THE AMAZING BASE.

[agogemod]

WHO? Everybody!
WHAT? Welcome home, nerds.
WHEN? Outside time and space, in the aether between dimensions.
ANYTHING ELSE? There is also a fish. Please warn in subject lines for anything beyond physical violence and move to a personal journal if things go beyond PG-13.

MYSTERY FISH;

question the mystery fish

DEPARTING GALLIPOLI

The order comes the day after the Marie Antoinette sets sail:

PACK UP AND GET READY TO MOVE OUT. WE'VE DONE ALL WE CAN HERE.

DEPLOYMENT: BASE.

WE NEED TO RESTOCK. BE PREPARED FOR MORE TRANSFERS ON ARRIVAL.

STAY SAFE. TIME-STEP EXPECTED TO BEGIN WITHIN THE HOUR.

FOR THOSE OF YOU NEW TO COST: FIND A SECLUDED SPOT AND TRY NOT TO EAT ANYTHING BEFORE THE JUMP.

The Time-Step

The transfer begins like a vibrating heat on the collar bone, just a hum of sensation.

But the vibration spreads. Veteran COST soldiers often refer to this phenomenon as "the buzz". The feeling builds, not unlike standing near a great engine or the wind-rattled branches of a massive tree. There is a long moment of motion sickness and you can't be sure if the world is shaking you from the inside out or the outside in. It may be better to close your eyes against the growing nausea, as the world blurs out of focus.

A star shines in the distance. You may hear the faint rustling of leaves. Some swear they hear voices in this moment, indistinct words echoing off nothingness. Others say they feel a touch of the divine, that the eyes of the eternal look down upon you. Ancient bones rattle just out of earshot, cold and brittle and nothing more than the suggestion of sound. Or maybe it's only an illusion, brought on by the powerful technology grafted into your skin.

One thing is for sure: One moment you are here and the next you are not.

The shift takes you from whatever solitude you could find aboard the Marie Antoinette to the temperature-regulated hallway of what looks like a very poorly put together space station. Droids rush up and down the long hallway, fixing broken bits of machinery or just chattering with each other. A few crows sit on high ledges, looking down and watching. Someone mutters something about a centaur around the corner.

And you might just notice, provided you were in Gallipoli long enough to acquire stowaways, that the parasites lurking on your skin are mercifully gone.

For new arrivals who didn't experience Gallipoli: You, too, will appear in this long hallway, filled with droids and crows and humans (still filthy and clad in ANZAC uniforms, carrying battered equipment from the first World War). And you'll be wearing the minimal COST-issued athletic underwear and holding whatever one item you were allowed to bring. Surprise!

READ THE BASE INFOPAGE.

home away from home

Those who have been to BASE before may find a strangeness to it all: BASE seems...still. The windows show a verdant world instead of the usual aether (though with the typical paranoia), and the halls are bereft of all but a few crows. A man stands at the end of the long hallway you arrived in, waiting for you to get your bearings before he speaks.

Except, you know, he's not a man. He's a centaur.

"It's been barely a week since you left, by my reckoning. But for you, I'm sure, it's been much longer. Still, much has changed. You may have noticed we are...becalmed. This is due, it seems, to an error in our ways. We kept something that does not belong to us, several wild creatures that are meant to be free. They seem to have psychically called out to their home, and their home responded; we are now somewhat stranded.

"But let me explain—the Aether is the nexus between worlds and times, but it is not a dead thing. Creatures live in it. We have crashed onto the back of one such creature, a mighty beast, as large as a small country and entirely undiscovered. We have found why the creature has intercepted us: we have accidentally taken captive some of its children. Shapers, the wild creatures I mentioned, it seems they form a symbiotic bond with the creature, and live happily within its stomach."

He frowns, considering this.

"Shapers, I should mention, are creatures that briefly infested our fair BASE. The issue was dealt with, though we kept some for experimentation. The coelacanth took issue with this, it seems. It can speak, of course; we are stranded very near its head, and if you wish to ask it a question, I implore you to do so. The creature is older than creation—older than me—and only speaks once to any creature it encounters. It's said its wisdom brings kings to their knees."

His eyes crinkle in humor.

"My name is Chiron and I am the caretaker of this place, for those of you whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting. More importantly, I am a trainer and a teacher of some experience; if you wish training or schooling of any sort, do summon me. I will be happy to assist."

He's easy to contact, often found in the library, the training area, his capsule, or elsewhere in the station, attempting to fix what he understands and arguing with crows.

"We intended to spend this time exploring, for this is a rare opportunity to discover more of an entirely uncharted world. I hasten you to see if anything on the coelacanth can be of use, but be careful. Take only what you need, not what you may want. I intend to learn my lessons well; these creatures are not pets. Takes food, water, and any materials of use to us for our survival and perseverance, but no more. We task you with this: explore the coelacanth, and see what of it can be understood. Bring us back samples, but do try to interrupt the natural habitat as little as possible. We are guests here."

He bows and the action shows a slight limp in one of his back legs.

"I would join you, but I am far too old for such activities. Still, do pepper me with any questions you should encounter. I am always available on the network, or in person, within this hulking mass we call home."

And then he leaves you to find your capsules and rest.

CAPSULE ASSIGNMENTS

Once you've found your room and settled in—perhaps taken a shower, collected clothes, and eaten—a droid will approach you with camping equipment and give you a brief explanation of how to access and use the database. It's time to get your gear and go.

Of course, you can decline. You can stay and tend to the fort, maybe try and clean up this patchwork jumble of metal and machinery. But seeing the sights on the back of a giant fish flying through non-space? Who can say no to that?


the undiscovered country.

BASE's airlocks open into a lush valley, vibrant with color and rustling with life that has thrived on the coelacanth's back for millennia. It's a striking shift from the rot and gunfire of Gallipoli, unmarked by shrapnel, bombshells, and never-fresh air.

No, the air here is clean in a way that can leave you breathless, untouched by pollutants and stirred into a gentle breeze. It's a marked departure for anyone used to a more modern Earth or rough equivalent; letting the air sit on your tongue leaves a crisp, unsullied taste behind. And the whole forest feels alive, in a way that reminds you of how small you really are.

A white crow perches in a tree near BASE's exit, too high up to properly engage but a stark contrast to the bright leaves around her. She merely watches recruits come and go with a shrewd eye, feathers fluffed against the light chill. There are other crows scattered throughout the wilderness, some easier to find than others as they flit through the trees, sit on camping equipment, or hitch rides on the hoverbikes.

Besides those brief flashes of black feathers, however, you're left unsupervised.

Try not to fuck up anything too badly.

EXPLORE:INFOPAGE|DATABASE
talk to a fish | destruction report

NAV. NETWORK LOGS OOC MEMES PLURK

Comments

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian chuckles as he nods, since it's actually in agreement. ]

I am of the same opinion myself. I cannot think of a question that would be answered simply with one, or perhaps even with two. It is an interesting prospect, though the limitation makes it even more curious...

[ And though he does have some questions he might ask, it's still very limited anyways. He may not be anywhere near as ancient as the creature they're riding on, but he has a few millenia of knowledge to draw on. Granted, it's limited to time on Earth and to his own realm, but as a result, there's nothing he would ask about either. If he were to ask, it would be about the surprises beyond it—Things like the coelacanth itself or about the nature of COST. But one is a curiosity, and the other is something he feels he should be cautious about. ]

It is kind of you to offer your own question to someone else. If I can think of nothing myself, I may do the same.

[bivariant]

It feels like less of a courtesy and more of a challenge, [ she leans back on her heels with a grunt, using her body's weight to straighten the tent's angles. It's now acceptable, especially by military-taught standard. ] It's not that I can't think of a question, it's that I have thought of too many and I worry where they could lead me. Best to avoid ruination.

[ At least her own. She brushes her hands off along the ankles of her scavenged overalls and rises from the ground, part of her hoping he approves of the tent's pitch, part of her satisfied in the act of being able to care for other members of the team. They're all vital, even if they are not unified. ]

I'll be honest: the gesture itself might be a kindness, but the intent is - like most things - selfish of me.

[cutlery]

So indeed. The challenge is why I find it curious, though as you say, not quite enough to follow the path to where those questions could take me. It seems it would be... unsatisfying, I think would be the best way to describe it.

[ Sebastian nods agreeably at the tent, since it looks good to him, and in short order, he's standing as well. ]

And this is yours, by the way. I do not need to rest, but it is certainly easier to put it all together with two people.

[ His generosity probably seems like a contrast against her own comment, but in reality, he's very quietly expressing the same sentiment. He's a creature of pure self-interest, though it can get abstract enough to not seem like it... ]

I am surprised you would call it such. What would your intent be, then?

[bivariant]

"Unsatisfying" is a fine way to describe the feeling. [ For some, perhaps. For her, it might as well be heresy to seek answers outside of the Hexarchate's doctrine. ] Dangerous, as well. Who among us might prove to have a hunger for knowledge that outpaces their caution?

[ She miiiiiiiight be fishing, as she turns her attention from him for a moment to focus on the tent -- definitely surprised! What is this about not needing to rest!! The way her shoulders relax suggests she's visibly grateful for the aid, if this is how it plays out. ]

I wish I was superhuman and didn't need to rest -- do you mean to be awake all night, then?

[ Oh, @SHITZU, you strange man. ]

When you offer someone something, make sure what you get out of it is greater in number or better in quality. It's helpful to lend someone your aid. It's a calculation, to lend the correct someone your aid. I'd strike a deal with the person asking the question I feel is best, of course. Wouldn't anyone?

[cutlery]

[ He listens with a thoughtful, but interested expression, and ends up nodding. He's playful at first, laughing lowly and politely, since his lack of needing to sleep is the first thing he feels he should address. ]

Indeed. I do not actually enjoy sleeping, so I may as well. Plus, this scenery is considerably more interesting than the trenches, so I hardly imagine I will be bored even standing watch.

[ Though from there, his expression cools as he considers the rest. It's hardly any expression of displeasure at her evaluation. It's rather clear that he approves. ]

I do agree with you, though you will find that not everyone will. Or at least, that has been my impression in my time here, though it is admittedly short. Even in the sometimes dire situations, I have seen sentiment win over practicality. Take the subject of hostages, for example. To me, it is a bit of a losing trade, but so the majority insists. [ He shrugs ] At least it was favorable circumstances overall. Otherwise, I imagine some ground may have been lost.

[ He's still careful with his words as if he doesn't want to cause offense to people who aren't even here to listen, but it's clear too that he doesn't like this kind of viewpoint. The implication is easily read that he would have left the hostages to whatever fate they would have met. It's calculated, even cold, but he's following the orders COST had given him. A few soldiers was hardly worth the trouble of disrupting the timeline, at least in his opinion. But. Rather than dig into that further, he returns to the original point of conversation. ]

Yet even so, I hardly doubt that there are more than a few that would discard caution for knowledge. It is discarded for less, so a prospect of more would be more paltable. It is not an uncommon trait, in my experience.

[ It's not malicious, and if anything, it's more playful, since his vague but interesting statements are putting that very idea into her hands. Pursuing knowledge that outpaces caution essentially makes up his "business" model, and with the freedom to be more open about his existence, he's curious to see if she'll come to that conclusion. But at least it's harmless. He has no intention of offering that kind of service to anyone until his current contract is done. ]

[bivariant]

[ Even as the night begins to encroach, she takes a moment to look to the sky. She cannot tell what is cloud and what is the aether beyond, if the great fish-beast they've landed on is even possessed of a cloud-bearing atmosphere. ]

I came from one battlefield, to another. I think I'll stay up with you and enjoy the view, for a while more.

[ With that, she settles on the grass and begins unlacing her boots. Cheris is only flesh-and-blood, after all. Inevitably, she will either be convinced that rest is best for her, or she will succumb to exhaustion. That, and she wants to know the manner of man who will be taking watch. He doesn't sleep, and it reminds her of Jedao's existence. They'd make good company, if Jedao had a voice heard by anyone but her. No, scratch that. They'd make terrible company, if she couldn't observe the general at all times. ]

No, [ she concedes, even to the discussion of hostages: ] I don't think many would find a decision like that acceptable. But, COST is run as a diplomacy. Which means far too much time is wasted on internal negotiations before arriving at a decision. I feel, out of place. I am used to serving, I am used to being served. Among the Kel, there is perfect cohesion. Among these people... it's strange to me, dangerous. Senseless, even.

[ In particular, she doesn't mention how she would have handled the hostage situation. She doesn't know all the variables, but the hollow sound in her voice suggests she has left people to die before. She regrets and mourns their deaths, but it hasn't stopped her from repeating the act. And in that, it appears he is a creature of practicality, much like her. Untouched though, by her all-too-human compassion. And maybe it's because of that, that she bites the lure. And why not? ]

You speak like someone I know - clever circles within a hidden design, always aware of the human variable in any given situation. The time you've spent observing humanity must rival his, to come to such a conclusion about their nature.

[ She's not looking for a quantifiable answer - just maneuvering her piece on this gameboard of a conversation. ]

[cutlery]

[ It's a decision he's rather pleased with, though he would hardly have expressed that or imposed to influence it. He's a conversationalist by nature, after all. All that feels missing would be serving her tea, though that's definitely more his habits as a perfect butler than anything else. ]

Ahh— [ He starts, a noise of understanding, and he nods ] That is fair enough. Admittedly, I thought that working on behalf of COST would be more restrictive. They allow us a surprising amount of freedom not only in our actions, but taking our input is surprising. I cannot say whether it is a good or a bad thing, but it is simply different. And with what you say, I suppose that is especially true for you.

[ He considers what to say next, but ends up breathing out a soft laugh ]

I certainly would not mind for more cohesion, regardless. Though considering that would mean more orders given than opinions asked, I imagine that is not a popular hope for our direction.

[ There's no outward reaction to being identified as not being human, but inwardly, he's a little pleased by that. In part, it has nothing to do with her, but is more just his pure, simple enjoyment at being much more free than he usually is. He doesn't mind his contracts considering he's ultimately the one that benefits, but still... There's something quite refreshing about making decisions about what he says and does without factoring in a third party. Or at least not so heavily. ]

It is possible. Since humanity was very young, certainly. [ He admits, still careful with his words, but confirming through more than just not needing sleep that he is indeed something inhuman. ]

[bivariant]

[ The laces undone, she pries the boots off of her feet and tidies the laces before she places them to one side of her. Her legs, she stretches out, making herself comfortable even considering the depth of the conversation that weighs between them. Unlike him, she is not much of a conversationalist -- but, she's grown used to speaking to many people, over some time. Letting that go to waste would be a poor decision. ]

COST's command structure belongs to the annals of history, as I know it. It is an uncertain thing, and allows for too much variance. I cannot fathom why the hexarchate assigned me to this cell, when I was dealing with more pressing matters before I came to in Gallipoli. And there is - no calendar here. No doctrine. Cohesion is tenuous, but everyone's spirits seem... strong.

[ That part is what confuses her the most, clearly. COST lacks order, lacks doctrine, lacks structure the way she understands it, yet they function well and take pride in their work. It's not impossible, but it is a strong deviation from the acceptable standard. Not even a borderworld deviation, but an entire sect of cheery heresy. Does the hexarchate even oversee COST? Has she simply been turned out? And why? ]

No, I supposed if COST is dedicated to fighting the Regency, they would not wish to emulate the Regency's structure. All the better. The Regency is heretical, and must be eliminated. So, what do you think of that aspect of human nature? This desire to eliminate something because it is different, and believed dangerous in that difference.

[ She comes back around to the elusive topic they are playing with -- his inhumanity, all but confirmed. Coming out and asking him directly would sour the conversation, so she's being told. Despite that she's aware she's being used as a proxy and mouthpiece for the gamemaster in her mind, currently dancing around the question she would much rather Just Ask. ]

And, more than that. Experienced with humanity as you are - how do you view the Regency?

[cutlery]

[ He's getting a better understanding of how she thinks as she explains, but the picture that's being painted is one that surprises him a bit. He knows he's not alone with a more practical and cynical point of view, since Hei was also closely aligned in that respect, but the reasons why felt vastly different. He cants his head as a gesture of curiosity as she explains, but the gesture isn't judgmental. It's genuinely prompting her to continue. ]

So indeed. I imagine the vast majority are fighting because they believe in COST's cause. It is a compelling one, and they do recruit in a way that is difficult to not be invested in, much less to refuse.

[ He says neutrally, but in a way that implies an answer to her later question. He's explaining an answer because he can sense the practicality, something hardened beyond what he considers a human's natural way of processing the world, but not quite from recognizing that quality and purposefully dulling it. That she's confused or surprised by the way people act seems to imply something more ingrained. And that, quite simply, interests him. He wonders how different of a place she's from, but he's not curious enough to ask and push the subject. Learning about it naturally by reading between the lines of her explanations is much more fun.

Sebastian considers how to answer her question briefly, since there are many ways he could dance around it, but considering the way the conversation is going, he doesn't see the harm in a bit of honesty. ]

Your two questions are connected. Both are equal aspects of human nature. If one person strives for peace, another will do anything in their power to stop it. [ It's not clear which side he's referring to, but that may just be the point. ] They are not even two sides of the same coin, but the same face viewed at a different angle. The outcome would not particularly matter to me if not for COST's claim that it will hinder my current responsibilities, which is why I chose to fight for their cause. But if the Regency had asked the same, then I would have been pledged to their service instead.

[He shrugs lightly ]

Now, that said, you needn't worry about my loyalties, should you be. COST has asked for my service, and so my service they will have. It goes against my aesthetics to not provide just that, though I may not be personally invested in their cause.

[bivariant]

I believe, [ she hedges her bets cautiously, as she always has: ] that the Regency is a threat, and that I am here because what I have to offer is selectively beneficial to ending that threat.

[ One one hand, she could have been abducted and inducted into rank and file. On the other hand, and the one she feels more confidently in: the hexarchate has deemed her and Jedao more useful in a different sector. One that likely is far more deadly to the empire's security than even the fortress's current status. The Regency is, at its core, so like the hexarchate that she cannot view it as anything other than a mass deviation, an entire regiment of heretics and an opposing force that threatens that which she serves far worse than the loss of a nexus. It's large. It's positioned well.

COST's recruitment policy is indeed a matter concerning to her. Without memory of the event, she's left to fill in the blanks herself. What better way to encourage someone to accept their place, than to let them take the time to rationalize it for themselves? On that matter, she remains quiet, her hands folded in her lap as she turns her face up to the sky. The aether? The aether, probably. ]

Against your "aesthetics". [ The tone she takes is not derisive, but light enough to almost consider her charmed by the way he's positioned himself. ] I have a feeling you're the type COST would have thrown a generous deal of manpower and resources at, had they not recruited you first. I cannot abide by the Regency, or what they seek to impose upon this nebulous future COST is here to correct. That I am here, with COST, means that it was an agreed upon necessity. Like you, I serve. And I will serve, until I am told otherwise.

[ That's really that. COST may have vast goals, but her loyalty belongs to something she feels is greater still. ]

You're too sly, to be a soldier like me.

[cutlery]

[ His smile increases marginally at her tone, since even though it's completely true, it's also meant as something of a joke in how he phrases it. How people react to the joke tends to be telling about their sense of humor as well as their impressions of Sebastian. It's always about gathering more information in subtle ways, though he admittedly rarely ever uses what he learns. It's more just pieces to keep in mind should he ever need to exploit them. ]

Oh, very likely. [ He responds easily, and there's a casual confidence in it that doesn't imply an unwarranted arrogance. Sebastian isn't boasting, but simply stating a factual truth. ] It could be a reason why they took it upon themselves to recruit me, since even though I have very little stake in how the affair is settled, it is better to have me as an ally than an enemy.

[ He shrugs, though his smile does shift to fit her comment better. It's sly, though there's a pleasant wryness to it and to his tone. ]

You are quite right that I am not a soldier. I am... [ He trails off as if trying to think of the best word to describe it, but quickly settles on one. ] A contract worker is really the best description. There is very little I cannot do, and whoever pays the price for my service can use that however they wish. For better or for worse, it does not particularly matter to me.

actually completes this for u so we can SPIDERLAND

[bivariant]

Then, I'll keep that in mind.

[ A better ally, than an enemy. She counts this conversation as a positive step then, to adhering to this. It seems almost a rule, the way that he phrases it -- something to be observed, like the parameters of a mathematical problem, and utilized as a framework. Not as something to be reworked or manipulated. Cheris enjoys parameters. She enjoys service, and she enjoys mathematical theory. The man who shares her mind's space enjoys the human angle, the conversation, the game, the exploitation of variables and the challenge.

( It worries her, just a little. ) ] In mind, [ she admonishes, little more than a gritting of her teeth. She is a child, holding the leash of something older and greater than she. She doesn't cover for her shift in tone, not the type to play at disguises and turn of phrase. Kel literalism has served her before, and it will continue to serve her in the future. ] If not to heart.

[ As she slips her fingers into the yawning mouth of her boots, she gives pause before climbing back to her feet. ]

Was this conversation worth your service tonight, then? After all that you said, I can't imagine it's simply because you dislike sleeping that you'll keep watch. Or that I could sleep soundly, without confirming you've received what you wanted, in full.