[Open][TMoMC] So. That just happened.....

[robkelk]

ooc

... And, I tend to see the Troubleshooters working in a more ad-hoc way, rather than in a formal regiment - by agreement, reputation and cooperation, and somewhat anarchic rather than rank and file. You're good at this sort of shit, I'm good and breaking that, let's stop that bad guy. A bit like Firewall, but not quite. Although, maybe that's not what the universe sees. I like the idea of 'public' face of troubleshooters being a misdirection too.

There's plenty of misdirection and redirection still going on. Note that somebody asked whether Mackie was still alive, and Miyuki redirected that question by reporting having been shot at point-blank range during the capture operation. If Mackie wants to say he's alive, great. If Gagne wants to say she used to be Mackie, great. Miyuki provided a bit of breathing room there.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Black Aeronaut]

BlackRider (Needs No Introduction; confirmed ID)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

So nice to see that people's opinions of me never change.

Regarding my say on the matter of what to do about Asmodeus and Profeta... Keep in mind I'm only one voice here. We are still a democracy, people, and I only control one operation in the grand scheme of things. My vote doesn't hold any more sway than anyone else's.

Though Mamabear does raise a cogent point that I'm willing to concede to - if Asmodeus can pull something out of his ass, then I'd be willing to call for us to ameliorate his sentence.

To The All Seeing Eye, let me assure you: as someone who has received classified orders and issued them as well, it's a lot more complicated than just "Don't fuck up." And while we try to be as transparent as possible in everything we do, there are limits to what that transparency can entail given the critical importance of operational security. There is a such thing as 'Too much of a good thing'. I dare you to try and do what I do on a daily basis (successfully, I might add) and -not- keep someone in the dark about what's going on.

And also, there's only so much you can plan for. That's why orders like this -do- have -some- leeway. WE EXPECT OUR OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE JUDGEMENT CALLS. For example, Haruhi is a good strategian, no doubt. Under her leadership we managed reasonably well, especially considering that not terribly many of us had any actual military command experience. But when you're the boots on the ground and Murphy's Law is lurking around the corner like ten-thousand live rounds, all of them labeled 'To Whom It May Concern'.... Well, you definitely want someone like Jet in the mix. She's well experienced at handling outside context problems. Problems very much like why her very own brother got killed while doing something that can't even be qualified as a milk run in what is widely known as safe territory.  (And really, that is what pissed me off the most about this whole thing.)

You can't plan for that shit, but Jet is exactly the person that can handle it. Why do you think I had her as an instructor at one point in time?

As for me being a Texan... Really, you make that sound like such a horrible thing. You forget so quickly that we make for good neighbors and wonderful hosts.  We're the sort of people that if a tree falls on your house, we show up with chainsaws and tackle to remove it, and tarps and plywood to cover the holes in your roof until you can get it repaired.
You see, we're not just about beating up the bad guys.  Most of the distress signals we respond to are usually some variation on near-relativistic impacts.  Usually on domes.  I made the Outlaw-class a thing because we needed something that could be quickly mobilized and get straight to work the very moment it arrives on-site.

All this said, I wouldn't be surprised if Jet did decide to simply retire - and to pack up her toys and take them home with her. Which would be a damn shame, given that they've built some of my favorite toys. And all because you folks are a bit squeamish at some of the things she's done.

You guys want a conspiracy? I got one for you. We, the SMOFs, are all conspiring so you guys can live a life of freedom and opportunity without fear of what lurks behind every rock in space. We do this not for our own personal gain, but because we helped build good things out here, and we want people to continue to come up from Earth and live a good life out here. Yeah, there's your conspiracy. Have fun with that one.

[Matrix Dragon]

Tomboy Orion (Big trouble in a little package)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

Because of the lockdown, I'm currently stuck cooling my heels here at Odyssey. I took a page from JMCs rulebook and literally physically disabled my ships engines, much to my daughters irritation (Ship AIs, what can you do?), just to be on the justifiably paranoid side. All my cargo has been inventoried and all customers involved have been privately notified. Most of them were pretty understanding about it.

The mood here is... interesting, to say the least. There's a pack of 'dane businessmen who keep trying to make a lot of noise about how unreasonable this all is and how they should be allowed to leave right now DON'T YOU REALISE HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE. They're mostly getting ignored. The other 'danes, mostly tourists, are pretty understanding of the reasons for the lockdown, but are still nervous as heck about being on the same station as the likes of Asmodeus and Profeta. They're staying in their rooms, or lingering in a handful of the recreational areas, looking like they expect Boskones to jump out of the walls.

As for the fen? Most of us are somewhere between disbelieving and ecstatic. Even for a lot of us that came up in the early days, Grey's become our personal bogeyman, the thing that lurks in the shadows. Hell, maybe especially for those of us that went through those years. But every time a Grey sighting was confirmed, it's always been 'here's the latest horror' or 'escaped justice yet again', to the point that I couldn't help but think this day would never come. But it's happened. Jet got the bastards. And they're not getting away this time. And when I realise that I start giggling again, or I see someone else laughing under their breath, they catch my eye and we're both smiling because we're both just so happy...

Mughi's has had a constant, low-intensity party going since yesterday. Go in, have a drink or two, join in the victory dances and listen to Tsumugi's music, head on out. So much fun. I really wanna get Jet in some proper 80s gear and get out on that floor. Sadly, that's not going to happen, given every time she pops up in the public areas right now, she gets people trying to get the full story out of her. So she's been staying mostly out of sight, and those of us that were involved somehow are decent enough to not yelling at her for not telling us the whole story. Because we get how 'classified' works.

[robkelk]

Noah Scott (Elder Fen; confirmed ID)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

We have received confirmation that Jordan Waide, Profeta, and Asmodeus Grey are now secured in a location that will remain classified. We are lifting the lockdown on station Odyssey.

Stellvia Corporation thanks everyone affected for their understanding and cooperation.

We are also returning to the normal prices at Mughi's - your first drink is no longer free.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[LynnInDenver]

Jeph Antilles (Lord and Master)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

I can certainly say there's been some similar reactions to what Chris reported over here in Serenity Valley, aside from reduced number of people looking like they expect Reavers to start spontaneously appearing from behind the ducts. Not completely eliminated, since we were a prime target during the war, but much reduced. One of the bars closest to us has basically opened their own low-key, next two days solid "we got the bastard" parties.

It's not all celebrating for us here; we still have to start getting our schedules back on track, but the disruption has a very good ruttin' reason.

Although honestly, I'm kind of wondering if I'm going to have my best night's sleep EVER, or wake up screaming from the worst nightmare since the war.
--

"You know how parents tell you everything's going to fine, but you know they're lying to make you feel better? Everything's going to be fine." - The Doctor

[Dartz]

ValkyriesRide2012. (Hurricane Tonight)
Posted on April 21st 2025

Jeph, I think we all feel that way, in some way or another. I'll leave the 'we got him' bombast to the people who do that better. I've seen a lot of other people who've had some real shite memories stirred up by seeing that face again. People are congratulating me for finally pulling it off, but it feels hollow somehow, like putting out the fire after the building's burned down. It's done. It's over.

As for what should happen to Grey? That's not for me to answer. I don't like the death penalty. It's just a killing to make us feel better - and that's no different from murder. A long life, locked away somewhere far from the warmth of the sun or anywhere safe and comfortable, with nothing but the memory of what he's done for company. His victims have to live with it, why shouldn't he?

The full details of what happened and how will come out on their own. I'll let them.

But there is something else I must say. Something that does need to come out in public.

Shinji Tanaka was the man shot my brother down. I was talking with him right before he died.

Another old Great Justice warrior, who'd been told he had to take on a secret mission, for the benefit of Fenspace. Everything to him looked legitimate. Lawful orders, from a lawful authority, to take on a CODEWORD classified mission. I've done it a hundred times myself, acting with the trust the the person issuing the orders hasn't been turned. Or on personal trust.

With those orders in hand, he shot my brother down, thinking he was splashing a Boskone agent, who they could debrief while the Boskone thought they were dead.

But the fighter crashed harder than they intended, and he found out who he had shot down.

His accomplice, who took the actual shot, was taken by Grey and 'chipped' to demonstrate the price of failure to him and his handler. Denon Broadin didn't deserve to die like that.

I found him, not knowing any of this. I nearly killed him. Luckily I didn't. He told me the above, and gave me the evidence we needed to get the ball rolling. He'd logged every communication by taking screenshots of his orders with a cameraphone.

And we both realised, if he was arrested, it'd tip off his handler, and her handlers. If he just disappeared, they'd have to suspect he'd been taken. Either way, they'd turtle up, burn loose ends and go cold. We'd loose the real conspiracy. We both knew what that meant, it didn't need to be said

Shinji Tanaka shot himself to give us this chance.

His last request to me was that I let people know he wasn't a traitor.

It's the least I could do for the person who gave his life to make this possible.

----

META: Since everyone else was getting in with a response. Needed to do something. One person made this all possible and they were the sort of person who sort of gets forgotten in the glare of the Mary Sues. Maybe I shouldn't fall in love with my darlings but I loved that scene a lot. It just had so much weight to it and a pitch change in emotions.

The previous response from TASE was my attempt at handling Cobalt's post IC.... AC's response irked me a bit because it turned the story into something about her being in charge, when it's very much about Jet, the legacy of the Boskone War, and Mackie going through something AC would have a helpful perspective in. I really didn't want to start an argument in thread so tried to deal with it improv style by changing the tone with a followup post instead and work with it, either reframing it as part of a misdirection attempt or what have you .

Ended up irking a few more people instead. Althought the Texas thing was just begging

Anyway. Speak in public. The public will answer.

The next response will be 'Because sure you wouldn't tell us if you had just shot him while he begged for you not to'
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?

[Matrix Dragon]

Tomboy Orion (Big trouble in a little package)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

> Shinji Tanaka

Dammit. Jet had told me this part while we were waiting for the lockdown to be lifted, and I need to address this in public. I knew Shinji. We met in 2014, when Void Shipping was expanding. Can't remember who recommended him to me, doesn't really matter now. Offered him a job captaining one of my new ships, but he turned it down. He was relatively happy where he was. We then spent about five hours talking about old Transformers toys and shows, great old time. Huge Beast Wars fan. After that, we stayed in contact, usually just via chat, but sometimes in person. He was the one that contacted me in 2016 when that collector waved all his old toys and we had a tiny Autobot/Decepticon war in Helium. That's when I found out he was one of the many old timers who told SHIELD to keep their number, just in case. When I asked him about it, he tried to wave it off, sense of duty and all, but I think it did disturb him more than he let on. Trying to put the war behind him, but always keeping your guns clean, just in case. I think we all know how that goes.

If SHIELD called, Shinji would have done it. He did cleanup after too many Boskone raids not to. Knowing that the assholes used him to do it all over again? Christ. That burns, and I know it'd burn him too. He'd do whatever it took to make it right.

Shinji Tanaka was no traitor. He was a patriot, and a friend.

I'll tell his tale to those who ask. I'll tell it truly, the ill deeds along with the good, and let him be judged accordingly. The rest, is silence.

[robkelk]

Convention Authority (official use only)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

> Shinji Tanaka shot himself to give us this chance.
>
> His last request to me was that I let people know he wasn't a traitor.

When the honor roll of the fallen is read at NameTBDCon in Jossburg this year, Shinji Tanaka will be included.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Cobalt Greywalker]

META: Dammit, I knew I should have added that note. A.C. wasn't taking the credit (which it looks like), she was trying to take the blame. She explicitly and publically says she overrode Jet and Lun. I obviously didn't get it across properly, to which I apologise profusely.

[Dartz]

I had a feeling that was the intent. It also crossed my mind that, how it's read, it could come across as A.C. reigning in Jet and Lun, who were about to go rogue. A mild dose of foot in mouth disease, perhaps. Lets keep running with it.

------
Needtocomeupwithaname (Fenspace Gargoyle)
Posted on April 25th, 2025

So. The full story in bullet point format.

*Three weeks ago, Mackie Jaguar apparently killed in an accident.
* Discovered to be a shoot-down.
*Jet Jaguar tracks down the individual responsible and discovers a SHIELD mole
*Shinji Tanaka gives his life to enable to the mole to be routed out.
* It is arranged for the RF-155-E prototype to be tested by SHIELD.
* The prototype is attacked by individuals unknown prior to it being fitted out at Damogran.
* EDIT: This may have been bait somehow to draw out Tanaka's mole.
* The attackers are defeated and the prototype finished.,
* An apparently unrelated reactor accident occurs on Frigga
* Jordan Waide is discovered to be the mole.
* Eight days ago her death is faked when Lun destroys a shuttle with an anti-shipping missile
* Stellviacopr confrims 'no suvivors' in wreckage. With hindisght, they make have been complicit on some level.
* It appears that Jet Jaguar has gone rogue and murdered Waide out of revenge.
* Gaige Kisaragi is arrested as a potential accomplice. She is then released.
* A public Post by Yayoi Fujisawa leaks Jet's troubleshooter status. .
* 5 individuals on Frigga are arrested after they erase the system logs in response to a Patrol investigation.
* It can be surmised that the attack by Lun on the SHIELD cruiser was part of the deception.
* It can be surmised that the accident, arrests on Frigga and ARSE violations may also be part of the deception. Somehow
* Lun then disappears and is assumed to be turning Boskonian.
* Yesterday, Lun reappears under escort by White Stallion. Both show signs of battle damage.
* Both ships request secure docking at Odyssey
* A public post indicates that Commander Akisato was involved in the mission, enough to be injured. Knowledge of her involvment is disclaimed by Stellvians
* Odyssey goes onto Code 36 lockdown for 24 hours.
* Statement from A.C Peters indicates that both Jet and Lun 'disagreed' with orders at some stage, suggesting that maybe part of the 'Rogue' act wasn't entirely an act.
* Statement by an account which may be Jet Jaguar reveals Shinji Tanaka's heroism, and the objectives of the Boskone.
* Lockdown causes major disruption to shipping in and out of Mars orbit.
* A ship claiming to be a personal transport of Haruhi Suzumiyah is fired upon by Odyssey. It is confirmed to not be of the same class normally employed by Suzumiyah.
* Boskone sympathisers detained at H.G. Wells.
* Lockdown then lifted from Odyssey.
* Asmodeus Grey, Propheta, and Waide now apparently secure in classified location.

~The public statements have already started to filter out from the SMoF's

Statement from KCPD. Welcomes the arrest of Grey. Investigation continues with a view to prosecuting the murder of Denon Broadin.
Statement from Convention authority. Tanaka's name added to the honour roll for NameTBDCon.
Statement from Commander Suzumiyah. Mission accomplished.
Statement from Space PAtrol. A major victory in the fight against criminality.
Statement from Venusian Royal Household.. A high degree of skill, cunning, enterprise and daring worthy of the highest praise.
Statements from Benjamin Rhodes. Strike force en-route.
Statement from Catgirl Industries. A welcome arrest. Bad memories for many. Hope for a cure.
Statement from Jeph Antilles Ganymede relief.

Things still unknown
* Fate of Mackie Jaguar. There has been no confirmation, either way - but tellingly, no planned funeral.
* Origin of the attack on the RF-155 prototype. (EDIT: And only after hitting 'Post' did it become obvious)
* How the apparent reactor accident at Frigga was planned and coordinated. Thread on Frigga ARSE violations: some information here suggests that maybe it might not have been
* Who gets the honour of putting the trio into the dock, and where?

The most important fact:

Asmodeus Grey and Propheta are now safely under lock and key. After thirteen years.

Tagbar (Not a ripoff)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

>> Asmodeus Grey, Propheta, and Waide now apparently secure in classified location.

I hear Solar Orbit without a spacesuit is eminently secure.... Would an invitation to Russel's tea party be too much to ask?

Teela isn't the only one with fur, here.

After ten years. It's hard to imagine being normal again. How fucked up is that?

TheAllSeeingEye (Banned)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

>> There has been no confirmation, either way - but tellingly, no planned funeral.

My, what a coincidence....

EDIT: ModBotL OK. One step too far. Outing people's identities like that is a total no-no, especially without permission.

Tagbar (Not a ripoff)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

And the mod's caught that just in time. Good work to our artificially intelligent overlords. And my sympathies, in case you are reading.

-----

Also. BA - Outside Context problems? They require Outside Context Solutions. I might have to use that as a tagline....
TASE linked to this thread, for those curious: http://drunkardswalkforums.yuku.com/rep ... ply-141961 Reaching out for advice. And because you know there'll be a forum for it.
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?

[robkelk]

Noah Scott (Elder Fen; confirmed ID)
Posted on April 21st, 2025

::* Stellviacopr confrims 'no suvivors' in wreckage. With hindisght, they make have been complicit on some level.

We confirmed no survivors because nobody survived the explosion. It appears that nobody survived the explosion because nobody was there to begin with.

Most of StellviaCorp's top scientific minds are no longer working at Stellvia Station, their talents being better used elsewhere. (In the case of Ms. Hasegawa and Ms. Li, they are no longer working for StellviaCorp at all.) We were as fooled as everyone else.

::* A public Post by Yayoi Fujisawa leaks Jet's troubleshooter status. .

Ms. Fujisawa thought everyone already knew, with the number of public missions that Jet has been a part of. I have since explained to her that Troubleshooter membership lists are not public knowledge. However, what is done is done, and we admit the security breach that took place here.

::* A public post indicates that Commander Akisato was involved in the mission, enough to be injured. Knowledge of her involvment is disclaimed by Stellvians

Not disclaimed, merely unknown to the StellviaCorp Board of Directors at the time. Ms. Akisato's involvement is a matter for Ms. Akisato to explain to the Board of Directors, and will take place in private.

Regarding the arrests, Stellvia Corporation has no comment at this time.

---

OOC: And Noah will continue to have no comment until Miyuri explains what she did and why, at which point Noah will publicly be congratulatory - and privately let Miyuri stay at Frigga for a few months, putting Kagome in charge of Ultima until after NameTBDCon. Not a vacation - an inspection of the power systems, with Kohran brought in to use her Mad Atomic Skillz to get and keep things less-unsafe on Frigga's budget.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Dartz]

MirandaZZ
Posted on April 22th, 2025

>> A high degree of skill, cunning, enterprise and daring worthy of the highest praise.

Mmm... maybe she'll finally make it official this year too. I so want to go to that party and bringing Grey in must be worth it.

ValkyriesRide2012. (Banned)
Posted on April 22th 2025

>>My, what a coincidence....

Before this grows legs in the backrooms. I wanted to explain myself to everyone in person first - and apologise. The situation is still complex and some people involved have decisions to make which they deserve space to make. I'm asking people to let these people get the space they need without being overwhelmed by demands from 'well-wishers' with an agenda.

But yes. Mackie was recovered from the wreckage. That's how I learned of the shoot-down.

Also. Fuck you very much, Link removed: Modbott. We sympathise, but eye for an eye is not how things work here.

>>Ms. Fujisawa thought everyone already knew,
No harm meant. But as my partner said, she gave me an excuse to finally stop. What better way to end a career than with the big one?

I knew this woiuld come up eventually. Great Justice needs different skills from Operation Great Justice, a different sort of person with a different sort of skillset. A peace keeper rather than a peace maker.


-----

OOC: Meanwhile, the Knight Sabers continue to operate, getting equipment updates and modifications. Ford Sierra has been gifted Grey's sidearms - both as an apology for going so far out on a limb, and for.... ahem... competitive reasons.

Frigga ia, at this time, is teetering on the brink between recklessness, bad luck and necessity. There're plenty of people who might see that as an insult - that they need to be hand-held and babysat when it's not their fault they don't have the funding to do things right.... ....while jury-rigging what should be an emergency heat-sink cooling system to run constantly and provide Frigga with enough hot rock to power a real Onsen.

It's like living in the first 10 minuites of a disaster movie, but averting the next 2 hours by being clever and knowing how to handle the developing situation before it gets to that point - or knowing where things can get to that point really quickly.

EDIT: Changed one word, in reference to some of the above fictional comments. It seemed funnier this way.....
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?

[Black Aeronaut]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox

From: BlackRider (Needs No Introduction; confirmed ID)Date: April 22, 2025

Jet

Like I said in the thread, I had a feeling that you were going to go ahead and retire. But we can still use you over here - I got a lot of Sammies that are still wet behind the ears, and things haven't been quite the same since Anika ascended the Crystal Throne.

I'm not saying that we need you as a Troubleshooter. We got people for that. But contrary to what some people think, your experience is utterly indispensible. We'll need that for the next Big Bad that rears its head - it's not a matter of if, but when.

You know me, Jet. I may be one of the biggest optimists out there, but I'm also as pragmatic as can be without killing the dream. I may not have been out there with you, but you know I've seen all the reports. And because of that, I will always hope for the best from humanity, but at the same time I will always prepare for the worst.

Don't reply right away. Take your time. Sleep on it. But please do get back to me. You know I'm willing to work out all kinds of arrangements - even flying the n00bs out to Genarios or Frigga or even Mars. You've seen that if there's something makes things better for people out here, then there's very little I won't do to make it happen.

Benjamin Rhodes
CinC RoughridersWe break things so you don't have to!

[Dartz]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox

From: BValkyriesRide2012
Date: April 23, 2025

Ben,

I meant to tell you in person, but we missed each other on Odyssey. Duty called.

Mackie's body was destroyed on impact. 'Most of his core chips and mainboard survived. Thank Shoei for good helmets. To cut a long story short, Gaige Kisaragi is Mackie, jerry-rigged to pilot my old puppet body while we tracked down who shot him down. The reason why I did it should be clear. I know a lot of people care about Mackie - I know I put a lot of people through some very uncomfortable days. Whether the ends justify the means I'll let you decide. For what it's worth, I'm sorry I put you through that

He's doing fine, all told. After Gaige's gunkill, the 588th offered her a place. He's thinking long and hard about it - as much as he'd love to be the fighter ace, there's a reason the 588 are called the Night Witches. Whatever choice he makes, he's going to regret it and he knows it. The 588 are an opportunity that comes only once, but he can be Mackie anytime. Maybe someone who isn't used to treating their body as a thing should talk to him on it - I can only look at this thing from a cyber's perspective and that's skewed at the best of times.

I think we're all scared of the next big bad. It's not a healthy way to be. Prepared, fine, but not scared. We can handle the big bads - I'm more scared about the Big Good. In a war between two Rights, a lot of people are going to be stuck in the middle, while both sides try to curry favour. Or eliminate anyone who might be too dangerous to risk going over to the other side. Self-organised criticality applies to Wars too. Everyone's networked and linked by alliances and agreements.

Perhaps I've just read too much Civil War III.

I'm all for training people up if you have them. We've got everything set up to go here still. I had planned on blasting a rubble-pile and pulling the resulting nargles into near orbit before the Millennium moved in. We could do a lot more than we can just using the old tunnels. It'd let us replicate some more realistic environments, and build environments actually designed for training - including combat flight training. We could simulate whole mission profiles a lot better. For n00b's, or for the veterans.

It'd also give me an excuse to try make the Zenith of Things Tournament a thing again, to really push the training system.

We're just waiting for the prize paperwork on that Boskone Raven Gaige sniped, then we can do some proper Have Doughnut stuff with it.

It's the sort of thing they can't do out on the moon.

-Jet
Outside Context Solutions

PS: Yes, I did get that idea from your post.
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?

[Black Aeronaut]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox
From: BlackRider (Needs No Introduction; confirmed ID)Date: April 23, 2025

Ben,
I meant to tell you in person, but we missed each other on Odyssey. Duty called. 

Doesn't it always?

Mackie's body was destroyed on impact. 'Most of his core chips and mainboard survived. Thank Shoei for good helmets. To cut a long story short, Gaige Kisaragi is Mackie, jerry-rigged to pilot my old puppet body while we tracked down who shot him down. The reason why I did it should be clear. I know a lot of people care about Mackie - I know I put a lot of people through some very uncomfortable days. Whether the ends justify the means I'll let you decide. For what it's worth, I'm sorry I put you through that

.....  Holy.

Fucking.

Shit.

Jet, I don't know if you have any idea of how much better that makes us feel over here.  How much longer do you intend to keep this under wraps?  Because I can't just go and tell everyone here without it getting out.

He's doing fine, all told. After Gaige's gunkill, the 588th offered her a place. He's thinking long and hard about it - as much as he'd love to be the fighter ace, there's a reason the 588 are called the Night Witches. Whatever choice he makes, he's going to regret it and he knows it. The 588 are an opportunity that comes only once, but he can be Mackie anytime. Maybe someone who isn't used to treating their body as a thing should talk to him on it - I can only look at this thing from a cyber's perspective and that's skewed at the best of times. 

Huh.  Well, Gina and I will be more than happy to drop by for a bit...  All the better to hash out the other stuff  More on that later, though.  But I definitely think Gina should talk to him, too, her being an infomorph that went through an emotional wringer as well.

If nothing else, we can offer him a seat in one of our Valkyries or even a Blackbird - just to give him a few more options.  Hell, it's probably about time that Mackie started hanging out with girls closer to his 'age'.  Mayonaka's handling adolescence really well, but conversely there aren't many boys her age around her.  The oldest boy here is about six.

Of course, that is only if we wind up resleeving Mackie into a male body again.

Really, knowing Mackie, I'm worried for the poor guy now.  I know that you've been giving him options... But now that the danger has passed, he needs even more options.

Besides, the Night Witches aren't the first ones to do what they do.  People put them up on a pedestal, but only because they don't like the idea of me being there.  Besides, the Belters out here prefer we keep things on the down-low.  They tend to be rather private people, and we respect that.  So beyond the quietly filed reports to Great Justice, we don't advertise the achievements of our Aces.

I think we're all scared of the next big bad. It's not a healthy way to be. Prepared, fine, but not scared. We can handle the big bads - I'm more scared about the Big Good. In a war between two Rights, a lot of people are going to be stuck in the middle, while both sides try to curry favour. Or eliminate anyone who might be too dangerous to risk going over to the other side. Self-organised criticality applies to Wars too. Everyone's networked and linked by alliances and agreements.

Like I said, Jet.  I'm a huge optimist.  I dream big things.  That's why I started up BAT - not just to make money, but to create things that inspire people.

But at the same time, I'm also the The Night Watchman.  People call me paranoid.  I might be.  But can we honestly afford to be wrong when death is so fucking cheap out here?  The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

You know that I breathe, eat, and shit Sun Tzu.  

I'm all for training people up if you have them. We've got everything set up to go here still. I had planned on blasting a rubble-pile and pulling the resulting nargles into near orbit before the Millennium moved in. We could do a lot more than we can just using the old tunnels. It'd let us replicate some more realistic environments, and build environments actually designed for training - including combat flight training. We could simulate whole mission profiles a lot better. For n00b's, or for the veterans.

Okay, now this...  This is something that I am definitely up for.  If you're amenable to the idea, I'd like to make this a joint venture, because the more resources we can throw at this, the better it's gonna be.  And I think some of the others might be as well.  Would you mind terribly if I put out some feelers to see if anyone else might want to contribute?

It'd also give me an excuse to try make the Zenith of Things Tournament a thing again, to really push the training system.

....  OH HELL YES.

And Gally would probably kiss you for it.   

We're just waiting for the prize paperwork on that Boskone Raven Gaige sniped, then we can do some proper Have Doughnut stuff with it. 
It's the sort of thing they can't do out on the moon.

Yeah, they did pitch a huge fit over it the last time someone tried to do something like that.  Some BS about preserving the natural environs.

But yeah, we'll be over in a few days... Date to be decided - things are a little ruffled here.  You can't scramble a force that big without upsetting some things in the organization.  It's weirdly like an ecosystem in that way.  But at least this will give you a chance to make sure that bounty is nice and settled into your account.

Benjamin Rhodes
CinC Roughriders
We break things so you don't have to!


OOC:  WHEEEE!  I'M HELPING  

And yeah, Ben sees a lot of other fighter outfits as young upstarts since Haruhi originally came to him first and foremost.

[Dartz]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox
From: JetJaguar
Date: April 23, 2025

Jet, I don't know if you have any idea of how much better that makes us feel over here.  How much longer do you intend to keep this under wraps?  Because I can't just go and tell everyone here without it getting out.

Millenium rules apply. I'm only telling people in private for the time being. Those who need to know. The last thing I want to do is make Mackie feel pressured in anyway - because that's always going to breed resentment.

Huh.  Well, Gina and I will be more than happy to drop by for a bit...  All the better to hash out the other stuff  More on that later, though.  But I definitely think Gina should talk to him, too, her being an infomorph that went through an emotional wringer as well.

If nothing else, we can offer him a seat in one of our Valkyries or even a Blackbird - just to give him a few more options.  Hell, it's probably about time that Mackie started hanging out with girls closer to his 'age'.  Mayonaka's handling adolescence really well, but conversely there aren't many boys her age around her.  The oldest boy here is about six.

Of course, that is only if we wind up resleeving Mackie into a male body again.

Really, knowing Mackie, I'm worried for the poor guy now.  I know that you've been giving him options... But now that the danger has passed, he needs even more options.

I think if he found out tomorrow it was impossible to be resleeved, He wouldn't be happy, but he could deal with it. He's not the first to go through it. He's not the last. He spent a few days on the Forge not too long ago, and, that seemed to settle him at least.

I think he's more afraid of what people will think, than what he wants. There's a lot he likes about the Gaige identity - none of it related to the body. There's a lot he likes about himself. Part of him's amused at the idea of carrying the pendant after resleeving - just to beg the question. Part of him's terrified that people will just point and say 'I told you so'.

It's his choice. Whatever he wants to do. The last thing I want is for him to make the decision based on what he thinks someone else's opinion will be. I don't think he'd be unhappy if he joined. I don't think he'd be unhappy if he took your offer either. The only thing I'm certain of, is he's going to do something to prove it's what he wanted - and not just giving in to cowardice, or Ranma's law.

I'm torn between wanting the body back, and wanting an excuse to get a new one that looks more like the woman I used to be. Still with the same great features, of course...... the wave might've taken the ability, but it still left the desire ;P

 I dream big things.  That's why I started up BAT - not just to make money, but to create things that inspire people.

But at the same time, I'm also the The Night Watchman.  People call me paranoid.  I might be.  But can we honestly afford to be wrong when death is so fucking cheap out here?  The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

You know that I breathe, eat, and shit Sun Tzu.  

I don't need to do the first, do very little of the second and the third is a question I prefer not to answer ;P

I think maybe we're focusing on being unassailable from the wrong direction - that's what I'm saying. We're ready to fight the last war. Thats a dangerously overconfident place to be in. It's a thought best left to swim in the think-tanks maybe, something for another day and a more serious place. But I hope to whatever god'll listen that it never comes.

Hope for the best. Build for the worst.

Okay, now this...  This is something that I am definitely up for.  If you're amenable to the idea, I'd like to make this a joint venture, because the more resources we can throw at this, the better it's gonna be.  And I think some of the others might be as well.  Would you mind terribly if I put out some feelers to see if anyone else might want to contribute?

A few were interested up until Arcadia. I've been poking too. I'll spin up a a few messages first and see who bites. The more people involved, the better.

Cross training breeds comradeship too.

.... OH HELL YES.

The logistics will be hell. Making it fair will be hell. Making it safe enough will be a challenge.

Especially without VR or any sort of holographic support. Just the knowledge that you will mwake up tomorrow with aches and bruises (Let alone being actually injured) makes people behave so much more cautiously than in VR - a lot more naturally. VR combat training breeds so many bad habits.

And a little inter-faction combat competition might give us the little avelanches we need to keep the big one from happening.

Alita's enthusiastic about the chance to test her mettle against Fenspace finest. I think she'll win it too. The wave's with her on it.

But yeah, we'll be over in a few days...

Remind Gina to bring her bathing suit. She was cursing herself for missing out on the hot springs last time. We've only just gotten them warmed up again.

And I really need to get another puppet with skin. Cosmopolish only goes so far.

-Jet

------------

Meta:

- Somewhere in the mists of time I recall ZOTT being mentioned before, but in what context I can't recall.
- Gaige/Mackie hasn't been decided, so I'm keeping both options open.
- Jet is, of course, referring to someone who looks suspiciously like the animated Sylia Stingray. The legacy of Mackie's accident.
- And also, vewry much a Keniichi Sonoda character.
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?

[Black Aeronaut]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox
From: BlackRider (Needs No Introduction; confirmed ID)
Date: April 23, 2025

Millenium rules apply. I'm only telling people in private for the time being. Those who need to know. The last thing I want to do is make Mackie feel pressured in anyway - because that's always going to breed resentment. 

I think if he found out tomorrow it was impossible to be resleeved, He wouldn't be happy, but he could deal with it. He's not the first to go through it. He's not the last. He spent a few days on the Forge not too long ago, and, that seemed to settle him at least. 
I think he's more afraid of what people will think, than what he wants. There's a lot he likes about the Gaige identity - none of it related to the body. There's a lot he likes about himself. Part of him's amused at the idea of carrying the pendant after resleeving - just to beg the question. Part of him's terrified that people will just point and say 'I told you so'. 
It's his choice. Whatever he wants to do. The last thing I want is for him to make the decision based on what he thinks someone else's opinion will be. I don't think he'd be unhappy if he joined. I don't think he'd be unhappy if he took your offer either. The only thing I'm certain of, is he's going to do something to prove it's what he wanted - and not just giving in to cowardice, or Ranma's law. 

Agreed.  This is gonna be a delicate balancing act with presenting him option while not making him feel pressured.
.....I don't think we've been on eggshells this badly since you guys woke up Shinji.

I'm torn between wanting the body back, and wanting an excuse to get a new one that looks more like the woman I used to be. Still with the same great features, of course...... the wave might've taken the ability, but it still left the desire ;P

Snrk.  That's a whole different kettle of fish there, buddy.  But if you want my advice, I'd go ahead and splurge a bit.  You guys all sure as hell earned it by catching that fucker along with his all seeing eye guy.

I think maybe we're focusing on being unassailable from the wrong direction - that's what I'm saying. We're ready to fight the last war. Thats a dangerously overconfident place to be in. It's a thought best left to swim in the think-tanks maybe, something for another day and a more serious place. But I hope to whatever god'll listen that it never comes. 
Hope for the best. Build for the worst.

Well, I will say that I've got a few things stewing away on a back burner.  Just some designs that would otherwise need waaaaayyyy too much lead-time to get going if the shit ever did hit the fan.  Things we can slap together with off-the-shelf-parts, and things with some interesting advancements.  The nice thing about having BAT is that I can afford to do R&D into theoretical shit that goes beyond the bleeding edge.  The best part is that these investments yield returns as I incorporate them in the next production runs and upgrades.  I'm also building a store of parts and components for a next generation Gunstar and TIE-Series.

That's the nifty loophole in the PEPPER accords.  You can have as many 'spare parts' as you like.  They're more concerned with functional and operational armaments.

And then I've got a bunch of stuff in the secure data vault - the one that Ruri and Gina have been sitting on like mother dragons on their clutches.  And with good reason, too.  If any of the others saw what I have in there, they'd probably try and force me to step down without realizing that there's a world of difference between having ideas and contingencies in store, and actually acting on them.

And I know very well what overconfidence can do.  I'm always looking at this like I'm the one who's going to be the underdog - in the worst case scenario where the bureaucrats have their way and the Roughriders are all but neutered and THEN the shit hits the fan?  Yeah.  'Nuff said.

I'll fight the bureaucrats, but not so hard that they can fool everyone else into thinking that I'm a danger to society at large.  And while I'll make concessions to them, I'm going to try to at least keep things such that we won't need much time at all to switch to a war footing if there's ever call for it.  As you've seen, I'm pretty much used to people thinking I'm the bad guy anyhow despite me not even having a passing resemblance to Handsome Jack.  :p

A few were interested up until Arcadia. I've been poking too. I'll spin up a a few messages first and see who bites. The more people involved, the better. 
Cross training breeds comradeship too.

Well said.  Keep me posted.  

The logistics will be hell. Making it fair will be hell. Making it safe enough will be a challenge. 
Especially without VR or any sort of holographic support. Just the knowledge that you will mwake up tomorrow with aches and bruises (Let alone being actually injured) makes people behave so much more cautiously than in VR - a lot more naturally. VR combat training breeds so many bad habits. 
And a little inter-faction combat competition might give us the little avelanches we need to keep the big one from happening. 
Alita's enthusiastic about the chance to test her mettle against Fenspace finest. I think she'll win it too. The wave's with her on it.

I dunno.  I think we should keep the danger level on the high-end... And blatantly advertise that aspect of it.  If we intentionally nerf the ZOT the 'Wave might rebel against us.

Besides, there's plenty of us that can get on Alita's level.  AC Peters comes to mind...

Also keep in mind that Alita, in her native canon, has been humbled by the odd defeat or two in her past.  She may not have always been happy about them (I think the only one she ever accepted with a smile on her face was at the hands of elite motorballer, Jashugan), but she's always taken them in stride as learning moments.

That said, though...  I can't wait to see what she pulls if the ZOT ever does become a thing.  

Remind Gina to bring her bathing suit. She was cursing herself for missing out on the hot springs last time. We've only just gotten them warmed up again.

I'll do that.  Just keep in mind what kind of distraction she can be.  While she's not the busty-buxom type that I know Mackie prefers, I've caught him eyeing Gina a few times when he thought no one was watching him.  

And I really need to get another puppet with skin. Cosmopolish only goes so far.

O_o;;;

Benjamin RhodesCinC RoughridersWe break things so you don't have to!

---

Meta:
- The data cache that Ben is referring to is a heavily encrypted Handwavium-enhanced storage server (with emergency air-gap protection) that has all kinds of plans, contingencies, and strategies regarding all kinds of horrible worst-case scenarios, including if, for whatever reason, one of the SMOFs went bad for some reason.  He's very much like Batman in that regard.  :p
- Said data cache also has a partition that Ben does not have access to.  This is Gina's alone, just in case Ben goes bad for some reason.  This was actually Ben's idea because he's not willing to rule out the possibility of himself losing his goram mind for whatever reason and Gina has been instructed to never tell him about anything she has in there.
- There are also designs for warships and even a few 'super weapons' that would have PEPPER bureaucrats howling for his blood.  Because I believe in Burt Gummer's maxim: "When you need it, and don't have it, you sing a whole 'nother tune."

[Dartz]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox

From: JetJaguar
Date: April 23, 2025

I create far too many eggshells. Really. The more I think about it - I can't see any choice he can make that won't earn him a backlash from someone with an agenda to push. It might be for the best if he chooses the Witches. It's the least I deserve anyway.

Snrk.  That's a whole different kettle of fish there, buddy.  But if you want my advice, I'd go ahead and splurge a bit.  You guys all sure as hell earned it by catching that fucker along with his all seeing eye guy.

People keep saying that, but it doesn't feel that way. We got a lucky break and took a chance.

That's the nifty loophole in the PEPPER accords.  You can have as many 'spare parts' as you like.  They're more concerned with functional and operational armaments.

I prefer to deal without the bureaucracy. It's too much hassle. You can go through all the effort to get a legitimate security dongle to unlock all the military functions - ECM, ECCM, weapon interfaces beyond the basic self defense. That costs a lot of money and a lot of paperwork to get - after background checks and the right greased palms for a good character reference and minimum security requirements. And will probably go missing in the event of a real attack.

But, if you know what you're doing and know who to ask, find out what two terminals to jump on the main board. to enable the software anyway.

So long as the paperwork is correct and nobody gives them a reason to pry, that's all that matters. None if it's functional or operational on delivery..... It's not my fault someone 'hacked' it, or 'modified' it and damaged the safety systems.

Anyway. I think everyone has some 'demilitarised' or 'civilian' equipment lying around. A few high-speed transport and 'sport' spacecraft with suspicious ballasting arrangements.

It reminds me of Scotty's third law of engineering. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Part of the reason we took to racing is because there's so much crossover between the two fields. A succesful racecraft, and a succesful fighter different only in one being armed and the other not. And it lets us build a reputation so that, y'know, people might actually buy something from us.

I dunno.  I think we should keep the danger level on the high-end... And blatantly advertise that aspect of it.  If we intentionally nerf the ZOT the 'Wave might rebel against us. Besides, there's plenty of us that can get on Alita's level.  AC Peters comes to mind...

The original ZOTT started as an excuse to test out drone weapons against intelligent oppponets. And if it's too dangerous, nobody will take part. It needs to feel dangerous and exciting, which is a different thing entirely. Nobody'll watch it if it doesn't.

AC can be a dominating force. But. Never forget. To defeat someone stronger than you, all you need to do is not be weaker than them. Alita taught me that - and I can say I've seen both sides of the equation. Besides, we'll probably need decent medical support. Survival Shot never had a serious accident - but at the same time, this is going to be an event on a whole other level of explosive.

O_o;;;

Life finds a way. Anyway, I don't think Gina will have too much of a problem. Mackie's got bigger things to worry about than sneaking peeks. Besides, you know what sort of flightsuits we have out here.

-Jet

--------

Meta:
- If you wonder why Jet's tone is changing - recall how obviously uncomfortable Mackie was with the Gaige thing at first. He went along with it because he trusted Jet not to harm him - Jet did it for far less altruistic reasons than she thought, and is slowly starting to realise it might've been a bad idea to do this. Do the ends justify these means?
- 'Who will win in a fight' is a great way for arguments to break out. It's not a question I ever intend to answer, or push for an answer. Jet's just saying 'Dont count Alita out'.
- Gaige will be wearing A fortified suit. Or, what the plugsuit fetishests call 'a bit extreme'.
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?

[robkelk]

Meta:

Meta:
- If you wonder why Jet's tone is changing - recall how obviously uncomfortable Mackie was with the Gaige thing at first. He went along with it because he trusted Jet not to harm him - Jet did it for far less altruistic reasons than she thought, and is slowly starting to realise it might've been a bad idea to do this. Do the ends justify these means?

Do you still have that exchange between Miyuri and Gaige that I wrote a few months back? (I appear to have misplaced my copy.) That certainly applies here, approaching the issue from an alternate direction.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Black Aeronaut]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox
From: BlackRider (Needs No Introduction; confirmed ID)Date: April 23, 2025

I create far too many eggshells. Really. The more I think about it - I can't see any choice he can make that won't earn him a backlash from someone with an agenda to push. It might be for the best if he chooses the Witches. It's the least I deserve anyway.

Well, let me be the first to say that the next person that starts giving him a hard time is gonna get a boatload of hell from me - even if it has to be anonymous.  You're excluded in that threat; you already seem to be agonising over this as it is.

People keep saying that, but it doesn't feel that way. We got a lucky break and took a chance.

Jet, the reason people keep saying that is, lucky breaks aside, you were the perfect person for this.  Anyone else - be it myself, Gina, Noah, Mal, or even AC Peters would have probably blown it one way or another because we now know that nobody can play the shell game like you.  Just accept that you've done good, and don't feel bad about putting that reward money to good use.

I prefer to deal without the bureaucracy. It's too much hassle. You can go through all the effort to get a legitimate security dongle to unlock all the military functions - ECM, ECCM, weapon interfaces beyond the basic self defense. That costs a lot of money and a lot of paperwork to get - after background checks and the right greased palms for a good character reference and minimum security requirements. And will probably go missing in the event of a real attack. 
But, if you know what you're doing and know who to ask, find out what two terminals to jump on the main board. to enable the software anyway.
So long as the paperwork is correct and nobody gives them a reason to pry, that's all that matters. None if it's functional or operational on delivery..... It's not my fault someone 'hacked' it, or 'modified' it and damaged the safety systems. 
Anyway. I think everyone has some 'demilitarised' or 'civilian' equipment lying around. A few high-speed transport and 'sport' spacecraft with suspicious ballasting arrangements.

Ugh.  I wish I could avoid the bureaucracy.  Unfortunately, given what the Roughriders are, that's impossible for me to do.  But we each have our own ways of working around them.

Part of the reason we took to racing is because there's so much crossover between the two fields. A succesful racecraft, and a succesful fighter different only in one being armed and the other not. And it lets us build a reputation so that, y'know, people might actually buy something from us.

*Winces*  And then I remember how I accidentally tilted the table in the Fe-Zig replacement trials and pretty much blew the competition out of the water.

Seriously, the Dragonfly was only supposed to be a sideshow to attract customers in other factions.  I still have no idea how the hell it wound up in the main showcase, but evidently someone saw it and felt it would be perfect.  Ever get that feeling that you're too good at what you do sometimes?  Because that's how I felt when I got the order from Great Justice.  Not to mention how I felt like an utter heel because if it wasn't for the Dragonfly, someone else's entry would have made the grade and they would have gotten that fat and happy production order.

The only comfort I take from it is how happy everyone in Great Justice is with their Dragonflies.

The original ZOTT started as an excuse to test out drone weapons against intelligent oppponets. And if it's too dangerous, nobody will take part. It needs to feel dangerous and exciting, which is a different thing entirely. Nobody'll watch it if it doesn't.

True.  But if Alita's gonna be in it...  I'll be honest with you, I'd be hard pressed to take her on.  I'm only as good as I am because Gina keeps me sharp.  Everyone got to see that at the Port Phobos Invitational.

Anyhow, that will be something we can start on hashing out while we're over there.

AC can be a dominating force. But. Never forget. To defeat someone stronger than you, all you need to do is not be weaker than them. Alita taught me that - and I can say I've seen both sides of the equation. Besides, we'll probably need decent medical support. Survival Shot never had a serious accident - but at the same time, this is going to be an event on a whole other level of explosive.

Indeed.  Well, I'm definitely gonna give it a go.  It'll be a good opportunity for me to test the skills I've been developing.  And a definite yes on that medical support.  We might even have to see if that new Think Tank they got The Professor locked up inside can spit some goodies out.  We'll probably need them for this.

Life finds a way. Anyway, I don't think Gina will have too much of a problem. Mackie's got bigger things to worry about than sneaking peeks. Besides, you know what sort of flightsuits we have out here.

Yeah yeah.  Gina was never really bothered by it anyhow.  Freaking exhibitionist.  :p

Benjamin RhodesCinC RoughridersWe break things so you don't have to!
PS: I not only don't mind, but as far as I'm concerned he can look all he wants as long as he doesn't touch.~  Besides, it just shows that he has great taste.~  -Gina

[Dartz]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox

From: Jet-Jaguar(New Account)
Date: April 23, 2025

Well, let me be the first to say that the next person that starts giving him a hard time is gonna get a boatload of hell from me - even if it has to be anonymous.  You're excluded in that threat; you already seem to be agonising over this as it is.

It's appreciated. Kotono gave her some basic self-defense training too.

Jet, the reason people keep saying that is, lucky breaks aside, you were the perfect person for this.  Anyone else - be it myself, Gina, Noah, Mal, or even AC Peters would have probably blown it one way or another because we now know that nobody can play the shell game like you.  Just accept that you've done good, and don't feel bad about putting that reward money to good use.

It's not the reward that bothers me. I spent the last thirteen years gazing into the Abyss. When everyone else could get themselves a break to look away and do other things - to be the medic, the engineer, the fiancier - somebody had to keep staring. Everyone was more useful for something else.

Stare long enough. Eventually youi fall in. I could feel it getting close and that's not a nice feeling.

Like being watched in a dark room.

Ugh.  I wish I could avoid the bureaucracy.  Unfortunately, given what the Roughriders are, that's impossible for me to do.  But we each have our own ways of working around them.

Treating red tape like the internet treats damage. There needs to be a trope for that somewhere.

*Winces*  And then I remember how I accidentally tilted the table in the Fe-Zig replacement trials and pretty much blew the competition out of the water.

Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM. I can't blame them. I can be bitter, but I can understand. The bureaucratic mentality is a universal constant. On paper, the catgirls deserved it. Anyway, we've sold a few of the 162's. Most of them with ballast in the nose, or replica markings.

True.  But if Alita's gonna be in it...  I'll be honest with you, I'd be hard pressed to take her on.  I'm only as good as I am because Gina keeps me sharp.  Everyone got to see that at the Port Phobos Invitational.

They stopped inviting me after the fourth. I missed the first one because I was putting radio receivers on a bloody rock somewhere. I've dropped some messages to a few people who might be interested - either in some upgraded training or some ZOTT action. Or both. I just need to see who gets back.

But, anyone can win this thing with the right amount of guile, luck and sheer bloody violence.

Indeed.  Well, I'm definitely gonna give it a go.

My only regret about puitting a ZOTT on, is that I can't take part myself. SBut sometimes, the only way the group will ever agree on playing the game you want, is if you'll GM it. It's not going to be about winning. The prize fund is going to be there to entice the viewers, who're going to pay for far more than the prize fund. Eveyone fights each other. We learn each other's weaknesses and how to deal with them - or cover them - or how a clever enemy might exploit our own. We can get the expensive lessons without paying the blood price.

And the more we fight each other, the less likely it'll be that we end up fighting each other.

Yeah yeah.  Gina was never really bothered by it anyhow.  Freaking exhibitionist.  :p

Technically, I'm naked. And have been for the last thirteen years. Not that it matter's since I've nothing left to actually starer at anyway. Besides, it's nice to be noticed - even itf it is just physically.

[PS: I not only don't mind, but as far as I'm concerned he can look all he wants as long as he doesn't touch.~  Besides, it just shows that he has great taste.~  -Gina

And here I am, just thinking of when Ranma first met Akane. Of couse, since yous both had the same builder, who'se built 'better' is a matter of taste.

-Jet

---

Meta. The internet is packed full of arsehoiles who isnist that if you don't agree with 100% of our ideals, or fit the perfect template - youy're one of the enemy. or just a poser.
- Jet doesn't really feel like she's done good, this time.
- Jet's facing the big end of war question - what next?. Especially when she can't do anything outside of breaking shit near as well as anyone else. She's worried about not mattering in the future - and being bored out of her mind once she's dropped from the ranks of the Mary-Sues.She needs something to do
---Hence, Galatea, for a start.
-ZOTT will happen. The only reason there isn't a thread to bring it on yet is because I amn't sure ho to start one. Jet's story is effectively 'over' (Even if Galatea was May 2025, that was an ID10T erro on my part)
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?

[Black Aeronaut]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox
From: BlackRider (Needs No Introduction; confirmed ID)Date: April 23, 2025

It's not the reward that bothers me. I spent the last thirteen years gazing into the Abyss. When everyone else could get themselves a break to look away and do other things - to be the medic, the engineer, the fiancier - somebody had to keep staring. Everyone was more useful for something else.
Stare long enough. Eventually youi fall in. I could feel it getting close and that's not a nice feeling.
Like being watched in a dark room. 

I'll be the first to admit: I don't really know what that's like - I did the vast majority of my killing from inside a cockpit during the war and that lends a bit of insulation from the more visceral aspects of the job.
But even so, Jet, I think I speak for a lot of us when I say: It's time to come away from the abyss, friend.  No matter what someone acting like a ritalin-fueled asperger-addled dumbass thinks, you're welcome among us.

Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM. I can't blame them. I can be bitter, but I can understand. The bureaucratic mentality is a universal constant. On paper, the catgirls deserved it. Anyway, we've sold a few of the 162's. Most of them with ballast in the nose, or replica markings.

Well, now I know without a doubt that BAT is the IBM of our world out here - The Dragonfly proved that to me.  Really, that's the last time I'm ever gonna showcase a project like that one outside of the regular Conventions.

As for the CGI offering...  I can see why they deserved it, but I can also see why the Dragonfly was chosen over theirs.  Great Justice wasn't looking for something bleeding-edge.  They were looking for something with a better performance envelope than the Fe-Zig but was easy to maintain, simple to understand, easy to train in, and could get fucked up six ways to Sunday and still get the crew home, safe and sound.  CGI delivered a VERY nice product - one that I might have been inclined to buy if I had room for it in my hangars - but it was something better suited for a spec-ops squadron and not a work-horse replacement.

Tell you what.  I'll go ahead and schedule a series of seminars - Subject: Building Successful Military Spacecraft.  I'll be personally imparting the things that I've learned in this business to anyone who wants to get in on it.  Anyone can come, free of charge.  We'll put them up, provide meals, and provide transportation to and from 36 Atalante.  Hell, I'll even throw in passes to the recreation zones.

I might be our world's IBM, but if my only REAL competition is from Chris Marsden, then that's not healthy capitalism, and that needs to change.

My only regret about puitting a ZOTT on, is that I can't take part myself. SBut sometimes, the only way the group will ever agree on playing the game you want, is if you'll GM it. It's not going to be about winning. The prize fund is going to be there to entice the viewers, who're going to pay for far more than the prize fund. Eveyone fights each other. We learn each other's weaknesses and how to deal with them - or cover them - or how a clever enemy might exploit our own. We can get the expensive lessons without paying the blood price.

Well, you and I could always hold a few exhibition matches...  You know, just a little somethin'-somethin' to headline the whole thing.  I guarantee that will, at the very least bring in spectators.

We can hash the rest out when I get over there.  Are any of the girls from CGI gonna be around?  Because if so then I'd like to bring along Nuku-chan and Kitten.  They haven't seen Vivio and the others in a while.

And here I am, just thinking of when Ranma first met Akane. Of couse, since yous both had the same builder, who'se built 'better' is a matter of taste.

*Snrk*  Gina as Akane?  Get thee hence behind me, lest she do the cyborg equivalent of pantsing you as revenge.

Benjamin RhodesCinC RoughridersWe break things so you don't have to!

---

Meta:
- Really, I try not to forget about characters that I've made in the past.
- Dartz, at some point do you want to set up a pirate pad for some interactive sessions?  Shouldn't be too hard to find a time now that I'm working nights.
- Yes, I really would be put out about not having healthy competition.  It just ain't right!

[Dartz]

In: Private Messages ? Inbox

From: JetJaguar
Date: April 24, 2025

You just reminded me of something from a long time ago.

“if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes into you, So you Poke it the eye! But the abyss counters with the two fingered poke, So you block it with your hand, And then slap the abyss in the face with a ‘Why you!”

We all have our crosses to bear. As much as I like to grouse at high command, it's not a place I'd like to be either.

I might be our world's IBM, but if my only REAL competition is from Chris Marsden, then that's not healthy capitalism, and that needs to change.

Yeah, Alta-Vista and Yahoo have pretty much sown up the entire search market. ;P.

Asagiri's a hobby - it's just meant to fund the asteroid racing program. And it's flexible. All it takes is one good spark to catch on fire. You can't really design success - just design it right, give it a reason to exists, and let the street find its own uses. The Kulbit can win a race fresh from the assembly line - even if most of the ones sold sit in a hangar with delivery miles on them only. It's mostly Daryl and Mackie doing it all. Everything's there to fund the racing and engine developments. If people pick it up, they pick it up. ~I amn't sure if I want it to be 'succesful'. Then it wouldn't be as interesting. We'd just be pleasing everyone else.

And we wouldn't be able to do gonzo things like try put an old anti-shipping railcannon on a fighter because everything would need a business case and market inducement beyond Shits and Giggles. Foxhound frames are cheap to make and hard to break.... Haephestus can stamp and weld them out of battlesteel long before carbon cures or titanium can be riveted.

I guarantee that will, at the very least bring in spectators.

I should use my puppet. And definitely bring in the spectators ;p.

It's either that, or whatever ground forces you think you'd need to take me down. Against just me. A sort of Live-Action Gauntlet.... Or the airsoft skirmish from hell. I'll even bring the chocolate grenades. Those things are perfect training ammo. Maybe throw in some terminators which I can break. Since Asmodeus Grey's paying for it....

Gina as Akane?

You said it, not me. I have the proof. And I've no pants anyway.

Not that anyone believes me when I say I actually used to look like that, before the big oops. I remember it, and that's what matters really.

Anyway, I'm beginning to understand why AC spends so much time on her rock - I've been hounded since Odyssey. But it's quiet down here in the Doll. I'll see you soon man.

-Jet

------

- An exact quote from an early story 'Jet Jaguar in the Steelyard'
-She's also been the person in command to sign the bad letters - and it's not a permanent role she'd envy either.
- Jet is teasing - but the parallel is Ferrari.... that cars exist to support the racing, not the other way around.
- As the man said 'LEt them fight'
- With Mackie being a half-finished fork - the wave filled the gaps resulting. Jet's aware of it, but the feelings behind the memories are real.

I think that means I've officially joined the ranks of the Mary Sue. Damn.

Help! I'm becoming a Mary Sue!
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?