1st Article || VIDEO

[gingerscoops]

[When the video feed initially comes on, it's pointed slightly too high and catches only the upward flip of hair on the person trying to use it. However the angle is quickly corrected and Tintin comes fully into view.]

I've been doing some digging since my arrival; is it true that the network is the only information delivery system here? No papers at all? [The question's clearly a bit hypothetical, as he barrels forward regardless.] With the network being so active, it seems like it would be easy to misplace high priority information. Or is there a way to break how it's sorted down a little more specifically? By the sound of it, most of us are out of our depths here and it might be a good idea to have some kind of system that's a little more-- [He waffles a moment, looking for the right word.] --well, 'focused' I suppose.

On that note, I'd appreciate any information you might have regarding a few statistics: how long the average Transport stays in Exsilium, any census data on hand, how common the missions the Initiative sends us on are and the like. Any hard fact is a good one.

--Oh! [He sharpens, suddenly serious.] And if anyone knows where to find dog food, I'd appreciate that as well. It comes in a can.

[The feed clicks off.]

Comments

video

[chittybang]

You can send messages to other Transports directly, and there is a way to make filters as well. I doubt anything would ever get done if we couldn't get in touch with each other directly.

video

[gingerscoops]

Oh, the direct contact I understand. That's just like a telephone. [A very...advanced telephone.] What I don't know is how you've been getting by without a proper, well-- newspapers. Radio programs.

Talking to one another is all very well and good, but it seems there's a gaping hole in how information is delivered without the rest.

video

[chittybang]

Oh, I see what you mean. I did come across some sort of a news article on the network that had been published while I was gone... but you're right, it gets buried within everything else.

To be honest, I just go through the network like it's the morning paper since it's all we have.

[gingerscoops]

But should it be? How long have Transports been here? Or even just looking at the civilians here that aren't associated with the Initiative? It seems like someone should have started some kind of organized information system by now.

[He drops his fist on his open palm, nodding his head to himself.] If I was the betting type, I'd say the network has become a real crutch for people.

video;

[keep_smiling]

I'm not sure if we have data like that, but my guess is the Initiative would have that info. And you're right, we should have something like a newspaper or newsletter, yeah? All the good news and gossip! That could be fun.

video

[gingerscoops]

[Tintin snaps his fingers. That's right! He hadn't even thought about asking an Initiative official; it didn't really seem like their was much contact between the transports and anyone higher up the food chain, but that didn't mean it was impossible.] You've got a point there. I'll see what I can do about contacting a higher up.

Gossip I can do without, but-- well, it's a war isn't it? Seems like there should be some kind of publication keeping everyone up to date.

video

[keep_smiling]

A good idea, since I think most of the time, the Initiative isn't quite sure what they're doing. And there's so many transports, that keeping everyone up to speed would be great!

It could be informative, and fun. Maybe include interviews with transports! With so many people here from different worlds and times, it would be an interesting read.

video

[medusalith]

There are a number of places to purchase dog food, although none seem capable of handling orders for a large amount of it. [ Her hair twitches in annoyance before she continues. ] But I concur on the matter of requiring a better form of communication regarding news and other noteworthy information. Whether the Initiative would support such an endeavor remains to be seen - they primarily leave us to our own devices - but there is always a chance that someone may step out of the lines they've drawn.

video

[gingerscoops]

Well I don't really need it in bulk, so that should be all right. Right, Snowy? [Tintin turns his head. There's a bark from off screen. Tintin turns back with a gentle shrug. Seems fair.]

They seem fairly reasonable? I mean, beyond the whole kidnapping and draft bit; I guess that's not incredibly level headed. But they don't seem especially domineering. I can't imagine they'd disallow a transport run publication if someone found the means to establish one.

video

[medusalith]

[ There's a small smile at that, and Medusa quickly sends the location of a few places over the communicators. ]

You'll forgive Lockjaw if he appears to bother your dog - pets are almost unheard of in Attilan and there are only a few stray cats here. A game of fetch or a treat will send him on his way back to us.

[ He's a giant teleporting bulldog. She simply expects him to show up to bother everyone eventually. ]

Reasonable, yes, and more than willing to answer any question you might have so long as they are the right questions to ask. But the question comes in by what means to establish one - I suppose you have an idea already?

video

[ipsofacto]

[There's what appears to be a thoughtful-looking girl replying, head cocked. It's something that's crossed his mind before, how busy the network is.]

It is a little difficult trying to parse everything that comes onto this network, isn't it...? People talk a lot using audio rather than text, so making something on these tablets to search through broadcasts for the important things could be tricky...

[A pause. And a sheepish smile. He got to blathering.] S-sorry. I've been thinking about this kind of thing, too...

video

[gingerscoops]

It seems like the easiest thing to do would be to make some kind of... large post to the network at regular times with some kind of special filter on it? Honestly, I'm new to this so I'm not sure if that's possible.

[He taps his chin thoughtfully. Clearly someone with more expertise in this sort of thing would be helpful.]

video

[ipsofacto]

Oh. I think that'd be possible, yes...

[Actually,] It shouldn't be difficult, actually...the network is pretty accessible.

[inparidelicto]

That is a very important point to have! I wonder if anyone has thought to compile information as it becomes available! That would be a valuable thing to have...

[Ishimaru crosses his arms, nodding, thoughtful.] I'm a new arrival, so I don't know the exact answer to your question! I'm very sorry. All I know is that I have not found one!

[gingerscoops]

Someone mentioned that the Initiative itself might have some kind of record of all the transports here and that sort of thing. I mean, I know there's a directory here on the network itself but... well, it seems like there must be someone compiling more hard data than that, doesn't it?

[inparidelicto]

It seems like a thing they ought to have, a roster! It must be something that is useful to keep track of.

[Another thoughtful sort of nod and he brings a hand to his chin, tapping.]

It does! Someone must be paying that sort of attention! Perhaps someone who has been here a long time would know. Maybe even starting with the person who has been here the longest...

[video; anonymous]

[pixieboots]

Jeez, I wish. It would make scrolling through this thing ten times easier.

video;

[gingerscoops]

It does seem a bit...cluttered, doesn't it? I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so.

[He didn't want to offend anyone but-- yeah, it's a bit of a mess.]

video;

[pixieboots]

I don't think it's designed to be really user-friendly. We don't even use 'em on missions, which is what I thought they for were for.

Video

[totallytrustworthy]

--sorry did you just ask for a census? Here? You know, on this lovely plot of land that hardly ever stays the same without changing for more than two minutes?

Good luck with that, love.

video;

[gingerscoops]

Well, it didn't hurt to ask for one. Though I'm rapidly getting the impression that even that's a bit of a stretch. [Which is-- it's not the first time he's been to places without a localized sense of government or any real municipal systems in place, it's just a little jarring to have that combined with time travel in the same society. But maybe he's expecting too much? There is a war happening...]

Anyway, I thought that even if the transport population seems the fluctuate wildly there must at least be some regularity with the civilians outside the Hold, right? Or are they radically effected by the time travel missions you're -- er, we're -- sent on?

[He'd read a book about the things that could happen if you messed up too much in your own past; nasty business.]

[totallytrustworthy]

Can't fault you for that.

And they have been, yeah. At least once or twice, and usually when things go...[Chloe cants her head to one side, gestures casually with her hands.] less than perfect. So to speak.

voice

[commentboxtroll]

Just make sure the dog food isn't made of dogs before buying it.

[ Though what passes for 'dog' around here is tenuous at best, so it might not count as cannibalism. ]

And considering there's no actual ruling government here, I'm going to guess census data is right out.

voice;

[gingerscoops]

Maybe nothing official, but surely someone's been keeping tabs on the comings and goings of people? Or at the very least, there must be someone monitoring the... human versus non-human population?

voice;

[commentboxtroll]

You only meant Transports? [ At least that narrows the possibilities down to slightly more likley. ] In that case, the Initiative is supposed to have files on everyone, but I don't think they'd have much reason to monitor that kind of thing.