Crux Fleet NPCs ([personal profile] crux_npcs) wrote in [community profile] crux_fleet2014-02-02 12:25 pm

0002: A Proper Q&A

Early in the morning, everyone's comm devices start jangling in pleasant tones, marking a new message. It's text, posted over the network, and at the top is an official looking seal, featuring the rotating pyramid that seems to be the Confederacy's symbol.

So, I hear you people woke up yesterday. Congratulations. I'm sorry you had to deal with that simpering incompetent, Baker. Allow me to illuminate you so that you can better appreciate your situation.

It is 0458 A.C. That's After Confederation, marking the date in which humanity, the Dorfs, and the Jool chose to band together for power, security, and knowledge. By old Earth calendars, that puts us somewhere near the end of the 27th Century, but I don't know exactly when. Ancient history is not my area of expertise and we had multiple calendar changes before settling on an interstellar standard.

I am Thaddeus T. Thrax III, deputy mayor of the Teuberg, the mighty cityship on which you stand. The city in which you now live is in a ship sixty miles across, with layers bringing our great vessel up to thirty miles in height. At the time of this writing, it houses some five hundred thousand souls. We are a great city, born and bred to colonize brave new worlds and explore unseen frontiers. The mayor, the honorable Ms. Maria Masters, will address you when we've finished this latest round of memorial services. Fleet Admiral Bulsara may also address you. Do not try to address him first.

You have been given two months to examine this city, see its needs, and decide where you fit in. Will you join the government? Perhaps you'd rather see what lower-level employment there is, such as becoming a baker or working at a market? Furthering your education is highly suggested and, unlike some more primitive cultures, we respect students and will provide you with living expenses as you work. As a note, this will be mandatory for citizens up to the age of sixteen, our legal limit for adulthood. I should also bring up that we do allow apprenticeships for our younger citizens and guests, should they decide on an employment track they desire early on.

Scholarly pursuits and regular life too boring for you? Fair enough. There is always the military, of course. We just lost thirty of those brave souls in a skirmish yesterday, I'm sure the recruiters will be happy to hear from you. We have tracks for Medical, Command, Engineering, Security/Infantry, Pilots, and Science. That said, you will still be expected to go through training. It will not be easy but after a few swift weeks, you too can go to interesting new places, meet fascinating new people, and pray to whatever God you worship that they don't speak with acid rainbows. Some of them do. I've met them.

Of course, not everyone will want such a rigid, disciplined life. You can hardly be blamed, the military isn't for everyone. But if you still want to defend this city, you may wish to join the militia. Civilian operated, funded, and supplied, the militias of old Earth traditionally answered to the county or the Count, with no connection to the military. Here, though, the military is in command. The militia will have a military liason, but you will not have to follow the same strict discipline of our men and women in uniform. You will deploy when they say and do your utmost to follow their orders in a combat situation, but the rest is up to you. God help us.

Of course, if you want off this ship, there are plenty of other jobs other than fighting. We are always on the lookout for skilled farmers, educators, diplomats, pilots, traders, and asteroid miners! Plus, we will provide training for any of these jobs. We have two agricultural vessels available, and they could use all the help they get. Or, if you fancy yourself some kind of pop star or athlete, you could try for a job in the entertainment sector. I should warn you that competition is stiff. I could not in good conscience honestly suggest any of those jobs.

The more irritating among you might be asking now, "What if we don't want to help out? We didn't ask to come here." Well, we certainly would regret it if you felt that way, as we are doing our best to help you fit in and return you safely to your homes. However, after two months we'll no longer have the resources or the patience to assist you. We will drop you off at the nearest inhabitable planet or neutral space station and leave you there.

Ultimately, I hope it won't come to that. I wish for you to be as happy and productive as any average citizen. We will do our utmost to reverse the accident that brought you here, and it is my hope that when you do, you leave our universe a richer person than you entered it.

Your servant,
Thaddeus T. Thrax III
Deputy Mayor
soul_sister: (Huuuuuuuh)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-02-02 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
So, another alien race. "Haaa, I'd just thought it was something that science officers just did..." She relaxes a little, visibly.

If he was an alien, they probably don't have the same prejudices about demons... She hadn't been looking forward to attempting to convince Chrono to let her go alone.
overclocking: (hardest path to choose)

[personal profile] overclocking 2014-02-02 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Honestly, I don't think we'll have any idea what we're looking at, but..." A glance at Rosette, something fluttering in his chest that seems treacherously like hope. "I don't think it would hurt to have a copy of them."

A hesitating pause, as something occurs to him.

"Ah, but... we don't really have any way to pay him."
soul_sister: (My brain is full of fuck!)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-02-02 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"I guess it's a culture clash." Honestly, she only knew of one person who had ever helped them without a motive... It seemed wild, almost impossible. "Is that really how it is? No wonder you're overworked..."
soul_sister: (It's as clear as crystal)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-02-02 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well... you have our thanks, anyway." It was almost too much to hope it would work... or what it could do. She really didn't KNOW much about the watch to start with. But ... she could imagine.

"Hopefully we'll talk so, Ensign.. Navarro, was it?"
soul_sister: (Yeah... so about that.)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-02-08 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Me too." She grins, then adds, a bit more seriously. "And good luck with all of this."

Before signing out. She turns to Chrono. "I'm... not going to get my hopes up."