Arrival | OTA

[major_egret_msfsod]

Jackal was always a little reluctant at accepting even mandatory leave. Still, she knew the reasons for it, and could defend the policy as needed, whether she liked it or not, and as an officer she had an obligation to serve as a good example. Although the FMS Viking remained at its post in the Belt, high-speed transports ferried personnel and special-order supplies, and it was aboard such an interplanetary shuttle she was traveling back to Mars. The visit home would be trying, as usual, but seeing her militia unit again would be good, as well as her mother.

Resting her eyes momentarily, she didn't notice the bright light. Other changes, however, she noticed: the tone of the nearby conversations, in particular, and although it was subtle, something was definitely not quite right about the feel of the shuttle. Scowling, she opened her eyes again--then scowled more so, looking around. She was definitely not in the shuttle. She was still in her red-tone camouflage fatigues, with a holstered device (most likely some kind of pistol, at a glance) at her side, and a duffel bag rested at her feet.

She stood abruptly, wary, but of all the people in the room--judging by its size and the totally open view of starscape, most likely aboard a large ship--none showed any signs of hostility. In fact, most barely even showed much interest in her presence. Whether they were aware of the situation or not, though, it was unacceptable. Resting a hand on her sidearm, but not drawing it, she kept her eyes peeled for any sign of someone who might be in charge. No explicit threats--yet--but she couldn't make any assumptions under such circumstances.

"What the hell's going on, here?"

Comments

[element_wizard]

"Yup. He sometimes claims to be a god, but he's an alien. Reality warper."

It continues to bounce off of Alec.

"You'd probably want to find the people in the pajama uniforms. But they'll just tell you that you've been kidnapped by Q. You're in a different reality on a space ship. Don't worry. They're working on getting you home and etc. etc. etc. Oh, and don't go into any of these certain places because they're off limits."

[major_egret_msfsod]

...seriously is he trying to be the epitome of annoying civilians? Can anyone be that civilian by accident? He at least managed to get a twitch of an eyebrow for his trouble, on that one.

"...'pajama uniforms.' Anything else you can tell me?"

She's pretty sure asking for something specific will just be aggravating, but maybe if he's prompted to provide his own comments, he'll say something more helpful.

[element_wizard]

Nah. Alec is just the epitome of annoying everything. Even when he was in the military he could do annoying pretty well. And insubordinate without quite being completely insubordinate. He's talented like that.

Well, there are people walking around in things that look like pajama uniforms. What else is he supposed to call them?

He even points to someone in a Starfleet uniform. "See. Pajama uniforms."

Actually, asking him direct questions is usually better than letting him ramble off on his own. That way he actually has something to focus on. His attention span can be a bit spotty at time.

"What would you like to know? After all there's a lot I could tell you. Not all of it relevant." At least he doesn't give her an example of what he could tell her. Thank the gods for small... itsy bitsy tiny favors.

[major_egret_msfsod]

She just stares at him for a second like he declared he was dropped on his head as a baby. If there was anything she hated most about dealing with civilians... ...really it would be hard to choose, but the degree of babysitting and handholding and eggshell-walking generally involved was near the top of the list. And if most of these people were from Earth--a reasonable guess, since it sure didn't look like the layout of an AFIM ship--she had to assume they were even more civilian than the civilians back home.

"...let's start with most relevant and work our way down."

[element_wizard]

While he wasn't dropped on a head as a baby, Alec has taken a serious amount of head trauma over the years. It's amazing that he's still as capable as he is. But then again, he's also DIED a lot over the years and is still up and running.

And Alec isn't from earth, but he doubt she cares.

"You've been kidnapped by an alien entity known as Q and brought to this ship as a practical joke. Q enjoys fucking around with the captain and this is his latest prank. I don't know how long you're going to be here. I don't know what the prank's end game is going to be. I don't know how you're going to get home. No one here does."

[major_egret_msfsod]

Just about the only thing he has to say that seems particularly credible is the phrase "practical joke." But if there's anyone who seems likely to be responsible for one, it's the guy she's talking to.

"...right. The alien. Where is 'here,' then?"

This was pretty certainly going to be a waste of time, and he was most likely going to provide some totally preposterous answer, but it was worth a try. ...maybe. Might as well see if she could get directed to someone a little less ridiculous, too.

"And is there someone in charge I can speak to?"

She pauses a moment. It's relatively unlikely to have actual officers (is that even what they are? ...those are totally unfamiliar uniforms...) in on a stupid joke like this, after all.

"Someone must be responsible for handling... ...your guests."

[element_wizard]

Funnily, Alec DID have the ability to pull a prank like this off. Not that many people knew that. Only one or two did. But in this particular case he didn't. It's not quite his style.

"The Federation Starship Enterprise, captained by Jean-Luc Picard. We're no where near Earth, if you're from Earth - a lot of the people here are - and the year is around 2290 something. You're in an alternate reality which is why nothing seems familiar." Alec resisted rolling his eyes.

"They're not my guests, I'm trapped here just like you. But again any officer in those uniforms will be more than happy to tell you exactly what I've just said, get your name and information down and put you in quarantine."

[major_egret_msfsod]

She almost sneers at the suggestion she's from Earth, and would have come still closer if she'd been less surprised at those first few words, although it only manifests as a raised eyebrow. She was expecting some kind of baloney was likely, but that was really pushing the envelope. Obviously she wasn't finding the story super convincing, and muttered half to herself, echoing him.

"...'Federation' Starship. In an alternate reality.'"

The most Tommy Lee Jones of Tommy Lee Jones Stares, as though to say he'd just taken it a little too far (or a lot too far) that time. At least the name was credible, considering the history of famous Earth ships of that name. She made a face at the mention of quarantine, but shook her head, and picked up her bag. Quarantine was likely to be annoying as hell, but at least that was something that made sense about this yarn the guy was spinning.

"...quarantine. Fine. I'll speak to them. You have a name?"

Ostensibly, it was the polite thing to ask, at some point, of course. Mostly, though, she wanted a label to attach when she described the jackass she'd met first, here, to whoever she might find on the proper crew.

[element_wizard]

Look, it's not Alec's fault that most of the people around tend to be from Earth. He's not from Earth. But she looks human and so that seems to be the default.

"Yes. An alternate reality. I realize this is a bit hard to comprehend. I'm guessing it's not a thing in your world. But you're not where you were. You're not when you were."

He shrugged a bit. "I'm Alec."

[major_egret_msfsod]

Seriously, "you're not when you were" sounds like he's either a philosophy student, or suffering from a nasty whack on the head, or might just be tripping. It's hard to be sure if he's just struggling to say things in a way that makes sense (that is, without any scifi context at all, good luck there) or being patronizing, or both, but she doesn't particularly like either.

Still. Keep civil with civilians. She just looks thoroughly irritated, but doesn't really react much, except to confirm.

"No. Not really a thing."

She shakes her head.

"...Alec. Major Egret, MSFSOD. Thanks for the help."

......not that she considers it all THAT helpful, but at least he's pointed out who the ship's crew are, and given her a taste of the sort of crazytalk she ought to expect here.

[element_wizard]

Sadly it's none of the above though the latter two have featured heavily in Alec's life.

"Major," Alec said with a nod. "I was in the army a while ago... Infantry."

A quick shadow of sorrow crosses his face.

"It was... interesting. I've never heard of the MSFSOD. But you're welcome."

[major_egret_msfsod]

Jackal narrows her eyes slightly at his mentioning "the army" (which army?), but nods, albeit somewhat curtly. At least he addresses her by rank, and by that look he gets, there are good odds he really has served in some military or other.

"Martian Space Force, Special Operations Division." She pauses a tick, there, before clarifying. "Mostly counterterrorism and antipiracy, in peacetime."

[element_wizard]

"United States Army, 34th infantry." he said and snorted a horrible bitter snort, "Drafted for World War Two."

Of course counter terrorism in peace time. That's what they all call it, don't they? "Martian? Ah, no wonder the disgusted look when I mentioned Earth."

[major_egret_msfsod]

...right. World War Two. He was in the pacific theater, and she's George S. Patton. Even if he was making it up or totally delusional, at least his attitude began to make some sense to her. He was that sort.

"...we're at peace. But history's history."

She obviously wasn't terribly convinced by any of his story, but at least his understanding of Martians not being fond of Earth made some sense. That, everyone knew, of course. And whether they liked to admit it on Earth or not, there were damned good reasons.

[element_wizard]

Yup. World War Two. Though, he was actually in the European side and ended up playing spy because he spoke fluent Russian and could pass as one.

"And peace rarely lasts."

Alec has no idea why Mars is unhappy with Earth, but it's pretty obviously from her sneering that there's something going on there.

[major_egret_msfsod]

Ah, she'd assumed he was referring to the Regular Army 34th Infantry Regiment, rather than the Army National Guard 34th Infantry Division. That wasn't exactly the part that didn't make sense, anyway.

She raises an eyebrow at that statement, but looks a touch more suspicious, as if he might be trying to provoke a reaction.

"Considering how hard we've worked to let water go under the bridge, it had damned well better last."

[element_wizard]

"Yeah. People always say that... but if you look at history, it rarely lasts. Maybe not in your generation, but eventually." He shook his head sadly. "People are too easily offended and eager to fight despite what they think they are."

[major_egret_msfsod]

Jackal shook her head, looking a touch more stern.

"Nothing lasts forever. A generation or two of relative peace's as much as anyone can really ask for. It's not because they're easily offended, but because there's always competition for resources and authority. Fine, that's how things are. However. So long as Mars is materially dependent on Earth in any capacity and permitted to manage its own affairs without unilateral Terrestrial intervention, it absolutely isn't going to be Mars starting any fights. Radicals only gain power on Mars when the UN interjects itself into Martian concerns. You want to look at history, good. Even just in Europe: Greece, Rome, Russia, Germany, Ukraine. Someone gets desperate enough, they tend to stop asking questions about whoever's offering protection."