[Video]

[out_of_order]

[The image moves slightly as though the tablet's been placed on something uneven before it steadies. The red-haired padawan gives a nod from where he stands by some tool bins, and he pauses from picking through them, raising a hand to give a thumbs-up.]

Hey- So I know there's been a lot going on between Temba and the other place, and what all's been happening. I was thinking of setting out to the other city again some time soon, have a better look at the power situation. I know we've already got one city to worry about, but if there's something important to find here, I figure maybe it couldn't hurt to at least get the basic utilities up and running.

Anyone else interested? I think we've got a fair amount of engineers so we shouldn't be running short at least. And if anyone's had a closer look and knows what specifically we might need, you're welcome to give a rundown.

If anyone needs me, I'll be in my workshop while I get things together.

[He nods at the camera again with a 'Thanks BeeDee' and the tablet shifts towards the ceiling before BD-1's head pops up, and he raises a foot towards it before the feed ends.]

Comments

[Video]

[out_of_order]

I... Uh- welcome, first off. I'm Cal.

[pleiade]

Asterope, sir. Nice to meet you?

[out_of_order]

Nice to meet you too. You arrive just recently?

[pleiade]

Yes, just a few days ago. Still learning the lay of the land, but if there's a way to be useful...well. Best to be useful, right?

[out_of_order]

You can take your time in it. I think even those of us who have been here a while still find places that are unfamiliar.

I won't argue with that reasoning. I do have to say, I'm not quite sure what we'll need just yet. We've only discovered the other city recently. It's not a short trip, and even more overgrown than Temba is, but if you're curious, you're welcome to come along. We won't be leaving right away at least, so you'll still have time to settle in and figure out what you might need.

[pleiade]

Intrigued, at the least. It'll be good to see the whole picture. And...maybe see how the night sky lines up, between here and there. If it's not a short trip...a significant difference in latitude would lead to the constellations seen being different.

[She sort of mimes what she's talking about one-handed with an imaginary globe, trying to convey the idea that north and south hemisphere would be pointed at different stars.]

[out_of_order]

It'd be easier if we had access to the ships for a casual fly than restricted to missions. But this is the first place to be confirmed outside of this city, and some of us have been here longer than a year. [A hint of the progress they've had in exploration beyond, anyway.]

Good point though. I wonder if anyone's tried to reference that. It's hard to track the land route by the train for a good portion of the trip. There's a pretty long tunnel.

[pleiade]

If no one else has yet...well, the attempt will be made, at least. No promises on precision, but a rough idea can be gained from a look.

[The thought of having something to work on like that seems to brighten her spirits somewhat.]

[out_of_order]

[Cal laughs a little.]

I think that's what things have been like here in general. Plenty of attempts, no real precision, but a lot or rough ideas. At least things pan out, more or less.

Is this something you did where you're from? Star charting? [His expression suggests he's not even sure if that's what one would call it, but it's the closest he's got.]

[pleiade]

Well. Kind of was going to be. There was a colonization trip planned, to an exoplanet in the Gliese system. With a background in astrology, not astronomy, some people thought it wouldn't be very useful, but to effectively do astrology, you need to pay a lot of attention and do a lot of math. Recognizing planets and their movement among the stars, being able to discern the zodiac. It takes a deep understanding and love of the night sky, to make an astrological chart.

It translates well enough.

[out_of_order]

I don't claim to be an expert in either but that makes sense to me. I guess at the very least we can work out what direction we're in. Unfortunately by way of external references we otherwise don't have any information.

[pleiade]

Direction and degrees east or west. Which isn't too useful without knowing the size of the planet, but it's something.

[out_of_order]

True enough. I know I'd feel better having an idea of the heading in case something ever happens with the train.

[pleiade]

It sounds like it'd be an awful long way to have to walk, if it came to that, though. Out in the wilderness, right?

[out_of_order]

Oh yeah, definitely. It won't be an easy trek back, so I'd rather hope nothing happened. But it never hurts to be prepared.

I think the most ideal thing would be to establish communications between cities so we'd be able to contact people. Right now it won't reach there. I suspect getting the power grid up will also be key in getting that working.

[pleiade]

Mm, not a personal area of expertise, though maybe with the engineering data point...? Haven't tried any of those yet, honestly. If it helps with being more useful, though, might as well.

[out_of_order]

Data points are a little strange and don't always make sense for what it allows someone to do. I've never swapped between data points so I'm not exactly sure what other things outside of engineering can offer.

I don't know if the network had to be established along with everything else or if it was already taken care of, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was some programming involved. But that still wouldn't be any use without power, and maybe relays of some kind.

[He sighs, scrubbing a hand through his hair.]

Heh, guess the more you think about things the more you find out you need to do.

[pleiade]

That's how life goes, sometimes. You look around, and there's always something more you could be doing. Always some area in which you're failing, that you never realized you were even being tested in.

[Personal experience, it seems.]

[out_of_order]

Yeah...

[His smile is crooked, wistful. Boy can he relate.]

But we can't do everything either. At least we can address those areas we come to realize, provided it's not too late.

[pleiade]

We can try. Not trying sometimes isn't an option.

[She shrugs.]

Well, either way, if you need help, another person with the engineer data-point, you have it. Promise.

[out_of_order]

We'll for sure have at least two. Having another will help in this particular project, certainly, but if you might want to try something different, you're more than welcome to.