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by the inquest
"Arguments on their nature are refuted by those who return to shore, wide-eyed with tales of their savagery."
All Moirans are woken to the sounds of the ship coming to a rather grating halt some time in the early morning cycle. It’s no faster or slower than any other stop, but it is unexpected as the captains didn’t mention an upcoming disembarkment. Shortly after, a message is sent to every MID:Navigation has informed us that we’re approaching bad traveling conditions: an overactive star. Instead of stopping on Liant El, we’ll be docking here on Ceta. Please exercise caution while gathering supplies and during excursions. Follow their safety guidelines. If the chance allows, we’ll also be signing new crew on the planet. Please greet them first and show them to the ship. Thank you. The Ingress has pulled you in. Your body experiences several sensations at once: being pushed forward as if a hand is resting on your back, momentary and startling blindness, a gentle ringing in your head. You have difficulty discerning whether it is hot or cold, but where you have been prodded is noticeably warmer than the rest of you. Some may suffer from dizziness while others are perfectly fine. Once equilibrium has been reestablished, you will notice you are standing on a long platform and that the room is filled with a soft cerulean light. It's slightly humid and dark despite the glow around you, and nothing is familiar.
For those few who come through Ceta's Ingress, there will be crew of the Moira there to greet you. They tell you of the Ingress, how it is broken, even on this planet, and that the ship is headed back to the origin of this technology. This planet’s Ingress is set precariously atop a floating rock formation, the only way from one area to the next is on small air-propelled boats. Crew members will guide everyone back to the Moira and take them to the Medbay; contracts will be signed posthaste.
WELCOME TO CETA
At first glance, Ceta seems mostly inhabitable, and that's because it is. The atmosphere around the planet is surprisingly thick in most places, sometimes thin in others, and without some way to filter the air, it is mostly unbreathable; it's a giant gas planet, its core made of various molten metals and the atmosphere a mix of oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrous. Ceta's gravity is also uneven, meaning that some areas will have stronger focal points than others. The terrain, when it is visible, appears rather rocky—hardly the best conditions for life and stable living. What's more unusual, however, is that despite this fact, there is, indeed, a small populace "living" among the mist and clouds, but it's clear they do not live here year-round. It's hunting season, and they are there for the bounty.
These visitors have built small platforms that are hooked together by ropes and swinging bridges, which they call "temporaries". Unstable buildings are rare, dangerous, and spread out over these temporaries to prevent damage or accidents. The temporaries float along, swaying and shifting with the planet’s atmosphere, and posted at every point of entry and all open surfaces are a particular set of rules that everyone must abide by. They are written in dark ink and large block letters so that all passing by will stop and read them:
NO FIRE. Flammables, ignition sources, matches, lighters, and anything that creates a spark is prohibited. The atmosphere has higher levels of hydrogen, and the smallest spark will create a problem.
AIR BREATHABILITY. Monitor your vitals. Wear masks or re-breathers if needed.
WATCH THE EDGE. All walkways are the only thing from you and falling. Be cautious and watch your step. These signs should be given their due attention. The edge is just that: the end of where it is safe to walk. If a wooden plank gives way beneath your feet, you will plummet through hundred of miles of atmosphere before hitting the planet’s thin surface. The captains reiterate that crew should be careful and stick to the main temporaries, gather supplies, visit at their leisure, and then go back to the ship.
☄ IT'S A BIRD! IT'S A PLANE!The organisms that have evolved on this planet are unintelligent—a fact that is told to you by the other visitors. As there is no solid materials or ways for them to interact with their environments, these giants float along within the atmosphere, though it appears that they are flying when they are merely navigating through. They travel in groups of three or more and sometimes come close to the outskirts of the temporaries. Because there is an invisible filtration dome around the temporaries, this allows the creatures to pass through without harm and return again into the mist as they please. They are difficult to see at night and are rather skittish in the presence of sudden light.
☄ @ THE MUSEUM Every evening when work is done, artificial light sources illuminate the streets of the temporaries. There is one bar, if you can actually call it that, but the main attraction is a museum. The support structure appears to be made out of the skeletal system of the giants that "swim" and live on Ceta, and though the outside seems rather unassuming, the inside is not for the faint of heart. As it's considered informative, there are displays of the internal structures and functions of the very creatures that seem harmless and as unintelligent as the visitors claim. There are sections of the museum dedicated to their anatomy and what makes them so valuable: inside their air sacs, which is what gives the illusion to flying through the atmosphere, is a mineral that, when harvested, attunes and sharpens the senses so that brain capacity and function excel over one-hundred percent efficiency. Likewise, aside from these informative areas, there is also a history of how and when the visitors began to hunt them for this valuable, unnamed resource.
☄ HARVEST SEASON Are you looking for work? Or perhaps you're bored with your duties aboard the Moira and prefer to see just what it is these visitors do during the day? Hunters will often pay for menial labor to help with the killing and retrieval of the giants of Ceta. It is by day, not by hour, and once aboard one of the many ships, you will be put to work handling equipment or being on the lookout for "signs" of the creatures. Once they've been spotted, the real work isn't in capturing them or even trying to subdue them—though they give a good fight. It's in the harvest, done below deck once they have been safely brought into the ship's cargo areas by the tethers, that can get quite gruesome. As a defense mechanism, cutting into the skin creates a rather noxious emission that can cause disorientation, hallucinations, or unconsciousness. Worst case scenarios can often result in death.
☄ WORD LIMITS As things are beginning to wind up (or down), something seems to have gotten into the MID systems and caused a malfunction. On the morning of 03.13, it suddenly becomes clear that communicating with others who are not from the same universe or similar timelines seems very difficult. Understanding each other becomes rather hopeless as the day continues, and these repercussions can be felt across the entire ship. The Captains send out another MID message that appears as a jumble of unusual letters and symbols. However, there is one word that can be read by everyone and (hopefully) understood: RATCHET. Figuring out this problem shouldn't take long if everyone can leap the language barriers and work together.
( ooc; All New Arrivals: you have the choice of coming through the Moira's Ingress OR Ceta's Ingress. For questions, go here. Please comment to activity check to receive new ranks (if applicable)! )
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hownkai) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thisavrou_log2016-03-01 02:40 pm
no subject
[Technically, Nihlus is not 'from' Palaven, and most Palavians would be very unhappy about him implying at he was. Andrew wasn't asking about Turian politics though, and Nihlus would rather avoid explaining it all right now.
Instead, he leans against the glass, crossing his arms, mandibles loose against his jaw.]
Do humans normally float where you're from?
no subject
Oh.
[He almost apologies (because was that a rude question?? he doesn't know) but decides better of it, not wanting to show a moment of weakness.
Don't stare at the mandibles while he talks. Don't stare at the mandibles.
Andrew settles for crossing his legs mid air and staring back out the window instead. He wants to ask more questions but then he's asked one himself.]
Not really. I mean, I don't think so. But, uh, given the circumstances now I could totally be wrong.
[And he thought everything he ever knew about life was changed when he got his powers. That's nothing in comparison to all of this.]
no subject
That sounds like the humans of my universe to be honest. Last I heard, they were just starting off a Biotics program.
[Then, realizing that not everyone would know what 'Biotics' meant, he quickly adds:]
Biotics are the people who float around and stuff, by the by. It's something to do with exposure to Element Zero. My old mentor is one and he explained it all to me once, but... well. He's got more education than I do.
no subject
What's Element Zero? How do you get exposed to something like that?
[Different universes are a thing, he now knows, but surely some could be connected? And if not, maybe hearing about this kind of thing from other people could be useful to him. Maybe it can give him insight into his own power, or force him to look at it in ways he never could because he simply wasn't knowledgeable enough to consider certain things.]
no subject
'Element Zero is a substance that releases dark matter and generates a mass effect field'.
[Is he mimicking Saren's voice there? Maybe a little bit. Unfortunately the reference is lost on Andrew, but Nihlus thought it was a pretty good impression.]
We use it for a whole bunch of applications like FTL travel. In regards to Biotics though, if you get exposed to it in-utero, there's a chance you'll develop these Element Zero nodules and those can grant Biotic powers.
It differs from race to race. Asari are all Biotic capable. Humans are so-so. Turians and Krogans with Biotic powers are very rare.
no subject
It's really common where you're from, huh? I mean like, people know about it and don't try to cover it up...
[Suppose it's less a question and more an observation. Andrew still remembers when he and the guys went back to that hole and were immediately told they had to leave by a sheriff and his men.]
no subject
[Meanwhile, Turians just tended to shove their Biotic users into the Cabals. It's a wonder Saren ever managed to make it out.]
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You guys have names for this stuff and where I come from...we don't even know if it exists. I mean, as a whole. Obviously it does. [He runs a hand through his hair.] I mean like, if I flew in front of anyone, people would lose their minds. [People did lose their minds, he's sure. And their lives. But that's not what they're talking about.]
And like, aliens? That's a whole other story.
no subject
Looking at Andrew and hearing the frustration in his voice, he wonders what life was like for Turians before they'd established contact with the Citadel. Before they'd understood Element Zero and linked it with people who could wield its powers.]
Sounds a bit lonely for humanity.
[He pauses and casts a somewhat curious glance at the kid.]
Sounds a bit lonely for you too.
no subject
It's not.
[That might be stretching the truth a bit. But as it stands now, after coming to terms with the fact that he was alone and will always be alone, he's more concerned with getting stronger. And having knowledge of his powers beyond how to use them is a big step towards that goal.]
I just wish I knew more. That's all.
no subject
He doesn't push that topic, however.]
I have a database on me that contains information about Biotics. Not as extensive as what I can usually get with a connection to the Extranet or other sources... but it's a starting point. I can gather the relevant stuff and figure out how to send it to you?
[He quirks a smile and adds;] Plus, I lived with one. He was a hardass, but I managed to wring the occasional bit of information out of him.
no subject
I mean, that'd be really cool...if you could.
[How do you react to people being helpful????]
So, this guy you lived with...was he strong?
no subject
[The question, however, makes Nihlus pause. Eventually, he turns to look out the glass, out at the darkness of the space beyond the planet.]
He was... formidable. Driven. Ethically utilitarian to an extreme and infamous for it. He's possibly the most powerful Turian Biotic to have ever lived and the youngest of our kind to be chosen as an agent of the multi-species Council.
[There's an odd note of sadness in his voice despite his attempts a muffling it. Nihlus has to stop for a moment, regather his thoughts.]
If you meant strong in those ways, he definitely was.
no subject
His brows furrow slightly, tone genuinely curious.]
What other ways would I mean?
no subject
[Nihlus regathers his composure and then seems to realize the words that'd just come out of his mouth. He laughs a bit awkwardly, rubbing his face with a hand.]
Ah, shoot, that sounded pretty weird.
[It's another moment before he finds the words he wants.]
Anyways, from a purely military point of view, you don't really want a whole bunch of people who can do the same thing on one team, right? You need people who can do multiple things that compliment each other's weaknesses and strengths.
For example, would you say the sharpshooter is stronger than the combat engineer?
no subject
Uh, I don't know what a combat engineer does. But I mean, a sharpshooter could shoot you between the eyes before you even blink, so...
[Andrew gives a shrug.]
no subject
[Honestly, being Sapper was probably the only good part out of Nihlus' entire stint with the Hierarchy. Lots of fond memories of blowing stuff up.]
It's the same thing for Council agents.
Saren's ruthlessness was his greatest strength, but in the field of galactic politics, people tended not to appreciate him firebombing a terrorist base without rescuing the hostages first. And he certainly isn't the sort of guy you send out to untangle the desperate situations that created those terrorist cells in the first place.
no subject
Andrew stares out onto the planet with his arms crossed.]
That's not really a terrible thing.
no subject
I don't agree.
[The expression softens, and the Turian casts the kid a somewhat tired smile as he leans off of the glass.]
But I'm probably not going to change your mind either.
[He's never managed to change Saren's, after all.]
I have a shift coming up in a bit. How about we meet back here after I've found out all the data on Biotics? Feels kind of impersonal just sending it to you.
no subject
[Though he silently appreciates the lack of trying to convince him otherwise. He begins to lower himself, finally allowing his feet to touch the ground. He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks down at his feet with a shrug.]
Yeah, sounds good. I should probably go figure out where I live and stuff.
no subject
[He offers Andrew one last smile before turning to leave, waving over his shoulder.]
See you 'round.