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Cybershadowninja2
I trust you know where the happy button is?
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I may be to slow at the moment but who's cursed? Is it all humans or just the ones on that planet?
Jordisk
Experienced.
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- Jul 10, 2017
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It is the Cosmopolitan infection. The one that makes Humans see Xenos as more important. When Humanity first left its cradle, they weren't so xenophobic. They sent ambassadors and scientists and tourists to other alien civilizations. And suffered for it. Some ate people, some back-stabbed humanity, some were actively hostile, and at least one created a spiritual-active viral infection that makes a Human see any sentient non-human as more important than any number of humans.
Athain
Fanfic Addict
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Clearly this is the curse of Xianxia!
Cybershadowninja2
I trust you know where the happy button is?
- Joined
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Do you want suggestions for mechs?
lost star
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2013
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If you wanna suggest them I don't mind. I can't guarantee I'll use them.
Luckless21
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2018
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Then can I suggest some of the Zoids? because the Liger Zero has a potentially neat gimmick in changing roles based on the armor it's equipped with for potential third rate shenanigans (Before we get into the Fuzors anime that lets some Zoids fuse together for more power.), and Gilvader is a dragon Zoid with gravity saws and LEO capabilities in lore. For some examples.
Cybershadowninja2
I trust you know where the happy button is?
- Joined
- May 12, 2016
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- 559
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- 7,256
Okay.
A amphibious modular mech with a hermit crab theme.
The thought is that the shells would be the modular attachments that the crab could change out as needed.
The thought is that the shells would be the modular attachments that the crab could change out as needed.
M151
New
lost star
Connoisseur.
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The interview had been brief but it'd given both Bolt and Lilly a lot to unpack. The 'curse' talk had landed like a bomb. Poor Phillipe seemed more than a little disturbed by it. Even Bolt felt disturbed by it and he wasn't effected. The various implications about it involved things he'd rather not think about.
It was something he'd have to contemplate after he checked everything immediately relevant. He'd hastily created several tools for this event, and they'd all been installed with recorders. Most of them were paltry, more designed to theoretically do something than verifiably do something. The improvised jammer for instance was supposed to jam spiritual communications. Despite his progress he had no doubts he was a novice at everything. His only real advantage was that humans really didn't do a lot of this and the alien likely hadn't even considered his presence and capability.
"Status?" Odette asked after Phillipe was cleared.
"Based on the data, there was an attempt to send something out. I think I stopped it, but this is new tech." Bolt tapped at the jammer and the anomalous records it'd reported.
"You are not certain though." Odette concluded with a small wince as she seemed to realize something. "That is progress and something special, but I will have to keep it from the report it because this is probably breaking several rules having you here and using an untested tool with unknown results. I appreciate the aid, but in retrospect this should not be recorded."
"Think it was telling the truth about the curse?" Lilly asked the main question on the couple's mind.
"Would you believe it is not the first time it has been brought up?" Odette said in return as she sighed and took a seat in the surveillance room they were in looking suddenly very weary. "This iz classified, but I feel I should speak of it anyway, and you have access to it technically. Despite what the MTA and CFA would tell the public, we do have lines of communication with some other alien races. None of it would be called friendly, but a cold front against a relatively harmless foe is sometimes more valuable for us. An unsaid but official policy is to let some less than threatening aliens survive for various reasons. Thus we have mentions of this 'curse' from others."
"Ya don't sound happy about it." Bolt noted.
"Because it is complicated. Do you know of a faction called the Cosmopolitans?" Odette paused and the continued when the couple shook their heads. "They are essentially alien sympathizers. They're characterized by erratic behavior, suicidal empathy, and considering humans worthless."
That sounded very familiar. Bolt felt his eyes narrow as his mind raced. Having a name assumed they were organized enough to coordinate. That brought several things here to new light.
"Yes, you can see. Our nations leading theory is that this curse the alien is referencing is a psychological equivalent of a stress reaction that can happen in alien presence. There are many theories though and it iz extremely hard to narrow down anything because we seem to lack something that can detect it. If it was just genetics or psychology we would have purged it long ago. Estimates are that five to thirty percent of humanity is vulnerable, but as I said we cannot detect it, so we don't know." The woman explained with exhaustion.
"So a third of humanity is secret traitors?" Lilly asked incredulously.
"That's where the complication truly comes in. Some of them are simply opportunists. Some of them are genuinely mentally ill. Some show no signs until the last second. Humanity is rife with people who simply hate their race or are willing to betray everyone for some sort of benefit. We cannot separate that attitude from the 'curse.'" Odette waved around the room. "Then you have to take into account the fact that aliens are all beaten or suppressed. Like here. Sure they might have managed to win this planet, but that would have just prompted the MTA to come in with a hammer. Not all of the Cosmopolitans are mentally deficient."
Of course it couldn't be simple. Bolt looked over his tools and suddenly felt inadequate. How would he even go about detecting that. Could it be detected? The designer paused here. It could be. Assuming the alien could do it, perhaps he could establish a detection? But how?
"If you are thinking of investigating, feel free." Odette interpreted his look. "Do not dwell on it too much though. Without threatening aliens the Cosmopolitans are either useless or hiding so well that it doesn't matter." The woman gave a small shrug. "We've learned to deal with it in places like this and have at least some precautions. It is probably why this particular event didn't truly result in a complete loss. A singular assassin on me would have made things very grim for instance and they had to pull in outside aide."
The designer took a deep breath and let it out before nodding. "I understand. But..." He trailed off and looked at his tools again. "I hate it."
Odette's laugh was bitter. "I do as well. Yet that conversation might have finally given us a possible direction to look into. The fiend stated that thinking oneself as human triggers it, and that we can verifiably test. We may have a treatment or immunization of sorts if we follow that line of thought. We even have some traitors that could serve as tests."
"Ouch." Bolt observed with a wince as he realized what that would entail.
There were methods of changing people's minds, and none of them were pleasant, or entirely ethical really. He wasn't going to stop it though. Traitors were not something anyone could tolerate. He didn't even object to the possible action. He just didn't want to think about it.
"Yes, it will be unpleasant, but there were likely worse things planned." The expert shrugged. "Regardless, this is not your problem. Did you gather anything else?"
"Off record or on record?" Bolt asked back. "Because you already said my tools wouldn't be put into the report."
Not that he wanted them to be really. Spiritual construction was still very gray as an area and the MTA wouldn't be happy if he threw around tools and promises. Hell, he didn't want to do any promises because he was still testing and experimenting on things.
"I will take off record."
"The Arboretian was trying to communicate out, as I said. I may have stopped it." Bolt gestured to the communicator. "It did not appear to be doing anything else. If I were to guess it had a vision based analysis that wasn't blocked by the glass." Some sort of spiritual sight seemed likely, but those were highly species dependent. "Considering how spiteful it was, the last question felt like the most pertinent by my analysis. It wanted to know the answer there."
"They don't want uz to have their FTL. Which is not surprising." Odette mused before standing.
"I'd say that Phillipe is fine mentally too. Call it intuition." Lilly offered herself. "If I were to describe it I'd say his will was his own."
Odette nodded with a small and sad smile. "That iz good. Expert intuition is more potent than many sensors at times. He and his friends have done us a large favor. Enough that I would have to ask a favor from you as well, much as it shames me."
"Oh?" Bolt asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Take him and his friends and leave before the end of the day. With things winding down transportation to orbit is safe. You have full clearance to leave, but that could be revoked at any time. If you leave now with the children we can avoid some... Messy complications." Odette said slowly.
The couple exchanged glances. Now that she had brought that up, it sounded like a very good idea. Bolt got to his feet and his wife joined him. He then offered Odette a hand and they shook.
"I'm glad to have met you." The designer paused and gave a small grin. "Mind if I request a few souvenirs?"
The gatling guns woodpecker had used and a few of those special trees sounded like they'd be very fun to play with, and he was sure the natives wouldn't miss them. If anything Debora would appreciate the additional data in his opinion. It was a relatively small and easy ask.
He also wanted to make a proper Second Rate Expert mech for Lilly now.
It was something he'd have to contemplate after he checked everything immediately relevant. He'd hastily created several tools for this event, and they'd all been installed with recorders. Most of them were paltry, more designed to theoretically do something than verifiably do something. The improvised jammer for instance was supposed to jam spiritual communications. Despite his progress he had no doubts he was a novice at everything. His only real advantage was that humans really didn't do a lot of this and the alien likely hadn't even considered his presence and capability.
"Status?" Odette asked after Phillipe was cleared.
"Based on the data, there was an attempt to send something out. I think I stopped it, but this is new tech." Bolt tapped at the jammer and the anomalous records it'd reported.
"You are not certain though." Odette concluded with a small wince as she seemed to realize something. "That is progress and something special, but I will have to keep it from the report it because this is probably breaking several rules having you here and using an untested tool with unknown results. I appreciate the aid, but in retrospect this should not be recorded."
"Think it was telling the truth about the curse?" Lilly asked the main question on the couple's mind.
"Would you believe it is not the first time it has been brought up?" Odette said in return as she sighed and took a seat in the surveillance room they were in looking suddenly very weary. "This iz classified, but I feel I should speak of it anyway, and you have access to it technically. Despite what the MTA and CFA would tell the public, we do have lines of communication with some other alien races. None of it would be called friendly, but a cold front against a relatively harmless foe is sometimes more valuable for us. An unsaid but official policy is to let some less than threatening aliens survive for various reasons. Thus we have mentions of this 'curse' from others."
"Ya don't sound happy about it." Bolt noted.
"Because it is complicated. Do you know of a faction called the Cosmopolitans?" Odette paused and the continued when the couple shook their heads. "They are essentially alien sympathizers. They're characterized by erratic behavior, suicidal empathy, and considering humans worthless."
That sounded very familiar. Bolt felt his eyes narrow as his mind raced. Having a name assumed they were organized enough to coordinate. That brought several things here to new light.
"Yes, you can see. Our nations leading theory is that this curse the alien is referencing is a psychological equivalent of a stress reaction that can happen in alien presence. There are many theories though and it iz extremely hard to narrow down anything because we seem to lack something that can detect it. If it was just genetics or psychology we would have purged it long ago. Estimates are that five to thirty percent of humanity is vulnerable, but as I said we cannot detect it, so we don't know." The woman explained with exhaustion.
"So a third of humanity is secret traitors?" Lilly asked incredulously.
"That's where the complication truly comes in. Some of them are simply opportunists. Some of them are genuinely mentally ill. Some show no signs until the last second. Humanity is rife with people who simply hate their race or are willing to betray everyone for some sort of benefit. We cannot separate that attitude from the 'curse.'" Odette waved around the room. "Then you have to take into account the fact that aliens are all beaten or suppressed. Like here. Sure they might have managed to win this planet, but that would have just prompted the MTA to come in with a hammer. Not all of the Cosmopolitans are mentally deficient."
Of course it couldn't be simple. Bolt looked over his tools and suddenly felt inadequate. How would he even go about detecting that. Could it be detected? The designer paused here. It could be. Assuming the alien could do it, perhaps he could establish a detection? But how?
"If you are thinking of investigating, feel free." Odette interpreted his look. "Do not dwell on it too much though. Without threatening aliens the Cosmopolitans are either useless or hiding so well that it doesn't matter." The woman gave a small shrug. "We've learned to deal with it in places like this and have at least some precautions. It is probably why this particular event didn't truly result in a complete loss. A singular assassin on me would have made things very grim for instance and they had to pull in outside aide."
The designer took a deep breath and let it out before nodding. "I understand. But..." He trailed off and looked at his tools again. "I hate it."
Odette's laugh was bitter. "I do as well. Yet that conversation might have finally given us a possible direction to look into. The fiend stated that thinking oneself as human triggers it, and that we can verifiably test. We may have a treatment or immunization of sorts if we follow that line of thought. We even have some traitors that could serve as tests."
"Ouch." Bolt observed with a wince as he realized what that would entail.
There were methods of changing people's minds, and none of them were pleasant, or entirely ethical really. He wasn't going to stop it though. Traitors were not something anyone could tolerate. He didn't even object to the possible action. He just didn't want to think about it.
"Yes, it will be unpleasant, but there were likely worse things planned." The expert shrugged. "Regardless, this is not your problem. Did you gather anything else?"
"Off record or on record?" Bolt asked back. "Because you already said my tools wouldn't be put into the report."
Not that he wanted them to be really. Spiritual construction was still very gray as an area and the MTA wouldn't be happy if he threw around tools and promises. Hell, he didn't want to do any promises because he was still testing and experimenting on things.
"I will take off record."
"The Arboretian was trying to communicate out, as I said. I may have stopped it." Bolt gestured to the communicator. "It did not appear to be doing anything else. If I were to guess it had a vision based analysis that wasn't blocked by the glass." Some sort of spiritual sight seemed likely, but those were highly species dependent. "Considering how spiteful it was, the last question felt like the most pertinent by my analysis. It wanted to know the answer there."
"They don't want uz to have their FTL. Which is not surprising." Odette mused before standing.
"I'd say that Phillipe is fine mentally too. Call it intuition." Lilly offered herself. "If I were to describe it I'd say his will was his own."
Odette nodded with a small and sad smile. "That iz good. Expert intuition is more potent than many sensors at times. He and his friends have done us a large favor. Enough that I would have to ask a favor from you as well, much as it shames me."
"Oh?" Bolt asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Take him and his friends and leave before the end of the day. With things winding down transportation to orbit is safe. You have full clearance to leave, but that could be revoked at any time. If you leave now with the children we can avoid some... Messy complications." Odette said slowly.
The couple exchanged glances. Now that she had brought that up, it sounded like a very good idea. Bolt got to his feet and his wife joined him. He then offered Odette a hand and they shook.
"I'm glad to have met you." The designer paused and gave a small grin. "Mind if I request a few souvenirs?"
The gatling guns woodpecker had used and a few of those special trees sounded like they'd be very fun to play with, and he was sure the natives wouldn't miss them. If anything Debora would appreciate the additional data in his opinion. It was a relatively small and easy ask.
He also wanted to make a proper Second Rate Expert mech for Lilly now.
Luckless21
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2018
- Messages
- 1,427
- Likes received
- 6,360
Here we see them trying to bullshit a way around just admitting spirit shit is real.
john doe 777
Not too sore, are you?
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2018
- Messages
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- 3,002
lol I knew it sounded familiar. We seem to have the *curse* causing trouble even now. Lol