outer_divide | [VIDEO | 005: Hot Under The Collar] (Wednesday Evening)

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[VIDEO | 005: Hot Under The Collar] (Wednesday Evening)

Kaidan's looking much less stressed and mid-combat than his last network post, we must say. Of course, he's still got deep bruising across half of his pretty face (and it seems strangely on its way to healing, given the timespan) and there's that shiny technological collar hanging around his neck. Too, he seems to be mentally willing back a pretty vile headache, if the squint to his eyes and the pain lines at the corners of his mouth are an indication.

But... not mid-combat. This is a plus. He appears to be underground, in some sort of half-salvaged space that might look familiar to a few of the more community-minded tech heads. He's even gotten the bare bones of some lighting in place.]

I didn't want to add to what's already a bitch of a cleanup, but I need a hand. Specifically, I need three pairs of them, and so does anyone else who got stuck with one of these.

[One hand lifts, patting the collar by way of example.]

Come to my workspace if you've got some spare time and don't mind helping out. I've also got a couple other things I can't pull off alone. One's for some heavy lifting -- I don't want to go into detail on here. The other... well, you've seen what happened to the fields. I have a plan that might get some more food on the tables, but it needs manpower. If you're up on 20th century technology or later, I need your help. Hell-- if you can be taught quickly how to hold a soldering iron, I could use you.

I can't really offer payment, outside of information and maybe some salvage, but if this works then maybe we don't starve.

Either show up or reply to this -- and put a filter on it if you can -- if you want to know more.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Since this is evening, he's caught Lyall in his attempt at checking the network before he leaves his own tunnel hide-away to see what he can do out above. He hasn't actually made any replies to anything on here yet, though he's certainly poked and prodded at the little machine enough times, but since this is Major Alenko, perhaps he will make an excepion.]

This is Professor Lyall. I can be there shortly as part of your three sets of hands. I may be able to help with some of the heavy lifting, as well.

[And he sticks the thing in his waistcoat and heads on out. He does, after all, have that handy map the man sent.]

Professor -- damn-- uh, really good to see you.

[Yes, he's back to playing Don't Curse At The Victorian. Kaidan seems honestly relieved beneath the bruises and what feels like a building backlog of biotic energy, thanks to the collar.]

I think you might find what I'm trying to get lifted pretty interesting. I hope, anyways.

[Since typing is hard to do while moving, Lyall fiddles a little-- glassicals on, since the thing is so very small-- until he finds the audio response.]

I imagine I will. Most everything in this place has at least been interesting. Even if it has also been exploding, full of bullets, or on fire.

[His voice is fairly deadpan.]

[A sniff of a laugh carries across the audio link.]

Right, the old Chinese curse -- may you live in interesting times. Let's say this is going to be more constructively interesting.

[Though Lyall isn't actually aware of the Chinese curse, he can understand the point of it, so he smiles just a bit. Not that it's really audible, but still. He'll have to remember that. His Alphas would probably appreciate it.]

Mm, yes, being constructive is a step in the right direction. I suppose I had best not ask further, until I'm there in person?

Yeah -- there are a few ways to filter your communication on here, but there's no such thing as an uncrackable code.

I'll see you shortly, Professor.

Indeed. I will be there shortly, Major.

[And he shuts off the communicator. There's only a few turns left, anyway.]

[There is no text. There is no call. There is merely an omni-tool ping with Liara's current position and her ETA.]

[Kaidan's reply is a counter-ping, location updated to his workshop.]

I can help, if you need a third.

[And the heavy lifting, most likely.]

I think I might need to, uh, make some modifications to the workspace here before you could fit in, but if we don't get a third, I think I'll definitely be all for going to you.

[Kaidan's tone tries for wry acceptance of his situation and its absurdities, but he can't really hide the fact that he's been run through the ringer and then some.]

I do want to meet and talk with you once this is sorted out, though. Did you get anyone to help with your repairs?

Oh. Right.

[He should know. He has no excuse to forget, even for an instant, the size difference. He just wants to help.]

All right. [He gives a dismissive shrug.]My injuries are unsubstantial.

Still, insubstantial can creep up on you sometimes. We need you at the top of your game, Wing, so you let me know if you need things looked at.

[Congratulations, Wing, you've gotten his Major Alenko voice out of him, all frank concern over an aura of assured command. It might work better if he wasn't a walking bruise with a collar around his neck, but so it goes.]

[That voice reminds him all too much of Dai Atlas. And for a moment, just on principle, he wants to resist. But that would gain nothing here.]

The problem is, I don't think anyone is capable of repairing me. The ones that helped last time have disappeared.

Even if there's nobody right now, it doesn't mean someone won't defrost who can. I'm working closely with a lot of the techs here, so if I do find someone, I'll let you know.

And for moving things... there's the remains of two downed hovercraft in the fields. If you could get them out of sight before the Authorities think to go looking for them, I've got a place for them and a lot of questions they might help me answer.

[Wing nods. But it merely confirms what he knows: no one can repair him. He'll have to be more cautious.]

Ah. Do you have a place in mind? Perhaps two, in case one is discovered? And is there any component in particular I should prioritize?

I'm actually thinking the Doctor might have an idea or two -- have you talked with him?

[Kaidan's not up on a lot of the man's backstory, but he's pieced together enough to know that he can futz with technology well beyond Kaidan's own grasp of it. But his tone is more one of speculation, and he drops it in favour of immediate business.]

I'm sending two drop points to you now. They're probably the closest you can get to some underground sites I've had my eye on. As for priorities, take anything that would be difficult for other people to shift -- we can manage the smaller debris.

I have not spoken with any Doctor. The hospital is too small for me.

[Doctors and hospitals go together, right?]

[He nods, acknowledging the data transmission.]

Are these sites secure, or shall I stay to guard one?

Oh, not a doctor, the Doctor -- it's a title. He can pull off some pretty crazy things, by his reputation and from a little that I've seen. Patching you up might be inside his reach.

[Kaidan looks mildly sheepish as he clarifies -- apparently it doesn't take long to get past surprise at the name and right into just going with it.]

The sites are more or less secure. A lot of what I hope to salvage'll be turned right back around to trying to help the folks here, so I'm hoping that will be enough to earn some good will and leaving it alone, but if you want to keep a loose eye on things now and again, I won't object. No need to park by it or anything, though.

Oh. [He'll just accept that. The Doctor. All right.] I'll definitely try to find him, then.

[Because he could use a good look-over. ]

So I should be looking at tradable items as well? And they may have left, erm, armor and weaponry we could use.

[He hates the thought of fighting, but seeing them attack the hospital, and Eliot's lecture, have made him begin to realize they need to be ready to fight, really fight.]

[He frowns.] If I were too obvious and attentive, I may draw attention, actually.

Yeah. That's why I'm thinking be casual about it -- if you're doing some rounds in general, people aren't as likely to notice if you're paying attention to a couple areas. Even robot-jets can fade into the background if you're predictable enough.

[He seems almost amused at this -- humanity is not without its foibles and blind spots.]

[He nods.] That makes sense.

I'm afraid that actual war--these kinds of thinking--is new to me.

In a perfect world, nobody would have to figure out how to think tactically. Since it's not a perfect world, here or elsewhere, that's why I do what I do. Normally, I'd say it's so others don't have to. But here...

[He trails off, eyes focusing on the middle distance for a moment before returning attention to Wing.]

I'll help you where I can.

Here, your expertise means you can help defend people. Save lives.

[He frowns at the other's distant look.] Though I am sorry for the price you've had to pay to gain that knowledge, friend.

[The distant look comes back into focus with a crooked smile and a lift of one hand.]

I paid it willingly, so no regrets there. We'll always need our soldiers as well as our saints, and I happen to be pretty decent at the soldiering. As for you... I think you can learn some strategy without having to dive right into the violence. Starting patrols and keeping an eye on things is a good beginning.

Willingness is good, but that doesn't lessen your sacrifice.

I just want to do more. We shouldn't have to live like this.

Well, if it's comforting to you on that score... we can't.

[There's a wry frankness to his tone that suggests his musings aren't really meant to be entirely reassuring, at least not conventionally.]

The situation's not stable. It will either get worse if we do nothing, or if we act stupidly, or it will get better if we're smart. So, one way or another, we and everyone else aren't going to stay like this.

I know my way around a soldering iron, if you still need a hand.

[You know, through trial and error, but that's something, right? And Peter just. Needs something to do. :|]

I'll need all the hands I can get. Go to this location, I'll bring you the rest of the way from there.

[A small file with an annotated map is transferred over. The indicator is a spot near an entrance to the tunnels that Kaidan's workshop's in, but not at the workshop itself. ((OOC, feel free to assume they met, Kaidan determined Peter's not a stray Outer Authority, and brought him on over to the log if you want.))]

I'll be there.

[ooc: Sounds good! :D]

You know I'm in.

And my day got just that little bit better. If you liked the generator, I think you'll like this one even more.

Music to my ears. I'll be over once I'm done here; it shouldn't be too long.

Looking forward to it. I've got two people here already, and I think we can pull off something impressive in a group.

[[OOC: feel free to jump on the log thread with Liara and Lyall for the de-collaring, or make a new one for tech tinkering. Or both!))

Aaah, so I take it that they can be removed by certain means.

...I'd be willing to offer a hand, in return for yours.

[The vampire (who was collared as well) wasn't too fond of saying that, but since her own attempts had failed...for quite a while now, in fact... she pretty much had to ask others. This human, at least, had seemed to be more than a mere dog, which was why the vampire had even replied in the first place.]

[Kaidan's expression squints a little, placing her as the strange good samaritan from the SAR operation. He nods after a moment and asjusts a setting on his communicator.]

Ms. Alucard, good to see you in one piece. And that's right -- there are three panels on the collar. You need three people to activate them at once to get it to release you. Guess it's the Authorities' little joke or something.

I've got my three people, but I can come find you after, if you need a hand with yours.

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[VIDEO | 005: Hot Under The Collar] (Wednesday Evening)

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