August Pre-Hurricane Post | Open Mingle

[imsorey]

[It's the calm before the storm—or at least the not-quite-so-bad-weather before the storm. The winds are starting to pick up, the ocean is rolling, and all manner of sea creature is heading for cover to ride things out.

But at the base, there's still lots to do as usual. Whether it's getting ready to hunker down, goofing off, or making friends, there's never a dull moment under the sea! Have at it, and remember to check out the OOC planning/mission signups to see what's going on!]

Comments

[superseding]

[ Honesty is the best policy, but... ]

Do we really have to try to see the Reapers' boss? I know we can handle the Reapers, but it's scary to think about. Do we have to fight?

[ Can't they have some kind of MAD pact? ]

[oneandmikleonly]

I would rather not fight something on that scale. I don't think many of us came here with the intention of fighting the planet or its denizens except to defend ourselves.

But it's tried to harm us a few times now, and it doesn't seem to want to negotiate something peaceful...? Neither do the Reapers. So, I'm not sure. We're just gathering information right now, I don't want to attack anything blindly, but we do seem painfully at odds.

[superseding]

[ Mikleo is right, as he so often is (in Hotaru's mind). ]

I don't want anyone to die, but you're right. We should know what we're up against, if it comes to that, but...

[ It sounds like certain doom? That's bleak and very negative, so she holds back that thought. ]

I know I won't be useful in anything like this.

[oneandmikleonly]

[he shakes his head at her pronouncement; no one, in his mind, is ever completely useless at anything. he's actually working with very limited information himself. he's used to very literally looking for the answers on foot, not using labs and proxies.]

Do you mean in a straight fight? Because I think we're looking for the opposite of that...we all make a relatively poor showing against such a creature. We need...more ideas? Resources? Ways to use what we have that aren't just hitting things...

[superseding]

[ Oh, that definitely gets Hotaru thinking more, and she's thinking hard enough that small murmurs of her train of thought filter through: What about...? What if...? Does that make sense? Is that even possible? ]

If offense isn't an option, it's best to build defense, right? Shields of any kind, magical or technological... or both? Can you mix both?

[ It happens in fiction, at least? ]

[oneandmikleonly]

Shields...? I don't see why we couldn't, if we could find the right way to intermingly the two. I hadn't even thought of putting protections directly on the base, but you're right! That's absolutely worth looking into.

[superseding]

If we can find a way to protect everyone at once, it'd be ideal. I don't know how realistic it is or if we have the resources for it, but if it comes to the point when it-- they? --try to come for us directly....

[ They can at least be safe for however long shields will hold. In books and movies, they always go down eventually, but they're not fiction. ]

It'll help us buy time.

[oneandmikleonly]

...once we figure out the medium to create it, why not poll the base and see who has those capabilities? I'm sure a lot of people here can do shields of some sort of another, and something multilayered and made out of lots of different kinds of power may work even better.

[superseding]

[ Can you make a thoughtful sound via thoughtspeech?

Hotaru at least makes a thoughtful sound out loud. ]

That sounds like it'd be perfect, if there was a way to make all of that work.

But... okay. Yes. A poll. We can do a poll.

[ Somehow, holding a poll is the most daunting part for Hotaru, but nothing will get done if she keeps on holding herself back, so she's going to try. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

It'll be useful information, anyway. We're all sort of scattered, so not everyone knows who all could help them with things sometimes.

[encouraging!! he's encouraging.]

[superseding]

[ Mikleo is always encouraging. No one can tell Hotaru otherwise, at least. ]

Like an easy access list? It would help organize if we're ever attacked, too.

[oneandmikleonly]

Yeah! And if people want to organize general groups and things for particular tasks.

[superseding]

[ She laughs a little. ]

It would be a little less like herding cats that way.

[ Because as many dogs as there are on this base, they all act collectively like cats than anything else. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

[no one needs to act like dogs. they have enough actual dogs, okay]

All right. If you want to do that as some point--or did you want to do it together? It should be easy enough to put together.

[superseding]

[ ok but what about sorey ]

If you're busy, I can do it alone, but... um, if you can coach me on what to say, I would be grateful.

[ She wants to do it together because while she may be a nerd sometimes, she's also a shy nerd, but she also doesn't want to cause more work for him. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

[sorey doesn't count until he grows actual puppy ears and a tail, but lord help us all then, he won't know how to cope]

Oh, um...probably just...introduce yourself and let people know you'd like to compile that data? It's not a complicated request, I guess, you're not making them play twenty questions...it's mostly about being polite, probably?

[and Hotaru is nothing if not that]

[superseding]

[ Better hope we don't get a nekomimi genetic modification event. ]

Do you think I should also pass out a form to fill out? Or post a sheet somewhere in case I can't catch everyone?

[ Or Hotaru supposes she can get a notepad and write this all down while she's talking to people. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

[he'll want to pet everyone]

That's probably a good idea, otherwise you're doing it all from memory. Is there a way to set up a computer form, though? Something everyone could access and fill out freely even if they're not with you right then?

[superseding]

I think it's possible, but I'm not sure I know how. I'll have to ask URSULA or Dirk.

[ Ask her about history or science and she'll know something but computers are still a little beyond her. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

At least they'll explain things pretty clearly. But it sounds like a plan all around.

[superseding]

Okay. I'll try to set it up as soon as I can.

[ She sounds... kind of hopeful, at least. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

[that's good to hear in her voice. there's a smile in his.]

All right. Let me know if you need anything at the time and I'll do my best!