Welcome to XMMMRMMMMMMRR kuuuun@RM5X xMMMMM puuuxnn@RVMX! .xnm@HMRMhnx@ @@@@h@RM @M$RRM" .z@RMMRMMM!'@@@@h@RMP""" :RRM .zMM# 9MMM#" .MMM":MMM .@M" *MMR^ `>MMZ @MMMMMM6G. MMMMH@u+ ~ .@MM MMMf :RMmnnxxxx. :$RRM M@*"` `^9MM !MMM""*"" XMM8MM*MMMMM ^""***M*MMM> :RRRM MMR...unMMM" :MMMLx@MRRdMM" JMM(dR -... .HMMf :RMMMF MMMM*""" xMMMMMMM6h@M" 'MMM."MM888MM88M" :RMMM" #MMM> :8HMM`~ XMUH dRMMMX MMP"""#MMX .z@RMMRMMM!' R@M dMMM% xRMM" dMM" :RMf dMM :MM *MM :MMMdMRMMM> MMMf dRM" MMM RML.u@RM*" MMMH@@@Nnu 'MMMMf :MMRM@M dRMM8MBMMMK dM#MMMMMk ^"""*P#8MX' MMMf RMMM@fJRM" :RM~ @MR RML.u@ . uMMM XMMM `?MMM ****************************** * * * Type 'connect guest guest' to login as a guest. * * Type 'connect ' to login to your existing character.* * Type 'WHO' to get a list of connected players. * * Type 'QUIT' to logoff. * * * ************************************************************************ [ February 17, 1998 ] You raise the platform and enter the Axalon. Bridge - Axalon Circular in design, relay stations dot various sections of the one-time starship bridge. Sliding chairs rest on tracks, ready to ferry a Maximal to a console underneath a panorama of monitoring screens, systems displays, and threat indicators. Dull grey meets dusky brown when in the middle of this room a table rests below holographic projectors, the controls receded into the veneer. Dusky brown meets light yellow with concentric circles following the lazy motion of the room wind across the floor. An open corridor to the north beckons further into the innards of the Axalon. Contents: Frostpaw [Lion] [M] Thunderstrike [Harpy Eagle] [M] Otterax [Robot] [M] Restoration Chamber Axalon Central Computer Obvious exits: Ceiling Hatch leads to Maximal Landing. North leads to Corridor. Elevator leads to Maximal Landing. Frostpaw A large, white lion stalks nearby. Soft blue eyes seem to be weighing everything nearby, wondering it there is friend or foe. Otterax swivels around in his chair. "Thundy!" Thunderstrike blinks and peers down at Argen from the R Chamber. "Well, hello!" Thunderstrike looks back to Otty and grins. Frostpaw stands, towering over those assembled. "Argen, report please?" Thunderstrike hops down from the Chamber. Argen looks at Frostpaw, bristling somewhat "About what?" Frostpaw stretches back. "I have not recieved any tactical data from you. Do you have anything to report?" Argen says, "No." Thunderstrike says, "Well, I guess not, or you would have heard it, huh?" Frostpaw looks totally impassive. "You have been negligent then... that should be improved." A wave of cold air fills the bridge as he speaks. Argen snarls silently. Thunderstrike looks upward in the avian equivalent of rolled eyes. Thunderstrike says, "Lighten up, Frostpaw, you're starting to remind me of some Preds I know." Frostpaw moves over to the central console. "That remark is... insulting, is it not?" he asks flatly. "We must maintain a certain degree of efficiency in our efforts." Otterax blink-blinks? Argen says evenly, "There are various methods for that purpose." Thunderstrike says, "Efficiency? Computers are efficient. We're MUCH more than computers." Frostpaw nods. "Granted, but the usual reporting schemes should be maintained, otherwise /my/ function is hampered." Thunderstrike sighs. "Otty, Frosty here doesn't know the meaning of the word morale. I think he's, ah, a lot like you were without your personality chip." Argen says, ""Usual reporting schemes"?" Thunderstrike says, "Like the computer reports we make all the time?" Thunderstrike looks to Argen and Otty behind Frostpaw's back, giving them a sympathetic look. Frostpaw nods. "On usual cycles, however. They appear to occur when it is convienient for the sender." Frostpaw 's tone remains flat, calm, and totally detacted of any malice and anger. Argen says, "Reports are useless if there is nothing to report." Frostpaw shakes his head. "Incorrect. Those reports confirm an absence of activity, a fact of tactitcal importance." Thunderstrike says, "And they waste database space. Think how much time we'd waste sifting through reports of "Nothing happened today" and "Everything's quiet"." Argen says, "Mmm." She nods at Thunderstrike Frostpaw cocks his head. "Approximately nine point six cycles. Well within acceptable levels." Thunderstrike says, "Uh, yeah... and that's 9.6 cycles we could be using for something more important." Frostpaw shakes his head. "But your report aids my data collection. I do not understand your resistance to this request." Argen says, "A request should be phrased as such. *Yours* was phrased as an order." Thunderstrike nods to Argen. "Useless orders aren't popular." Frostpaw shakes his head. "It was a request. I do not see how phrasing matters... " Argen says, "Indeed." Thunderstrike says, "We've already told you your interactions need work, Frostpaw. This is another example." Frostpaw truly doesn't seem to understand. "I have stated a request for more efficient and exacting tactical reports. What was lacking in that interaction?" Argen says, "Your phrasing implied that you had authority to...*request* reports. This was unacceptable." Thunderstrike says, "Heck, simple tact was lacking. There was implication of disrespect for Argen's independence." Argen says, "Thank you, Thunderstrike." Frostpaw cocks his head. "I am tactical advisor. That request would be in my authority would it not? I do not understand your complaint... Argen is a valued Maximal. I respect her as such." Frostpaw steps to the central command console, and scans over it, apparently struggling to grasp the concept. Argen shrugs slightly. Frostpaw considers. "Do you have a problem with the request?" Argen considers for a moment. "As already mentioned, I have a problem with its...method of delivery." Frostpaw looks confused. "I do not.. understand." Argen says, "Immediatly that I entered, you ordered me to report. It did not seem to occur to you that I might have nothing to report, or might not wish to report to you." Frostpaw looks curious. "Why would it occur to me otherwise?" Argen looks over to Thunderstrike and rolls her eyes. Frostpaw steps over to Argen. "I... did not mean to upset you. I simply do not understand how I did. Why would you not report to me?" Argen says, "You did not upset me. But I have nothing to report. For that matter, I was not scouting." Frostpaw shrugs. "Perhaps it is time that /I/ did then." Argen says evenly, "Perhaps." Thunderstrike has apparently become totally absorbed in preening his tail. Otterax scurries off to find Thundy some cuttlebone. Frostpaw pads to the door. Frostpaw steps on to the platform and lowers it to the landing below. Monitor> Frostpaw descends from the Axalon, lowering the platform. Monitor> Frostpaw heads south to the mesa.