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[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

[The camera is pointed lazily and a bit off-center at Indrani, pinned to her favorite chair by the much too large and ugly dog who has never believed he doesn't fit in laps.]

So running a thought by everyone. Shouldn't we write ourselves up a guide for newcomers? More efficient than everybody just jumping in with their version of important advice. We could print them up and leave them on the ship, plus a few back here for people who run. Which dinosaurs will kill you, where stuff is, where not to go if you don't feel like being shot at. My friend Moira and I made up a whole book like that at home, and it was just the two of us. Seems like this should be easy.

Comments

Video

[theverymodel]

[Oh be still his heart!]

Could prepare pamphlet.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

I'm open to ideas on formats. Last time I was in on a project like this it took up a pretty big, heavy book, but we might want to be more concise.

[theverymodel]

Pamphlet format particularly adapted for presenting introductory material.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Sure. Helpful diagrams and everything.

[theverymodel]

[He nods. He's already starting to imagine layouts]

Much merit in idea.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Okay, we're now a two-person task force. ...Probably wanna expand a little bit more first. It took me and Moira a long time to get the survival guide together, and I don't think she sleeps, or eats, or exists under the constraints of linear time the way most people do.

[theverymodel]

Seldom sleep. Do however eat and exist in linear time.

[He sniffs. That's really not exactly true on Verdana is it?]

As much as any of us do.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

That's handy. Still, we might wanna expand the staff at least a little.

[Too bad Moira's not here. She'd love this stuff.]

[theverymodel]

Varying areas of expertise. Give a more complete picture.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Guess we could just ask everybody for their best tips. Probably want to have a meeting and see how much interest we can scare up.

[theverymodel]

Yes. Had much interest?

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Not much yet. Maybe I'll hang some signs. It's times like this I miss having just the one radio station run by a guy who thought I was cool. Commercials can be handy.

[theverymodel]

Centralization would simplify communication. Imagine limits programming diversity. Undesirable.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Yeah, he's got like ten prewar recordings and that's all the music we get back home. But you can be sure everyone's paying attention, because what the hell else are they gonna do?

[theverymodel]

Loss of art overlooked tragedy of war. Important cultural touchstone.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Yeah, you're telling me. Of course, for everyone back home who hoards it like me, there's a bunch of moron raiders using prewar books as kindling.

[galacticheroine]

That's actually not a bad idea.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Right? We can skip over the boring parts. Everybody likes informative literature.

[galacticheroine]

It'd cut down on the confused people looking to the network for help, too.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Or at least when they do look for help it'll be with references. Can someone expand on page three, please?

[girlworthfighting]

Hopefully people wouldn't end up arguing or not over what is important to know.

But other than that, yes. I can see that this would be very useful.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

We can include that page. A list of arguments we have a lot. Pick a side on your way in!

[girlworthfighting]

You don't think that might prove overwhelming for any newcomer?

[I mean, she assumes you're joking, Indrani. But still.]

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

[She's never joking. Well, not completely.]

Nah, I'd love it if every new place came with a list of basic disagreements and factions. Usually it takes a whole lot of asking around and getting stabbed before you can tell.

[girlworthfighting]

We can be a little discordant but I don't know if I would go that far.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

No, this place is relatively civilized. When stabbing happens there are murder trials and junk. Heck, we could put that in the brochure. If anyone else comes from home they'd wanna know.

[girlworthfighting]

Maybe not just your home, admittedly. There are other lawless realms.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Fair. But then, speaking as a crazed barbarian, I might not believe a piece of paper that promised no one was likely to shoot at me.

[genoshas_general]

It might be pretty long, if you want everyone to sign off on it.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

I'm cool with that, but I'm being persuaded to consider a more concise pamphlet format. Maybe it can have appendices.

[genoshas_general]

I don't think pamphlets can have those. [Tiny smile, then back to serious.] I think we should be considering more than just what to tell them, though.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Mildly ominous but potentially practical statement noted. Followup?

[genoshas_general]

We need to be able to organize a militia on the fly.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Do you have a plan for this militia or do you just kind of like them?

[genoshas_general]

I'm -- well, there are a number of things we might need one for. I'll admit I'm partial to them, though.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Never ran into one that didn't cause as many problems as it solved, if not more.

[genoshas_general]

I have. I know there are problems inherent with that sort of thing, though. That's why I said we need to be ready, in case we face bigger ones. There's no need to do anything in haste.