Network | Video

[plate_builder]

[From the first moment the video is on, it's clear Reeve hasn't had NEARLY enough sleep. But isn't that just his way? Still, he looks positively exhausted today, and the video includes Mini-C pushing a cup of something steaming to Reeve's hand. The man doesn't even seem to notice as he lifts it and takes a hearty sip before starting.]

Good afternoon all. I would like to let everyone know that through the diligent work of several individuals here, power has been restored to a larger portion of the city. Please extend your thanks to Tony, Echo, and Cal for all their hard work.

[Reeve himself does not wish thanks. He just wishes to keep working.]

There have been some issues, of course. There are, as always, issues with breaks in the power supply network. Therefore we ask for your help and feedback. If there are buildings you are finding have issues with power supply, please advise me, or drop a physical message at the Restoration Committee building, just south east of the fountain. There are likely areas we still need to work on power lines to, and it will take time for us to survey to figure out where they are.

Also, I would like to offer myself as assistance to anyone whose ship currently lacks an engineer. I've been trying to do what I can for the damage in our crash landing, however I've only been able to deal with external issues on the ships I cannot access.

[Another long sip of his water.]

Of course, with water and power in a better place now than it was when we arrived, my question becomes what projects of comfort we might turn to here in Temba. Yes, I know our greater goal of returning home, but I find myself in need of projects.

Comments

[beholding_archivist]

[ Come on now. No need to flaunt your brilliance and how you actually have knowledge and abilities to be of use around here. Jon is well aware that the only reason he can actually do anything for a change is because Tony can't properly use his own devices at the moment.

Hence, he doesn't comment on the state of the place and rather turns his attention to the gauntlet, flipping it around so the palm faces down while pulling out his phone again with the other hand and turning it on. No, he still hasn't changed the selfie of Tony the man has set up as his phone background. ]

No one comes to me for tea, either. They come expecting books.

[ He muses, his attention on the screen of his phone as the glove comes to life, the centerpiece set into its palm glowing. ]

There. It's scanning.

[plate_builder]

[Yes, Tony would be the sort to put his picture on someone's phone, wouldn't he? That was just the person he was. And Reeve was unbothered by the image or reminder. What was the point.]

How intriguing.

[He moves closer to try and see what is going on.]

That man is just a touch to bright. It's amazing.

[beholding_archivist]

...he certainly is.

[ Jon muses softly in reply, almost to himself as his attention on the screen of his phone, attempting to understand. Eventually, he shakes his head with a small sigh, admitting defeat. ]

I barely know what I am looking at here.

[plate_builder]

May I?

[Reeve gestures for the phone. The readings might make more sens to him, seeing as he knew what he was looking for.]

If it's right, I could even fine tune it."

[beholding_archivist]

[ Jon doesn't argue and simple hands the phone over while keeping his hand with the gauntlet steady. ]

It's mostly numbers...

[plate_builder]

[Indeed it is. Reeve does some mumbling under his breath, all verbal math, and yeah. There it is.]

This is good. Very good. Come here.

[He's directing Jon to follow him toward the back room which is his residence, and gestures toward the sink there.]

Hold the gauntlet in this area.

[beholding_archivist]

[ And Jon follows the directions, even if a little awkwardly. After all, he hasn't come here for a tour through Reeve's living space. He will just remind himself that they are doing important work here. Which isn't necessarily wrong.

It's the praise that leaves him a little flustered, which he may not show due to remaining puzzled. ]

So I take it this does produce the results you need.

[plate_builder]

[No, he hadn't come for this. But this was hte best way to confirm some details from what he had already known. And Reeve looked truly delighted. Even turned a wide, bright smile on Jon.]

Yes, this will do indeed. Come outside. I have a theory as to where the subsurface power lines come into the building. If I get the right readings then I'll know. We'll be able to come up with the method to do all of this without wearing you out. I'll also have to alter some of the code on what he has here, to redirect the information flow so I can get this all to fit together for my usage.

[beholding_archivist]

...aight.

[ It's a confirmation, if a somewhat befuddled one. Jon may still not understand much, but at least he's not doing it wrong. That's a plus. Closing his hand, he lets if fall to his side while following Reeve outside. ]

At least they appear to have a power network here we have a chance to understand and work with. The data spheres they had to store their knowledge in only meant everything the Agrii had on record got destroyed.

[plate_builder]

I admit, it concerns me that the data spheres are all that is left, and what is more, so... lacking in knowledge.

[It bothered him. Was there no written word? Why did those systems survive but nothing else did? Was it truly the storms? If so, why did the data points survive. He guides Jon around the place with a sigh. At last he stops and points.]

Here. I think this is where the power lines come in.

[beholding_archivist]

You tell me. I picked up all the pieces, hoping to maybe find some half intact ones and searched the entire city for traces of any sort of written language or means of communication. Found a few pictograms here and there, but even those were rare.

[ Jon has fallen into a bit of musing while following and points and activates the gauntlet as instructed without giving the task much thought. ]

Not even traces of the sort of mundane vandalism you'd expect to find in a city this size. The ship gave us an idea, but- It's not built by the Agrii. It's an Atroma ship. Different technology.

[plate_builder]

Pictograms. I admit, I'm very intrigued.

[Not as intrigued as he is by the data feed on Jon's phone. Oh, this is lovely. It's all feeding in and it looks right. Reeve gives a delighted chuckle. Yes, this is what he needs. Now to figure out how to get the information to his own device. He offers Jon a wide smile.]

Well, if it comes to knowledge, I trust you and Tony to find it. Meanwhile, I intend to make sure that we're comfortable while the creative thinkers achieve what we need.

[beholding_archivist]

[ Certainly not the sort of words Jon has expected to hear. He falls silent for a couple of moments, settling with just holding the device steady and keeping it active in order for the other man to receive the necessary readouts.

Trust, eh...?

Jon sticks with the pictograms for now. ]

...they were bathroom signs, I assume. Over in what seems to have been a shopping center at some point. taught me about as much as that Agrii have four arms.

[ And he proceeds to gesture with his free hand towards his phone. ]

I suppose you will need that on your device.

[plate_builder]

Bathroom signs. Oh dear.

[Well, the Agrii arm numbers are pretty well known, so he guesses the point isn't very wrong. Not helpful. Still, he smiles. Because someone is trying to learn.]

Yes. I think I know how to change the pathway for the data output. Tony's code is beyond what I'm used to, but the datapoint here should let me work with it some.

[he hopes. If not, Tony can do that for Jon.]

[beholding_archivist]

[ Yes, bathroom signs.

Jon gives a soft shake of his head. ]

Tony uses something much more elegant, but- I don't know it it can work for anyone but him. This is just a separate, very basic network I set up between the glove and my phone. C-communications data point.

[ Admitting that he has changed data points again feels like admitting another defeat. And even with this one he's more on the clumsy end of things. ]

I will just add your device to the network to give you access to the collected data.

[plate_builder]

[Communications? Ah, Reeve nods in approval.]

That seems a great fit for you. But I would very much appreciate if you sent things on. We can make a search pattern for you too. Oh this data would be so useful.

[beholding_archivist]

[ This gets a nod from Jon. ]

Right. Having a structured path makes more sense than randomly scanning parts of the city or different structures without any rhyme or reason to it. Adjusting the network won't take long, but I will have to take off the glove for that.

[plate_builder]

Of course. Please, come back in. It will be more comfortable, right?

[He moves back around, gesturing for Jon to return. They can map out a plan after the transfer is set up.]

[beholding_archivist]

[ Another nod and Jon deactivates the gauntlet before following once again. ]

Not untrue. Taking this thing off is certainly easier if I can set it down on a table to do so.

[plate_builder]

Of course.

[Reeve moves quickly to open the door and go in to clear off the table. This works. Very much.]

[beholding_archivist]

[ Jon follows without further verbal commentary, and once the surface has been cleared, the gauntlet hits the table with a dull thud before Jon makes it release his hand vie little manipulations from within as well as the outside of the glove.

After flexing his newly freed hand a few times, Jon reaches to pick his phone back up to start adjusting the settings. ]

I wonder how long it will take to cover the entire city. And if this shows us underground connections to other cities, perhaps. I recall there being some sort of train station...

[plate_builder]

Underground connections to other cities? You mean like train lines?

[Reeve had never thought of the idea of putting train lines under ground. And now he was. His eyes were lighting up, and he couldn't help the hunger for knowledge that was bubbling up in him.]

I must see this!

[beholding_archivist]

Well, it's possible. There doesn't seem to be a lot of infrastructure leading in or out of the city above ground, and a city this size...

[ Jon keeps musing on until the excitement in the man's voice fully registers and he looks up from his phone to cast a bewildered look over at Reeve.

Huh. ]

...if we find something.

[ Just a reminder that they haven't found anything yet. ]

[plate_builder]

[Oh don't say if. He'll be sad if it's only an if.]

Do things like this exist on your world? Please tell me about them.

[He hungers for the knowledge.]

[beholding_archivist]

In a way.

[ Jon shrugs. ]

Larger cities like London have a vast subway network underneath them, of course. It's crucial to manage the traffic. Between cities, most travel happens above ground. Not many feel comfortable traveling such long distances through tunnels, I suppose.

Though... There is, of course the Eurotunnel connecting England and France. It's a tunnel drilled underneath the ocean. It also contains a railway track.