Video 001

[loquaciouslyfeline]

[Amelia is sitting straight up, looking directly at the screen. Hands folded in front of her, the very pose exudes authority; this is a woman who knows she is of rank.]

I am Captain Amelia of the Terran Royal Navy, lately returned from an expedition to locate the lost trove of the infamous pirate Nathaniel Flint, and more recently rather unceremoniously drenched in a tub of water and informed that I am to be engaging in a conflict against a malevolent entity of which I have not heard until today.

[A measured pause. Her tone indicates she is more irritated by the idea of fighting someone else’s war, rather than the prospect of combat itself. Or perhaps it is the drenching she is cross about.]

I do not care for being brought here against my will, especially if I do not know the how of it. These kedan are maddeningly unhelpful when questioned on such topics. They tell me that time has been stopped in my universe, which, if true - highly doubtful, of course - is of some relief. But if I am to stay here for an extended tenure, there are important questions that I must have answered. This…

[and here she pauses for a moment to pick her words. Amelia is not given to superstitions regarding the summoning of a monstrous being simply by speaking his name, but the kedan were very adamant about not saying it, and this has been a rather strange day. Best to not risk it, then.]

...M-fellow. I'd like to know more about him. If I have indeed been brought here to fight a war, then it is imperative that I know what I shall be dealing with. In addition, is it true we are riding on the back of a giant turtle?

[This last question is accompanied by nearly palpable disbelief.] 

[The next pause is not one of calculation or thought, but of expectancy. Amelia’s waiting for her answers, and it’s only after the silence has gone on for a few seconds that she realizes replies will not be instantaneous.]

That’ll do, for the moment, so as not to overwhelm you.

[It’s a save, but she says it like it was always planned that way. She nods her head once at the screen, just ever so slightly.]

That is all.

[end transmission]

Comments

[zerotoawesome]

[Holy crap, you're a kitty!]

You are totally on a giant turtle. He's a pretty chill bro too, just so you know.

[loquaciouslyfeline]

[You look a lot like Arrow and his species. It's enough to make Amelia feel a pang of sadness, but also to take your word regarding the turtle business. In her experience, rock people are dependable.]

Well then, if he is a 'pretty chill bro', then I shall not worry. You wouldn't happen to have any other information, would you?

[zerotoawesome]

[Santo is totally trustworthy and dependable. Occasionally not that bright (more often than not), but absolutely dependable!]

Yeah, the turtle is pretty much everyone's friend. You can go visit his head, and it'll make you feel peaceful and at one with everything.

As for, uh, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, you just... really don't want to name him. I haven't had any dealings with him, lucky for him really, but he's seriously bad news.

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[superieure]

Captain.

[A sharp nod. Monet's immaculately dressed in local fashion, and the background of her suite suggests the Metal Sector.]

You'll have better luck asking the Emperor directly - she has said she will hold audience soon.

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[loquaciouslyfeline]

[The nod is returned; the acknowledgement of rank is expected, after all.]

Then I shall certainly seek to speak with her at that time, if she is more forthcoming with answers than her kedan subjects. To whom am I speaking currently?

[superieure]

Monet St. Croix. [She nearly adds 'you may call me "M"', but the codename means little here except to those who know her.] I've recently arrived here myself.

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[cmdreffingshepard]

['Terran' suggests Earth to Shepard, but this woman? Is definitely not human. So that immediately piques her interest.]

Captain. My name is Commander Jane Shepard, Earth Systems Alliance Navy.

There's not a lot we can tell you about this enemy we're supposed to be fighting. We know he's some kind of... evil spirit, who may have the power to drag souls into some kind of other realm of his own making. And he definitely has the power to make the turtle sick, which would kill everyone living here.

Beyond that, I suspect it's part of our job to figure it out.

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[loquaciouslyfeline]

Well met, Commander, although I can’t say I’ve heard of the Earth Systems Alliance. Though I suppose that’s to be expected, if we are all brought from different universes.

[Amelia frowns thoughtfully as she listens. An evil spirit is something she has not dealt with before.]

If it is our duty to learn more, then we must do so. I do not fancy fighting an unknown enemy.

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[cmdreffingshepard]

You'll - well, you sort of get used to it. Some universes seem to have quite a bit in common with each other, and others... don't. [She waves a hand vaguely.]

We've been working on it - it's kind of piecemeal, but we know he can use the network, and that saying his name has the power to, well - call him, I guess. It's not just superstition, it's actually happened.

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[wrathfulkhan]

[Cat person? Cat person. Cat person who's just as miffed about being brought here without her say-so as Gene was. Well. Maybe not quite as miffed. He doesn't see anything broken on her end.

But she had mentioned some phat loot, and that has totally grabbed his attention. Aside from her being a naval cat lady. Which, even in Keeliai, is not something you see every day.]

Yeah, seems like a lot of us get pulled here when we're in the middle of doing something important. And the kedan don't get too much more helpful than that.

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[loquaciouslyfeline]

Fortunately I was called here after the end of our voyage; I dread to think what sort of disaster might have befallen my ship had I been pulled away earlier.

[Young Hawkins and Dr. Doppler would have been in a right mess indeed, what with the pirates and the ultimate fate of Treasure Planet itself. No, if she had to have been brought here, now was the best time.]

Pity about the kedan.

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[wrathfulkhan]

Then you're one of the lucky ones, Captain. [The bitterness about being yanked out in the middle of the most important thing he has ever done in his life is almost gone from his tone! Almost. A couple of months is still not enough to dull the pain.]

So, I'm curious now. Did you find the treasure?

[video]

[unconchonable]

Nawy you say? [Of course he means Navy, but he's got quite the uh, accent. However, he's quite pleased to see more non-humans. They're a blight, really.]

But yeah, we're on the back of a turtle, as I'm sure others hawe clarified for you already. Ain't nothin' all too special, really. [Not that his planet had turtles with cities on their backs, but he definitely had giant aquatic life.]

Re: [video]

[loquaciouslyfeline]

That is what I said, young man. [Amelia is not fond of repeating herself, and it shows in her clipped tone.]

On the contrary, it is quite unusual. I’ve never heard of a creature of this scale existing in my own universe, and I dare say I am rather well-traveled.

[video]

[unconchonable]

Eridan Ampora. [He corrects.] Good to see those with military history showin' up. That, an' those of not human genetics.

Then you must hawe been in some downright borin' parts of the uniwerse. Poor thing, leawes one wonderin' just what sort of trawelin' you did if a giant shellbeast can leawe you dazzled.

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[jirk]

The only thing overwhelming me is your astounding beauty, Captain.

[CATGIRLS: HIS SECRET WEAKNESS. But Jim's grinning as he talks, it's just a bit of playfulness.]

Name's Jim Kirk. Also Captain.

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[loquaciouslyfeline]

Flattery will get you no where, Captain. [It’s said lightly, matter-of-factly. There is no ill-intent in her words.]

Might I inquire as to what force you serve?

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[dracobin]

Oh, you are a cat!

[Thank you, Temeraire, and you are a dragon. But it is so very interesting to see all the different sorts of people who turn up here, day in and day out: besides which, her uniform is not at all unlike Laurence's old one, in the days when he was still in the Navy. He would be lying if he said he were not drawn to it out of some old familiarity.]

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[loquaciouslyfeline]

[A... a cat?! The insult cannot have been intended, but after several rather pleasant conversations, it catches her quite off-guard. It does not help in the least that the speaker bears a striking resemblance to the most dangerous of Aetherium fauna, the space dragons (though the beasts are by no means sentient or capable of speech).]

And you are a great heap of scales, though you do not see me pointing that out immediately. [You just did, Amelia. Her feathers have been ruffled, so to speak.]

video; 65% encrypted

[imaginate]

[Kyle's standing at his desk, dressed in a green and black uniform, insignia on the left side of his chest: a stylised lantern. On his right hand, there's a ring with the same symbol. He's smiling, however, he never was that comfortable actively exuding authority.]

Ma'am. First of all, the creature has access to this network somehow, so it's not advisable to say much over these.

Re: video; 65% encrypted

[loquaciouslyfeline]

[This is quite possibly the most outrageous uniform she has ever seen, if it is indeed a uniform.]

So I have heard from several others. And secondly…? [She’s curious to know what else you have to say, garishly dressed man.]

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[candystriped]

The kedan just like to screw with people, you can't get them to be helpful even if you pay them.

[ Spoilers: they actually just don't like Stocking. They'll probably be polite to Amelia. ]

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[loquaciouslyfeline]

That is unfortunate. And you know this from experience? [Amelia isn't sure she approves of bribery, even in such a minor situation.]

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[parallels]

It's true. About the turtle I mean. And the war. Dunno much about our enemy, he posted once on the network but I haven't seen him since.

[A beat and then Clara, ever so curious, quickly turns the question around.]

What's the Terran Royal Navy? Is it a future Earth or a different planet entirely?

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[loquaciouslyfeline]

He is a very enigmatic foe, as I have gathered.

[Another person asking about the Navy? Amelia has no qualms with obliging, although if it continues it may become wearisome.]

The Royal Navy is the primary peacekeeping force of the Terran Empire. And, no, it has nothing to do with Earth. [Kirk had asked a similar question.] The Terran Empire contains many planets over a large swath of the galaxy; it is not centered on any single one.