driftfleet | scrambling in the aftermath [video]

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scrambling in the aftermath [video]

Who: Billy Cranston
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Red Fish
When: one evening, right now

[It's been fairly quiet on the Red Fish this month, at least with what little time he's spent on it. He's finally started to pad his bank account with all those races and shifts at the garage, but the recent events he'd been on the periphery of? He's now a little worried about their situation.

And a recent conversation with a friend has brought something to mind.]

Hey everyone,

I understand if this is too personal of a question to answer a stranger, but when applying for augment upgrades, what do you tend to focus on? I was initially thinking about improving my station, but knowing what could be out there...improving our self-defense abilities might be the wiser option. We're sitting ducks regardless, but maybe we could use sharper beaks?

Perhaps coordinating with the rest of the ship is the best course, but things change so quickly. I'm worried.

[No more stretching metaphors for Billy. He just smiles and turns back to his work, and passengers of the Red Fish will find him twisting bolts a little more aggressively than usual.]

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[Oh right, those upgrade things. Seymour takes a good moment to ponder this before responding.]

I've been thinking of giving myself upgrades, actually. I'm not sure how much our ships needs but I'm pretty useless right now if we had to fight off someone. I don't want to just die if someone attacks us out of the blue.

Although I'm worried if giving myself upgrades would give me other side effects besides... you know...

[He's still really embarrassed about his singing, okay?]

[He thinks about that for a moment. It's a valid concern.]

I'm sure the others would know, but I don't see how combat ability would relate to singing. Unless it was the gift of musical spells?

[He really doesn't like saying those words. It's so...unscientific, yet it's his reality. He knows Rita and Zedd could do something like that, if they were here, and he wouldn't put it past the Atroma either.]

What were you thinking about taking?

I think I might be paranoid, but I'm mostly worried that something new and bad will happen to me if I try to get an upgrade.

[He looks thoughtful.]

Maybe that Life Rank? Or maybe a rank where I can help fight if it came down to it.

Hmm...I can see the point in enhancing your specialty. That's why I'm trying to upgrade my engineering space.

[He nodded slowly]

Maybe...or in the meantime, I can help you. I recently learned how to fight back home, and it doesn't take that long to gain basic competence in escaping a bad situation---even if you think you're too clumsy to ever succeed. I thought I was.

My only problem is that it doesn't seem very useful for the first upgrade. I can already tend to plants pretty well...

[He thinks about this.]

I guess I wouldn't mind learning how to escape a fight, at least. I feel like I'd be better... not having to actually fight people.

[For multiple reasons.]

I can definitely help with that. That was all I did for a while...

[A while before...oops. He's said too much. He blushes and ducks his head.]

I came from a rough part of town.

[He perks up a tiny bit.]

You too? It looks like you came out it better than I did, at least.

[Gosh hopefully you're telling the truth about this, Billy.]

[He just smiles.]

My situation was...ah, let's just say unique. But we have chances to learn and explore, I'm sure it'll get better for you!

It can't be any worse than home...

But I gotta say, as terrifying as the thought of fighting aliens, I'm actually really enjoying exploring the new planets. The fact that these aliens aren't paying me too badly isn't hurting either. As it turns out, apparently my singing is appealing to some of these guys. Maybe I could at least buy a weapon of some kind on the next planet we go to.

Admittedly, as someone who was here during the last attack on the fleet, improved self-defense probably wouldn't hurt. Ship defenses too. Luckily, Twin Roses seems to have some pretty competent fighters on board.

I can fight pretty well though, so I've gotten an augment upgrade for a skill I could never learn and I helped get a ship upgrade before the fusion.

Yeah, you're right. I've been working on upgrading the ship first, for all of us, but when I have time for personal skills I might look at the more unusual abilities. How do you like them?

The upgrade I got, it's only mildly useful. The first life augment, it makes plants grow better. I thought it would help if I found some good ingredients for potions. The ship, I think I helped pay off a bunk upgrade but it's been awhile.

It was well before the attack though, I didn't even realize that was a risk. And with the firepower Atroma has... [It shouldn't have been.]

[Billy exhaled quietly. It was a good plan, but...]

I have a friend here who's a plant expert too. I never realized just how useful they could be. Did you find anything on the planet?

I wouldn't call myself an expert. And unfortunately, I didn't recognize enough about the plants I saw to risk using them.

No, that's the one thing I couldn't find there: a library with a database, it would've been perfect.

I'll have to seek that out first thing on the next planet.

That's not a bad idea, here's hoping they have some useful ones. If you beat everyone to them, I'm sure a lot of people would appreciate if you shared them contents with the fleet.

Don't worry, I definitely will.

I definitely appreciate that. And I'll share whatever I find too.

I don't.

When applying for augment upgrades I think, hmm, do I want to be complicit in their control over me? Nah. And then I don't.

[But she is trying to pay her way into engineering from pilot now so she's also a bit of a hypocrite. Maybe she'll change her mind before the second payment goes through, but right now it feels like the best way to continue Winn's work with him gone.]

...that's fair. It's unnerving, everything that's been done to us, and if we can fight it, why not?

Fighting sounds really good. About the best I can muster is some passive resistance and it's not nearly as satisfying.

Is there anyone here who teaches courses?

I'd offer, but I'm barely out of the beginning stages myself.

I'm going to be teaching self defense with the school, but if you mean classes in passive resistance I doubt it.

Right, self defense is what I'm more familiar with. I wouldn't mind attending.

In that case you're welcome to attend. And I understand if you want to kiss up by offering me gifts. [Kidding. But she's not turning gifts down either.]

I haven't really made any moves to improve either the ship I reside on through augments or myself. I don't know what repercussions could come from them and I would like to have all of the information available before I make massive decisions.

[That is to say that he's still weighing the pros and cons.]

However you wish to proceed, that is something that only you can decide.

That's true, it's a risk. But I haven't heard too many negative outcomes, and it's the easiest path to improving our standing.

But it could be a well-laid trap.

[Ugh, he hadn't thought of that, and now he'll worry.]

It's true that I myself haven't heard anything negative truly, but the fact that we have these implants in the first place don't speak well for our captors at all.

I believe that there is some other purpose to them. I know that some people's powers have been modified or lessened by them. I can only imagine what else they are capable of doing.

Amplifying, altering...

[He sighs.]

Mind control. The one thing I definitely don't need to face.

[Ignis nods somberly. It's a thought that he's had more than once, considering what he's heard from Prompto and Noctis regarding a confrontation they had that was orchestrated by Ardyn Izunia.]

Yes, that's a logical thought in regard to these implants. I haven't heard anyone say that they've experienced it before now, but I doubt very much that it's out of the realm of possibility considering the Atroma's actions before now.

No, and that's what worries me most. The unstoppable altering of our brains. It's terrifying when you think about it too closely.

Yes, and I'm sure that you and I are not the only people to have these thoughts. There are many people who have been here for a while and have lots of experience with the Atroma and whatever they've been doing to their captives. They appear to be relatively in charge of their own faculties, but how can we tell?

We'd have to have known them beforehand, to be able to compare to behavior after. And that's the problem.

[He exhales, frustrated.]

I'm keeping some notes in the hopes I notice something.

That's true. I am fortunate that I have a few people from my own world that are here for me to observe and vice versa.

[He knows that it's both good and bad in a way.]

But keeping your own observations about yourself and those around you is a good idea for anyone and everyone.

Coordinating with other crew actually seems like a pretty good idea, to be honest.

I'm going to try it from here on out. If we pool, we can expand our resources sooner. And that feels urgent.

[Keith nodded.]

I agree. I'm looking at some of it, and yeah. I get it. Like we were talking about at the party, the flash gets ratings, but I really do feel like we need something useful, too.

[He considered it.]

I'm not sure about upgrading the augment. That bothers me a little? But, if it means getting a better station and better ship capabilities, it might be worth the risk.

Have you talked to anyone who's tried upgrading their augments before?

No, but I suppose I'm going to find out firsthand. If I lose myself, well...the crew is capable enough of incapacitating me.

[Keith visibly flinched.]

Are you sure about that? Taking that kind of risk?

It wouldn't be the first time...and sometimes, you need to reach out and grab knowledge.

Yeah. I can see that. [Keith kind of admired Billy for taking the risk, he supposed, but also, Billy had been around the Fleet for a bit longer than Keith. He'd probably get to that point himself, eventually.] Let me know how it goes.

I will. Take care.

Defence does seem a good option, since we are like sitting ducks out here. I was thinking of upgrading my augment but I'm not sure what yet.

[Something to make him stronger of course.]

As for the ship, I'd be behind you on that one. If only I could bring my Magitek from back home to bolster this tin can, then it would be truly unstoppable.

Billy nodded along. "Once this engineering room's upgraded, I'll be able to build better defenses. I'll see what else is on offer, and maybe we can get the others to pool with us?"

That sounds a grand idea. If we can gather our shipmates to lend a few of their precious coins to appease the Atroma, then we can have our ship upgraded.

[A wise choice, young Billy. Ardyn is pleased with your sense of reason.]

If we are due an attack by mysterious alien influence, then we won't be the ones who will be boarded and zapped into atoms.

[He has a very vivid imagination.]

[He laughs lightly]

I do hope that's very unlikely. But I want to prepare us. And perhaps see if there are other upgrade options they haven't offered.

Preparation is key, my boy. If we were attacked then we need to have a batter plan in place for when such a day arrives.

[As in if or when Ardyn takes the Red Fish into battle.]

Definitely. I'd start on external repairs myself, but we'd either need to park on a planet or I'd have to suit up. Both look difficult.

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scrambling in the aftermath [video]

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