crux_fleet | 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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Is your keyboard broken? You can get a new comm if that's the case. We're talking sixteen three hundred and sixty-day periods. We're sorry if that seems much, but it's the law. Otherwise, no one would bother getting an education past the age of six! On building things: Depends on the thing. You may need a permit. -Ensign Papadapalous

D --> No, it's not
D --> I mean, not yet, at least
D --> Why

D --> Ah, that makes more sense
D --> How is this mandatory education enforced
D --> If I happened to be under the age you have given me
D --> Which I am not e%actly stating if I am or am not at this point
D --> I will have to do the math

D --> To clarify: I engineer and construct robots

[Equius, for reference, has already done the math^†, and he is definitely younger than the age of majority here. He is not going to tell anyone that if he can help it, though.]

[† : (360*16)/777=7.413]

You've got some weird text formatting issues. Maybe it's on my end? Anyway, technically if your species ages at an accelerated rate or something, you might get a slide. So long as you're the equivalent of sixteen. Don't quote me on that, though. You can probably just take some equivalency tests and coast through. If you're definitely, 100% underaged... Well, uh. You don't have any parents or legal guardians here. I mean. If you did, we'd start to put pressure on them to make you attend, since it'd be their responsibility to make sure you're prepared for life. I'm not sure how we can do that with you New Arrivals, though. ...Oh, you're a prodigy of some kind? Neat. Maybe you ought to talk to someone in Engineering. Or check out the Colosseum. I hear they're looking for new blood in their competitions. -Ensign Papadapalous

D --> ... E%cuse me, but are you referring to my quirk
D --> It is not a te%t formatting issue

D --> So this education is mandatory but also completely unenforceable
D --> I don't even know what to say to this f001ishness
D --> I had not previously been under the impression that humans were e%ceptionally awful at maintaining social order
D --> I mean, of course you would not be as abso100tely excellent as the Empire is, but this is ridiculous
D --> I suppose one learns things every night

D --> I do not know what you would consider a prodigy
D --> But I am fairly adept
D --> Could you perhaps tell me more about these competitions

[Equius don't insult your hosts then ask for more info. Jeeze.]

Ah. Can I ask why you do it? Well, let's be fair. Usually, all of our children would have legal guardians or parents. You coming in without either was... Well, unexpected. But, now that you've called this to our attention, we can get about to fixing this problem! If you like, I can tell everyone that you're to thank for it. Well, you know, we're just foolish humans after all. (Except for the Jool. And the Dorfs. And the Frosh. And Admiral Bailey.) But a lot of people get really excited over people in combat suits either brawling or going through obstacle courses. Of course, by 'combat suit', I mean miniature mobile armors about twelve feet tall, but there's also a market for remote-controlled giant robots. -Ensign Papadapalous

D --> You can ask
D --> I might even answer if you ask politely

D --> I would rather you did not
D --> But I suspect I would not be able to stop you
D --> And it is good to acknowledge your failings
D --> I hope you and the rest of the aliens here will work to stop being so gosh-darned silly

D --> That sounds e%tremely fascinating
D --> Thank you

D --> Wait
D --> Were you being sarcastic

Little bit. -Ensign Papadapalous

D --> Humorous insincerity is a trait of wigglers who have yet to grow out of eating the pellets of hardened mucus they e%tract from their own nostrils
D --> You should correct your behavior to something less terrible and immature
D --> Though I suppose it is fitting for someone who is at the low rank of ensign to be of equally low behavior

I am properly chastised. Did you have anything else you wanted to know, or should I stick around for more of your obvious moral and ethical superiority? -Ensign Papadapalous

D --> No, I think you've gotten the idea now
D --> You may go

D --> ... Should I sign my name

D --> Equius Zahhak

Thank you. Only if you want. -Ensign Papadapalous

0002: A Proper Q&A

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equius no [1/2]

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i just want to apologize for equius because. equius.

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