Deadline Afterlife Processing Press Guide: Operation and Upgrades

Operating the press in Deadline: Afterlife Processing requires seating each soul orb, toggling the verdict lever between Ascend and Descend according to facility directives, pulling the main lever to stamp the red seal, and feeding the orb into the matching disposition hatch.

Press Station Overview and Setup

Station 9 assigns the operator to process incoming souls during scheduled work shifts. Before touching the press equipment, the operator pulls the time recorder lever to punch in at the start of the shift. Souls arrive in heavy spherical glass containers along the intake conveyor line. Pulling the queue release lever rolls the next soul forward toward the workstation.

The operator picks up the orb and places it directly into the central cradle of the judgment press. The adjacent amber terminal automatically reads the soul fragments, displaying a concise summary of the individual's deeds across three short lines. Operators review these lines against the numbered directives posted on the station wall before setting the verdict. For broader orientation across the office floor, consult the beginner guide to understand standard station workflow.

Verdict Execution and Mechanical Controls

The press operates using two mechanical controls: the verdict selector and the confirmation lever. The verdict lever controls directionality. Setting the selector upward designates the soul for Ascend, while pulling the selector downward designates Descend. Operators must verify their judgment against the active station directives before sealing, as the manual notes that pulling the primary lever leaves no option for reversals.

Once the verdict switch is in position, the operator pulls down firmly on the confirmation lever. The heavy mechanical die descends onto the orb, applying a red seal bearing the operator's assigned identification number. This seal transfers legal responsibility for the ruling directly to the operator. Removing the soul from the cradle before the stamping process concludes results in an unstamped orb, which the facility registers as an administrative defect on shift records.

Directives and Disposition Hatches

Every judgment requires direct compliance with the facility directives displayed above the desk. Directive D-04 mandates Descend for any subject responsible for deliberately taking an innocent life. Directive D-03 directs Ascend for subjects whose deaths directly preserved another person's life. Directive D-11 specifies that any subject committing theft receives Descend regardless of motive, value, or restitution. When multiple directives apply to a complex background, the lowest directive number takes precedence. In circumstances where no directive clearly covers the case, Directive D-02 grants provisional discretion to rule according to conscience. Operators reviewing regulatory requirements can study the complete rules governing Station 9.

After applying the seal, the operator lifts the orb and carries it to the disposition chutes located beside the press. Disposition A corresponds to Ascend, directing approved souls upward. Disposition B corresponds to Descend, sending condemned souls downward. The chutes reject mismatched deliveries, requiring the soul's red stamp to match the chosen hatch. Each delivered soul automatically records a processing slip inside the collection mechanism. Deviating from directives triggers penalty marks on morning audits, which operators can inspect in detail through records on failed judgments.

Slip Collection and Equipment Upgrades

When the deadline counter reaches zero, the shift bell rings and halts regular processing. The disposition hatches eject one paper slip for every completed soul. The operator gathers these slips from both hatches and feeds them individually into the wage machine counter at station 009. Pulling the wage lever totals the slips and dispenses a payment claim ticket worth three facility credits per processed soul.

The operator carries the claim ticket to the reconciliation window and posts it into the upper slot. Opening the requisition form allows purchasing mechanical station upgrades from the facility catalog. Items such as faster terminal processing, rail grease to roll incoming orbs quicker, and weighted lever arms install automatically before the following shift begins. Every completed order requires marking selections with the counter pen and signing the confirmation line. Collecting all produced receipts ensures steady funds to collect wages before clocking out at the punch recorder.

Exception Handling and Indefinite Retention

Standard shifts process standard souls through hatches A and B, but late shifts introduce system anomalies. During shift five, an unreadable soul arrives displaying classification error code 5099 with insufficient retained data for standard sorting. The press terminal rejects standard Ascend and Descend stamping, requiring the operator to insert an official retention order into the press slot.

The press imprints the retention order coordinates onto the orb, directing delivery to Floor R, Aisle 8, Cradle 302. The operator must carry the orb into the retention lift, access the storage aisles, locate the assigned cradle, and stow the subject. Handling these unusual warehouse routing procedures follows dedicated instructions for storing a retained orb before returning to the main floor to complete shift checkout.