>>@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

[frogfractions]

The rooms have locks.

[bloodings]

then move your crap somewhere else!

[ So... she can break it... ]

[frogfractions]

Your grasp of debate is flawless.

You do understand I would stop you even if you could get to my things, don't you?

[bloodings]

id like to see you try.

[frogfractions]

What happened to not wanting to spar with me?

Or is petty sniping at your appearance the only thing that motivates you? I've seen vanity in my time, but that's still impressive.

[bloodings]

it has nothing to do with my appearance.

[ Half truth, half a lie. She looks exactly like her father... which means she takes any insult twice as hard, as if it applies to him too. ]

you just piss me off, thats all. i knew you did from the first time we spoke.

[frogfractions]

We hardly even know each other's names.

I am curious what about me pisses you off, however. Is it my roguish good looks and vast intellect?

[bloodings]

[ Prelati... ]

youre either joking, or just delusional.

[frogfractions]

Column A, Column B. I'm hardly that vain.

Though I don't mind my form, even if its appearance isn't a concern. Saint-Germain is a skilled alchemist. I'm proud to inhabit her creation.

[bloodings]

[ Wait. ]

creation?

are you some kind of homunculus?

[frogfractions]

I was born a normal human, in the same way any other human is born. When I joined Saint-Germain, she constructed a new body for me, and transferred my soul into it.

It's not dissimilar from the concept of a homunculus, but only my body is artificial, not my soul.

Do you know something about alchemy after all?

[bloodings]

watch your tongue, fool. theres nothing artificial about the soul of a homunculus.

[ Tongue? Fingers? Whatever. Wow that sounds bad out of context. ]

homunculi in my world are a combination of magecraft and alchemy. im familiar with the result, if not the process. but there are probably some differences.

[frogfractions]

]I'll admit, I've never actually seen a completed homunculus. Working with an existent soul is one thing, but creating one is next to impossible. Alchemists in my world prefer autoscorers.

Artificial dolls, powered by a small slice of their creator's soul. Memories, emotions.

The difficulty with an autoscorer is that whatever piece of yourself you use to power them tends to define them. A happy memory will result in an excitable doll, and a violent one will result in a monster. A homunculus is a much more well-rounded construction, at least in theory.

So don't take artificial as an insult. If I meant it as one, I'd be shaming my own art.

[bloodings]

the ones i know are nothing like their creators. so yes, theyre far superior to a simple doll. even the ones designed solely for combat were capable of more than that, given the chance.

i fought many. i fought with one, too.

[ The same one she'd killed once. But she can't laugh at that boy, when he's trying to find his place in the world, just like she is. ]

they have their own personalities, their own dreams. if thats not a soul, then i dont know what is. i dont care what an alchemist or mage would define it as.

[frogfractions]

Exactly my point.

A well-made artifice can have more depth and beauty than the clumsy missteps of nature.

This goes for everything from jewels to bodies. There's no reason it can't apply to souls, as well.

[She's no fan of God, and she was hardly a believer in the natural order, even before she was an alchemist.]

Still, it's a little sad, in that case. You said you fought them? I'd have been curious to talk to one. Or at least examine the corpse.

private

[bloodings]

for some self-serving purpose, no doubt.

they were my enemies at the time. its only natural we fought.

[ She'd felt that moment of conflict, at first, but it only lasted a second. If it meant winning, she would have mowed them all down without hesitation. ]

tell me, alchemist. a homunculus created in the form of another through unnatural means, but born from a womb as a human would be... what would you call that? where does such a thing fit in your knowledge?

re: private

[frogfractions]

Jesus Christ?

[Hardly. But it's the closest analogy she can think of. Don't let it get to your head, Mordred - not that she's aware Mordred is asking after herself. She's fairly sure Mordred isn't human, but she's being so obvious about asking about herself that Prelati has to imagine she isn't.]

An artificial pregnancy. Humanity is already experimenting with that, so I wouldn't call it strange. Depending on the 'unnatural means,' some issues could arise, but if anything it's a step in the right direction.

Giving birth without having to involve actual sex between both sexes solves a lot of problems. Homosexual couples, or just single men or women who want a child.

Basically, I'd be curious about the method.

[bloodings]

[ In her room, she snorts. ] unlikely.

[ Even she's not that arrogant. She's more like a devil than any sort of saviour, anyway. ]

the method was magical, of course. not something humanity could copy. [ Not something they should copy, even if they could. ] i cant speak to the entirety of the act itself, only the result. but its interesting to hear your perspective.

[ This is where she should say 'thanks', probably. She doesn't. ]

[frogfractions]

Communication with one another is key to enlightenment, so you should seek out other perspectives whenever possible.

As above, so below.

When the self changes, so does the universe, and the self changes when it's exposed to new perspectives and possibilities. We're quite lucky to be here, in a sense. Since we're being pulled from different places, times, and worlds.

[She's just going to keep going like this if Mordred lets her.]

[bloodings]

[ Why................ ]

i asked for an opinion, not a lecture. you can stop now.

[frogfractions]

Lectures are just elaborate opinions.

Keep that in mind if you ever attend a college.