Voice; UN: Oracle

[codeoracle]

[Oracle is on your airwaves, using a voice distortion to make a call on all imPorts.]

Seeing the posts here, we have all received some form of message. A cipher. I want to decode it. We need to.

What message have you received?

[OOC EDIT: Per the recent OOC Mod Post, and a response to my question to them on plurk, the thread that previously held the solution and discussion about it has been deleted. I apologize to those that had commented in these threads, but this post's aim is to begin the IC discussion process. I look forward to future posts that will reflect the solution in game!]

Comments

Re: Private 2/2

[hatestrashcans]

Well, you'd usually read it on the screen, I think. That's what I've been doing.

Are you looking for a particular book or what? Because if you know what you want, you should just be able to search it on LibGen. Which is this website that just has books for downloads. I've been working through all the sci-fi I missed, but there's actual useful books too.

If you're just browsing, the net is crap. In that case, LoC if you could get in.

Re: Private 2/2

[privatepurchases]

cute.

Do they make books on how to access the internet? Feel free to laugh, but remember. not human. Not used to this much access to information.

[Or you know. books. material objects.]

Re: Private 2/2

[hatestrashcans]


Wasn't being cute. It was an actual answer. We didn't have books online when I was from either, I had to learn that.

Yeah, the library would have those. Just the normal one in whichever town you're in. Those are common. I had to use a few when I just got here. We had computers, but none of the rest of it. No phones. No wifi. Our internet was only text and really really slow loading pictures.

I'm not going to laugh at you. Fuck knows I messed up the first time I tried to use Andalite computers.

[privatepurchases]

[Oh.]

The last time I was on earth for any length of time people used scrolls. Then we had to burn the library that held the best of them down.

[He'd ask but-well no.]

Andalite. A...not human thing from your world?

[hatestrashcans]

What did you burn it down for?

An Andalite is an alien. Sentient species from another planet. They're far ahead of us, technology wise, so I tend to sound and seem like a moron when I try to understand or use most of their stuff.

I also have a friend who's an Andalite that we had to teach a lot of human things too. So no reason to make fun of you for that.

Other things, sure, but not that. :P

[privatepurchases]

Information is a commodity. I was told to arrange to nudge people to do it to prevent the spread of it and I obeyed.

However...recent events have left me wondering if that was the correct decision. A lot of information was lost and it may have hurt people. It was never as great again as it had been.

It's inconsequential.

What does this mean? :p

[hatestrashcans]


It depends. What information were you trying to prevent spreading and for what purpose? All decisions have positive and negative repercussions. Which are which and whether the positive outweighs the negative depend on the point of view.

':p' is an emoticon that's meant to convey playfulness or teasing. It means I'm joking around.

[privatepurchases]

Oh.

[brain. fizzing.]

...What has me worried is I don't honestly remember. You don't think about those sorts of things but it must have been important. There comes a point where you just obey and trust in Her will.

It was a military operation in it's own way. I'm a military commander, one of them. We got our orders from the general.

I would do it again. I just find myself wanting to remember what we were specifically attempting to stop. Or rather what Caesar ended up stopping when he burned parts of it down. Perhaps we could have done things better or perhaps it wouldn't have needed to be destroyed at all.

[hatestrashcans]

That's concerning on its own. That you don't remember it, I mean. Because it means there's a reason you don't remember it. But you're an obedient guy. So why erase your memory of it unless you wouldn't approve? And if you approve of anything that follows Her will, then why wouldn't you approve? It doesn't make any sense.

If you were human I'd be asking how much you trust your general.

It's understandable knowledge to want from a tactical point of view. Not just to know how you could have done better, but so that if a similar situation comes up in the future you know how to respond to it (or how not to respond).

That's my read on it, anyway.

[privatepurchases]

I'm sure it's not malicious. I'm 6000 years old. I've forgotten more then I can comprehend I think. Some of it I've wanted to forget. Somehow that stays.

What concerns me is that I let myself forget. I'm-

I'm done pretending to be something I'm not. I'm a soldier, which is fine. But I want to be a good one and understand why I'm doing what I'm doing.

[This kid gets it.]

I appreciate the reading. And the advice. I will consult Aziraphale and Crowley on it as well.

[hatestrashcans]

Maybe. I don't know how your memories work.

It's understandable. Also a good idea; even if nothing malicious is going on, understanding why you're doing what you're doing will help you make the proper decisions if you're cut off from your command for any reason.

[ Like, say, being here. ]

Probably a good plan: They know more about your situation than I do.

And yeah, no problem.

[privatepurchases]

[Something about how this kid is behaving feels wrong. He doesn't like that. It's easier to obey but if he wants to be a good leader then he should care about people right? Even if this kid is a little shit?

He glares at the phone.]

They know more about all our situations. That's why this is ridiculous.

Whatever it is. I recommend you do the same. I suspected this might be an imPORT but if this was sent to all of us - it's them. The locals.

[hatestrashcans]


Everything about this entire situation is ridiculous.

I wouldn't assume it's the locals. There's always the option of it being a third-party. Like that OTO group or something.

Or something new entirely.

[privatepurchases]

OTO?

[hatestrashcans]

I guess there's an organization here that really doesn't like imPorts and has tried to mess with things before. I don't know that much, honestly. I haven't been here long enough. But it's a possibility.

[privatepurchases]

Any information is helpful. Thank you.

Rest assured. No matter what happens, if this turns out to be something negative it'll be better to have considered all options before forming a strategy of engagement.

This is what I do. Marco. Things like this. Once the wars were over and you move into management. Take my advice. Never move into management.

[hatestrashcans]


I agree.

Too late for that, I'm afraid. But it's worth it, as long as Jake doesn't have to do it.

[privatepurchases]

...Jake is your commander?

[hatestrashcans]

He was our leader, yes.

He's also my best friend. And he's done enough and has earned the right to be left alone.

[privatepurchases]

Is it because you care about him?

[He really wants to know because honestly God would fall into that category. She deserves her peace, she made him and everyone else but he is so angry that she left-

Staring at his phone he frowns.]

He saved your life? Helped you make plans? You love him?

[hatestrashcans]

Yes.

We saved each other's lives. Yes.


[ He pauses before answering the last question, but...]

Yes. All I want is for him to be alright.

[privatepurchases]

...If he's your commander he led you into all the terrible things you did. Why would you still care.

He knew things you didn't. You've made calls boy and I respect you for it, I just don't-

Understand.

[His head hurts]

You chose to do all the things you described to me when you first met? For him and the greater good?

[hatestrashcans]


He led us because we needed somebody to lead. We put that on him. Every single decision he's made weighs on him every minute of every day and it's eating him from the inside out.

Jake didn't know any more. Or at least not much. He just ended up making the call. Because somebody had to.

I did. Honestly, most of the things I did, I did for Jake more than the greater good, but don't get me wrong I'm a huge fan of not being enslaved.

I've known Jake since we were both babies. He's stuck with me my whole life. Like hell am I abandoning him after everything he's been through.

[privatepurchases]

I don't understand.

[He pauses]

No. I I think I might. Maybe. I'm not sure. I have only a very small frame of reference for this. Please bear with me. I need to understand this. Please.

You were friends. You have known each other for years, and in a moment where he needed you you were there...and he was there for you. Right?

Have you ever thought he made a mistake?

[hatestrashcans]

[ Okay, Marco's starting to think he broke the angel. Which is amusing and concerning all at the same time. ]

Yes. We've always been there for each other. Even when things were terrible. Which was quite a lot of the time.

Of course Jake's made mistakes. Hell, half of my job was pointing out mistakes before they got worse.

[ What a weird question, Gaby.]