trans_channel | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

I am Iniss 335 and am announcing my candidacy for the currently vacant seat upon the ship council.

My fellow crew mates, many of you know me. More of you know of me. I have been a rather unpopular figure since I arrived on this ship; I am a minority, as many of the non-humans on the ship are. At the moment, there are only three of my species on the ship.

What I stand for, crew-mates, is not the idea that any one person’s individual moral stance can decide the fate of the crew, but that logic, examining each event and the people involved in it, will help us move forward together, as a cohesive unit. I myself have heard often “Well if this happens again, we need a plan.” Which I find both unusual and overall harmful to the crew. Each situation is unique, and having such a policy for dealing with a certain type of alien will only end up with the innocent, as well as the guilty, ground to dust before they can even speak. Because of what I am, I have been attacked several times, even by members of this council I now seek to join. I have nearly been starved, a fate I would not wish on my deadliest foe, and though I, and many others on this ship, have made every effort to confirm to the high moral ideals of this ship, and have found themselves still marginalized. Have found many hesitant to act, even in the defense of another sentient because it simply did not conform to their ideals of how a creature should be created. This is not right, crew-members, as many of you know. Even if you are hesitant to admit it.

As for examples of leadership, I have lead an undercover unit, trained to gather and disseminate information for those above me and to make decisions to protect my team. While it was not a large team, one of our primary objectives to remain both effective and undiscovered. It also placed me in a position to interact with people both above me and under me and form, as the council should, and open dialogue between my people and the Command crew.

I have also, on this ship, acted at great risk to myself to protect the ship and crew from a creature whose species was not unlike my own and have proven myself capable of offering similar, fair judgment, should a similar situation occur, rather than offer a slanted view, incapable of accepting another viewpoint.

The charter states that we cannot be judged for actions undertaken before being brought on the ship. From such skewed views, with no opinions of our own to form but those based on those views expressed by the few who were there, it will inevitably dissolve the bonds we should rightly be forming with the men, women, and aliens who should be watching our backs in this war. If I am elected, my decisions will be formed based on the situation, and the impact on the ship. On logic and what is best for the crew, not what my own morals and ‘gut-reactions’ tell me I should. Our decisions should always be based on presenting a united front and deciding for the crew, for the best of the crew, not for the greatest moral comfort of a few.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well said. I wonder how you'll be received.

With humans? Who knows. You would likely have a better chance.

I've spent most of my time on the ship with GLaDOS, though. You have more knowledge of the ship and its crew.

True, but there is a great deal to be said for the ability to evoke sympathy. I have been the villain, and you have been the martyr. People like martyrs, Aftran.

I wasn't doing any of it to make myself a martyr. And besides, I was brought here before I could do anything.

Besides, I started out the same as you. If people can recognize that I changed...

I'm aware, but the human perspective still makes you one. It does not mean it wasn't accomplished, all the same. Your name was spoken with reverence and disgust by the time I left.

I think you give them more credit than they deserve, they are not all the girl Cassie. She is a...respectable human being. Capable of cruelty, but wishing the best for even her enemies. What is the phrase, she...walks the walk?

I guess we'll just have to see. Cassie's friends aren't so bad, themselves, though.

I think 'not so bad' is entirely situational, and they like you. They tried to starve me, remember?

My Mom says you're mean! I'm not voting for you.

Aren't you a little young to vote, Marco?

But they said I could vote for this!

I'm going to vote for the Viking. He's cool. Not like you.

I see, I am sure he will be glad to have your vote, Marco. He is a good candidate.

You're weird.

Marco, please don't talk to this man, especially when I'm not around. It makes me nervous and liable to punch him.

Okay.

Listen to your mother, Marco. She might hit you with a book.

Well-said, even if you are my opponent.

Somehow, I doubt any will listen.

Thank you, and I shall return the compliment. A toast to practicality, rather than idealism, let the best sentient win.

I think in time they will learn, however hard the lesson may be to swallow.

Somehow, I doubt that. They seem a doggedly idealistic lot. They're lucky more of them aren't dead, I suppose.

Depressingly, I imagine that human child is going to win. Popularity counts for more than a platform, as in most elections.

They have a few pragmatists among them, and enough in leadership positions to keep them all from charging in at the first scream of a damsel in distress. But yes, they have been lucky so far. Unfortunately they mistake luck for skill, and trust it to continue to carry them forward.

I would not be shocked if you were correct. Occasionally the popular vote has swung in the right direction. Rhiow, for example, was elected on a populist platform and she is very fit for the position she holds.

But I do not see that being the case here, he is a child, however clever. Children of all species are emotionally driven.

Rhiow seems competent, yes. Unlike most of the rest of them.

I haven't seen enough of our captain to judge him, however.

And I agree. Children should listen, obey, do as they're told. Not hold positions of power.

Kang as well, there are a few who deserve the rank they hold. Most are prone to emotionally driven responses when a cool head and logic would have been better served.

He seems cool headed enough, a practical man. To take his judgments into account, I think he is capable of setting aside his own morality and make the difficult decisions necessary during war.

Agreed, but this crew is an emotional one full of heroes and valuing heroics over good sense. Therefore, a child's innocence should stand them in good steed to make decisions during war-time, correct?

I am glad to hear that, then. But I will wait and see for myself.

Hmmph. Innocence does not win wars. Innocence is shattered by war. And following these heroes will only doom us. Pragmatism - ruthless pragmatism - is what will allow us to thrive. We must place ourselves and this ship above all else. If necessary, I believe we must sacrifice entire planetary systems to the Ohm to ensure that we will live.

To do otherwise is base idiocy.

As well you should. Judgment based on the words of others will have us all being led by a few well spoken fools.

Agreed. No warrior remains innocent, they all must grow up. You will find that opinion holds little traction with those on the ship, they must try and strive to save, despite the impracticality of the attempt. Despite the loses the ship endures. But ah, so long as a few bleating sheep are saved, they may return to their docks and mourn and pat themselves on the back.

We are on a ship full of humans, did you expect more?

Honestly? Yes. The humans in my universe were a ruthless, pragmatic sort, if also primitive barbarians.

These? They are even more like children. Except that unlike the humans I know, they do not understand that the void is a dark place and that their light of 'morality' is too small to make any difference.

You have encountered very different humans than I, then. The humans of earth were weak willed and easy to infiltrate. Too busy watching their televisions and laying in their tanning beds and getting worked up about absolutely nothing to even notice.

I find this innocence unsurprising, even from those who claim to be heroes. Watch them, it is almost entertaining to see how emotional they get about every little thing.

They must fight against the encroaching darkness. To show weakness or complacency means that what little light they have will be extinguished and thrown down by a thousand different enemies. Unlike the ones you know, they have no other choice but to fight.

Having emotions is not folly; allowing them to control and dictate your actions is.

Of course, but they would rather bicker about the morality of the possession of a brain dead clone.

That line is so rarely seen, and I think few here can even recognize that it exists.

I see nothing immoral; it is an empty vessel.

I suppose those of us who recognize it will be forced to make up for the shortcomings of those who do not.

Perhaps we should meet.

Ah, but the clones on board too issue. It was more foolishness. You will find it common.

The trouble is getting them to listen.

I think it would be better after the election, just to avoid any implication of plotting. But yes, I agree.

And? A clone is not always a clone; if it has a mind and intelligence, it is obviously not the same as a clone who has no mind or no brain. Can they not see the difference?

Precious few do liten.

Very well. I'll contact you after this is all finished.

Apparently the mere fact that she was a clone, and had been used as a body farm, was enough to give them pause and make their innate morality act up.

Agreed. And even when you have pertinent information, you had better hope to be the cute and cuddly alien. Not the pragmatic, ugly one.

I will look forward to it.

Yeah. Never mention the fact that you were controlling every move of a guy for the last few years. I'm sure everyone will forget it.

I was, and I have made every apology for that and made every effort to atone, as well as to rectify the situation. I do not seek to make everyone forget what I was, Loren, only to accept that is not what I am any longer.

Ah, what is the human saying 'people change.'

Except for crawling out of his brain. Actions speak louder than words.

Yes, they do. As I am no longer in his head and have willingly freed him, I think my actions speak very loudly, don't you? And when the method on the ship took too long, I sought out aid on a planet and saw it through as quickly as possible.

Thank you, Loren. I am glad to have your approval.

You took your time.

If you want to serve on the Council you have to put others needs over your own and make sacrifices. You couldn't even do that for Tom.

The amount of time it took was the result of inefficiency in the system, not taken by my own choice. I expedited the situation as soon as I was able to act on my own, when I could have simply waited. What are you accusing me of, Loren, by your own admission, actions speak louder. What action have I taken on this ship, save to continue to inhabit Tom for a time under his permission that would make me the villain?

I am aware, Loren. There are a great many things I could make known that would make it easier for me and harder for others, but I have kept silent. I have taken no action to cause harm on this ship, and I stand by my platform. I can make an unbiased, external decision to best benefit the crew, rather than allow emotional, gut reactions to cloud my judgment.

Name one thing, one thing at all, Loren, that I have done upon this ship to earn your reproach, aside from Tom, as he made his choice, and that is not your business or anyone else's, and think of other things I have done to earn at the very least your tolerance. I have shown you courtesy and respect, I do not ask you to like me, but I would ask for the same.

Most of what you've referenced I only know about from comm communications or records in the Media Library. I'm curious if you're planning on working toward that goal of a united front regardless of what happens in this election. You are right. People, regardless of sex, species, or cultural background, need to be united on some level to provide a unified front when it matters most.

The charter states "No member of the crew may be arrested, charged with, tried for, and imprisoned for any crime they committed on their homeworld prior to joining the crew. Regardless as to whether or not the crime was committed against current crew members." There's no way to regulate opinion. There are ways to prevent legal action from being taken, such as I understand it, but the judgment of a court and the judgment of a person, or people, are different things.

Moral law is part of that charter, as much as anything else. How do you propose handling clashes in morality? How to do you propose showing how logical, individual approaches tie in with deciding the best course of action for the crew? As a whole unit?

Yes, I am. By my understanding, we are all here for a reason, we are all meant to help accomplish one single goal. These arguments and revisiting past issues only further muddle the issue. Divided we will fall, united we stand a slim chance of victory and putting everything back to rights. It has always been my goal as a crew member to help to the best of my ability and integrate as well as I can.

Ironically, though many would bring up past mistakes and crimes, we all want and need the same things. Even the villains. It's very hard to preform evil deeds and overthrow the kingdom, after all, if the kingdom is scattered around the cosmos as subatomic partials.

I'm afraid you'll have to give me a more concrete example, Miss. Otherwise I risk simply telling you what you wish to hear, rather than answering the question directly. Though I feel that each decision mediated by the council needs to take into consideration what has been done and the appropriate actions taken in response, without responding with to bias against a specific species or with your own personal views on the parties involved. Individual feelings have no place on a a judicatory body, and each case should be tried as fairly and justly as the information allows.

The past has a purpose in instruction. Being held back by it is not usually for the best, but it's not aoften avoidable.

As far as villains are concerned, and evil, from any given standpoint: Only if one specific kingdom is what you're after. Or if one's "villainy" is calculated toward a goal only achievable back home. The same can be said for heroics, but the point stands. Even for goal orientated people, it isn't impossible to reassign the nature of a goal to things achievable here. Degrees of difficulty in performance does very little to stop determined individuals.

Most examples I can give are too mired in my own culture to be of particular use right now without launching into an explanation and discussion on my part. Would you say that cases should be revisited in the event that more information enters into public awareness?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(no subject)

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

Re: [Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject