synflux | [ OPEN ] here comes the boooooooy

[ There sure are a lot of handsome men around here, aren't there? Because this indigo-haired man with equally piercing eyes is just as handsome, and just as blunt. He frowns at the direct address. ]

Is it not common courtesy to introduce yourself first on your planet?

Hah? [ Yzak tips his head at this (fellow beautiful wow they should all form a club) guy, notes his tone ... and then gives him a quick little shrug of one of his shoulders. ]

I don't care what order people go in! I'm just making sure I become acquainted with everybody as swiftly as possible.

[ At that, though, since he doesn't actually give much of a shit about order of things here (at least he's honest and straightforward about it), his already straight and proper posture seems to tighten up even more and he tips his chin up when he speaks again, proud. ]

Lieutenant Colonel Yzak Jule. [ Emphasis on that title, because wow he's soooooo cool. ]

[ What's with the tone of voice this boy is taking with him? Just based on this short interaction, he can surmise that this Yzak is a bit of a hot head. Well, he's not impressed. Nor is he impressed with Yzak's title, clearly indicated by the expression on his face. ]

Dr. Ratio. Scholar and educator. A pleasure, colonel.

[ Was that just a bit of sarcasm behind that word? Nah, you must be hearing things. ]

Is that all? If so, leave me be.

[ As a fellow face-maker, he sees and understands the look he gets too clearly. So there's a small pinch of his brow as the edge of his mouth twitches downward. He doesn't think this guy is very impressive either!

... he's grateful that he at least introduced himself in turn, though.

Despite the shift in his expression, he continues. ]

No, that not all.

I want to ask where you're from, too. They've taken us here, to planet Earth in a year that isn't aligned to the history I know of it. And some that I've met here already ... they don't come from anywhere near Earth at all, or even know what it is.

[ It's obvious from how he words that, that these are concepts somewhat fantastical to him. But there's also an edge of a awed curiosity to his tone. ]

[ Just wait till he hears the list of accomplishments under Ratio's belt.

A surprisingly civil response. He'd half expected the boy to explode in a rage after Ratio flippantly dismissed him. First impressions are not always correct, and he is glad to have it disproven. ]

I would be among the latter count. Earth is not one of the numerous inhabited planets that I know of.

[ And he knows a lot. A least a few dozen star systems, and hundreds of planets. Yzak, the man you are speaking to is an interstellar traveler. ]

At this point I must surmise that it is not connected to the star rail network, and potentially out of the IPC's sphere of influence.

[ Thankfully the absolute dick of a gremlin that Yzak started out as - and, embarrassingly for him, remained as for a nice chunk of time - got enough wake-up calls of hey, maybe you suck and should do these things known as learn and grow and reeled it back from exploding and yelling over every little thing.

...... he still yells a lot, so you win some you lose some.

Raito's elaboration piles more questions onto Yzak's mind. ]

The star rail network... [ Sounds self explanatory ... space trains? That part seems odd to him. ] Intergalactic travel, then? And would that make this 'IPC' some sort of widespread governmental organization?

[ Don't think too hard about it Yzak. It's totally just because space trains are cool. Most people use spaceships to travel anyway. ]

The Interastral Peace Corporation, an organization dedicated to serving Qlipoth the Preservation. It is not governmental by nature, but its influence is so widespread that it is essentially the arbiter of interstellar commerce and law.

[ Thinking hard is what Yzak does best.

(which is why his best friends constantly notes that his head seems on the verge of exploding) ]

An arbiter, huh. [ Sounds familiar enough to him, and space travel for his world is still confined to their own galaxy, much less something so much more ... vast.

...

It's a little overwhelming to consider, honestly. Especially since Yzak's come here just after a huge mess back home. It's so hard to keep things steady without fighting and infighting breaking out and trying to blow each other to dust in their little pocket around Earth. ]

Peace Corporation. Is peace something that's maintained with relative stability?

[ Ratio scoffs quietly when Yzak chooses to focus on that. ]

Do not be fooled by the name. It is not a peacekeeping organization by any means. They merely seek profit, even if they claim that it is to stockpile resources for their Aeon.
Idiots, the lot of them. Qlipoth has never given their materials a single glance in all the Amber Eras the corporation has existed.

[ He has never held his tongue even when he was still at home, under the IPC's sphere of influence, so the disdain flows out of him like water. ]

But to answer your question: the universe is far too vast for peace to be maintained throughout. But planets under the IPC's control are usually stable and free of conflict.

A planet can be too vast for peace to be maintained. From my experience, anyway. [ Said with all of the Very Done exasperation that he can manage.

But organizations more about profits ... the planets in their net of control being deemed safe enough... Yzak idly wonders if that's so easily the case if a planet somehow comes to cease serving those profits. Experience has also made him a bit jaded there due to what he just left behind in coming here.

Still... it might have been nice to hear peace was attained somewhere else in some other form. ]

That being said, I don't think I understand half of those terms you just used. Aeon? Qlipoth, Amber Era?

Well, I assume that last thing could be what you call your calendar.

[ The truth, of course, is uglier than Ratio has stated. But he senses the young man before him already understands this, and thus feels no need to elaborate. It did not seem like that was what he was seeking for in Ratio's words anyway. ]

Aeons are ascended, higher-dimensional beings that preside over the universe. You may liken Them to gods if that is more familiar to you, but They do not respond to human prayer. They care for little else but the Path They walk upon. Qlipoth is one such Aeon—the Aeon of Preservation.

That is correct. The Amber Era is the most prevalent calendar used across the cosmos, as it was created and promoted by the IPC.

That's making a lot more sense now. [ Especially regarding the raking in profits under the guise of serving some higher power. Even so far out in the distant reaches of the universe, things like that stay the same.

His gaze is downcast, clearly turning all of that over in his mind. But then as if he realizes he's let himself stray slightly, he perks back up to look at Raito again. ]

You said you specialize in education. What kind? Is it your primary focus here on this mission?

My primary focus is much the same as anyone who has been summoned here by LILITH—to aid them against the kaiju crisis. However, it seems they have opted to ignore my talents and relegate me to the same work as everyone else. A foolish decision on their part.

[ He shakes his head with a sigh of exasperation. Truly, was the point of him being here if they just needed muscles, not brains? ]

I am a university professor, and primarily teach advanced classes in several disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, medicine, engineering, computer science, philosophy and natural theology.

[ Yzak nods along as he lists those off. He's impressed, if only because these sort of accomplishments are easy for a Coordinator to rack up, and this guy doesn't seem like one...

But he narrows his eyes slightly, commenting on the first thing, before anything else. ]

The same work ... you mean expecting you to fight even when combat isn't where your talents are?

Correct. I am not incapable of combat, but it is certainly not a subject I specialize in.

—that's dangerous and stupid to do!

[ The response is short and sharp - not toward Ratio, of course, but rather toward confirmation of that information. ]

Even if you are capable of fighting if needed, nobody with a lack of combat experience or lack of preference to do it should be out on the front lines! That's a perfect recipe for disaster! What are the people here in LILITH thinking?! Are they even thinking at all?

Edited (im editing this 2 days later because if i keep goblinfingers misspelling his name like I KEEP DOING im going to MCFUCKIN LOSE IT) 2024-05-31 16:09 (UTC)

My sentiment exactly. It is inefficient allocation of my talents, and quite frankly, I am disappointed with them.

Nevertheless, this is the task I have been assigned, and they have not been swayed by my arguments. At the very least, I will gain first-hand experience of the crisis plaguing this planet. That, too, is valuable information.

Well ... so long as you make sure you remember when we're actually out on the frontlines!

The battlefield is crazy enough. I don't want my attention split between what I need to be doing and looking out for those who shouldn't be out there nor want to be. That would just put us both, and thus all of us, in more danger.

[ He lets out a small, frustrated noise, running his hand through his hair. ] What a great situation this is sounds like it's going to be...

[ He's a little annoyed to be treated like a liability, but he's well aware of his own capabilities. To a more skilled combatant, he would indeed be a concern. ]

You do not need to concern yourself with me. I am more than capable of keeping myself out of harm's way. I am not foolish enough to place myself in a position that will compromise your ability to fight.

Good. It'd be nice to feel like we have a little cohesion, since right now it sounds like run-ins with kaiju have been messy in that regard.

Messy ... but at least successful. [ Said with less edge than he was just using acting like mister big commander 'we need more organization and less people who aren't actual fighters being shoved out there' man. But that notion in him is exactly because of how much he's seen go to shit before and how easy someone can lose a life out there. ] I'm glad for that much, for everyone.

If you are so concerned, perhaps you ought to host combat practice of some sort to familiarize yourself with the capabilities of the individuals on base. That will be valuable information for all of us.

[ He's not being sarcastic when he says this. It is a genuine suggestion, because he wants to know too. He is however, very unfamiliar with what is necessary for such practice. ]

I think I will. There should be enough time before our next mission - and if there isn't, I'll make what I have work.

Of course, before I do that, I need to ensure I'm properly adjusted to the changes my weapon went through when it was brought here along with me.

Thing's well over half the size it's supposed to be, so it's entire interior and means of operation are changed completely.

[ Oh? Now this piques his interest. Half its size, and mention of an interior... ]

That is an interesting way to describe a weapon. Are you a pilot of some sort?

I am. I pilot a weapon known as a mobile suit - bipedal machines that are usually around twenty meters, give or take.

My unit here is about... [ He scowls. ] Three.

And it's not unique to just mine. The same thing happened to my partner's.

[ Oh? Oh oh??? There's a look of interest on Ratio's face now, and the hint of a smile as the topic turns to something more pleasant. ]

Curious. Why would LILITH go through the trouble of modifying your weapons if what they wanted was your combat prowess? Ah, but there's nothing to be gained speculating on such idiotic decisions, I'm sure if they haven't already enlightened you as to why, they do not intend to ever inform you.

Your mobile suit sounds similar to a weapon that I once designed in my leisure time, as a stimulating exercise for the mind after months of enduring dreary engineering projects. Tell me, is it capable of transforming into any other form?

(no subject)

coordination - 2024-06-16 17:12 (UTC) - Expand