driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Zoe Hange
Broadcast: Yes, fleetwide video
Action: If you're on the Red Fish
When: 2/16 early afternoon

[Tap-tap-tappity goes Hange's finger on the mic, and the speakers pop-pop-pop in response. There's a moment's pause, and then Hange flicks the setting from audio to video and grins at the camera.]

Good afternoon, everyone! New arrivals and parties being planned, I see everyone's keeping busy. Good, good! The fastest way to get bored is to give yourself nothing to do!

Speaking of that - I've been working on a little something I'd like to rope the whole fleet into, if ships are willing! It'd be to the benefit of all of us, hopefully, and I think it would boost morale around here too. We aren't meant to be crammed in these cans with no sky and no trees around. So!

[Up pop some drawings, in front of the screen. It looks like a vertical setup of... troughs? Deep troughs with some other stuff thrown in there. Hange's voice continues cheerfully from behind her papers.]

What I'd like to do is get us microfarming! I took as many samples as I could from that forest, so we have some stock to start with. I'm looking especially at producing edible plants and those with medicinal purposes! Vertical arrangement would be more space-efficient then horizontal. I'm hoping to start things off on the Red Fish, and if we see success, build similar setups in the ships of those who are interested! One of our young engineers seems confident he can set us up with growlights, so that'd mitigate the lack of sunlight we see on these ships. And I know we have some people around who are excellent at working with plants!

[She drops the papers, grins sunnily at the camera again.]

Of course, they'd require tending to. That's why I'm broaching the idea to everyone!

[Kaneis]

Say! Introduce me to your botanically-inclined crewmate!

[Hiro]

You're still on board for this, right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, you can always rope in help from the outside. I know of at least two people who work well with plants, at this point.

Well, one of them I haven't seen in action, but we'll see how she does?

Ah, I know someone as well. [that would be perfect for her...] Though I'm almost more interested in the growlights, myself. My hometown doesn't get a lot of sunlight, so I often find myself thinking about the negative effects of extended space travel under artificial lighting...

Who are you thinking? Maybe we know the same person. [how many plant specialists can there be around here?]

Anyhow, I haven't thought much about the lighting question... We don't even have electricity at home. It's not a problem for us. Now that you bring it up, I wonder if it wouldn't help morale to have more sunshiney things around too. I think good light and some greenery around will be good for most of us. Talk to Hiro about the lights.

Our darling Emblica. She seems to have an affinity.

[if she can grow potatoes, she can grow... probably most things.]

I will, thank you. He's the little guy, isn't he?

Oh! [Hange's tone changes yet again. Cheerful!] of course I know Emblica! She's certainly bright, she helped me collect some of these samples in the first place. I don't want to rely only on her, but of course I want her help. Anyway, Hiro is a little guy, yes. He's Asian, he sure seems energetic so far.

Edited 2015-02-21 07:40 (UTC)

I'll ask if she's interested. We've been looking for an excuse for her to visit more often anyway.

[nodding, nodding...] All right. I'm interested to see how this little project works out. You're not nervous keeping samples from the forest of illusions?

Well, that's why we'll start it out only on the Red Fish, I figure! If they start projecting nightmares for everyone to enjoy, we'll clear them out or work things out somehow. I'd be fascinated to study that phenomenon more, to be honest! I'm wondering if all the points of connection in the original giant forest contributed to something like a rudimentary brain structure, if you get my drift. You know how part of the amazingness of the human brain is its plasticity, its ability to learn and form new connections! I'm wondering if there weren't so many plants there, interacting with each other and their environment, could it have formed something similar? It sounds far-fetched but it would be so fascinating! Imagine a brain the size of a forest, in a forest that covered a planet. I could see it carrying through with some incredible things!

...Well, if those "incredible things" start taking over your ship and slowly drive your crew insane, please do leave copious notes for the rest of us. [he laughs.] Otherwise, I'm interested in seeing if they'll even grow.

Haha! Maybe Emblica or one of the others I'm talking to can work it out to make them more friendly if they start it up!

[Life on the Red Fish, here.]

Ah, Hange... First known befriender of the tree people...

... I would love that...

And so would your audience, I am sure.

Good luck gardening, Captain. Keep us posted.