[open to all]

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

Greetings, crew.

In case you haven't had the chance to meet me upon my arrival, my name is Commander Rahk of the Lensmen. I would like to announce a few things while I'm here.

First, I'd like to note that I've been going over a list of your supplies and armory, and I intend on making sure you get better supplies. As it stands now, I don't think your current arsenal will be sufficient to effectively take on the Ohm. However, I've checked with Stacy, and it looks like this ship does have a GIA armory with better equipment, but it's currently on lockdown for some reason. I'll look into getting security codes to get that open for you. I also intend on running a practice session with the new weaponry in the sensoriums so you can get used to them before you actually get your hands on them. I've asked Stacy to make available a list of the equipment, which you can access here if you'd like to take a look.

Second, I'd like to note that my one recruit, Revus, will be working on trying to fix your malfunctioning ship AI. To those of you who are already working on that, I'd like your cooperation with him, however grating he may seem at times. He's good at what he does, so I expect you'll at least come to appreciate what he can do, if not the man himself.

Finally, I'd like to announce that your captain and I have come to an arrangement. I have some pull with both GIA and Daligig High Command, so I've told your captain that I will do my best to get what security codes for Stacy that I can. However, in exchange, I would like to test your ability to fight the Ohm. So, in a few days time, I will be holding a simulation in the sensoriums in which you will face the Ohm. You'll have access to the equipment I noted in the first part of my announcement for this simulation, along with any you wish to use that you already have. If I send my evaluation along with the request for the security codes, High Command will likely concede them.

That's all. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Comments

[for-magic.livejournal.com]

Forgive the impertinence and rudeness of this question; I ask it because I have taken on the role of 'suspicious person' of the ship, which I may safely do because it isn't as if anyone will think less of me for doing so.

That being said, I appreciate the magnitude of threat the Ohm present and the understandable desire to fight them, but my extensive experience is that beings with power adequate enough to trivialize the contributions of the majority of this ship's people rarely offer their assistance to empower said trivial beings without ulterior motives, often malicious.

What are your intentions?

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

I want to help you. Well, specifically, I want to get you to the point where you can help us.

We may be powerful, but there aren't that many of us. The fact that there were even three of us in the same place is a rare event, and only happened now because those two are new recruits who still need training.

We can't be everywhere, so we need help. The Daligig seem to think that you're the ones to give it, and in my experience they tend to know what they're doing.

So, I'm going to give you guys a fighting chance. No ulterior motives.

[capture-worlds.livejournal.com]

Indulge me for a bit, my good commander: How do you know the computer hasn't already altered its command codes?

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

Well, having the security codes and finding out they don't work is better than not having anything. At the very least it would let us know that we'd have to expedite trying to get some sort of technical team out here.

[metalwebhead.livejournal.com]

Uh, question from the guy who's still picking Tank guts out of his costume: that super special plantsuit thing? It's not gonna suddenly want to fully take over, feed and dispose of us when its done, is it?

Because I've had very bad experiences with those kinds of things.

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

...What?

No, no. Those aren't anything like that. They're non-motive on their own, they only react to your own neurological signals. Besides, it's a soft-link, it receives signals through nerve endings just under the surface of the skin. You can just take it off without any problems disconnecting.

I've seen some Daligig troops use it once. They had no problems controlling it.

[bluebrassmonkey.livejournal.com]

Haow do yeu teach?

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

I'm...not entirely sure what you mean by that, but I'll try my best to answer.

At the very least I intend to teach the basic operating instructions for all of the GIA equipment, probably set up a simple firing range or something. If I have the chance, I might come up with something more elaborate. Mostly I just want to get some people familiar with the basics so they can teach anyone else who wakes up from the pod caverns.

[killsfengshui.livejournal.com]

Plasma casters, combat armor, drop ships...

Tell me you're single.

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

I'm married to my work, ma'am.

[chosenlightchld.livejournal.com]

... Does that Thorn Armor interfere with using any abilities we might have?

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

I don't think it should, really. At least, not anymore than the normal plant suits would.

[fireforger]

Welcome, Commander Rahk. May I ask if the supplies you will be providing will include raw materials, such as metals?

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

I could make sure some are sent along. Send me a list of what you'd like and I'll see what I can get done.

[craaazyisland]

Uh. No thanks on the creepy-ass suits.

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

Your choice, but they'll be there for those who need them.

[poetrysoldier]

Huh. I appeciate the weapons, Commander. A few comments and questions though. Is there any extra intel about the Ohm you would willing to share? Also, you believe Stacy can be trusted? As for the simulations and weapons training... You are aware that children are part of crew, correct? You should think about barring them from the training.

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

You'd have to be a bit more specific in what you want to know about the Ohm. I probably have as much intel on them as anyone does, but I'd be willing to share what I do know.

In regards to Stacy, her underlying, original personality should be trustworthy enough. However, you still ought to be careful of the programming that was embedded into her when she was refitted to be a prison ship before her current assignment. She might not actually want to do anything to you guys, but at the same time, her programming might force her to.

As for the children, well. I hate to say it, but considering all the trouble I've heard you guys had in the past, I wouldn't say it's out of the realm of possibility that a situation where one of them might actually need to use a weapon might come up. If that does happen, I'd rather have them trained how to use that than get themselves hurt using it improperly.

Of course, it's not my crew, so I'll follow its will in this. But I'd just like to note that I think it would at least be prudent to teach them how to defend themselves, especially since they'll be so close to the front lines.

[hack-rat.livejournal.com]

He'll have my co-operation with the AI fixing, if he's okay with dealing with someone a few thousand years behind on alien tech.

It's still my best field though. I know I'm not the only one whose world was not as advanced as the world that made Stacy, so do you think that there's any way he could teach us more about how the programming works so that we can be self-sufficient later.

No offence, but I'm not the sort of person that like relying on mysterious authority figures. We only have your word on the whole trust thing.

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

He'll...probably be difficult to work with, then. He's not fond of Pre-Bleeds. Most Kanil aren't.

I could have him explain a few things, but I doubt we'll be staying long enough to really teach you enough to be fully self sufficient. However, I could see about having some primers and programming manuals sent over with the other supplies your crew's requested.

[seeing-eye-cat.livejournal.com]

I've heard that you're multi-dimensional. What sheaf of universes are you from?

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

The GIA itself is from all over the Multiverse, though it doesn't interfere in realities that haven't discovered Bleed travel yet.

If you're asking about each of us personally, I'm from a reality in the Adlus-734 micro-multiversal cluster known as Uhruhd, named after my home planet.

If you want to know more about the others, I suggest asking them personally. I'm sure they're out and about somewhere.

[greennotgold]

New plantsuits? Do you have any information on how exactly they work?

Or the ones we have right now? I'm a botanist but I haven't really gotten anywhere trying to figure out how they function.

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I'm not really familiar with them either. I've only seen Daligig use them once, and they didn't exactly give me a rundown on it. You might be able to get Stacy to tell you more, though.

[iflingmyhat.livejournal.com]

I have several comments I'd like to make, but I think they all sum up into one question quite effectively.

How are we to be expected to win this war under the aid of an AI that is incompetent at best, and even deliberately counterproductive at worst? I'm sure you're aware of the battle on Zokez II. Had we access to the information you and the Daligig have on the Ohm before that battle, instead of having to collect our own on the battlefield, that world may still be something other than a mere shadow of its former self.

[armsraced.livejournal.com]

I try not to expect anything. I'm going to test whether or not you're able to pull this off with what you have and what I can provide.

If you can't pull it off, then I'd submit my report to the Daligig that I think this project should be scrapped and you all be sent to a safe planet. If you pass, then I'll get you all the help I have access to.

It's up to them how they take my report, but it's my job to see that the Ohm are defeated, by any means necessary.