travelling to the heart, not the brain. Turn around if possible. .]
Do you [[turn back towards the brain|towards the head]] or [[continue to the heart?|into heart]](set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
<style> img {
max-width:100%;
max-height: 100%;
}
</style>
<img
src=https://primaryscienceinanutshell.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/circulation-map-external-artery-1.png>
</div>
You take the right hand artery. Your sensors detect that you are moving closer to the skin. Your navigation sensor sends you a warning:
(text-colour: red)[NAVIGATION ERROR! You are in the external carotid artery. This will take you to the face, not the brain.]
This is very bad news. You know that if you continue into the facial muscles you will have to travel through capillaries, which are very narrow, and then back to the heart by travelling along a vein.
Do you [[try to turn round|exit face]] or [[continue into the face?|into face]]
(set: $battery to $battery -5)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
Your navigation sensors send you a message:
(text-colour: green) [Navigation on track. Continue in this direction.]
You continue to travel deeper into the head. Ahead your sensors send you a warning:
(text-colour: red) [WARNING: blockage ahead.]
[[Continue towards the blockage|MCA]](set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You use your powerful motors to turn around 180 degrees. The motors whine and struggle against the flow of blood going into the face. The speed of the blood however is too much and you realise that you are travelling backwards. You can turn your motors up even more, but it will drain your battery and risk overheating the motors.
[[turn the motors up even more|motorburn1]] or [[continue into the face|into face]](set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
(text-colour: red) [Navigational computer warning: there is no route to the brain along this artery. You need to go back.]
You turn around. The blood flow is difficult to travel against, but there is no choice. You turn your motors up to the maximum level and slowly return to the junction.
[[continue back to the junction]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 11)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
<style> img {
max-width:100%;
max-height:100%;
}
</style>
<img
src=https://primaryscienceinanutshell.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/circulation-map-towards-the-heart-3.png>
</div>
(text-colour: red) [WARNING: the blood flow is too powerful!]
Before you reach the heart, your sensors detect powerful, rhythmic contractions. The sound of the heartbeat is deafening, with a "thump-thump" echo reverberating through the chamber.
The movement creates surges of blood, flowing in and out of the atrium in pulses.
(text-colour: red) [WARNING: the blood flow is too powerful!]
You find yourself moving backwards despite turning your motors up to maximum. You cannot procede to the heart.
[[Turn back|towards the head]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 5)
(set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You travel along the narrow artery. The blood is not moving normaly. It is time to use your sensors.
(text-colour: red) [Camera:]
The camera shows a dark, tangled mass of platelets with trapped red blood cells giving it a reddish-brown colour. It it blocking the artery almost entirely. The clot's surface looks uneven, sticky, and fibrous.
(text-colour: red) [Blood flow:]
Turbulence: Sensors detect swirling blood flow.
Pressure: The pressure sensors indicate high blood pressure.
It is the clot! You have found it already. Which tools will you use to destroy it?
[[Laser]]
[[Drag the clot out of the way|move the clot]]
(if: $enzyme is true)[[Enzyme]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
Your small but powerful laser targets the blockage. A red beam of light hits the clot and tiny bits begin to break off.
(text-colour: gray) [Turn to space $writingsection in your booklet and explain why you chose to use the laser to destroy the clot.]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
You continue to cut away small fragments fo clot until suddenly, the whole clot disintegrates and the blood begins to flow again. You surge forwards with the flow of blood.
Your battery has decreased by an additional 5%.
(set: $battery to $battery - 5)
You see the small pieces of clot moving ahead of you and travelling into smaller arteries. Thise are going to end up blocking somewhere else, but there are too many of them to follow.
Your mission is only a partial success - and you still need to get out!
(set: $mission to "partially successful")
[[travel towards the capillaries|capillaries]] or [[try to travel back the way you came|return against the flow]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You have a chemical in your tank - an enzyme. The enzyme dissolves blood clots.
(text-colour: gray) [Turn to space $writingsection in your booklet and explain why you chose to use the enzyme.]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
A long hose emerges from the front of the craft until it is almost touching the clot. You spray enzyme out of the nozzle onto the clot. Ar first nothing seem to happen, but aslowly youy see the clot getting smaller. Small pieces break off, but these continue to dissolve and dissapear. Suddenly, the whole clot disintegrates as the enzyme digests the clot. Blood starts to flow again and you feel yourself carried away.
You mission was a success! But you still need to get out before you become a clot yourself!
(set: $mission to "successful")
[[travel towards the capillaries|capillaries]] or [[travel back the way you came|return against the flow]](set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You decide to drag the clot to another, wider artery to be carried away.
(text-colour: gray) [Turn to space $writingsection in your booklet and explain why you chose to move the clot.]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
You fire a hook into the colt with a cable attached and use your motors on full to pull the clot out.
Your motors whine and start to get hot, but the clot does not move.
How will you remove the clot?
[[Laser]]
(if: $enzyme is true)[[Enzyme]](set: $battery to $battery - 3)
(if: $battery < -50)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
<style> img {
max-width:100%;
max heigh: 100%;
}
</style>
<img
src=https://primaryscienceinanutshell.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/circulation-map-extraction-point-1.png>
</div>
You leave the capillaries and are now in a much wider tube: a vein. The blood flow is smoother and you don't need to use your motor as much. This is lucky, because your battery is getting low.
Your sensors give a warning: (text-colour: red) [Immune response triggered.]
</style>
<img
src=https://images.ctfassets.net/tytuahdkbx9m/1K5T33pu8OL05yfvrZZQ0J/2966b22cc0b2c29650ffc75b270c269e/white-and-red-blood-cells-leukocytes-immune-system-AdobeStock_297377241.jpg>
</div>
You have been identified as a foreign object, and a white blood cell is moving in to neutralise the perceived threat. The white blood cell appears massive, amorphous, and slightly translucent, with its irregular shape constantly shifting. Its surface bristles with receptor molecules, scanning for the intruder.
As it approaches, its cytoplasm stretches out in pseudopodia (tentacle-like extensions), trying to engulf the submarine.
The white blood cell moves purposefully, flowing with the blood and steering toward the submarine. It seems to “sense” the submarine’s presence, homing in with incredible precision. If it attaches itself to you it will wrap around you and begin to digest you.
Your sensors detect the release of digestive enzymes from the white blood cell. These enzymes are designed to break down bacteria or debris but now threaten to damage the submarine's hull.
You must act quickly to escape:
[[Increase Speed to Outrun the White Blood Cell|outrun]] or [[Deploy a Decoy (small pieces of material designed to confuse the white blood cell|decoy]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 11)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You ignore the maximum setting for the motors and set them to the highest they can manage. The motors are getting how and the battery is decreasing rapidly.
The white blood cell seems to be keeping up.
[[continue trying to outrun the white blood cell|outrun2]] or [[stop running]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You fire our hundreds of small pieces of foil. The white bloodcell cannot identify you from all of the other small foreign objects.
You escape.
[[Click to continue|escape]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 11)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
Your motors are draining your batteries quickly, but you are slowly moving back towards the correct artery.
[[Continue back to the correct artery|motorburn2]]
[[Turn off the motors and go to the face.|into face]](text-colour: red) [Battery Level: 0 %]
Your mission was $mission
(if: $mission is "not successful")[and you were not successfully extracted.]
(else:)[but you were not successfully extracted.]
(text-colour: gray) [Turn to space $writingsection in your booklet and explain why your mission was unsuccessful.]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
(text-colour: red)[GAME OVER!]
[[Try again?|insertion point]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery%]
(text-colour: red)[WARNING! You have been engulfed by the white blood cell.]
(if: $battery >= 5)[Although you still have $battery%, you cannot move.]
[[continue|game over]](set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You ignore the maximum setting for the motors and set them to the highest they can manage. The motors are getting hot and the battery is decreasing rapidly.
The white blood cell seems to be further behind.
[[continue trying to outrun the white blood cell|escape]] or [[stop running]](set: $battery to $battery - 7)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You speed away from the white blood cell.
(text-colour: red)[Navigation: You will reach the vein where you can be extracted in 20s. Do you wish to send the radio signal to be extracted?]
[[Send radio message to be extracted|extract]]
(text-colour: green)[Congratulations! You have been extracted from the vein in the neck of the patient with $battery% battery remaining.]
Your mission was $mission.
(if: $mission is "partially successful")[You were only partially successful because the fragments of clot could go on to cause damage elsewhere in the brain. However, the main crisis is now over. Well done!]
(if: $mission is "successful")[You were 100% successful. The enzyme successfully digested the clot. The patient is going to make a 100% recovery. Excellent work!]
(text-colour: gray) [Turn to space $writingsection in your booklet and explain why you think your mission was successful.]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
(text-colour: red)[GAME OVER!]
[[Try again?|insertion point]]
(set: $battery to $battery - 11)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You are level with the junction with the correct artery. Do you wish to take the [[correct turning|internal carotic artery]], or [[return to the face?|into face]](set: $battery to $battery - 12)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
(text-colour: red) [Battery warning: keep an eye on your battery]
You continue to struggle back to the junction. To your relief, you make it and enter the correct branch.
[[Continue into the internal carotic artery|internal carotic artery]](set: $battery to 120)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
(text-colour: green) [Additional battery installed]
(text-colour: gray) [Turn to space $writingsection in your booklet and explain why you chose to install extra batteries.]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
“We’ll inject into the carotid artery and guide it to the clot. From there, it will remove the blockage.”
The head engineer nodded, his hands hovering over a sleek console. “The AI has mapped the circulatory system and plotted the most efficient route. SPA-6 will bypass the external carotid branches and stay on the internal carotid. It’s fully autonomous from there.”
Dr. Castillo turned to the patient. “This is our only chance. If this works, we’ll not only save her life but her ability to communicate—her most important weapon.”
The countdown began. The thin syringe containing SPA-6, guided by robotic arms, moved into position, aimed at the carotid artery on the side of the neck.
“Mission parameters uploaded. All systems operational. Ready for insertion.”
Dr. Castillo leaned closer to the microphone. “SPA-6, your mission is critical. The patient’s life, and perhaps the stability of the world, depends on you.”
With a gentle push, the syringe plunged into the artery. The moment SPA-6 entered the bloodstream, the world transformed into a swirling, pulsating river of life. Red blood cells floated past like silent sentinels, while white blood cells patrolled the area, ready to defend against perceived intruders. SPA-6’s propulsion system kicked in, guiding it upstream, closer to the heart and, ultimately, to the brain.
Back in the lab, all eyes remained on the monitor displaying SPA-6’s live feed. Dr. Castillo whispered under her breath, “Good luck, little hero. Bring her back to us.”
<style> img {
max-width:100%;
max-height: 100%;
}
</style>
<img
src=https://primaryscienceinanutshell.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/circulation-map-insertion-point.png>
</div>
You, SPA-6, take a moment to sense your surroundings. The blood is flowing strongly in pulses. Which direction do you decide to travel in? [[the same direction as the blood|towards the head]] or [[against the flow of blood|journey to the heart]](set: $enzyme to true)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
(text-colour: green) [Enzyme tank installed.]
(text-colour: gray) [Turn to space $writingsection in your booklet and explain why you chose to install the enzyme tank.]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
“We’ll inject into the carotid artery and guide it to the clot. From there, it will remove the blockage.”
The head engineer nodded, his hands hovering over a sleek console. “The AI has mapped the circulatory system and plotted the most efficient route. SPA-6 will bypass the external carotid branches and stay on the internal carotid. It’s fully autonomous from there.”
Dr. Castillo turned to the patient. “This is our only chance. If this works, we’ll not only save her life but her ability to communicate—her most important weapon.”
The countdown began. The thin syringe containing SPA-6, guided by robotic arms, moved into position, aimed at the carotid artery on the side of the neck.
“Mission parameters uploaded. All systems operational. Ready for insertion.”
Dr. Castillo leaned closer to the microphone. “SPA-6, your mission is critical. The patient’s life, and perhaps the stability of the world, depends on you.”
With a gentle push, the syringe plunged into the artery. The moment SPA-6 entered the bloodstream, the world transformed into a swirling, pulsating river of life. Red blood cells floated past like silent sentinels, while white blood cells patrolled the area, ready to defend against perceived intruders. SPA-6’s propulsion system kicked in, guiding it upstream, closer to the heart and, ultimately, to the brain.
Back in the lab, all eyes remained on the monitor displaying SPA-6’s live feed. Dr. Castillo whispered under her breath, “Good luck, little hero. Bring her back to us.”
<style> img {
max-width:100%;
max-height: 100%;
}
</style>
<img
src=https://primaryscienceinanutshell.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/circulation-map-insertion-point.png>
</div>
You, SPA-6, take a moment to sense your surroundings. The blood is flowing strongly in pulses. Which direction do you decide to travel in? [[the same direction as the blood|towards the head]] or [[against the flow of blood|journey to the heart]](set: $battery to $battery - 3)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
<style> img {
max-width:100%;
max-height: 100%;
}
</style>
<img
src=https://primaryscienceinanutshell.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/circulation-map-capillaries-1.png>
</div>
(text-colour: green)[NAVIGATION COMPUTER: You are now in the capillaries.]
The capillaries: the very narrow tubes where oxygen and sugars are absorbed by the brain. You are relived to see that the clot has done no permanant damage here.
You turn your motors off - the gentle flow of blood will carry you safely through the capilaries into the vein that will carry you back towards the heart.
[[wait patiently until you reach the vein|white cell attacks]](set: $battery to $battery - 15)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
(text-colour: red) [WARNING: this route is battery internsive.]
[[turn off motors and drift towards the capillaries|capillaries]] or [[continue to travel against the flow of blood|continue back]](set: $battery to $battery - 15)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
(set: $writingsection to $writingsection +1)
<style> img {
max-width:100%;
max heigh: 100%;
}
</style>
<img
src=https://primaryscienceinanutshell.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/circulation-map-internal_external-carotid-artery-1-1.png>
</div>
You continue to struggle against the flow of blood. You have made it back to the junction. Not much further to go! Do you: [[turn off motors and drift towards the capillaries|capillaries]] or [[continue to travel against the flw of blood|continue back2]](set: $battery to $battery - 13)
(if: $battery < 5)[(go-to: "game over")]
(text-colour: red) [Battery Level: $battery %]
You have made it back to the insertion point. It is not where you planned to leave, but you can radio your position.
(text-colour: red)[Navigation: You will reach the artery where you can be extracted in 20s. Do you wish to send the radio signal to be extracted?]
[[Send radio message to be extracted|extract]]