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OUTSIDE RESPITE - PALAMEDES CRASH SITE - AFTERNOON
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Narrator: At the far edge of town, at the "crash site" of the Palamedes, Montag the mechanic was busy reestablishing the perimeter, having picked up the supplies from town. Certainly it'll be a hard fix, and he was already jury-rigging a few important functions, but right now the canine was concentrating on making sure no critical components get rusted, especially in this unusual climate. It was a bit...balmier than he and Rikard had expected and that could be trouble if they had planned to make this a test base...
Mia has been given some directions as to what might be needed, and some experiments later..well, there was some progress. She picks her way through the wreckage, with package in her mouth, as she sometimes needed to use all fours to jump down safely. Once she was down she drops the package into her paws, and comes forward. Not saying anything at first, just looking around really. Eventually though she'd..ooh..is that a regenerative breaking system?...Mia peers closer. She'd get to speak to the engineers first. Really. Eventually...
Montag will peek his head out of one of the compartments, looking around, hearing a vibration, then sees the robotic catgirl who had helped the two of them earlier in the market. He blinks a little, then tinks the side of the craft with his wrench to get Mia's attention.
Mia: Her ears perk, then her head turns "Oh! Right!" She places the package in his hands "Uh..You said you wanted a heater, and well, I couldn't really do much at first, but then I realized I can actually get some power from the air ambiently" She nods "It's a Hyrdoattraction unit, with a little cell burner along with it. It should dry out the air, then use the resulting dryness to generate static on the surrounding surfaces. It's designed to be the most conductive part of anything it's attached to, so the charge should flow back to the unit, and power it, and net a bit along the way" She nods, as if that made sense. It's lots of fancy words sure but sense..."Try it!"
Montag took the heater, looking it over. "So...hydro...does it work with actual water or with the steam? Or both?" He did sound very appreciative as he slid out of the hole, readjusting his boiler suit, mask blackened with grease. "I guess that would help cut down on the exotic fuel consumption..."
Mia: "Water vapor actually. It takes it in, turns it to power, then releases it. Then it turns back into water vapour naturally in the air, and it sorta loops from there. Since you're staying static you'll only get a certain amount of power. The power output scales with how fast it's moving, and the general wetness of the air"
Montag nods in appreciation. "I will see how much output I get from it before I try hooking it completely into the system. Will this be an extra charge to your bill for the spare parts?" He takes the package inside, letting Mia follow into the carriage of the airship.
Mia: "Oh, I don't really charge that much for random ideas. I'll work out costs, and that'll be it for the most part" Mia follows along, tearing her eyes away from interesting things. Focus! "I don't think you'll get that much here. Here, the biggest thing will be" She pauses, and licks the ship a moment, tasting "..Yeah. It's charge the hull, and then there's a little zinc disk around the gizmo. That thing will rust pretty quick, because it's taking all the rusting the ship would normally be doing, and focusing it in one thing you can take out and clean"
Montag watches Mia lick the metal. He tilts his head quizzically. "You figured all of that out by...licking?" It is a good-natured question, as this robotic companion is certainly a curiosity to the mechanic.
Mia: "Huh?" She tilts her head "Oh, I licked the metal so I knew what it tasted like. Then when I knew the metal, I was able to tell that the idea would work2
Montag: "Oh...OH...okay, that makes more sense..." Montag looks relieved, puttng away some of the tools. "You will have to excuse me. I have been working pretty long. I was just about to finish for the day and meet Rikard back at the hotel to let him know how the process is going."
Mia: "Oh. Well. Don't let me stop you! I was just here to do a delivery, and to see this thing" She's now looking at the steering mechanism, following it back and forth through all the various bits "It's important to take breaks, after all"
Montag will sit, wiping off his mask. "That's true...though...do robots get tired too? I would imagine with that metal body you can keep going much longer. Do you even need to sleep or such?"
Mia: "Well, for a start, I'm not a robot. I'm just..less organic than you are" She peers under one of the panals, trying to trace back the wiring "and yes, I get tired. I'm a bit more durable, but overall, I'm..still a person, I do eat and sleep" She does, she's still not sure if she needs to, but she sleeps. Or at least she naps. Same thing, right?
Montag watches Mia move the panels, letting her examine. The wiring perhaps would be a bit different than what she'd be used to seeing, as if it was from a different school of mechanics. "You mean...somewhere in that metal is a pretty kittygirl with interest in machines, yes?"
Mia: "Mechanical to the core, but yes. Broadly speaking, I'm a technomancer. I don't know if anyone uses the term but myself, but it fits. Technology, Magic together" She does pause a bit. She'd need more time than these brief looks to work everything out, but no matter what, wires have to connect things to other things, and physics has certain restrictions on how stuff works! She continues to follow along, before she pauses, and taps a location "Somewhere here, would be the best place for it. You need to load balance. Make sure everything is polarized equally"
Montag kneels close to Mia, looking to see where she was pointing. The canine nods, placing the box upwards. "Let me just...draw the circuits closed for the current power source and..." He carefully threads some wires away, allowing the catgirl to keep the device in place. "How much current does it usually run in standby mode?"
Mia: "Well it's netting power. The standby mode just vents it with" She peers "I think I just made it cycle a spell that makes the air minty fresh? Yeah" She taps a dial "You can decide what the venting power option is. I had a few options" She taps a ring of zinc, snapped into place with clips "This thing will be the rust sink for all the metal connected to it. You'll need to clean it probably like..weekly?" She shrugs "Not sure how fast it'll accumulate. Any strong enough acid will do it, other than that..uh..eh, it all explains itself really"
Montag tries to mentally catalogue all of the instruction, even with a little bit of nagging on the mind and glancing back to Mia and...well...this is the closest he's ever been to something or...someone like her. "F-fair enough. So...when you say core, there's...someone inside you? There are all the fleshy bits and what connected to...? F-forgive me, I am...confused by you..." The dog pauses. "Not in a bad way, mind you, just..."
Mia: "What you see, is what you get. I'm a person, same as you" She hopes "Just because I'm circuits and metal plating doesn't make me any less of a person. Flesh, blood and bone doesn't make me what I am" She sighs, and, well, it feels good to have to say it, make herself believe it
Montag looks to Mia, his gloved hand drawing up, a finger poking Mia's nose. "I would never think you anything less than a person. I was just curious. Please forgive me for saying such foolish things like a fool, Friend Mia."
Mia scrunches up her nose, and giggles, licking the finger briefly "No harm done. I might be the only sentient non-organic being around. I'm the only one I know about, especially with the restrictions Sarn have, there's probably not many others about"
Montag's glove tastes like old leather and stress, the canine blushing slightly under the mask, tail wagging slightly. "Then it is best that I treat you as the one of a kind person you are then." He stands, almost too fast, nearly clonking his head on the back of the panel. "Did...did you have anything else to do this evening?"
Mia: "Well, I suppose I don't I've got my shop closed up. I was planning to go back and work on a project, but that can absolutely wait"
Montag: "Okay then...do you know some nice places to eat? I...don't think I am allowed in a few restaurants in the area unlike my employer..."
Mia: "There's a nice food court that serves good places, but if you're looking for interior dining" She's learning to pick up cues! She can now pick up the bright red flashing neon ones like this one! "There's a fish place that's pretty good"
Montag helps Mia up. "Then I will let you lead the way, Friend Mia. Just don't go too fast. I want to enjoy the scenery and get to know this area better, especially if we are to keep the Palamedes here a while."
Mia: "Oh, I suppose we'll need to take the longer way around. I did just sorta jump down the first time" She starts forward, and decides to play just a bit dumb "I could always just give you directions, I'm pretty sure you don't need close personal guidance~"
Montag shakes his head emphatically. "I am not good on my own navigation. I get lost easily, especially in a place like this. I'm more used to smaller, closed-in spaces. When it's all spread out, I keep going around in circles. It would be best to have someone who is familiar with the town help me..."
Mia: "Well, if you insist" She chuckles, and leads the way, tail wiggling behind her "So, how are you finding this place so far?"
Montag walks with Mia. "Many funny looks, many grunts, lots of people crossing the street before walking close. It is to be expected."
Mia: "People might be a bit nervous as first, but they're mostly pretty friendly once they get to know you, so it's not too bad"
Montag rubs his mask, glancing around as they head into town. Certainly there are a few heads turning already. "Have they...gotten used to you as well, Friend Mia?"
Mia: "Pretty much! Yeah" She nods "Out of curiosity, why the mask?"
Narrator: Guess it's give one secret, take one secret in this town. The canine leans in a little. "Bad burns on face. Hard to heal. That's why I keep this on to protect them from dirt and other things."
Mia: Mia tilts her head "Huh. Well. That's unfortunate" She nods sympathetically "Sadly, I'm an engineer, not really a medic. I've done healing potions, buuuut they're not gonna be great against long standing stuff"
Montag sighs. "Herr Rick says my burns are not ones I can get surgery for easily. It is best to let nature take the course, or at least make them less noticable." His gloved hand slides down, as if to briefly clasp the catgirl's.
Mia: Mia takes the hint, and gives his hand a squeeze "Don't worry too much about it. They'll heal. You'll probably get a few weird looks, sure, but nobody is gonna really judge you over it"
Montag: "You mean they will find some other things to judge me by then? That is a relief, I think. I'd rather be persecuted because of my actions rather than how I look..." Montag pauses. "No. That is a lie. I would rather not be persecuted at all..."
Mia: "These people are very tolerant. The dinos you see around were outright at war with the town last year. That should tell you something. Just..don't act like an ass, and you'll be fine" She arrives at the "Underground Tank" "It's a fish place. I think there's caverns or something where they farm the fish"
Montag: "Yes, I think that is best." Montag pauses as he lets Mia lead the way, then stops dead. "I'm...I'm sorry, but did you say...dinos?"
Mia: "Yeah" She raises a brow "You've not seem them around?"
Montag looks over his shoulder. "N-no...I've not had many trips in town, mostly when everyone is asleep or indoors. I...I like watching the streetlamps and the fire and...all of that, but...you actually mean dinos as in..." Montag gesticulates frantically. "Those BIG lizard thing with the large teeth and the roaring and the tiny arms in front that make them so upset and lash out at other big lizard things with horns on their heads and spikes on their tail and...others with sharp teeth? Those dinos?"
Mia: "I mean, they're kinda tall I suppose...." She tilts "I mean..like..dinosaur peoples"
Montag seems to calm down a little. "So...they are like the dinos but...people? Still with the horns and the teeth and the tiny arms in front?"
Mia: "You're a bit worked up about the tiny arms thing. I've never really measured them to be honest"
Montag: "Tiny arms means bigger sharper mouth I'm told. I've seen them. Of course we were flying so we are far away and all of that..."
Mia: "They're nice enough anyway. They're decent customers too. Most of them live just outside the city walls, so they use the little heaters I've got for their tents"
Montag seems convinced, yet...not much. "Let us just eat and be merry for the meantime, Friend Mia."
Mia: "Indeed!" She steps inside, with Montag in hand
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RESPITE BARRACKS - AFTERNOON
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Narrator: Meanwhile, as Montag was schmoozing with the robocatgirl, his employer Rikard Dresden was across town, in the guard's office. He had finished filling in sheafs and sheafs of paperwork, licenses and other important documentation, taking the stack to the appropriate bureau. The badger seemed harried, and his collar was undone, showing how much bureaucracy he was wading through.
Vandal is seated behind the desk within the barracks lobby, looking like quite the relaxed porcupine as he slowly, to be careful of course, creates copies of the guard roster for next week. He'd previously directed the badger to the correct forms, and now looks up from his task expectantly.
Rikard sets the papers down, giving an exasperated exhale, wiping his brow, checking to see if the papers were in the right order, then slides them down to the porcupine. "There...the proper accreditation...I hope..." He glances around. "So...what now?"
Vandal looks at the stack of papers, picking them up and tapping them straight on their edge. "Welp I'm not gonna check then, sir, but due to the nature of your arrival, the guard Captain'll wanna ask a few questions." He stands up from the chair, gesturing for Rikard to follow along as he leads the way a short distance down the East hall.
Rikard nods, following the porcupine. "I had thought something as much..." He looks around, seeming to take in the pictures, trying to prepare himself for what was to come.
Vandal knocks sharply at the second door, a female voice calling back from within the office. "Good luck, sir. Oh uh, deliver this one to her, okay?" He hands back a form, consisting of Rikert's statements, before shuffling off down the hall and back to his desk.
Louma calls back at the knock, "It's open, come in." as she scans over a spread of documents, quill dripping over a scrap of paper as she reads. The Captain appears to be a large swan, settled behind that rough looking desk. One wall of the office is stacked with cabinets full of paperwork, and the only other piece of furniture is a small desk against the hall wall with it's own chair.
Rikard takes the paper, nodding, then opens the door. He honestly THOUGHT he was prepared, but once he saw Louma, he was...well...it is hard to describe what he felt, or how to react or...anything...this was a creature he had never had imagined to exist, much less meet in a bureaucratic matter. He just stands stock still, paper in his hand, then notes eyes were upon him. He walks forward to the desk.
Louma rises slightly from behind her desk, revealing more of her snake tail as she nods to Rikard. "You're not one of my guards, but I suppose Vandal dropped you off at my door? How may I be of assistance?" She looks from Rikard to the paper in his hands, then back to the badger.
Rikard hands the paper off. "I am the owner of the airship Palamedes, which had made the unscheduled landing outside of your city limits a week ago. I am Rikard Dresden, inventor and entrepeneur. No fixed nation and no fixed address, but accredited and documented...and certainly within the straight and narrow of local law, I hope..." He gives an awkward smile, then...pauses as he sees Louma's bottom half as he approaches the desk.
Louma hums, nodding as she takes the paper, though she focuses on the badger for now. "A pleasure to meet you, Mister Dresden. I am Captain Louma, though you don't need to worry about the honorific. I've seen your wreckage from above, you managed to make quite the mess of the grass out there."
Rikard tugs at his collar. "Yes...we had lost power about thirty miles north. We were lucky to glide in on backup power. Fortunate for us, the buildings here are closer to the ground so there was no real...damage to the town per se...just...just the grass..."
Louma settles back onto her coil, setting the quill back into her inkwell. "I see. You and your crew are alright, then? We have a very skilled clinic staff in the North of town if you need them."
Rikard: "Oh, no injuries, at least none severe enough to require aid. Our ship took some damage though and we've cordonned off the area as per recommendation from one of your guards. The...wildcat in the loincloth...Miss Victoria I believe her name was."
Louma leans back a bit, starting to skim over the form that Rikard had handed her. "Yes, her report mentioned your arrival. I do regret missing your landing for myself. She made it sound quite entertaining." She pauses, humphing. "Were these a little confusing to fill out? I believe Vandal gave you the wrong forms."
Rikard: "Well, I was not one to ask too much about the forms, but I did fill others out similar to them, especially the one about farming impact statements. I didn't damage any arable farmland in the landidg, did I?"
Louma sighs quietly. "You didn't, no." She sets the form down, shaking her head. "Do not worry about it, I'll scan over everything you filled out and transfer it to the correct places. So what is your plan from this point forward?"
Rikard rubs his chin. "I believe until I can get the Palamedes up and running, I am going to rely on the generosity of this town for supplies and perhaps get in contact with appropriate embassies to make sure that my project is still being properly funded. I was told I needed to have a residency visa ratified before I could make strides towards that. Is that something I can fill out here?"
Louma chuckles dryly. "Embassies? Aephix isn't much of a nation. You may find luck in contacting your investors directly through mail. As for materials... With all of the recent construction, I'd assume most of our regular sources are strained, but you may get lucky."
Rikard returns the chuckle, more at ease. "Indeed so. This does seem like an unusual situation for both of us, but I am certain we both can make the best of it. I shall at the very least keep you posted of my activities as things develop. No reason for us to not take advantage of this goodwill considering how hard it is to find nowadays."
Louma: "We are not short on goodwill, that is certain. Granted, nothing comes for free in the frontier, but I'm sure you and your partner have plenty to offer in fair exchange."
Rikard: "Yes...my engineer Montag had found the exchange and we have converted enough of our money to the local currency."
Louma blinks, tilting her head a little. "Exchange? We use all common trade currencies... Are you sure that you received an equal return? We are not free of con artists, even in Respite."
Rikard nods confidently. "Montag has a nose for those sorts of things. He assured me it was the accepted exchange rate. He has a thing for numbers after all. I believe he's been spending most of the week trying to get spare parts, and perhaps reaching out to the community for any others who have skills with...aeronautics?"
Louma hums, settling back as she brings a taloned finger to her chin. "Well, my fiancé is an engineer, though her specialty is ICEE generators. She may have some helpful input for you. Else, there are a number of other technically proficient folk about. Some of them sell their creations at the marketplace, if you wish to seek them out."
Narrator: The badger seems heartened in this. "It would be good to meet some like-minded people, that's for certain. I would hope that at the very least if my currency is enough, the exchange of ideas will be sufficient to get what I need to continue my experiments."
Louma nods, settling her crossed hands down on her tail. "Excellent. I do look forward to this airship of yours taking to the skies again. Flight is a thrilling gift, after all. Your paperwork is... Somewhat in order, so unless you have other questions..?"
Rikard gives a gentle smile. "I should be fine. I have made accomodations at one of the local inns. I have left the address with your porcupine. If there is any need of your services, I shall make sure to notify you. Above all, the reception I have received has been outstanding."
Louma chuckles, nodding. "Well I am glad that you feel welcome, mister Dresden."
Narrator: The badger bows. "I only hope I do not cause TOO much trouble, Captain Louma. I will be as honest as a churchmouse. I can assure you." He gives a bow. "I wish you a good evening...and a thank you..."
Louma rises a bit off her coil, bowing in return. She pauses, looking over her shoulder out the window at the dark courtyard. "Evening..? Mh. Gods damned paperwork..."
Rikard exits, a bit...more reassured. Indeed strange yet beautifully behaved folks. He is certainly feeling much better about his chances than previously...