Cohort mingle

[art_of_war]

WHO: Delta, Winter, Phalanx, Connor, Billy, Thrawn
WHERE: The Bloodsport
WHAT: Everyone is stuck in the ship together, so be polite I guess?
WHEN: Event
WARNINGS: None anticipated

Since we're all stuck, a mingle seemed like a good idea.

Comments

[art_of_war]

Thrawn inspected the doors to the cabins - noting the number - but made his way to the bridge before looking inside them. The bridge was small, needing only one person to pilot the craft. He sat down in what looked to be the pilot's chair and calmly started trying out different swoches to see which switches went to which screens.

[alaspooryork]

It takes a little while for him to calm down enough to explore, but by the time Delta is ready to look at the rest of the ship, the bridge is an obvious first place to start. When he notices that the person sitting in the pilot's chair is, well, blue, he observes quietly for a moment.

And the he speaks up in an even-toned voice. "Excuse me, but are you a pilot?"

[art_of_war]

"In a manner of speaking. If you are concerned, I do know how to Pilot this ship."

With a practiced flick of several more switches, more screens flickered to life. It is a strange feeling to have a Data Point download directly into the brain. But it also meant Thrawn was perfectly familiar with this ship.

[alaspooryork]

His posture relaxes even as he looks curiously at the layout of the pilot's console as Thrawn works it. "It is certainly not UNSC standard," he admits, "but is not similar to Covenant or Forerunner designs in the slightest. Does it have deep-space capability, or is it purely an in-atmosphere design?"

There are some people familiar with these ships, but Delta is clearly not one of them.

[art_of_war]

Thrawn had no facial expression but he looked at Delta as he worked.

"I believe this ship is different from any we are used to."

Which brought up another question, one Thrawn was interested in. Lights were coming on around the bridge and a low hum started somewhere.

"You are familiar with ships where you came from. Were you a pilot, or a repair technician perhaps?"

[alaspooryork]

His expression brightens and the beginnings of a smile are on his face. Not much more than that, yet.

"I often assisted our assigned pilots, but my primary role was computer systems infiltration and combat tactical support. My curiosity is admittedly more focused on the system behind the mechanics of piloting."

Is there a centralized computer? Does it have separate systems for things like environmental controls and life support? Most importantly, is there a way to override the countdown timer? These are questions he wants the answers to, and he briefly regrets taking Communications rather than Engineering for his data point - but he can't deny how useful Communications has been, either.

I'm pulling this out of my butt as I go and Delta can call it AI or say it uses deep learning

[art_of_war]

It was an odd response. In Thrawn's experience Pilots were often argumentative about any assistance. But he doesn't comment on that.

"It appears to be a very basic neural network devoted to the ship's engine and piloting."

Thrawn wanted to know what the environmental controls were too since he liked being able to breathe. They appeared to make some use of the planet's atmosphere and store it for later use and reuse as it passed through a filtration process. A countdown timer wasn't something Thrawn knew anything about.

[alaspooryork]

Delta looks pleased with that response. It means that there's not a ship AI that's just ignoring him. "It is unlikely to have a Shaw-Fujikawa engine, in that case - the type of faster-than-light travel with which I am familiar. It seems otherwise capable of deep-space flight, however. I wonder if we will be sent beyond this planet at some point?"

He stares at the console, lost in thought, before shaking his head and seeming to remember Thrawn is there.

"Regardless, I am glad to have someone in the pilot's chair. My name is Delta, and I have achieved expertise in Communications."

[art_of_war]

"Greetings, Delta."

And since it's the only polite thing to do.

"I believe it would be easiest for you to call me 'Thrawn'. I am not certain what expertise in Communications entails. Would you please explain it to me?"

Thrawn couldn't tell what the Agri might require of them in the future but he fully intended to leave this planet at some point.

[pileofspirits]

Apparently Thrawn isn't the only entity on the ship with this idea. Granted, Phalanx is exploring every inch of the place, but the helm calls to them in a way that the rest of the ship doesn't, thanks to that Data Point they'd stumbled into some time ago.

So, a soft, strange presence shuffles onto the bridge in the middle of Thrawn's switch-flipping and just watches for a long moment. At their side, one dirty, rag-wrapped hand twitches in time with each of the switches that the man is turning on and off.

[art_of_war]

After a moment there came a deep hum as Thrawn pushed one switch to the 'on' position. Many of the lights around the bridge turned on when he pushed another. He was starting simply; going with the pre-flight sequence. Two screens by his hands flickered on.

It's with all this background noise (sub-audible to most humans) that Thrawn had missed the approach of a humanoid. He did mentally chide himself for being so careless as to let someone get so close. Though he did not startle, neither did he turn around when he spoke.

"Are you hoping to find something?"

[pileofspirits]

"Hoping to find something?" they parrot in their own voice (light and soft, almost too delicate coming from their masculine-seeming body) but the tone and cadence is all a perfect mirror of Thrawn.

They take a few short steps closer, bare feet still quiet against the metal floor of the bridge, and they try a couple of the words again.

"Find something?"

Whoops found out ships don't fly in the event. Fixed tag!

[art_of_war]

Thrawn looked over his shoulder once. Then he seemed to go right back to what he was doing.

"Yes, that is what I said."

Pre-flight routine finished, Thrawn pulled gently but inexorably on the controls. The ship powered up...but didn't rise. All systems were operating within normal parameters...

"If you are only able to repeat, that could be problematic."

[pileofspirits]

There's a beat of silence while their attention wanders to the ship's reaction (or lack thereof) to the other man's attempts to get it off the ground, before focusing on him again.

"Not only," they insist. "Can talk, wonder, push buttons. Lots of things."

[art_of_war]

Thrawn frowned at the flight stick. All systems appeared to be functioning but they weren't reading the flight sticks motions. He tried moving it in a slow circular motion but nothing happened. Most of Thrawn's attention stayed on that as he spoke.

"Pushing buttons sounds rather singular. But based on your answer I shall assume you are not human or that you haven't been human long."

[pileofspirits]

"You're pushing buttons," they counter. And they sidle closer, to get a better look at the panel of controls the other man is working.

"We were humans the whole time. Some not long, though."

A dirty, rag-wrapped hand reaches out to sneak for the controls at one of the monitors, aiming to press a button that would change what system is being displayed on the screen.

[art_of_war]

"And it is being ineffective."

Thrawn's response was made without anger. It didn't seem to have much in the way of emotion at all. He was facing forward and frowning at the flight stick.

"Since you are speaking of yourself in a plural context then you must feel you display multiple personalities."

But Thrawn caught the motion of Phalanxes hand out of the corner of his eye.

"If you are an endothermic species, as most humans are, then you will feel a level of discomfort if I were to hold onto your wrist. So I will advise you not to finish that motion as I will then be forced to do so."

[wearingthestars]

Despite how relatively small the space was, Billy still felt a bit sheepish about intruding when he entered in his own exploring to find Thrawn sat in the pilot's chair, though it was quickly followed by a hopeful expression.

"Do you know how to work it?" he asked.

[art_of_war]

After a moment there came a deep hum as Thrawn pushed one switch to the 'on' position. Many of the lights around the bridge turned on (though one kept flickering off and on) when he pushed another. He was starting simply; going with the pre-flight sequence. Two screens by his hands flickered on. As he pressed buttons readouts came up on screens and Thrawn glanced at them as he continued, but spoke over his shoulder toward Billy.

"If you are asking whether or not I am capable os piloting this vessel then the answer is yes. If you are asking for more light I have provided what this vessel is capable of. Either way such a vague question invites too many answers. You are berrer served by being more specific."

[wearingthestars]

Billy gaze turned to observe the lights, and then back to the screens with interest, cheeks flushed with Thrawn's reply. He wasn't wrong though. Billy considered his words a moment before asking a more decisive-

"Right...sorry. Um, can you get us out?" The answer was probably obvious enough. If he could he probably would have all ready, but Billy's explored every option he has available to him, maybe it really was as simple as just pushing the right button?

[art_of_war]

Thrawn frowned at the flight stick. Everything was on and functioning correctly but he could not coax th ship to rise. It wouldn't even recognize him if he pulled on the flight stick insistently.

"...apparently not. Nor am I able to open any hatches or doors."

[wearingthestars]

Billy winced apologetically. "It must be part of the whole...get to know each other thing?" he guessed, "Maybe if the flight systems worked then the doors would work, so they just shut it all down?" It made a weird kind of sense.

[art_of_war]

Thrawn's frown became deeper as he turned around in the chair to face Billy.

"If that is the purpose of this exercise it seems very silly."

He stood up, then, with the thought of looking at one of the monitor's screens across the bridge. At full height, he was easily 7'6".

[wearingthestars]

"I mean...have you seen their little happy faces? Silly suits the Agrii pretty well I think," Billy notes with a small smile, blinking in surprise at just how tall the other is. "I um...I'm not sure I caught your name before now. I'm Billy. Billy Kaplan."

[art_of_war]

Thrawn left off looking at a screen and instead turned to Billy. He clasped his hands behind his back, looking rather formal.

"I believe it would be easiest for you to call me Thrawn."