THE BIG ONE: VOTING POST

[ximilian]

● ● ● THE BIG ONE: IC VOTING POST

Hello orbers!

The time has come to determine how this missions's conclusion will play out. This time around, the orb has been located and revealed to be without an ongoing contract, but the dilemma surrounding the Hivawei and the oncoming asteroid remains. Note that this is an IC vote — so whatever you vote for has to be what your character would ICly want to do.

Before we get into the vote, here is all the information that has been shared:

• An asteroid is expected to make impact with the planet in ten days upon the crew's arrival.

• The consequences of the orb still being there when the impact happens could be even more catastrophic than the destruction of one planet.

• The crew have the wizard Remi's notes on opening paths between worlds.

• Remi and Aureliah have arrived on the sixth day and will provide aid.

• The orb likely has no current contract.

• The leaders of the other settlements, along with the Sage, Chief Yerek and Blecein are aware of the situation, but have not made yet the information public, pending on a more solid plan.

• The Hivawei generally believe in the cycle of life and death, and that death is not the end.

• Nevertheless, there is in them a strong willingness to keep trying and not give up.

• The Hivawei turn to their "Mother of Light" when they are in distress. It is based on the lamawei plant, known to be old and enduring.

• On the evening of day 6, with confirmation from Remi the team begin to turn their hopes and ideas into concrete tasks.

The team needs to vote on the two things, and each character gets one vote to either suggest a solution or +1 one suggestion of their choice.

For the vote, this is what your character has to choose:

1   How will the crew remain to help any Hivawei who wish to evacuate before the asteroid hits

2   How will this be coordinated with the retrieval of the orb

Keep in mind that this voting occurs on day 8-9 of their stay, with the asteroid expected to make impact on day 10.

Please write your suggestions as comments under the right heading, or +1 other characters' suggestions by responding to their comment. The more detail you can offer, the better.

If your character would ICly add something to their suggestion (offer magic, stealth for the tower, protection over someone or something, etc.) please detail this in your comment as well as it will help colour the conclusion.

The vote is open until March 25, 6PM GMT, after which the mods will count the votes and write the conclusion based on your characters' actions. You only have one vote per question, but if you end up wanting to vote for something else or edit your vote, you can do so until the voting closes.

Note that the vote doesn’t mean that only one option will be chosen — depending on how it goes, the conclusion may feature elements from the highest-voted options. The mods may also ask follow-up questions for some courses of action.

And finally, the conclusion will go up on March 28, when characters will return to the station.

Happy voting!

Comments

QUESTIONS.

[ximilian]

Do you have a question about how the voting works, or about anything else? Leave it here!

setting/world q!

[blackfire]

Hi mods!

Roughly how many Hivawei are in each settlement? Just so we're playing the numbers game as much as possible!!

[ximilian]

The total number of Hivawei falls somewhere between sixty to eighty thousand, with Hivawa being the most populous settlement of the four.

...setting questions 2/3

[blackfire]

question 2:

will the earpieces actually work to communicate between planets if the scout group team fucks off to another world



q3: will the orb still teleport everyone safely to xim if they're offworld when it's touched



help

[ximilian]

The earpieces will not work between worlds, so those who are off-world will have to find another way to keep in touch with those back in Ciraiwei.

However, the orb will still transport everyone back no matter where they are — there's no escaping the bargain, not even to other worlds or universes.

[softshoes]

Is it possible to transport the orb without touching it and sending everyone back to the station?

[ximilian]

Those near the orb are certainly able to try it, but the way that they go about it will determine their success or failure.

[rehandle]

hey mods! voting-adjacent questionnn - if our character's had an evac-plan relevant thought that they wouldn't ultimately be responsible for trying out (so isn't relevant to their personal +1) but might benefit others under another suggestion, is it alright to leave a non-+1 comment under that suggestion with the additional suggestion for others to pick up on?

alternately if this is better for the organisation of the post, is it ok to offer it around oocly off-post to see if there's anybody else who might want to work it into their +1?

thank you!

(edit: other players have helpfully answered this for me so I've gone tentatively ahead with sharing the idea on the post but leaving this here in case you need me to roll it back or hand it to somebody else to pitch!)

[ximilian]

Hello! In general, the point of the voting is to tell us what your character is doing, specifically — as such, the suggestion or +1 comment left should include actions your character is taking regarding the questions in the headers. For suggestions for other characters to do, in the future, please do it OOCly outside this post, and then those who may want to pick it up ICly can include it in their suggestion or +1 vote. Keeping the vote IC and as streamlined as possible makes it easier for us when it comes to assembling the conclusion for the mission.

1) Evacuation procedures

[ximilian]

Leave your suggestions for how the crew will help any of the Hivawei who wish to evacuate before the asteroid hits. The more detail you can offer, the better.

Others can then comment around and +1 the suggestions their character would agree with.

[homeostatic]

McCoy has years of working experience with Starfleet in assessing the viability of Strange New Worlds™ for habitability, in relocating peeps from planet to planet and safely resettling them, so he will be pretty keen to take point on that end.

Following their talk with Yerek on day three, McCoy will have taken the liberty of doing some intense analyses of both Hivawei physiology and the planet itself, working up a dataset of the necessary requirements they will need of any planet they're moved to. This'll go with anyone on the scout team, to streamline their efforts.

He also has the necessary tools to eliminate guesswork and determine safety, quality, etc wherever they go, but as he noted to Itachi, they're pretty specialized. If copies can be made of them, McCoy will give a crash course to the scout team! But he's gonna consider it his responsibility if anything goes awry with them so he's coming along.

He's also suggested they look at planets in the system first, as Viveca had mentioned.

Tl;dr:

1. Disseminate his (and other orbers') findings among Scout Team
2. Go forth and survey potential sites for resettlement
3. Confer with Yerek and any leadership
4. Evac the Hivawei who wish to go
5. Gtfo out of Dodge

+1

[blackfire]

Itachi will prob send a clone along with the advance survey team #justincase.

Not looking to have him do anything important or shine in any way just know the clone is along as a lurker and emergency communication button (since if it gets damaged, it will dissipate and all its memories/chakra will return to Itachi just in case anything is interfering with the communicators/etc)

The clone will look/act exactly like the real Itachi but won't have an earpiece of its own. It can use all his skills/abilities tho so if they stumble into any danger he will be ready to defend folx, and would be able to buy time for the team to escape without risking an actual life. (Seriously, leave him and run! It's not sacrifice if it's a clone!)

+1

[softshoes]

Yujin will happily volunteer to help out with any Hivawei physiology & environment testing-- as well as seconding the suggestion for a closer planet.

+1 Space Marine Scout for data recording and coordinating scout teams

[swordandshield]

Felix actually agreed to help with scouting out the random planets they jump to while looking for their final destination. (Thank Sabriel for talking him into it.) As per their discussion, Felix will be coordinating with McCoy and participating in scouting ahead through the portals. He'll have his suit of armor (environmentally sealed, grav boots, sensors with biometric readers and air quality, radio communications, etc.) and his scouting skills for helping to assess the dangers or potential safety of the planets and can help collect data on whether the planets are compatible with the Hivawei or not. (His suit will be linked to a tricorder as well so it will essentially be tracking that same sort of information for this mission.)

He will also plan with the others and help coordinate multiple teams of scouts going through the portal so that they rotate who goes through to keep everyone fresh so the efforts are quick and efficient since they do not need to waste too much time scouting through useless places. And working with McCoy on this, he can teach the various scouts how to use a combination of common sense and technology to quickly assess whether it's worth actually gathering more data on a world or just skipping it for the next. If they find something useful then linger there longer and let the science types examine the data more thoroughly to assess whether it's viable or not.

Gyeongje viablity + Gyeongje council meet-up?!

[groupiedrifter]

Newt also verified the viability of the planet via his records of Gyeongje (much thanks, mods)! And if Gyeongje is the planet they all end up settling on (for whatever reason, be it time or no other planets close enough that are viable, etc), Newton and some of the older folks from the first mission are electing to visit the Gyeongje NPCs they'd met prior and request to speak with the head honchos! Newt himself will be more on the backburner as The Science Guy, with Yzak and Finn -- but whoever else would like to come is welcome to!

They will also recommend bringing any leaders from Hivawei who would like to talk about it, too, since it's important to have leaders meeting for possible refugee talk...!

(this is all IF Gyeongje is the final choice, of course! tentative to completely be disregarded if necessary!)

Helping transport evacuees!

[shadysided]

Ziggy will be using her jetpack to carry any disabled or older civilians who have a much harder time making the trip to the portals themselves! And she will also be more than happy to use the cultivation-powered pouch Wei Wuxian had gifted her to carry a seemingly impossible amount of supplies inside the tiny pouch (TARDIS POUCH, CONFIRMED). Her main focus will be as many people out as possible, and possibly coordinating with Criv and Melis if she can.

organization of Ciraiwei evacuation efforts!

[blackfire]

Focusing on the Ciraiwei side of the evacuation efforts/organization! This is just a basic framework, please chime in with anything else you feel would work out!

Some of this is cobbled together from conversations in Strange's post and please don't assume that Itachi will be spearheading this! He's fine being part of any initial discussions and would make suggestions and assist where/when necessary but I am 100 percent happy for another character to be ICly 'in charge' of the situation and calling the shots, especially as he's going to wind up being focused on assisting the portal team. Collaboration is the name of the game, etc etc. This is more me OOCly laying down a few l'il ideas to percolate.

  ☀ Get a detailed-as-possible roster of each settlement/village to ensure no one is left behind or forgotten (someone please get/find/help the l'il adventurer shroom! ... maybe he wants to be part of the scouting party?) When possible, delegate to the locals who know their people best and show leadership skills/talents — this is a group effort, the Orbers are facilitating it but the l'il shrooms are still in charge! Getting them to assist with the evacuation efforts will also give them a greater sense of agency.

  ☀ Transport everyone in groups to the central Portal Location if possible (Catbus?? Ciri doing portals maybe?)

  ☀ Ensure that that families are kept together as much as possible to quell panic, and special care is given to accommodate the very old and very young, and any Hivawei with mobility restrictions.

Also: What are our options collectively for saving the local flora/fauna? A genetically viable array of fauna may not be possible, but perhaps the Hivawei have ideas about how to catch/transport their critters? (aka: can we check with any of the local herders/minders of fauna creatures about this?)

RE flora: Orbers have been collecting plant samples/etc in the name of Science but we don't want the l'il dudes to starve in their new home before a crop comes up so plenty of sustenance/etc for the journey will be imperative! We want robust food stocks on hand!

  ☀ People are generally advised to bring what they can carry, but special consideration can be given to any important cultural artefacts/relics/etc that will help them to adjust to the cultural displacement of being in a new home. Certain people — such as the cultivators — also have a means by which to stuff items in scrolls/pouches for ease of transport (awh yeah bags of holding!) and I think... Yelena has magic cargo pants that can do the same thing??? (And anyone else obvs those are just the ones I know off the top of my head!!) Obviously a priority would be given to essential items/foodstuffs/etc but if possible bring the culture things along...
    bonus: we're doing a lamawei heist. Let them keep their l'il symbol of hope!! Kovacs will be manhandling a flower to this effect. #teamflorb.

  ☀ Careful check of the rosters to doublecheck no one has been left behind or forgotten unless they chose to be so. Before teleportation to a viable world, a final sweep of the areas to be done by anyone able (Maybe the Jedi can search via life form bingo?) just to make sure.


IF I MISSED ANY IMPORTANT STEPS pls chime in. Any of the above options are also open to being spearheaded by anyone, so if your character has a specialty and wants to jump on the options feel free to slide them in, riff on any of the above, toss it out on its ear, etc etc.


now in the right place i'm sorry i'm so tired

Thinking of the children

[dispassioned]

In spite of his apparent total indifference to this entire situation, Chishiya will actually elect to help evacuate the Hivawei children. He might be familiar to some of them because he’s been fixing toys in the market place and he has some experience dealing with frightened kids, so this seems like the most effective use of his time. His tendency to remain outwardly unbothered by stress might also be the exact energy needed to suppress any rising panic in the little ones. He'll be trying to keep them organized but distracted from fear in order to get them to where they need to be as efficiently as possible.

for those staying behind + for those departing

[doooooog]

During the logistics phase of all this (before Jake's transportation services are needed), Jake will be busying himself with two different projects and eager to include anyone who has the time + desire to assist him. He also can do it alone, but both would be much better with extra pairs of hands (not the type he grows out of his body, js).

For Those Staying Behind

Jake's spent his time prior to Day 6 travelling around Ciraiwei and slowly assembling a sound fingerprint of the ambient nature sounds of their world. Think babbling, frogs croaking, the distinct calls of their local birds, wind through the trees, etc. Because of his unique anatomy, he is able to stretch his vocal chords/mouth/etc to mimic these sounds almost perfectly. And, because this is meant as a tribute, he's composed a short piece of music that blends these sounds together into a sort of soundscape beatbox ambient song. Here is an example of what this performance sounds like.

Jake will be setting up a sort of communal space wherever he's out of the way. Cozy moss, comfortable rocks, a fire pit, and anything else Grovin or any other spiritual leader feels will make anyone staying more comfortable (some mushroom weed, maybe). Jake will be giving a concert to perform this little symphony each night remaining for those attending, along with anyone who might like to accompany him (he has transcribed the nature fingerprint into sheet music, so people who can sight read will be able to play along even if they can't make the sounds).

These nightly concerts have an open door policy. Sages and Hivawei are welcome to speak and share stories of their memories, perform themselves, or just chill and listen. Orbers are also welcome to speak and share thoughts on their time there/poetry/songs/words of comfort/prayers/anything else (anyone looking to pitch for evacuation will be politely asked to bounce by Jake). The isn't a funeral or a wake. More a celebration of the cycle ending and the new one beginning for any Hivawei who decide to stay.

If there's even a single person on this planet who chooses to stay, Jake will absolutely be doing this (even if he does it alone), but he won't turn anyone away who wants a moment to chill and get down with a little planetary sendoff.

For Those Staying Departing

Jake will be offering the sheet music to his little symphony to the departing Hivawei as a memento of the planet they are leaving. Anyone else is welcome to include additional non-essential gifts in a Cirawei Memorial Trove. This doesn't include big ticket items needed for survival (Jake correctly assumes that those with planetary evacuation experience have that stuff covered), this is a project for the sentimental side of things.

Any inclusion welcome!

debbie downer arrives

[realists]

jyn is VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED to sending native flora and fauna to a different planet as it will be an invasive species with no natural predators and the ecological damage could be devastating to the planet's environment and catastrophic to indigenous plants and animals, which she will explain to anyone who will listen though she suspects it will be few

TEAM PORTALS

[bindsthedead]

Sabriel will be coordinating with Strange and other magic users (Ciri, Yen, possibly Itachi?) to make the portals and keep them open long enough for everyone to get through. The more people working on this, the more Hivawei will be able to evacuate at once, allowing them to leave the planet faster. The portal team will be working with the scouting team to make sure that where they're going (and where they're going through to get there) is safe for the Hivawei.

Here's the NPC thread w/Remi" with more details.

If there's a distance between portals, Sabriel will Mark the path with light spells, to make the Hivawei's journey easier, as well as trying to help fend off any threats that emerge.

Everyone will be working with Remi, using a bit of his magic to start the process but powering the portals with their own energy. Sabriel has a few items from Gyeonje (A dagger, some jewelry, a silk scarf.) if people need a physical object to act as a focus for their destination.

Scouting Teams

[swordandshield]

As discussed here by everyone involved.

Those involved with going through the various portals to scout out potential planets for evacuating the Hivawei as a replacement homeworld will be splitting into two teams: one lead by Felix including McCoy for science/ecology duty, Finn for Jedi shenanigans, and Gutterson as additional protection, scout, and possible communication relay; and one lead by Andy including Newt for science/ecology duty, Yujin as assistant s/e duty, and Cal for Jedi shenanigans, additional protection, scout, and possible communication relay. (Don't ask why I gave Cal so many jobs no one knows they just all seem viable to him!) Each team will be accompanied by a clone from Itachi for extra protection and communication assistance. Also, Strange will go through the portals if that's required for creating the next portal in line. Other magic users may follow as needed (once it's deemed safe/that they are moving on), including Remi who the two teams will closely guard as such.

The general idea is that the teams will rotate who goes to the next planet as the portals are chained into existence in order to keep everyone fresh and rested, and also keep things moving quickly and efficiently via prep between jobs. When a team is on break they can rest, resupply, further examine any data as needed, and get ready for the next portal while the other team does the scouting on the current world. Additionally, in order to make certain the planet is safe the team leaders will travel first through the portal, alone, to assess the safety of going through that world. Felix will have his armor for protection and skills if attacked; Andy is an immortal that can't die and is two hundred percent badass at everything. Once they assess that the rest of the team can follow they'll signal for them to join in and begin the real assessment to determine if the planet is a viable new home for the Hivawei or not. The teams will be keeping to McCoy's and Newt's expertise on whether the environment and ecology will be a match for the Hivawei with the rest of the team simply helping to gather the data needed and keep an eye out for danger.

Additionally, we would like to include Keremo in the scouting and assessing process! That way one of their own can be there to give insight and help determine if the world would be a viable option for the people of Ciraiwei. Clarke will go out to find him and bring him on board with the process if he's ready and willing. (COME TRAVEL TO OTHER WORLDS, LITTLE DUDE. DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE.)

2) Orb retrieval coordination

[ximilian]

Leave your suggestions for how the crew will handle coordination between evacuation procedures and the final retrieval for the orb. The more detail you can offer, the better.

Others can then comment around and +1 the suggestions their character would agree with.

[bindsthedead]

So Ryunosuke and Alina (And maybe Unohana and Kovacs?) are staying behind with the orb. Depending on how fast they get the portals open, Sabriel will suggest a test run before the main event, to make sure the earpieces work across worlds. If they do, great evacuate everyone and send the signal once the Hivawei are all in the world they're going to settle in. If not... Sabriel's going to propose two options.

First is that they just instruct whoever's on orb duty to wait as long as possible, and then touch the orb when it's clear that the planet's destruction is imminent. Possibly set up a relay of people through the portals to come back to Hivawa to let the florb group know, if they've got the manpower to spare?

Second one is that Sabriel has been learning how to teleport inanimate objects short distances. She'll try to teleport the orb from its flower to a container, and then have the whole crew join the evacuation, touching the orb once they've gotten the Hivawei to a safe final destination.

[deaddrop]

Ideally, Natasha would like to see them set up a timeline and try to stick to it. She would suggest setting a hard deadline for when the orb team makes their final collection several hours before impact (built in buffer in case anything unexpected happens on site), and the portal team could construct their timeline around that, e.i, that the portals need to be closed before that time.

The less communication they have to do in the moment, the better.