[IC] Lost in Dreams [Elijah]

[ericthered]

"Too different? we stay in the shadows and try to bring them around. We would never accept them into our society in that case. We have had four merges so far. Those worlds started out poor, primitive, and fractured. They are now a proud part of the centrum, completely integrated into our society."

[Talosian]

"So, your entire world view is built around making everyone the same as you? That seems a little... arrogant, to be honest. What makes you think that all these worlds have any interest in being the same as you? If you're changing them from the shadows, it doesn't seem like you're giving them the opportunity to do anything but join you. What's the difference between what you're doing and brainwashing them into forced conversion?" Oh s**t. This was probably a bad idea.

[ericthered]

"Because a brain-washing leaves them as slaves. We make them equals. And no, we don't give them a choice. A mother doesn't give her children a choice: she brings them up to become men. As for Arrogance ..." he grimaces. "We don't seek to make them in our image. We wish to save them from the mistakes we made. Is a mother arrogant when she gives her children a balanced diet rather than what they want?"

[Talosian]

"Seriously? You think that the infinite number of people out there are children compared to you? That because they disagree they're somehow inferior? Why do you get to prescribe your world to them? I imagine you'd be less than enthused if they did the same to you." Struck by an idea, Elijah pursues a different angle. "What if there was an alternate that had built your perfect utopia, and it resulted in a catastrophe even worse than the one that destroyed your world? If your experience is sufficient to prove that Secundus is a timebomb, wouldn't theirs be enough to prove that you're just as dangerous? And no amount of evidence counts here. If there's an infinite number of worlds out there, this hypothetical one could find just as many parallels that agreed with its world view. How can you claim to be the one true beacon of enlightenment in an infinite number of worlds? It's absurd! You could be wrong."

(OOC: Well, we're back to firebombing bridges again. This may become a theme >.<)

[ericthered]

"Thats completely bogus reasoning! Not every possibility is out there. Natural laws dictate what happens and what doesn't. Worlds tend to follow those patterns. And we've seen dozens of destroyed worlds. For every 10 worlds, four have no humans, two have primative savages, and two are the destroyed husks of what they once were."

He gives an uneasy look a Maria, the political officer "And no, we don't think we're the one beacon of enlitenment. We just know we haven't run into anything better."

[Talosian]

Seeing Ivan's glance at Maria, Elijah drops his voice. "How do you know that? I spent all night reading about the worlds you know of, and from what I could tell, for everyone one that you can reach, there are plenty more that you can't. Forcing everyone to be like you on the assumption that you're right is wrong, Ivan. It's been the favored tactic of tyrants and dictators for thousands of years." Elijah sighs and rubs at his eyes. "Forget it. It isn't your fault. I'm going to check on Marcus." Elijah will listen to any closing remarks Ivan makes, and then he goes to check on Marcus. If Marcus is still stable, Elijah will follow along with the rest of the group, and try to get more information from Ryan inconspicuously when possible.

(OOC: I'm assuming that Elijah picked up some sense that Quanta imposed some limitations on their travel ability while reading, though he certainly doesn't have any idea of what they are. If that's an overreach, just ignore that bit.
And as a heads up, Elijah is considering the plausibility of trying to jailbreak the Secundans [preferably without getting people killed, but his luck with that won't last]. This is basically the result of his Sense of Duty, plus his other disadvantages.
Also, if it's okay with you, I'm thinking of making some minor edits to Elijah. Mostly adding Pacifism (Reluctant Killer) for realism, and using the points to fill out some background skills.)

[ericthered]

"Yes, we're assuming the hundreds we've seen are like the thousands we haven't. Fairly normal scientific practice. And if everyone tries to influence others to be like them. the differences are in what they think is most effective."

Marcus seems to be a little out of it, but thats as likely to be the drugs he's on as the wounds.

Harold asks for Elijah's help in analyzing the satalite data. The exact layout is foreign, but the OS seems familiar enough, and soon the photos can be looked at. The Centrans aren't on the pictures. The secundian patrol and the hunters are. As are several groups of natives, and a THIRD group wearing modern clothes. This group also has vehicles and is much larger than the other two.

Camp is set up at that spot. The secundians get their own tent, and someone gets assigned to guard it at all times. Elijah's shift will be the first part of the morning.

(OCC: he certainly has been played as a reluctant killer so far. Back ground skills are fine. please list them here or in OCC).

[Talosian]

I didn't say anyone else was right, just that what your people do is wrong. Elijah will ask Harold if he has any idea who the third group might be.

(If that goes nowhere, fast forward to Elijah's shift. He'll ask Ryan for as much information as possible about Secundus, Centrum, parachronozoids, and so on. Elijah will probably not be dumb enough to try and jailbreak anybody right away, but just in case, how are the Secundans secured?)

(OOC: Added Pacifism (Reluctant Killer) [-5], and "Strongly Opinionated" as a quirk. Because good lord he is. Skills added below.

Computer Programming, IQ-2, (H), 11 [1]
Engineer (Electrical), IQ-2, (H), 11 [1]
Engineer (Electronics), IQ-2, (H), 11 [1]
Engineer (Materials), IQ-2, (H), 11 [1]
Machinist, IQ-1, (A), 12 [1]
Mathematics (Statistics), IQ-2, (H), 11 [1])

[ericthered]

OCC: changes approved. please add the changes to the link at the start of this thread. you should be able to edit it.

Harold looks at the images. "Bob would be who'd I ask about it. I didn't think they'd send two hunting parties to the same location ... poachers. The Secundians were looking for poachers. I think we found them."

The secundians have their wrists are tied in front of them, and they have been told to stay inside the tent or risk being shot. The main security threat is the end of the truce: If they attempt escape, they end up on centrum proper, whereas they seem to have hopes for living fairly normally on the world they negotiated being dumped.

Ryan isn't pleased at being woken, and neither are the other secundians.

The woman who surrendered is up first, and asks ryan "What's going on schofield?"

Ryan: "He's an alternate of a secundian. We knew each other's alternates growing up."

Woman: "What the **** is he doing with centrum?"

Ryan: "He's a Parachronazoid. Apparently can't control it well though..."

(seeing the look on Elijah's face)

Ryan: "A world-jumper. I'm not sure how you got here though. If you're from that close of a parrallel ... never mind. Why are you here?"

The Secundians listen to his request, and seem eager to fill him in. Secundus is apparently quite similar to Elijah's world, or at least it would have been without world-jumping. As the cold war ended, power passed from the hands of nations to the mighty Infinity unlimited, for whom the secundians worked. They had ushered in an era of prosperity, intellectual curiosity, and historical introspection.

[Talosian]

(OOC: I think I did that before I even posted the changes... Heh. Heh heh.)

"I'm inclined to agree with you - Secundus, that is. It seems to pretty similar to my world. Still, I haven't been there. The Centrans said that you're unstable and pretty much doomed to implode. Also that you haven't accepted another world as your equal, and that you invaded them." Elijah raises a quizzical eyebrow, attempting to bait out any potential whitewashing.