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

♥

[handsomefoil]

[ His dignity and entire self dampened, he tries to laugh it off even as he's helped up onto his feet. Still, he does feel pretty embarrassed about being dragged into the water by a weird flying magical hammer. Thor's nakedness isn't a shock to him even at this proximity since he's already aware of this fact. They're all adults here...even if does try not to stare. ]

It's quite alright, I suppose I deserved that. Guess my curiosity got the best of me.

[ He starts heading to shore, stripping his shirt off to squeeze the water out of it. Better dry these clothes out before trying to move on (or back to BASE, even). ]

I don't think I would've touched it if I knew it could do that.

[thunders]

It's quite understandable. Tis a very enticing hammer. [ Thor grins. He's talking about the weapon, of course. He sets Mjolnir down again so that he can get his pants on, at least. He's still sopping wet - there's no sense in wearing the rest of it right away. ]

Come, we'll start a fire.

[handsomefoil]

[ Maybe Travis's dumb stupid humor has been rubbing off on him, but he immediately thinks of Thor's other hammer that's currently hanging free in the wind. He doesn't stare, of course, but simply brushes it off with a casual sort of laugh. He's not that much like Travis. ]

Thanks, and sorry. Didn't meant to interrupt your swim.

[ After wringing out the shirt, he drapes it on a nearby branch for now. He'll just have to dry the pants by the fire while wearing them. ]

[thunders]

[ Thor absolutely knows what the implication is, but he does a good impression of being oblivious and regal. ]

It's a welcome distraction. I had meant to find you again, after Gallipoli. [ He remembers spying the remains of some other traveler's fire pit nearby, and it's easy enough to find again. There's plenty of kindling around too, so Thor begins collecting enough of it to feed a fire. ] Granted, I meant to find some good mead too, but it seems to be in short supply.

[handsomefoil]

[ Henry helps gather some twigs and branches, trying to keep them as dry as possible despite his soaked skin. While he'd made a habit of carrying a flask of some bourbon while out and about, he didn't go around drinking too heavily in the wilderness. ]

Yeah, honestly? The stuff they try to brew on the ship is watery piss at best. It'd take many drinks to even reach a buzz, and by then, you'll be too full to even enjoy it.

[ He drops each piece of kindling one at a time into the unlit pit. ]

But you're in luck; I received quite a gift upon our return from Gallipoli.

[thunders]

[ It doesn't take long to get enough kindling in place to start a fire. Thor calls his hammer to his hand. ] You may wish to shield your eyes.​

[ A quick flash of lightening leaps from the hammer to the fire pit, setting the kindling ablaze. The smell of ozone is heavy in its wake, but Thor simply sets the hammer down again, as if he does this sort of thing far too regularly. ]

If this gift is what you're implying, I almost regret dunking you in the water. I hope you're still in a generous mood.

[handsomefoil]

[ He barely has time to shield his eyes and opts to wincing them closed. Arm up a second to late, but does it by instinct. Well, a guy that can summon lightening through a magical hammer does make him wonder if he's a Norse god fan, but he'll keep that himself for now. ]

Ach, you're fine. It's just a flask, so I'm not giving you much as it is.

[ As much as he doesn't enjoy being wet, well... he was practically asking for it, so it doesn't sour his mood any. The flask is retrieve from his pants pocket, and he tosses it in Thor's general direction. ]

Got more on BASE, but I'm not keen on hauling it around when I'm wandering through unidentified territory.

[thunders]

[ Thor catches the flask with a nod of gratitude. He settles on a log by the fire. ]

Some of my best memories are of being drunk in strange territory - or they would be if I remembered them. Live a little - [ Thor pauses sort of abruptly. He doesn't actually know what to call his friend. ] I've just realized we haven't exchanged names.

[handsomefoil]

[ Well, that tells Henry a lot about Thor already. Guy knows how to have a good time. He chuckles under his breath, taking a seat on a different log set opposite of Thor, letting the warmth of the fire seep through the cold fabric. ]

It's Henry. We didn't exactly have much time for a meet and greet on the field, so it's reasonable.

[thunders]

Well met, Henry. [ Thor raises the flask in a lazy kind of salute. ] I am Thor, son of Odin.

[ He takes a swallow from the flask. It's a vast improvement over Gallipoli and the swill they've managed to cook up on the BASE. ] Tell me - where do you hail from?

[handsomefoil]

Thor, like of the Norse mythology.

[ He knows the lightening and his strength and all that doesn't look like a gimmick, but he still can't help but feel a little incredulous. That being said, he only offers Thor a 'look' before moving onto the question. ]

California, nowadays. If you mean where I was raised, it was mostly in Ireland.

[thunders]

Yes, that's the one. [ Thor flashes him another grin. ]

You're from Earth, then? It's been a while since I was back there. Pretty sure there weren't any laser swords yet.

[handsomefoil]

[ Sometimes, it's hard to tell if this guy is being serious or just seriously fucking with him. The grin doesn't help, either. That being said, Henry finds it bothers him less and less when he comes across fantastical people and things from legends and stories in the flesh. Stranger things have happened. ]

Yet? Well, perhaps I'm from a more modern time. Or a different universe. I find that makes a big difference within our scrappy lot.

[thunders]

That was my thinking. [ He's only just learning the ins and outs of where people come from and how they might differ, but he thinks Henry has the right of it. ]

Is such a weapon common on your version of Earth?

[handsomefoil]

Perhaps, if you're thinking run-of-the-mill beam swords.

[ But enough of his boring world! With a little theatrical inflection to his voice, he sorta gestures with his hand as he speaks: ]

And what about you, Thor? Are you truly a norse god that we, as children, have all read about in school?

[thunders]

[ Thor laughs. ] If you're looking to make an offering, I'll take more of this.

[ He drains the flask, then tosses it back to Henry. ] I visited Earth in my youth, and again more recently. Some of your stories are true. The impressive ones.

[handsomefoil]

[ He gives the flask a little whirl once it's in his hand, noticing a few drop left. A short pause as he mulls over Thor's answer.]

So, just the impressive ones that just happen to be true. Are there really any unimpressive stories about you?

[ If he was more well-acquainted with Norse mythology, he'd make further jokes on Thor's behalf, but he also gets the feeling not much gets under the guy's skin. ]

[thunders]

[ Yeah, his ego is loving this. Thor doesn't have a modest bone in his body, so he responds to the flattery with a spark of humor: ] Nope. Absolutely not. I don't do anything that's not impressive, as a rule.

[ As he says this, he feels something tickle his arm. When he reaches to brush it off, it crawls onto his hand - an insect that seems to be composed entirely of legs. Thor glances at it, and in the moment it takes him to understand what's going on, lets out a very undignified sound and flicks the insect in Henry's direction while scrambling off the log.

He's really super impressive. ]

[handsomefoil]

[ In his experience, anyone who insists they're great in some way usually tends to fall flat for him. Maybe he sets his expectations ludicrously high, or maybe he lived in a town of idiots, but whatever the case may it tended to fall that way.

He has no doubts that Thor is very impressive. His meager knowledge of Norse mythology at least gave him that much. That being said, despite this incredibly godly image that stories portray, he felt Thor was just a man like any man. This particular moment only cements his feelings about it further. ]

Whoa— [ Swatting the bug out of the sky, it plops noisily into some bush and skitters away in terror. ] But what about that one time, you know...like right now, with the thing?

[thunders]

I... magnanimously spared its life. [ The truth is that there are plenty of unimpressive stories about him; it's just that his friends are normally the ones to tell them. ]