Captain's Log 03 - Landing Party

[universal_charm]

Who: Jim Kirk & Anyone Who Wants to Come On an Expedition
Broadcast:No
Action: Yes - On the moon, in the Terraformers
When: Sometime this week

Tests have been run, data has been gathered, packaged, looked over, highlighted with all sorts of colored sharpies. There is only so much the data can prove. What's needed now is an actual investigation, getting the final clue to a puzzle that, Kirk thought, they were running very short of time on.

Which was how he ended up down on the surface of the toxic moon, in front of the nearest terraformer.

Time to go find some answers.

<sub>[ ooc: Since I didn't want to flood the comm, it can be assumed that Kirk announced he would be going to explore the terraformers and asked if anyone wanted to come and form an expedition party. So, if you want to come, feel free to jump in.

Also feel free to start your own side threads. I will put up some sections, but feel free to start your own as the group explores. The ultimate goal is just to gather information (but this is a Jim Kirk Expedition (TM), so something may very well go wrong!), so have fun!)

If you need help starting things or want a refresher, here is the original mod post. ]</sub>

Comments

[tallasaking]

"Ye-es, let us not damage the already malfunctioning equipment, shall we?" Tyrion stated dryly, as he peered ahead of them in the fog. "We are meant to help with the problem, not increase it ten-fold."

[universal_charm]

"That is, of course, assuming that destroying the thing isn't the answer in the first place," he mused softly, not wanting to alarm their guide. He wouldn't do it, of course. That would be for the locals to decide. Though that might chance, depending on what they found... well, it would be something to discuss, at least.

"But for now - less damage equals better. Plus, we don't want the corporations who sponsored the thing to come after us for damages."

[tallasaking]

"Well if that's the case - we can tell them quite wisely -- destroy the damned thing. Once we take a look at it." He arched an eyebrow at the guide, keeping his own voice low. "Observe, then move on."

Although he did rather just want to take the damned thing apart. "Precisely. I can't imagine how much it would take to foot the damned bill on this monstrosity."

[universal_charm]

"Billions," Kirk said easily. It was how much his own ship cost, in terms of head to foot building, and was why the Fleet had a limited number of ships. It had spent a large fortune rebuilding the ships that Nero had destroyed, and he didn't like to think how much more on the Vengeance, which he had help destroy.

"Which makes it stranger that they would just be... abandoned, especially more than one."

[tallasaking]

"...Is that an actual number?" Billions did not seem like it would actually exist. In fact, it sounded like something a mad person would make up.

At any rate -- this wasn't the point. "... so perhaps, we are looking at something that is larger than that."

[universal_charm]

"Oh yes," he nodded. "So is trillions, but that's usually only something a nation or planet can reach." And had before.

"Quite likely," he said slowly, though Obi's words kept coming back to him. "I had received information, though, that the companies that sponsored this enterprise have more or less abandoned it, possibly even sabotaged it, but that last one we have no real proof for." And he didn't like thinking that anyone could do such a thing - damn these people, this moon, to this existence.

[tallasaking]

"Curious. Where I come from, thousands is seen as high as one could possibly go." Millions seemed far beyond his reach. Billions still sound like something a child would make up.

Tyrion pressed his lips together as he thought of it, "So if this company sabotaged it -- what would be the purpose? Trade agreement gone awry?"

[universal_charm]

"Inflation," he explained. "The rising cost of things. Spending on gigantic scales - once upon a time for wars, and then for taking care of the people. Something like this - it would take a massive amount of man hours to accomplish, not only in building, but the engineering. It would take years to make this, most likely - and between the cost of parts and human labor... yeah, billions."

He shrugged, pursing his lips behind his mask.

"It's hard to say without really understanding where these people came from and the people who built this. But - most likely? A profit of some sort, if it is a company."

[tallasaking]

Tyrion took a moment to take out his pen and write down everything that James was saying - mostly because this talk of inflation meant he had best start raising his prices for advice on the next planet they went to.

He hummed quietly, before arching an eyebrow at Jim. "A company like - say Atroma?"

[universal_charm]

"If Atroma is a company," he shrugged. "And it well could be. But the truth is there simply isn't enough information to make that kind of conclusion."

[tallasaking]

"... are we thinking the Atroma could be something else? A corrupt government, perhaps? Scientific experiments?" Tyrion smirked faintly, before he shook his head. "Should I be more perturbed that I find none of that perturbing?"

[universal_charm]

"It could be a computer program, for all I honestly know," Kirk huffed. "It could be so many things, it's boggling to my mind, so at this point I would rather not speculate on it. So now, I wouldn't say it's perturbing at all - it's just the reality of things."

[tallasaking]

"Jim, I wish to tell you that I am greatly disturbed by what you consider 'reality'." Tyrion stated simply.

[universal_charm]

He laughed quietly. "Do you? Our current situation is the reality of things, isn't it?"

[tallasaking]

"A fair point that I shall concede to. Do you agree that I should be any less perturbed?" He answered dryly.

[universal_charm]

"Haha, no, be as perturbed as you want," he waved his hand. "I'm just tired of wasting the energy on that feeling."

[tallasaking]

"You really are some sort of hero, aren't you?" Only heroes could so easily push off being perturbed.

[universal_charm]

"No, not a hero. I just... think it's worth focusing on other things," he shrugged. "Like helping these people right now. It's not that I don't want to find out who or what Atroma actually is and find the way to go home, but that's a much bigger issue that I don't think will be solved quite so quickly."

[tallasaking]

"Whereas I cannot help but consider the larger picture constantly -- but this is your mission, so let us focus on what we can do now."

[universal_charm]

He nodded. "It's not bad to consider the big picture, and we must keep it in our minds. But we shouldn't let the big picture obscure the little pieces that make it up." He gave him a thumbs up since his mask hid his smile.

[tallasaking]

Behind his mask, Tyrion let out a chortle, "Spoke like a true leader of men - no, I do not mean it disparagingly, despite my tone. We need more people like you."

[universal_charm]

"Well, if we ever end up at your planet, I'll be sure to have an inspiring speech ready."

[tallasaking]

"If you ever come to my planet, you'll have to beat the women off first with a stick."

[universal_charm]

"Because of the blonde hair, the blue eyes, or the freckles?"

[tallasaking]

"If I wave at all of you, does that mean yes?"