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[stonefaith]

Does anyone here happen to know anything about the sea? I was born far inland. Oceans are unfamiliar to me.

[ OOC: this is bariyan's incredibly subtle attempt to lure in people who can help him out on making this United Earth trip happen! and anyone else who wants to come along B) ]

Comments

( voice )

[oxfordian]

I would say I know a bit, ah, but I believe it would have to be particular seas. Though I am familiar with those that border this area.

[ perma- text / private ]

[stonefaith]

Really? I would like to hear what you know about them, then. Though I confess that I do not know the name of this sea.

( voice / private )

[oxfordian]

Well, ah, the distance between where we are and the United Earth -- from what I have gathered, that is -- is not all that long. In fact, you are able to swim it, if history dictates correctly. At least, in the time that I am from.

It was known as the English Channel at the time. It is a part of the Atlantic ocean, though I'm afraid I do not know if they refer to it as something else, now.

[stonefaith]

If you could swim across it I'd imagine that point would be under heavy surveillance. I will look into it, though. Do you know exactly how long the distance is, to swim?

[oxfordian]

Ah, I am not sure if it has changed much in the decades since. My last encounter with the channel was in 1960, I'm afraid. The shortest distance, from the closest point, is 34 kilometres.

[stonefaith]

I suppose that distance could be swum. I will look into this crossing, then.

So you come from an earlier period of time of this world?

[oxfordian]

I'm not certain I would recommend it, as I'm unfamiliar with its current temperature. Though if it is the same distance, it is -- possible. Only cold.

( Charles' smile is evident. )

Ah, yes, quite. Very -- very many years ago, I'm afraid.

[stonefaith]

Can you tell me what this world was like, then? Before all this. Unless it has always been like this.

[oxfordian]

I'm afraid I am from so far in the past that it -- might seem, overall, much too different.

I am from a point in the history of this world where we had been in a great state of fear. Spun... from a very complex political web, as it were. We anticipated our deaths at the hands of the very expanse of land that appears to belong to the United Earth now; ah, the Soviet Union, at the time.

Science had developed weapons, you see. Nuclear weapons, capable of great destruction -- ( Charles pauses. ) -- I am sorry if you are already familiar with some of this, I do hope I am not being redundant. To make it short, if I can... it was thought that they were going to destroy us, at any time, and without warning or provocation. And so we waited; every day.

From what I understand of my readings, this lasted for roughly forty years. All over quite separate political ideologies. It would appear in this future of this same world, that political ideology has become the ultimate pawn in this destruction. There was much more of the world, when I lived in it. There is very little of it left.

( Charles stops, frowns to himself. ) I am sorry. I talk at length -- ah.

[stonefaith]

[ No, Bariyan listens attentively, though he hadn't been expecting so much at once. He was grateful for it though. Information was always welcome.

Huh. The world did not sound any more pleasant a place back then than it was today. ]

Is your Soviet Union now the same thing as the United Earth? And these weapons. Is it possible that they still exist?

[oxfordian]

I do not believe they are the same, no. It is interesting, I cannot quite place who the United Earth once was. It is as though it were an... amalgam of many governments I once knew.

( A bit of a pause. God, does he hope they don't. )

I wish that I could say they do not. However, I imagine that the destruction of -- of whole continents here in this world that were once in mine can... only be attributed to such scientific technology. My best guess would be that they do still exist, in some form.

[stonefaith]

And likely a more advanced one than what you know, I assume. That is highly unfortunate.

If possible, I'd like to meet with you some time in the future to speak further about the state of this world. It seems you may be a little more well-informed than most of us.

[oxfordian]

I would most certainly be willing. I am in my office most often, as it were. In the Hold. I'm not sure if I can guarantee its use, but I do know a great deal more than I think I realise.