outer_divide | [VIDEO | 002: Salvage and Styracosaurs]

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[VIDEO | 002: Salvage and Styracosaurs]

[The video opens with the sort of grainy footage that happens when you're training a camera on a holographic image recording. Kaidan's omni-tool, and therefore Kaidan's arm, is in the frame and is showing a high-angled shot of what happens when two styracosaurs, survivors of a panicked herd aimed at the barrier, get past the Outer Authorities and collide with the dome:

They actually get halfway through it, before it stops them. Messily.]

So, there's that piece of news for you folks -- I'd say hold off on any personal experimentation, because failure looks damn' unpleasant, but it looks like the dome isn't as impenetrable as all that. I'm not speculating which variable in F = ma is the critical one, but it's something to look into.

I know we lost people to this, and nothing makes up for that, never does, but at least we've gotten something out of it in turn.

I've been doing some scouting, and with all the losses and changes, I was hoping I could get a specific sort of head count. If you've got any experience with electronics, specifically the 20th century tech level we're working with here, although earlier'd be fine too, ping me or come find me -- Shepard will know where I'm at if you can't.

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[His brow is furrows as he watches, and he can't help but wince slightly at the ultimate conclusion.]

Fascinating. [It's a low, grim sort of murmur; it wasn't a pleasant sight, but he'll take what he can from it.]

[He shakes his head, raises his voice.] I've experience with most electronics, myself. ...Well. Most electronics in my universe, at any rate.

It's a bit of a trainwreck, isn't it?

[Kaidan's replaced the graining video-of-a-video with the sharper image of himself, back to an anonymous section of semi collapsed wall. He looks fairly hale and hearty despite all the hard work and adrenaline of the last little while... but then, he is a soldier after all. He looks wryly understanding, before switching over to businesslike.]

That's good news, though. How are you at building or designing from scratch? How far back can you take the component parts?

[The Doctor looks a bit of a wreck, himself, battered and frayed, but his eyes are sharp and his voice is steady.]

It's been a while since I did that sort of thing on a regular basis [and his lips quirk, just slightly, as he remembers] but I'm sure I can manage.

There's not much I can't do, honestly, if I recognise what I'm working with. Even if I don't - well. I'm a rather quick study.

Quick studies are some of my favourite people. [Kaidan flashes him a quick smile, partially masking his assessing look.]

When you're free, we should meet in person and take a crack at things -- my name's Kaidan, by the way. Kaidan Alenko.

[The Doctor offers a weary but genuine smile.] It's a pleasure, Kaidan. I'm the Doctor.

I'm keeping busy in the hospital at the moment, but I'd be happy to meet you when there's a lull. ...Whenever that may be.

[His smile fades, leaving a look of grim concern.]

There are quite a lot of wounded. To be expected, I suppose. [There's a measure of resigned regret in his voice.]

[Interest perks in Kaidan's expression at that, and he lets the assessing look surface a little more.]

Shepard mentioned you on a list of people who might have tech skills. Glad to see you came out the other side of this.

And... I'll probably run into you at the hospital, then. I've got field medic training, so I've been working on SAR sweeps of some of the worst-hit areas.

[The smile returns at that, and then he nods.]

I'll keep a look out. It's - a bit crowded, to say the least. [The smile doesn't fade now, though; if anything, it's a bit proud.] We're making due, however.

People truly can be remarkable.

They can, can't they?

[For a moment, something genuinely pleased breaks through the habitual mild cynicism that he wears well.]

It's always the moments like this that you see some of it brought out. Folks pulling together. But I'll stop by next time I finish a sweep, see what I can do to lend a hand.

Anything you want me to keep an eye out for while I'm in the field, supplies wise?

...well, that sure is a thing.

We already spoke—er, I guess wrote back and forth? I'm Judy, I'm not sure if you remember, but 20th century tech is my bag, and I'd be happy to help.

I do remember, yeah.

[And by the flash of a smile he gives her, he's relieved to see her again. (Or, uh, 'see her' to begin with. Hi Judy, meet a prematurely silver-templed space marine.)]

Glad to see you came through the, uh, trial by fire in one piece. What can you tell me about transistors? Were they in common enough use that we could find some to salvage around here?

I'm pretty good at keeping out of trouble. [Grin! Not suspicious at all nope]

Well, transistors should be pretty ubiquitous. Any kind of 20th century technology should have them all over the place. Um, they come in a lot of different shapes, but the ones you find in larger computing devices, like larger than a watch, are usually kinda squarish and have two or three wires or prongs coming out of one side? I might be able to draw you a picture.

[After a bit of scribbling, she holds up a pencil sketch including a couple of these. ]

Like that. I could probably... sort of tell you how they work, although I'm not the best at the fiddly hardware stuff.

Oh -- we still have them. [Kaidan looks awkward for a moment at prompting the misunderstanding.]

In fact, that's great news you've given me -- transistors, I can work with. I mean, I figure the ones from my time will be a lot tinier and a lot more powerful, but the basic theory's the same. But if there'll be some out there and you think they'll be easy to find, that makes my plans a lot easier.

[He pauses, and the embarrassment is dispelled by a flash of a nearly boyish grin.]

Want some practice with the fiddly hardware stuff once I find some? I promise a lot of chances to laugh at my expense as I solder the wrong bits together.

Sweet. But yeah, if you're looking for transistors, that's how we were making them, last I checked, and if the tech is late 20th or 21st century, they should be dime a dozen. And I think I will take you up on that offer of practice with the fiddly hardware stuff—maybe if I run into Rach again she won't be able to frown at me for calling everything "thingy."

Hey, 'thingy' is a perfectly respectable placeholder with a long and storied history.

I don't want to talk too many details on what's got to be a monitored link, but we should meet up in person as soon as the embers cool a little, yeah?

Good point, and yeah, sure. Lemme know when you've got time; I'm thinking your skillset will keep you a little busier for the time being than mine will.

Will do. And yeah, there's... definitely a lot to be done. If you're in a position to help out any, I can keep an eye out for things that need extra hands more than set skills, but keep yourself safe in any case.

Will do! May the Force be with you.

[There's a pause at that, as Kaidan's brain first processes the reference, for the films are certainly iconic enough to have survived to his time, then processes that Judy totally just made a Star Wars reference. And then he laughs, signing off with a Jedi-like wave of a hand.]

If you find any lightsabres, pass 'em on.

It's good you aren't speculating. I do not think we could achieve that sort of charge unless one of those pods is hiding a krogan.

[Joking? Maybe. She sounds weary enough that it's hard to tell.]

I do not know much about your species' technology during that era, but if you need any assistance in scouting, I am at your disposal.

Hell, maybe one is.

[After all, while the bulk of the place is human, Liara's breathing proof that this isn't necessarily so.]

I've got a couple people who are better-versed in the era than I am that I'm talking with now. I'll definitely take you up on the offer of scouting assistance... although maybe that should wait until Shepard's new pet is settled.

I am torn between hoping we find Wrex somewhere in this chaos, and very much hoping we don't.

Yeah, if he's busy trying to get the krogan clans to sit down, shut up and follow his lead... I think I want him right there doing that, not interrupted to spend who knows how long in a stasis tube.

And most other krogans I've met would just headbutt the thing and ask questions later.

[He winces, recalling the video's conclusion.]

Or not.

Yes...it is the "later" that we need to work on, I think.

Edited 2012-06-24 16:31 (UTC)

I have a few ideas, but they'll need to wait until we can get some sort of toehold... and I probably shouldn't discuss them on this link anyways.

Certainly not. It is nowhere near secure enough.

[Do not ask the Shadow Broker what she would consider 'secure enough'. Just...don't.]

[Hey, if she can suggest a way the can build the tech for it here, Kaidan will happily try and follow through. For the moment, he changes the subject]

Are you seeing a lot of wounded in your zone? I haven't hit anything I can't handle, or stabilize for transport, but the civilians here got hammered, if they were unlucky.

Edited 2012-06-25 02:53 (UTC)

You are more fortunate than I, then.

[It's even, calm. She's learned to mask her emotions over the past three years...mostly. Her voice still carries a hint of strain, well-buried anger at her own inability to help.]

Do you need backup? People can probably get by on their own here if somewhere else is higher on the triage list.

No - there's nothing you can do here that I cannot manage.

[Translation: one of the Normandy crew is feeling guilty over not fixing a hopeless situation. And nobody in the galaxy is surprised.]

I'll maintain contact. [Beat.] And if you run into anything that requires my aid, the offer is mutual.

For the official record, your Commander prefers the term 'mode of transportation'.

[The Doctor is beaming at you, Shepard.]

Oh, that's brilliant.

[That probably means it's a bad idea.]

[Yeah, she's kinda getting that feeling.]

And what are the odds I can talk you out of trying it for yourself?

[Because that's just the sort of ridiculous thing he'd stroll right into.]

Shh... don't ruin my inner child's dreams just yet.

You're not getting paid for your inner child's dreams, Alenko.

[But there's a note of good humor in her tone, buried under the military bravado. Yeah, you can ride the dinosaur too.]

Wait, I'm getting paid here?

[Kaidan blinks, in well-feigned surprise.]

Is this like the rumour I've heard that we can disobey suicidal orders?

They're both complete bullshit, if that's what you're asking.

[He laughs, and for all the fatigue of the work and the worry, it's a laugh that lightens his eyes as he flicks her a salute.]

I'll bear that in mind, ma'am.

You'd better. [But despite herself, she's smiling a little too, a subtle quirk to the corners of her mouth.]

Always. You'll have to give me the details on how you got it when I get over there. I expect full amounts of embellishing bullshit, too.

Might want to bring some sort of bedding, while you're at it. Something tells me we're camping out this way tonight.

...I wonder if they might also be trained as pack animals, if we were to find one young enough.

Let's see if I can train this one, first.

I have literally no idea what's going on, but I do have a little experience with electronics.

So. Consider yourself pinged.

Just woke up to find yourself in a stasis pod right out of science fiction, I'm guessing?

Welcome to the club. You're not on Earth, we don't know what year it's supposed to be, but people are here from different eras and other strange stuff.

More to the point, the tech level outside the dome seems to have been at mid to late twentieth century levels. I'm twenty second century, so I'm trying to figure out antiques, basically, and I could use a native guide.

Uh huh.

Well, if you promise to talk slowly so my primitive mind can comprehend, I could probably manage to help you.

Hah. If you're genre-savvy enough to make that joke, I think we'll do fine.

Have you left the ship yet?

Yeah, I'm out and about.

No offense, but this place is a wreck.

Post-apocalyptic wasteland, bring your own radiation meter.

All right. I'm doing some SAR work near some of the newest collapses -- wildfire and dinosaur stampede, don't ask -- but I usually swing by the hospital between laps. If you want to talk shop some place not as likely to be monitored as these things, I can meet you there.

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[VIDEO | 002: Salvage and Styracosaurs]

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