SS572S | VOICE | D009

[2199]

[American, vaguely East Coast, female, an adult voice with a harsh cadence; she speaks in the dull tone of someone accustomed to terse military communication.]

This is Sierra-Sierra-Five-Seven-Two-Sierra, requesting Libra. I say again: Sierra-Sierra-Five-Seven-Two-Sierra, requesting Libra. Requesting November-Sierra-Charlie. Requesting... Requesting unknown station.

Possible India-Foxtrot-Tango bleed. Proceed with caution. Do not interact with any nonhuman organic life. I say again: do not interact with any nonhuman organic life, under any circumstance. This priority overrides all other orders. Authentication: Deep Waters.

Report... Report. [A long sigh. Something like fatigue creeps in, but it's quickly banished.] Reporting buildings on the horizon. Will attempt reconnaissance.

Please hail if assist is needed. Location unknown, but... well, if I can hear you on this thing, I should be able to get to you.

Sierra-Sierra-Five-Seven-Two-Sierra, over.

Comments

[2199]

[Moss breathes a big sigh of relief this girl isn't like she was when she was 19.]

You're saying... it seems like people have moved on from this place. We're... remnants.

[...]

I don't know if that's good or bad news.

[ichoosefight]

Oh I'm sure it's bad. It always is.

I'm not up on everything that's been found, but there's the wreckage of at least one plane. I haven't found anything residential myself, yet.

[2199]

Have a little hope. Things might be better than you know.

[She didn't wake to find the cold of Terminus, the white hole hanging in the sky. Things are, in fact, pretty good, but that's classified.]

Describe your current location, Bravo-Tango.

[ichoosefight]

"Hope for the best, expect the worst". At least with more people it should be easier to get an idea of what we're working with.

'East jungle' is really as specific as I can get you. I'm working on putting together a map, but the tiny screen isn't a lot to work with.

[2199]

That's only true when you have no information. It seems to me like everyone is getting their bearings pretty quickly.

Hmm. Have you seen any buildings? I won't know east or west until sundown.

[ichoosefight]

All I know is, Murphey's Law is a universal constant.

No buildings since we left the holding facility in the north that I mentioned.

[2199]

That's just preparing for failure.

Hm. We'll see if we can locate each other. It might be a good idea to rendezvous.

[ichoosefight]

You say that like it's not how people survive in dangerous situations. Aren't you military? Don't you guys have a bunch of contingency plans?

Pooling resources is always a good idea in a survival situation.

[2199]

The military and the government make contingency plans for various states of failure, but the absolute worst scenarios have no plans attached to them. The worst scenarios can't be planned for; that's why what makes them the worst possible outcome. So if you have a plan, things aren't as bad as they could be.

[Real inspiring pep talk, Moss. Great way to get past the are you military question.]

When I have a better idea of where I am, I'll radio you for your map.

[ichoosefight]

[ ...Is the military... less hard-assed than Batman? Why does it feel like the world has turned sideways? ]

Um. I mean. I guess that's technically true. Since the worst case scenario is one in which you don't have a plan.

I think you're kind of mixing up planning with mental state, though.

I mean, yeah, a freaky space monster hasn't eaten the sun, but that doesn't mean you can't plan for an island full of psycho cannibals that overthrew an advanced police state.

[ Definitely a normal thing to plan for, yes. ]

[2199]

[She mentally rearranges this conversation, filing it under 'good enough'.]

I... guess you can, if that's something you wanted to do. I wouldn't know the logistics. We may be splitting hairs.

We have edible food and potable water. It's better than I was expecting.

[ichoosefight]

Better than getting caught unaware by a bunch of strange dudes with crossbows and steak knives.

[ This is a joke! Probably. Mostly. It could happen, okay? ]

It took a while to get this far. I only found something to boil water in a few days ago, and I'm still mostly foraging for food. It's lucky there were enough of us that know how to survive in a situation like this.

[2199]

It's lucky we're not in a desert.

Do you know if anyone's come down with any illnesses from the food and water here?

[ichoosefight]

Yeah, I know D-I got sick. I'm not sure what caused it, though. I've mostly been hearing about this stuff over the comms.

[salamanca]

Hey, send it to me when you're done! [ He means the map. ]

[ichoosefight]

Nah, I was gonna just keep it for myself. Queen of the island, that's my secret dream.

[salamanca]

[ Snort-laughs. ] Ah, but your majesty, how will your adoring subjects find you to pay homage without a map?

[ichoosefight]

I accept offerings in the form of shameless flattery.