mytholder: Now We Are Here, General Transmission #25

Mytholder (

mytholder) wrote,
@ 2008-02-21 00:24:00

Entry tags:

now we are here

Now We Are Here, General Transmission #25
Following on from this...
The consensus is to negotiate, and Cogburn reluctantly agrees. A shuttle carries Captain Jacobs up from the surface. It's the first time the captain has appeared in public in some time - he's been busy overseeing the deployment of the Core Landing Module and the development of your still-unnamed settlement - and he looks tired and worn.

A new C-link network is established to hold the negotiations. The captain's the first to address you all.

>C-link engaged
>Backup network open/accord/secpro: null/xjacobsr
>SUBJECT: An Amicable Accord
My friends... I fear that this crisis is largely the result of my negligence. I should have provided more leadership to the consensus in this critical time, and held us together in a common purpose. We have been divided by a series of crises - the failure of the aerobraking shield, the strange creatures on the surface, mistrust and confusion on board the St Andrew - and this division has been allowed to fester, when we should have focussed on our shared mission.

We are the only humans within several light-years. An unimaginable gulf separates us from Sol, from the Jovian moons, and yes, from Earth and the AESIR. We are here to start again, to build a just and free society on a new verdant world. We left Sol not simply because we were defeated in war, but because the stultifying control and hatred of the AESIR was intolerable to us. We are here to do it better.

The mission plan calls for the ship to be broken down, and for the majority of the crew to transfer to the surface while a skeleton crew maintains this loyal old vessel as a communications hub. I understand that the ship has been your charge and your home for many generations, but you have a new home now, with us, down on Serendipity.

This current crisis is born of misunderstanding. Security were too aggressive - but with the recent problems on the surface, their tension is perhaps understandable. The flight crew were too secretive - but I have failed to integrate you into the crew. Please, let us put down arms and return to the mission plan. We are here, on the threshold of our new home. The ship has served its purpose. Come home with us.

As a gesture of good faith, I offer to atone for the problems on board ship by stepping down as captain. Further, I propose that one of the flight crew be my successor in the post.

Cogburn transmits a brief message.
>C-link engaged
>Backup network open/accord/secpro: null/xcogburn
>SUBJECT: The Insurrection
The Flight Crew mutinied against the lawful command of this ship. We've had problems since day one on board - Eugenie Kale's murder, the sabotage of the heat shield, Prospero's bizarre behaviour - which add up to deliberate attempts to doom this mission. I am not accusing the whole Flight Crew of being involved, but I am convinced there are dangerous elements within them.

I suggest this - full control of the ship is returned to the rightful authorities. When Prospero's back online and fully checked out, we go in and we find out exactly what happened and who the traitors are. We root out the corruption, and then everyone who's really committed to the mission can live happily ever after on Serendipity.

I don't want power and I don't want to be in charge. I want us to be safe and secure, and the only way that's going to happen is if we find the saboteurs.

And if it comes down to it - we don't need this ship anymore, one way or the other.

Both Patmas and Romal of the flight crew transmit messages.

>C-link engaged
>Backup network open/accord/secpro: null/xpatmas
>SUBJECT: Emergency Repair
Shipmates all, xPatmas, we do not want conflict. This ship is our home, and will always be dear to us. Prospero, too, is a friend and should not be treated with such violence. Junior flight are mostly willing to disembark, senior flight have bone degredation, gravity is pain. Let junior flight go down, all. As captain says, follow mission plan, but edit, leave ship functional. I will watch it. Above all, no violence.

>C-link engaged
>Backup network open/accord/secpro: null/xromal
>SUBJECT: RE:Debate
Shipmates all, xRomal, mission plan is outdated. Flight crew are most comfortable on ship, let those who wish to go down go down and those who wish to stay stay. Leave the ship to us. If Prospero is damaged, let it be repaired. Repair and maintenance are good. Cogburn is violent, acts without consensus. He speaks of war, of conflict. Such things are fresh in his mind, because he was a sleeper. We are five, six, seven generations removed from such things. He sees cascade system errors when indicator lights only flicker. Remove Cogburn, let those who wish to remain remain, and we have consensus.

To summarise:
The captain advocates sticking to the mission plan, everyone shakes hands, and he steps down as a symbolic gesture. The majority of the Flight Crew transfer to the surface, the ship's gutted.
Cogburn suggests turning the ship upside down until he finds his 'saboteurs'.
Patmas agrees with the captain, but wants the St. Andrew to be kept as intact as possible. Not stripping the ship will slow the development of the colony.
Romal wants Cogburn gone. He wants the flight crew to be allowed to remain on the ship if they wish, but wants the rest of the crew to leave the ship eventually.

By the way, here's the last consensus on this issue.

Poll #1141739
Open to: All, results viewable to: All

What's the compromise?

View Answers

The captain's position
9 (23.1%)

Cogburn's position
4 (10.3%)

Patmas's position
15 (38.5%)

Romal's position
5 (12.8%)

Your own position (explained in the comments)
6 (15.4%)

(Post a new comment)

	mytholder 2008-02-21 01:24 am UTC (link)
	Oh - the Flight Crew are lining up mostly behind Patmas, with a sizable minority favouring Romal. (Reply to this)

	delichan 2008-02-21 02:15 am UTC (link)
	What are the numbers of Senior Flight staff (those who would be remaining under Patmas' position)? And what would be the effects on them of stripping the ship, as the Captain proposes? (Reply to this)(Thread)

mytholder
2008-02-21 03:07 am UTC (link)

About twenty.

Stripping the ship would leave them a much, much smaller living space. Currently, the St. Andrew is a huge ship, with dozens of modules studded along the drive spine. The original plan called for the drive spine to be stripped almost bare, leaving only two or three living modules and various engineering and support modules. There would be less than 5% of the original living space left.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

delichan
2008-02-21 11:54 am UTC (link)

So, 5% of the space for 5% of the people, about?
I agree with rana_lindow's suggestion of a kind of "intermediate" proposal that's half way between Patmas' and the Captain. (I don't see any reason to force those who don't want to leave to experience the pain of gravity and adjustment.)

If there is extra that can be spared for the remaining Flight Crew, that is well and good, but the Colony is our priority. It is the future of our race.

Questions remain regarding Prospero and investigations need to continue - albeit less aggressively. Perhaps a team consisting of Engineers *and* Flight Crew members (a mixture of Senior and Junior FC would be preferable to mitigate potential tension and miscommunications) could be constructed to complete the investigations of and repairs of Prospero.

We are, after all, one team working towards a common goal.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

rana_lindor
2008-02-21 12:41 pm UTC (link)

"Questions remain regarding Prospero and investigations need to continue - albeit less aggressively. Perhaps a team consisting of Engineers *and* Flight Crew members (a mixture of Senior and Junior FC would be preferable to mitigate potential tension and miscommunications) could be constructed to complete the investigations of and repairs of Prospero."

An excellent suggestion, and perhaps a template for future ops on the surface as well?

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	rivet_geek 2008-02-21 02:53 am UTC (link)
	I agree with Romal's position, and while I think Cogburn is too aggressive I also voted for Prospero to be taken offline. Cogburn needs to account for his actions and prove his suspicions, even it takes some kind of formal inquest in order to do so. If it becomes evident that his suspicions were groundless, he should be reprimanded or removed. (Reply to this)

rana_lindor
2008-02-21 02:56 am UTC (link)

Maintaining the ship as a communications hub is a good idea, as is integrating the Flight Crew into the new Colony.

I would advocate following Patmas's plan with a few qualifiers.

A) Establishing the Colony takes precedence. Anything which NEEDS to be removed from the ship will be, no exceptions.

B) Remaining on the ship as part of the 'skeleton crew' is understood to be a retirement position, a final posting to see out one's days. All crew members will eventually be brought to the surface, when the last of those who cannot survive there are dead the ship will be abandoned.

NB Need estimates on remaining life-span of crew who cannot make the move to the surface and how long we can continue orbital operations with the shuttle. If we can continue operations long enough by limiting shuttle ops to once a year or something, that might be ok, but ideally we need more.

C) Agree with Cogburn or not, his concerns have merit and cannot be ignored. By agreeing with Patmas we strengthen his position vs Romal with his people. Also, we place a more trustworthy figure in an important position of authority for us. This will enable us to quietly begin investigating Cogburn's concerns, hopefully with an emphasis on subtlety.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

mytholder
2008-02-21 03:14 am UTC (link)

Shuttle operations are currently restricted by fuel supplies. Tank 6 was destroyed in aerobraking, and a lot more is being used in recovering the lost cargo pods, survey missions and flights back and forth in these early stages. Overall, there's enough fuel for around two dozen surface-to-orbit flights; more, if it's rationed.

Given the right chemicals and power, the CLM can synthesise shuttle fuel. It's a complex procedure, though, and requires more of an industrial base than you've currently got.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

cerandor
2008-02-21 10:31 am UTC (link)

I've not exactly come around to Cogburn's position, but I now agree that we are facing infiltrators. The presence of the cryo-stored body in the recovered pod is ample evidence of that. However, an investigation is needed, rather than a purge. I'd agree with your points above, with one specific qualifier:

The last thing we need is minority factions causing major problems. We're in a precarious position as it is. The Captain's authority is required to hold things together, but both Cogburn and Romal have their supporters. I suggest that they be directly involved with the investigation, while Patmas takes authority for the ship itself.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

rana_lindor
2008-02-21 12:56 pm UTC (link)

We absolutely should co-opt Romal. I think he's one of the Flight Crew young enough to go planet-side?

We should apply pressure on him through Patmas, play up the responsibility to his people, to take a leading role in operations planetside.

By giving him a job we both put him somewhere we can keep an eye on him and at the same time symbolicly make him part of us again, instead of an opposition.

Both he and Cogburn seem too... zealous to be working with each other right now, but getting both to lead projects on the surface to help establish the Colony could lead to a healthier rivalry, with the possibility of integrating their efforts down the line.

Key to the viability of all this is the question of the Flight Crew's expected lifespan? I get the impression it's a workable number, but a numerical range would be nice? Science and Medical?

(Reply to this)(Parent)

snarg
2008-02-21 07:28 pm UTC (link)

I've not exactly come around to Cogburn's position, but I now agree that we are facing infiltrators.

I have no doubt whatsoever that you're correct.

Security, any comment?

What do infiltrators have to gain? They're centuries away from whoever their bosses would be, and surely the war is long forgotten. AESIR is probably a distant memory, and few of us have any ambitions beyond getting a viable colony established.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

inannajones
2008-02-21 09:20 am UTC (link)

I'm a bit unclear on how the Captain's stepping down would help the issue at all. I don't think his leadership has been questioned, the problems have been between Cogburn and the flight crew. I voted for Patmas, but would suggest that the Captain remain in his position, and that while we leave the ship functional for those to whom living on the surface would understandably be too much, we take everything we can for the colony. It does worry me that Cogburn appears to be the only one who is looking for violence in a situation which out of necessity calls for compromises from everyone's part.

The Flight Crew looked after us while we slept. I think they deserve better than being forced to live in an environment that will be painful to them.

(Reply to this)

ninja_comedian
2008-02-21 10:30 am UTC (link)

I would tend to agree that the ship should be mainitained to some extent for those that can't make the transition to the planet. But how long can the St. Andrew maintain orbit, stripped or not? If it can't maintain orbit for a useful length of time or even the lifespan of an average flight crew member then we should strip the ship tp some extent.

Alternatively might it be possible to strip the ship, and between parts of the existing St. Andrew and local resources cobble together an orbital habitat / communications relay for the remaining flight crew to man? That way they contribute to the colony and have a space based living space.

If retrofitting the St. Andrew can't be done, then I would go with the plan of action outlined by rana_lindor above.

Whatever course of action is followed, I would restrict the reproduction of the space based population if they are not expected to remain there for long. If they are a short term population, then newborns must be relocated to the planet when convenient - the colony needs all hands available. We owe the flight crew a debt of gratitude, but their time is past.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	mytholder 2008-02-21 12:30 pm UTC (link)
	The ship's in a stable orbit, and there's still a little bit of juice left in the thrusters for corrections. Back-of-an-envelope calculations say it can maintain its position for two hundred years or more. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	rana_lindor 2008-02-21 12:59 pm UTC (link)
	I agree, the space-based population should either be past the age of reproduction, (they are supposed to be retired!) or in the case of any younger vital maintainace staff, refrain from it. All childbearing should be going on planet-side! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thelesuit
2008-02-23 04:53 am UTC (link)

I agree that maintaining a viable and diverse breeding population is critical to the colony.

What is the colony's current population and how much additional diversity are we carrying in any preserved cellular repositories?

I'm assuming that once we have the CLM fully operational we can solve any issues arising from a lack of genetic diversity through gene-splicing techniques and a regimen of in-vitro therapies.

[OOC: I'm not sure of the pre-departure tech level, was cloning possible?]

My point would be -- I'm not sure how much of an issue this is.

I would tend to agree that we want to curtail the genomic drift that has occurred due to six generations of zero-to-low gravity. Continuing to bear consecutive generations in space isn't a physiologically sound strategy.

Concerning the current debate I'm not sure I'm awake enough to provide a cogent opinion...still suffering from a little cryo-lag.

T.LeSuit, Xenobiologist

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

(Anonymous)
2008-02-27 10:10 am UTC (link)

While it certainly isn't a good idea to reproduce in microgravity, we can't, or at least shouldn't, prevent it from happening. We can advise from a strong position of scientific and medical knowledge against it, but we shouldn't coercively prevent it, unless something's going on that breaks baseline human taboos like incest.

Equally, while it's probably better that Flighters don't regress into some sort of superstitious machine cult, there's not a lot we can do about it without becoming as repressive as the regime we all came out here to escape.

We can certainly disapprove, we can certainly attempt to point out the flaws in such thinking, but so long as it doesn't threaten the viability and survival of the colony, we'll just have to tolerate any such activity as best we can.

All that being said - the mission of making this colony work and survive places demands and responsibility on every human on or around this planet.

Equally, I think we need a common system of (non-military) justice and representative government for the entire human populace so that the needs of distinct minorities like the Flighters can be represented and disputes arbitrated fairly.

I'd like to assume someone thought of this before we left the Sol system, but it may have slipped down the priority list in the rush to escape.

P.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

(Anonymous)
2008-02-21 05:40 pm UTC (link)

Well - given the hodge-podge of proposals, which each contain good and bad, compromise is not just necessary, but desirable.

My proposal:

1: All supplies that are essential for the reasonably rapid growth of the surface colony to be moved downwell as per the mission plan. That much hasn't changed.

2: Those Flight who want to or have to stay in orbit should be allowed to do so. No one should be forced to move down unless they want to. And we certainly shouldn't be telling them whether they can have children up there or not. That's what we came out here to escape, remember.

A compromise will have to be made on the degree of stripping of the ship to accommodate both the growth of the colony and the continuing presence of Flight members in orbit. The ship is vast. I think both positions can be accommodated.

3: Cogburn to be relieved of command. However, a full investigation of Prospero needs to be completed. Ditto the matter of the cryopod and the other matters that Cogburn has made accusations about. If these are baseless accusations, let everyone know it, including Mr Cogburn. If there's anything to them, then let the guilty parties be known and let them answer to the entire colony.

4: I don't see any value in the captain standing down. Let him hold his position. We're deciding things by consensus anyway, but a symbolic figure is desirable for unity. Also - assuming the accusations about their behaviour are proven baseless, I suggest we include Flight in all consensus points.

5: Prospero. Assuming no jiggery pokery is discovered in his systems, he can be brought back online. Can we put some thought as to whether we want an iteration of him on the surface? I wouldn't want to suggest he be moved surface side wholesale, but if the bulk of the colony is going to be on the ground, then an AI mainframe should be also.

P.

(Reply to this)

	snarg 2008-02-21 05:53 pm UTC (link)
	Above all, no violence. As usual, I agree with Patmas. Is s/he junior enough to join us on the surface? I'd like to see Romal more involved in the surface settlement process. (Reply to this)

	amcathra 2008-02-21 06:38 pm UTC (link)
	Was the original flight plan to move Prospero's core planetside as well? Is an AI essential for spaceship operation in general, or stardrive operation in particular? Myself, I think the modified version of Patma's position as given by rana_lindor is the one to plump for. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	mytholder 2008-02-21 10:03 pm UTC (link)
	The mission plan doesn't give a final disposition for the AI core. An AI isn't necessary for spaceship operation, as automated systems can do almost as well. (Reply to this)(Parent)

lilfluff
2008-02-22 07:50 am UTC (link)

Man, I spend I little while in the sick bay with sniffles and everyone starts barking.

My plan, I like much of what the Captain and Patmas said. No fighting. Anyone fighting gets no more cookies or ice cream. Bring what's needed to the surface, but see if we can't leave a little extra space behind. Space stations are nifty, our colony ought to have a space station. And Prospero should be helped, it's not nifty if someone has hurt him.

Maybe have Romal and Cogburn check for problems together? Would they be willing to do so?

(Reply to this)

	dochockin 2008-02-23 06:13 am UTC (link)
	I don't have much time, I gotta back to recalibrating the offside bearings on the spare definningator, but I wanted to put in my vote for rana_lindor's proposal. I've only been out of cryo for a few days and I'm still pretty shaky on all that's happened, so I'll be in the mech-shed if anyone needs me. Dochockin Mechanical Engineering (Reply to this)

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