007: AMAs, Third Round

[tarnishedavenger]

So, we've got a load of new people, and that means it's time for me to do the only thing it feels like I get on these comms to do anymore: AMAs.

For you new people, I find it helps when we get together and explain a little bit about ourselves, any powers we have, and our skillsets. That way we know what we're starting with and what we can build off of. So, please, come and introduce yourselves and be willing to answer questions.

Comments

[notvulcan]

I'm Michael Burnham. I was a xenoanthropolgist and science officer on the Starfleet ship USS Discovery in the 23rd century, before being teleported here. I was on my way to the 32nd century via a time travel suit, but I'm unaware of whether I succeeded in leading Discovery there—I woke up here, but Discovery has never appeared in the time I've been here. So it may not have worked.

Otherwise, I'm a human who was raised by Vulcans, I attended the Vulcan Science Academy, and I graduated at the top of my class. I have studied many different cultures and societies that have been encountered in Federation space, and elsewhere. I've been to other dimensions before, which is what I suspect this place to be, so I'm aware the rules I'm used to may not apply. If you have noticed any clues here that might help me figure out whether I'm in the same dimension I came from, let me know. I'd be interested in hearing them.

[xrater]

Another 23rd century? Interesting. We don't have any star fleets, our space ships are mostly for travel within the inner planets. We can teleport people to other planets, but the energy cost is prohibitive.

What are Vulcans like?

sorry for late, this notif got lost!

[notvulcan]

Vulcans believe in the virtue of logic over emotion. Their school system for their young ones is completely built on teaching things through that lens. Lately I feel that they sometimes seek logic to the detriment of proper connections between family members, but I'm also human and probably can't understand completely.

We also have teleportation where I'm from, but it's only a short-distance method of travel. Only distances within a solar system, or thereabouts.

[breq]

A science vessel, then? Not a troop carrier?

[notvulcan]

That's right. We had several experimental types of technology on the ship that we had to send to the 32nd century to get it out of the reach of malefactors.

[breq]

Time travel? That's outside the realm of possibility, as far as the Radch is concerned.

[notvulcan]

It's rare where I'm from, but possible.

We've also traveled to other dimensions. Alternate realities. Again, however, rare and strange.

[breq]

Once more, beyond my own experience.

Is crossing into other dimensions so commonplace in your own universe?

[notvulcan]

Almost unheard of. But we had both happen to us.

[breq]

You and your ship must be either cursed or blessed, then. [ She doesn't believe in that sort of thing. Not really. Chance was one thing. Curses and blessings were another. ]

[notvulcan]

I'm sure it has more to do with the presence of experimental technology on the ship.

[ Not that the time travel suit had been part of that tech. ]

[breq]

You seem much more advanced in some regards than the Radch. Or perhaps you've simply explored avenues they haven't...

[notvulcan]

It may be both, yes.

Do you serve on a spaceship? What was your rank?

[breq]

I was the ship. [ A slight pause. Just a moment of hesitation. ]

Am the ship.

[notvulcan]

[ Michael shows no surprise at the declaration. ]

How did you come to be in the form you are now?

[breq]

It's... a bit of a long story. The short version is that my ship has what are called ancillaries; human bodies connected to my central processing unit that I use as bodies - extra hands and eyes and ears to do tasks for me and my officers. To serve as soldiers. When the rest of me was destroyed, this ancillary - I - survived.

[notvulcan]

[ Michael nods thoughtfully. ]

Which form do you prefer? To be a ship, or to be human?

[breq]

A ship, of course. I used to have dozens of eyes and ears. I used to have officers. I used to be... whole.

[ Breq shrugs. ]

I cannot describe what it feels like to lose all of it.

[notvulcan]

I wouldn't expect that. I sounds like you've had to settle a lot.

[breq]

Settle? No; I would say adjust.

[notvulcan]

Adjusting is a better way to put it, yes. Have you been able to deal with it?

[breq]

I do. Although there are times when I feel incredibly disoriented, still.

[notvulcan]

Installing a ship's intelligence in a human form is beyond the capabilities of our scientists.

[ Might as well return the observations of earlier. ]

I'm sorry that you're stuck this way.

[breq]

I am what I am now. And I can't change it.

[ She says that tonelessly; flat. Although it hurts. ]

So I just try to keep moving.

[notvulcan]

That's all one can do. I wish you success in the future, dealing with this thing.