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[mandrakeroot]

Mandrake here.

Comments

[tarakan]

Of course, [ Hilbert nods, ] Though I suspect main question now is what do you want to learn?

[mandrakeroot]

I've come across a number of biology experiments that involve simple dissection, but I'm not sure if I could get the material for that. [He's also not entirely sure he'd like to go around cutting up cow eyes or the like. It sounds kind of gross.]

But I do want to see how things are put together.

[tarakan]

We can obtain live material for dissection next port. The rest of supplies could be obtained on Barge.

[ rip froggies, Hilbert is perfectly fine killing you for science. ]

I believe they have x-ray machine in infirmary. Perhaps that could be useful?

[mandrakeroot]

[Some people are more squeamish about the poor frogs. Human test subject would be a lot less objectionable.

He nods.]

I've never seen an x-ray machine before, though I've read about them, now.

[tarakan]

Believe they have one in the infirmary. If you ask Dracula, I'm sure he would be pleased to show you.

[mandrakeroot]

I'll ask him. [Nathaniel has an important problem with Dracula - he's much too tall. But he seems a fine source for technical information.]

[tarakan]

Good.

[ There's a pause before Hilbert admits, ]

I find Dracula...annoying as person. But I cannot deny that man has surprising depth of scientific knowledge. [ A pause before he grumbles, ] Why all scientists on this ship are eccentric nuisances is beyond me, but he and Iris prove that the case.

[mandrakeroot]

The Admiral seems to like 'eccentric', in general.

[It's a real shame that a completely normal and helpful doctor like Hilbert is an inmate while they roam free.]

I suppose he does have to pull from the pool of people who would be willing to come on board, or stay on board.

[tarakan]

Eccentric is very diplomatic way of putting it.

[mandrakeroot]

At least some are 'eccentric' but know something. Other people are just incompetent, on top of all their other problems.

[tarakan]

If you are incompetent and eccentric, then I feel you cannot be called eccentric. You are simply nuisance.

[ aka fuckin' agreed, kid. ]

[mandrakeroot]

If that's the standards the 'Authorities' tried to impose on the Admiral - lack of nuisances, they would have been entirely right.

[tarakan]

[ There's a long pause before Hilbert admits, ]

Wish we could have known for a fact what standards Authority felt Admiral was lacking. I did not enjoy time in Galley, of course. But everything about this ship feels defective. Of course Admiral is failing standards. Look at this place and the people here.

[mandrakeroot]

Me too. The Galley had its flaws, especially in execution, but I thought that having the reasons the Judge thought you should be there and a set list of requirements to meet was very sensible. If the work had been of actual value, it would've been even better. The other ships might have also had useful pieces, though I don't know if there are people who'd talk about them objectively. The Admiral could do with a number of standards.

[tarakan]

Standards would help wardens as well as inmates. We all would know what to aim for and wardens would know how to help inmates attain it.

Problem now is if someone suggested it, doubt Admiral would listen.

[mandrakeroot]

I'm not sure the Admiral would've ever listened if someone had suggested it, at any time.

But it is probably even less likely, now. The Admiral is rather 'eccentric' himself.

[tarakan]

'Eccentric' and stubborn. Deadly combination.

[mandrakeroot]

He has a great deal of power, too. [Which truly makes it deadly.]

[tarakan]

And I doubt he will ever acknowledge level of power he truly has. Not to Barge population, at least.

[mandrakeroot]

Definite answers would allow people to ask specific questions. A potentially dangerous precedent, for him.

[tarakan]

Agreed. Better for Admiral to keep everything vague, to hide inner workings of this place.

[ There's a pause before, ] It is a pity I do not have access to engine room. I have worked with AI back home. If theories are right, I might be able to help us find answers to some of our questions.

[mandrakeroot]

[Nothing strikes Nathaniel as odd about experienced Doctor also having the ability to work with ship AIs or anything else. In part because most of the fields are new to him.] People would likely be touchy about that. Especially after Eiffel.

They'd rather avoid looking for answers in exchange for the illusion of safety.

[tarakan]

Which is ridiculous. We already had one incident where Admiral's higher-ups brought ship in for examination. And people honestly believe that they will not check up on us? That they will not bring Barge back in at slightest provocation?

Would not surprise me if Authority left plenty of ways to track ship or plenty of ways to give backdoor access in ship's code.

[mandrakeroot]

[He nods, in full agreement.] It would be the reasonable course of action. Not that you can rely on people being reasonable, but that doesn't mean you should dismiss obvious possibilities in hopes that they've done the same.

If they're made unhappy or if they feel any need to make an example - we're the perfect target.