( video ) uns: maxwell & jtk | thesa : ready up

[braidedwonder]

[ Video greetings from Jim Kirk and Duo Maxwell, who are both in what looks like one of the various tech rooms on Thesa Station. The only lights are emergency ones and glittering bits from the computers themselves. In the background, the blaring sound of an alarm siren is audible, though it's been muffled in here (possibly by someone disconnecting the speaker or shoving a sock over it, who knows).

Jim begins: ] As you're aware, the Natha left Thesa a few weeks ago, and the station has been in a state of low-power ever since. Stable, just running quieter. Today, though - [ he thumbs over his shoulder. ] Full-on emergency mode.

[ Here's where the braided pilot finally chips in, looking away from the screen he’s been typing and swiping away at in the background, throwing his braid over his shoulder with his typical candor, blue eyes finally turning to the camera to look at it instead of rudely staring off to the side to see what he could diagnose. ]

So, from what I can gather there’s nothin’ going on with the ship that would typically trigger emergency mode like this. Electricity is as stable as it’s gonna get, the shields are all up and there’s nothin’ within immediate range of the ship that the sensors show as a threat.. [ Duo pauses, clicks a few more buttons with a crease in his brow of concentration - ] .. so, yeah, there’s no obvious reason this is happening other than maybe the fact the Natha are gone for ..

[ A flick of a hand. ] .. Whatever they’re gone for.

But… [ There’s some weight to this, and that usually jovial or smirking face is dead serious as he looks back to the screen. ] .. all the training equipment is stuck in a conflict mode to teach people how to fight. Both physical combat as well as the flight modules for people who want to be that eager about it.

If anyone has any experience or clearances for the Natha’s mobile suits there’s training modules for that, and I’d be happy to offer to let you go against my mobile suit with the promise I’ll treat ya nice and gentle. [ Duo grins in that cocky way again, turning to Jim as if saying he’s done from here. ]

Following that, [ Jim says, exchanging a look with Duo, ] if anyone has spacecraft or advanced computer experience would like to come and be briefed on the situation, you're encouraged to do so, in case something happens to necessitate defending Thesa. [ The worry isn't just Thesa itself, of course, but the people asleep up here. ] I know most of us are focused on what's happening with the potential for a resurrected dragon, and this is horrible timing. Hopefully it'll remain a preventative measure up here.

Thanks.

[ Duo gives a little bit of a ‘saluting’ motion, though it’s clearly not military grade before turning back to his screens. ]

Looks like we’ll do best to be prepared on both fronts – everyone better be ready.

Comments

[fisherwife]

Are we so sure the dragon will attack us first? There's a chance it might be intelligent enough to listen to reason first, isn't there?

[But Mipha doesn't look so sure herself, even if she wants to be hopeful about it.

And then she sort of laughs and smiles at Duo's 'don't worry.'] I think there's unfortunately plenty to worry about, Duo. And while I do trust in everyone's abilities... I simply wish I could do more.

[braidedwonder]

Mipha.. it's a dragon.. [ He's never seen (or heard of) a dragon that didn't go straight to murder the second it saw smaller bodies that would be easier to chow down on. But then again he's never actually seen a full real life dragon before either, so... ]

It is what it is at this point.. All we can do it cope and try to make it through from here. Plus, people to do some healing are just as important as the people to do the fighting. If not more important.

[fisherwife]

[Mipha laughs again] The dragons in my home were rather peaceful. They just sort of...floated through the sky. It was quite a right the first time I saw them, but they never caused any trouble.

[She figures that's true enough though.]

That's true. So even if it's a minor scratch, please don't hesitate to come to me.

[braidedwonder]

Ah.. I can see how you'd get mixed up, then.. [ But Duo shrugs. ] Dragons I've ever seen which is like .. movies and stuff.. were only ever there to destroy stuff, so.. I dunno. I guess that was what I was picturing in my head.

[ Since Mipha is here, and it's nice to talk to people while he's working and trying to work through information, Duo decides to maybe press Mipha a little here. If she'll allow it of course. ]

I won't. Though.. if you don't mind talking while I work .. what have you been up to since we talked last?

.. I know it's been a while. I kinda had to.. go off the radar for a little bit for my own sanity after the Shaman thing. So that's partially my fault.

[fisherwife]

Your version could be true as well. Unfortunately it seems we won't know until it shows itself--and by then it hopefully won't be too late...

[She looks a bit surprised by the question, but she supposes it HAS been a while.] I've been alright. Each day it gets a little easier to distance myself from-- Well, from what happened. [Being kidnapped she means. Some days it feels like a distant nightmare; some days it's as though it was just last night.]

I've been traveling a little with Mephisto, to the new village that opened up. It's been nice to explore something new. But mostly it's just been a lot of my usual healing work and seeing if the village does anything different.

[Mipha falls quiet a moment, concerned] ...How are you feeling now, Duo?

[braidedwonder]

Well since we have fair warning I'm gonna hold out hope that we'll be alright in the end.. if not then at least we've got the option of Thesa..

[ Duo shrugs. Would be leave the natives to the wrath of an undead dragon back to wreak havoc on the planet and go to the space station without hesitation? Absolutely if it meant he could save all of the people he'd grown to know from this place. Collateral damage isn't anything new to a terrorist, and like hell is a little time on planet going to change that.

Particularly after the Shaman problem. ]

Yeah.. I went and got myself a little place of my own away from everyone else so I could make it easier on myself.. no regrets though..

[ A shrug. Had to do what you had to do, right? ]

Khalo's interesting, isn't it? I went once or twice and it's a bit of a trip.. Particularly smoking to get in.. [ And well.. Duo's never been one to turn down trying something even if it is a new kind of weed basically. ]

Better I guess. I like being out on my own and.. I got my Gundam back. So that's done a lot for feeling pretty damn secure in where I'm at right now.

[fisherwife]

That's true. [She glances upwards towards the sky and where the station is.] But while we'll be alright there, the people left behind down here...

[She trails off uncertainly. It'd be a good thing to at least save themselves, but she'd feel terrible for all the innocents left behind here.] When bad things happen, it seems those that suffer the most are those people who should be the last ones involved.

[It's curious though that Duo's gone and gotten his own place--she supposes everyone needs their own space, of course, but Duo always seemed like such a people person.]

Duo-- [Mipha pauses, unsure of how to word her question] Are you lonely?

[braidedwonder]

We can't possibly support all of them, Mipha. [ Was he tempering her expectations or just making sure that she knows? It's not entirely clear, but it seems like Duo wants to be very clear about that fact at least. After all, they couldn't be world saviors just yet.

Yet is what's highlighted in Duo's mind, though. At least for the moment.

But then she strikes him with asking if he's lonely, and Duo takes a moment to genuinely think on that. Is he lonely? He doesn't really think so. But then again he's so used to being alone, does he even really feel loneliness anymore? It seems foolish to ask but it's a very real question. ]

I'm used to being by myself, Mipha.. don't worry about me. [ A little smile. ] But I wouldn't complain if you came to visit sometime, you know.

[fisherwife]

I know. [Mipha sighs softly, half in resignation, half in defeat. There's far too many people on the surface, and despite how many people the station can hold, it obviously couldn't sustain the entire planet.]

There's a difference between being alone and being lonely. [She points it out gently, but smiles back as he continues.] I will. I'd really like to see your mobile suit in more detail--It's really quite different from Ruta.

[braidedwonder]

This isn't the first time I've heard people talking about saving the natives but it's just.. not possible. [ As much as Duo isn't of the opinion that they have to save the natives, he knows other people are. Provided that they all make it back to the station, though?

Duo is fine with how things are now. At least for the moment. Collateral damage was never the goal, but it was what it was at this point. ]

if you keep busy you don't have time to be lonely.

After we sort all this out come on over. We can eat and you can look over Scythe as much as you want.

[fisherwife]

[She probably shouldn't agree with something like that--that being busy makes you forget loneliness--but she sort of does. When you can't think of anything else, who has time to focus on what you lack?

Her tone gros slightly teasing] Will you take me on a ride in it too?

[braidedwonder]

Of course you can. Won't let ya touch the controls, though.. [ The last thing he needed was Mipha accidentally setting off a weapon and that going sideways thanks to a playful ride in Deathscythe. That's the last thing Duo wanted or needed considering the fire power built in to the mobile suit to begin with.

Who knew what Mipha was used to anyway. ]

I've been kinda trying to keep him on the low but.. it seems like no one around here really cares unlike at home, so.. [ Shrug. ]

Guess that's just my own hang up.

[fisherwife]

I can't fly him, even a little? [But she's joking; she doesn't expect Duo to let her actually touch anything. Likewise she doesn't think she'd let him touch anything on Ruta either, though that's less because of the difficulties and more because Ruta has a mind of its own and possibly wouldn't let him.]

Well, it's still best to be cautious. It's strange how easily the people seem to just accept what we bring to them, even if it's incredibly strange itself. But perhaps it's best to ust accept that it works in our favor.

[braidedwonder]

Hell no. [ Duo's conviction is serious but he's laughing anyways, happy that she at least feels comfortable enough to press knowing that he's going to say no. He trusts Mipha, but maybe not enough to allow her time in his gundam like that.

Deathscythe as it stood had too much power behind it to just so flippantly allow someone new to fly it..

Even if Mipha was smart and level headed. ]

I think the Natha has more to do with that than the people being accepting.. [ What? Just being honest, here. ]

Either way it helps us, now. So I guess we shouldn't complain for too long. Lest things get taken away like favorite toys and all.

[fisherwife]

[small>She laughs brightly at that, expecting that reaction entirely.]

That's probably true as well. The Natha seem to have levels of power far beyond the scope of our understanding. [Which is worrying in and of itself.] Playing god can have rather dire consequences in the end...

[braidedwonder]

Exactly. I worry that there is a very big and very meaningful reason that the natives aren't to know about the Natha and what they can do...

[ Particularly seeing as the people on planet have technology that's so damn rudimentary compared to what the Natha have on board their ship. Of course it makes sense some races would be a bit more advanced than others, but to sit and place people down on to their planet and all of that? Duo isn't sure how he feels about it. It's kind of..

Not up his alley, to place it gently. ]

Tryin' not to think about it too much, though. Not right now when we have so many bigger things to worry about.

[fisherwife]

[It's certainly Suspicious and Concerning, Mipha'll give him that.] A reason like what?

[She's curious if Duo has any theories.] But I suppose you're right, of course. Once the dragon is taken care of, we can theorize more about this, I'm sure.