➢ 003 | VIDEO

[looksfine]

[Those who may have noticed Aya's (physical) absence since everyone's adventures in the bottle will be relieved to see the young Artificial Intelligence alive, well, and...perhaps a bit shinier than usual.]

[She had been experimenting with a new teflon glaze coating.]

[In addition, her petite form was nearly lost in the soft knitted sweater she was wearing.  Completely hand-made, of course, and identical save for the individual size specifications of those presented to each and every employee of Stark Industries.  (Everyone was welcome, by the way.)  Unique to her ensemble, however, was the hat adorning her head as well.  Aya being...well...Aya, of course, she says nothing about either of her current fashion choices.  Oh, no.  She has far more interesting topics to discuss with the Network this day.]

I have been devoting a significant percentage of my research time to studying the navigational methods employed by our current living situation in an effort to possibly discern not only where precisely we are located in this world, relative both to its known land masses and possibly other worlds surrounding it, but also in hopes of developing a better system in which we, as individuals, may easier travel.

Currently, the barrier surrounding our host reptile has limited maneuverability within the parameters of the city.  However, this also presents something of a interesting situation.

It is my understanding that the turtle--particularly species native to the planet Earth--is a being in possession of internal sensors that allow them to detect the two opposite ends of any given planet's magnetic fields.  Obviously, these are most prevalent in distinguishing between polar North and South; however, in many cases, it can be said that the minute changes in angular degrees longitude may also allow them to determine distances traveling East to West.  I believe this is how the one known as Asti is capable of navigating through this world's waters.  If that is the case, then relative to this world, we are in too constant a movement to accurately develop a magnetic-based system of direction, as this would be ever changing and thus, useless.  What may be Magnetic North one day could be North-North West the next.

Even when engaged in inter-planetary travels, the calculations necessary in order to safely engage a ship's Warp Drive were based on the pre-established constant of Sector Zero, and a certain planet identified as the center of the universe.  From there, it was a matter of placing into the equation each known planet located in the relative path traveled, as well as their respective orbits, gravitational fields, magnetic fields, and any other recorded anomalies that could be potentially detrimental to our safety in flight.  These are not figures I am currently in possession of at this time.

[A pause.  While it may seem to many--or, rather, anybody who's miraculously been able to follow Aya's train of thought until now--that she has stumbled upon a mental block, Aya does not appear frustrated at all.  If anything, the hypothetical conundrum is amusing to her.]

I suppose what my intentions of conveying at this time are a curiosity as to how many individuals on the Turtle are able to navigate beyond visual memory and typical "landmark" associations with familiar streets.

Perhaps, then, I may be able to develop a better way for new arrivals to accurately find their way around.

Comments

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[wintershepherd]

[ Jack remembers her from an earlier post but also recalls that she had no idea to whom Bean was referring when Jack came up in conversation. So he automatically starts in text format. ]

don't suppose an answer like "just knowing" will help much?

text;

[looksfine]

[Smart. Aya was not without beliefs and the ability to comprehend that there were forces far above and beyond the immediate explanation that science could offer. But one step at a time.]

Not particularly.

Are you claiming this knowledge to be instinctive? Or is it something else guiding your movements?

Re: text;

[wintershepherd]

a little of both.
At home I know where I am in the world
by exact longitude and latitude but I don't really think about it
it's just there
so it's like instinct that way but it works
for other things like dates
so the cause of it is probably magic.

[ Now that he's actually trying to explain it, it sounds very ridiculous. Jack wonders if maybe he shouldn't have bothered trying to explain. ]

text;

[looksfine]

[It did not sound ridiculous to her at all. Aya was not anticipating that every response she receive be definitive or absolute--it that were the case, she was certain she would have solved the conundrum long ago. If anything, the subjective explanations further helped her to understand the phenomenon from various perspectives.]

[In other words, it helped her learn in new ways.]

Are you a Turtle as well? Since you appear to share certain biological similarities with the species I previously described.

[Hey, she had already met Mike. It was possible!]

video; 95% batcrypted with backdoor for Kyle;

[demon_brat]

While saying that he 'just knows' might not be particularly helpful, the conundrum might be easier to comprehend if you assume an awareness that is larger than the body of the turtle itself, and can expand to encompass items further than its line of sight.

It is highly possible that this wider range of awareness cannot expand to cosmic distances, but, as Tu Vishan is aware of life at the very least on his back, as in, not mere presence, but our individualities, powers, and needs, it is highly possible that he is aware of life forms further from his shell.

Furthermore, all the land masses on this world once used to be groups of others of his kind - others that he remembers alive, and then ailing. He does not need to find the landmarks, but merely to remember where his family were when he could last communicate with them.

Is that more helpful?

video; 95% batcrypted with backdoor for Kyle;

[looksfine]

I assume you are referring specifically to the individual current engaging in written communication with myself on the subject?

[A rhetorical question, asked only for definitive clarification. Beyond that, Aya sat with the utmost patience during the detailed elaboration. Nodding occasionally, if not in agreement, then as validation that she was listening intently to the young boy.]

I would prefer not to assume anything, as doing so would have the potential to result in an inaccurate assessment of data and accidental falsification of otherwise 'definitive' conclusions.

However...yes, the subsequent information you have just provided was very helpful. I was not previously aware of Asti's more personal attachments to designated locations of this world.

[And then, hardly judgmental but because she could not let it slide:]

May I ask why you have chosen to encrypt this conversation? To my knowledge, nothing we are speaking of is confidential.

video; 95% batcrypted with backdoor for Kyle;

[demon_brat]

[ Damian didn't respond to the initial question with anything more than a raised eyebrow. Yes, and he didn't think he had to elaborate, but, yes. ]

[ As to the rest, he nods. ]

The information is incomplete, since Asti has not given many opportunities to communicate with him, but, I believe, between what is known - about the landmasses - and the length of his lifetime, most of what is likely strange can be explained. Even if it might not be too helpful in terms of those of us who are not like him.

As to the encryption, knowledge about the world we are in has been used against those of us here, before. Either because of malice or because of disbelief as to what is important. I would rather not take greater chances than I need to.

[ Yes, he was referring to Khan, but not only. ]

[video]

[gathersnomoss]

I have some navigation instruments and I've been keeping a chart of the turtle's course when there's clear days or nights to take measurements. But that's different than finding your way around the turtle. Honestly, we're better off just giving new people a good map with some kind of easy to understand symbols instead of writing.

[Zel's instruments are a sextant, a compass and a reliable clock... good for a pre-spaceflight world, but not exactly satellite navigation.]

[video]

[looksfine]

Then you also recommend sight-based navigation.

[Flawed, but at the moment, it was the most readily available option.]

May I ask how the instruments you have in your possession function?

Re: [video]

[gathersnomoss]

Hang on.

[Zelgadis went to get a small chest and opened it, taking out a clock, a compass, and a sextant]

I have a clock, which I assume is clockwork. I have a sextant, to measure the angle between the Sun or a star and the horizon. And I have a compass, which has a needle made of iron charged by a lodestone that aligns to magnetic north.

video; let's assume he will show her his torch form in their thread?

[originalflameon]

I do use landmark associations, I'm afraid my father did not think of installing me a sensor to detect magnetic poles. So far it has never failed me, but I do admit most of my missions happened on Earth, on territories I knew- and this kind of 'navigation' wouldn't be adequate for the vast space.

The barrier will make your current mission difficult. [If not outright impossible while the barrier is up, even if he leaves that unsaid.]

video; /salute~

[looksfine]

[Hello, Jim.]

Agreed.

My job would be much easier if I were able to better research the world around us, rather than leave the 'driving' to our gracious reptilian host.

video

[originalflameon]

Have you considered focusing your efforts on investigating the barrier? You're a smart girl, and capable. If you focus on it I'm sure we'll find out a lot more about the barrier, we know so little right now.

video

[sizzle]

[ He tried... he tried really hard to understand all of that, but while he was following the compass idea, she lost him completely with that inter-planetary travels business.

He thinks he understands what she's asking for now.

... Maybe. ]

You're looking for a navigator?

video

[looksfine]

[You get a gold star for effort, Zuko.]

Not exactly.

I am a navigator. In fact, my original prime directive was specifically to navigate. I am simply inquiring the various methods employed in navigation to determine which one would work best in Keelai.

video

[sizzle]

[ He's putting it on the fridge!

And ah, okay now he's following along here. ]

If you don't want to memorize the streets then use a map.

permanon text - cafe location;

[denyamenti]

Don't you have any instincts?

text;

[looksfine]

On occasion, I have been known to act on more than definitive evidence alone.

However, as I have previously stated, my research is not strictly for my benefit.

Re: text;

[denyamenti]

What if you knew something was wrong, would you do it anyway?

video;

[dracobin]

[Temeraire's response is unusually thoughtful; despite his natural intelligence, the contents of Aya's post are more technically advanced than the material he is used to parsing, and it takes him a moment to catch up.]

If you are interested in designing a sort of map, consisting primarily of Keeliai and other locations within the barrier, surely it would be a matter of course to limit the parameters to Asti himself. That is to say--perhaps it might be easier to give directions not in terms of north and northwest, but in terms of--for example--head-wards and tail-wards? After all, Keeliai is not about to rotate on the turtle's shell anytime soon.

[Pause.] Of course it is a stopgap sort of measure, and entirely unhelpful if you mean to ascertain our location within the world as a whole, but if this project is for new arrivals, it seems to me the most logical course of action.

video;

[looksfine]

[Aya remained patiently still throughout the entire thing, listening to ever word even though it was not precisely what she was looking for. Still, that did not discredit the validity of what was being offered, and even when he finished, she nodded her acknowledgment.]

[It was not just patronizing, either.]

You make an excellent suggestion. I had not considered previously altering the language of direction to better suit our current location. However, if you believe this to be the optimal solution, might I ask how one who is standing in any randomized point in the city might first be able to discern whether or not they are facing the Turtle's head or tail?

video;

[dracobin]

It is true they might not at first glance: but then, as you have said, the cardinal directions change daily--perhaps even hourly--in relation to our position, and a newcomer might have much the same success in ascertaining it. Consistency, I think, might be more important to them; there is precious little of it, immediately after one arrives in Keeliai.

[He ponders for a moment, then offers:] I have heard that in certain worlds--including Earth--that small, handheld devices are used by people to navigate the streets. Do you suppose a device like that might be feasible here?

[oneofthegoodguys]

In my day, it's pretty much all software and equipment, but for wilderness survival, we're taught to use the stars.

If someone has a camera and can take photos of the stars, we might be able to put some kind of a star chart together. I'm sure there's a way to figure out what direction we're heading by how the stars change and maybe even a method of determining distance, but honestly I don't know how to do either of those.

If someone was keeping accurate records of time between distances, temperatures, and other calculations, there should be a mathematical formula for that too. But I still don't know what it is.

[looksfine]

[Hmm. An interesting perspective she had previously dismissed due to uncertainty about the regular distances traveled.]

Nor am I currently aware of the necessarily calculations that would be mandated, though I am certain that--with enough time and reliable data--this is not something beyond my capabilities to formulate.

In fact, there is potential for this information to be used on both a world-wide and Turtle-wide scale, assuming that these formulas could be used to program a navigational device to service this very purpose.

[oneofthegoodguys]

I don't know if we want to make an electronic device out of it. It could act as a GPS for Lucifer if we're not careful. As much as I hate to say it, we might need to find someone good at crunching hard numbers and make something manual to use as a tool.