>>@SGT | TO: @ALL.

[byhand]

For the curious, we have finally found the source of the coolant shortages.

You may have noticed a certain oddity with your dreams as of late, and a greater and greater difficulty in waking from them. I can confirm that you have regrettably-- and entirely accidentally-- stumbled into the dreams of your neighbors and comrades. To those whose privacy has been invaded: we ask for your understanding and kindness. This was the fault of no member of COST.

A trans-dimensional creature known as the Oneiroi, the Telpharan, or more commonly, shapers, have invaded our ship. Colonies of the creature are known to invade ships and BASE models, consuming coolant while distracting their enemies with dreams and visions. These creatures currently live in our walls.

[Attached is an image of a rather exasperated Commander Grothia, flanked by several DACTYL droids, standing before a hole ripped in the wall of BASE's many hallways. She holds a shaper up to the camera, while several DACTYL droids chase more of the creatures escaping out of the walls behind her.]

I have been studying the creatures, and reading up on what histories and zoological studies have been written about them. Debate rages over their sentience-- some believe them to be pests. Others think them intelligent, sentient, sapient creatures who, while incapable of spoken language, communicate nonetheless through the language of dreaming. It is believed by some that the choices they make, of whose dreams to invade, whose to link, and how those connections are made, are an attempt to welcome other sentient creatures into their colonies, to make connections and be understood.

Debate has also continued amongst your command on how to best handle these creatures. Because their intelligence and self awareness is currently unknown, debated even now in scientific communities across the multiverse, we are ourselves unsure how to best deal with this problem. We leave it up to you.

In two days time, I shall put up a poll on the BCE network, and I encourage all to vote in favor of how these creatures should be dealt with: eradication, or (as my comrade has termed it) catch-and-release. Both posit their own risks: the possibility of a mass slaughter of sentient lifeforms, or the possibility of a resurgence of this infection. For myself, I shall not argue with the results, or argue either side. It is your choice to make, my poor fellow-soldiers.

For now: I ask you to consider the matter carefully. You may, of course, ask me any questions you like. I encourage you to debate this matter as thuroughly as you are able.

And in two days' time, I urge you: vote.

[ooc Yep, let's talk about the shaper infection. Characters can ICly debate here (threadjacking encouraged!); there will be an IC vote on the 19th, with results on the 21st. Ask any OOC questions you might have over here.]

Comments

[lonelywar]

The sergeant himself mentioned that their affecting our dreams might be their way to attempt to communicate.

We are also adrift in what is their natural territory. From their perspective, a strange vessel appears in their own lands. They are investigating it, consuming what seems to be an unused food source, and attempting to communicate with those on board.

What part of this warrants such a violent retaliation?

[dipolar]

Forcing us to fall asleep sounds like a defence mechanism.

They weren't the ones that entered our dreams. They made us enter each other's. How is one person being made to invade another person's dreams and nightmares an attempt to communicate? Logically it sounds like more of a distraction while they eat our coolant.

[lonelywar]

Yes. And?

One can scarcely attribute human rationale to a beast, let alone an otherworldly creature. I feel I cannot make assumptions for their intentions, only that if this is the way to avoid detection while searching for food, it is a relatively benign one.

I am not saying we do nothing. I am simply saying how we deal with them should be as harmless as they have been.

[dipolar]

You don't understand the impact these dreams and these nightmares can have on others. You must be having wonderful sleeps, boy.

"Benign" isn't a word you can use when they've been causing unrest and suffering. They're malignant. They're an infection. Do you think sharing dreams is a cute way to make friends? Realize this: I don't want any of you people in my head.

I'll eradicate them myself.

[lonelywar]

[Some of them are actually kinda nice, but the rest of them are constant reminders of how a countermeasure with the constitution of tissue paper currently stands between him and a demon's curse tearing his soul apart.

The bigger difference might be that Ashitaka's already made his peace with that.]

There are many things I would prefer to keep to myself as well.
But I would not go to such lengths for it.

If you make an effort, I will stop you.

[Probably a bad idea, but this is a guy who decided to take on a god single-handed, so his judgment isn't always great.]

[dipolar]

(a narrowing of his eyes in the dark of his bunk.)

You can try.

[lonelywar]

[







Deep breath. Hold. Sigh.

It is easier to give into anger. He knows better. Or at least he knows he should know better.

After a short while:]

At the very least wait to see what the outcome of the vote will be.

If we decide to capture them, I would do what I could to make sure the area around yourself is cleared first.

[Trying...]

[dipolar]

And I'm expected to believe what you say?

No. I refuse to stay quiet and inert in some designated area while you people make a mistake that I can prevent.

[lonelywar]

I have no reason to lie to you.

So even if most would see them captured and released, you would strike out in this way?

[dipolar]

I'm not waiting for that foolish vote and I've no reason to answer you or anyone else any longer.

If you seek me out, I will defend myself. Until that time, goodbye.