Wake Ship crews don’t speak formally.
They don’t have time to.
The Storywake shifts quickly, and meaning matters more than precision. Over time, crews develop a shared language—half technical, half emotional—that lets them communicate danger, readiness, and intent without explanation.
“She’s answering.”
The ship is responsive and aligned.
“Relax. She’s answering.”
“Dead quiet.”
The ship isn’t responding at all—dangerous.
“Core’s dead quiet. We shouldn’t be here.”
“Loose.”
Minor instability, manageable for now.
“Hull’s loose, but we can ride it.”
“She’s fighting us.”
The ship is resisting crew intent.
“Stop pushing. She’s fighting us.”
“Smooth Wake.”
Ideal travel conditions.
“Smooth Wake all the way in.”
“Choppy.”
Unstable currents ahead.
“Route’s choppy—strap in.”
“Heavy Water.”
Narratively dense or emotionally weighted region.
“Feels like heavy water.”
“Thin.”
Reality feels fragile or insubstantial.
“Careful—this stretch is thin.”
“Dark pull.”
Nearby Unwritten influence.
“I feel a dark pull to port.”
“Line’s good.”
The route is holding.
“Line’s good—keep her steady.”
“We’re slipping.”
The ship is drifting off-course.
“We’re slipping—correct now.”
“Dead ahead.”
Nothing viable in that direction.
“Dead ahead. Don’t force it.”
“Thread it.”
Navigate a narrow or risky passage.
“Thread it—slow and clean.”
“Cut loose.”
Abandon the route entirely.
“Cut loose. Now.”
“Hands in.”
Everyone focus and align.
“Hands in—we need her stable.”
“Don’t fight it.”
Let the Wake move the ship briefly.
“Don’t fight it—ride it.”
“Hold steady.”
Maintain current state at all costs.
“Hold steady. Whatever happens.”
“Breathe.”
A reminder to sync emotionally.
“Breathe. She feels you.”
“She’s fraying.”
Narrative integrity is degrading.
“Hull’s fine, but she’s fraying.”
“Lost the wake.”
The ship is no longer generating continuity.
“We lost the wake—brace.”
“Ghosting.”
Partial dematerialization.
“We’re ghosting—don’t move.”
“Black drift.”
Severe, uncontrolled drift toward the Unwritten.
“Black drift. Full stop.”
“Pull back.”
Retreat before collapse.
“Pull back—this isn’t our story.”
“Anchor down.”
Stabilize and stop movement.
“Anchor down. Let her settle.”
“Ride it home.”
Return to Homeward under stress.
“We can still ride it home.”
“Let it go.”
Abandon ship, route, or objective.
“Let it go. Now.”
“Thank her.”
A ritual phrase after survival.
“We’re through. Thank her.”
“She remembers.”
The ship reacts to past events.
“Careful—she remembers this place.”
“Don’t rush the Wake.”
A warning against forcing outcomes.
“Slow down. Don’t rush the Wake.”
“Ships don’t like liars.”
Dishonesty destabilizes travel.
“Say it straight. Ships don’t like liars.”
“We’re still moving.”
“Not lost yet.”
“Almost through.”
“She’ll hold.”
“Home’s close.”
These are often spoken to the ship—not the crew.
Wake Ship jargon isn’t about sounding clever.
It’s about saying the right thing
before the Storywake decides
you waited too long.
Crews that talk too much don’t last.
Crews that listen—
usually do.