outer_divide | [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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...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.

[VIDEO | 002: Salvage and Styracosaurs]

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