.001. video. open.

[egodefence]

My name is Dr. Gaius Baltar.

[ Gaius has taken his time before actually making legitimate contact with the wider ship; he had to stop being completely miserable and half-panicked, first. That said, he still appears somewhat drawn and hopelessly paranoid, nerves just visible beneath an articulate speaking voice.

He's also smoking, which might steal away some credibility or formality. Might. He appears to be in his quarters, dressed down from business casual, all open collar and lacking a tie or actual effort in grooming. ]

My expertise is in computer science and engineering, with extensive and practical experience in the navigational systems of ships that regularly utilise faster than light travel -- the jumps, as they are colloquially identified.

I also know what the hardware looks like for ships that do not require human stasis to make its journeys. Considering the potential of investigation into this option along with general upkeep, I feel my experience would be invaluable to the Tranquility, and I am willing to lend it.

My only request is that I am granted a free and frank conversation with the ship's commanding officer, as senior as possible. As President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, I feel it necessary to engage in a higher level conversation on the decisions made for this ship, and my cooperation with its management.

...cheers.

[ private to lisbeth salander ]

I should have something for you to look at in the morning.

Comments

[video]

[the_vishual]

Kobol... [ She'd heard it before--from Leoben. Her grin widens, pleased there's other people from his world. ]

I like Kobol.

[video]

[egodefence]

[ --slightly unexpected, but... ]

Not many have actually stepped foot on Kobol, you know. It's-- it's a formality.

private video; encrypted 85%

[hejhej]

So soon? I'm impressed.

private video; encrypted 85%

[egodefence]

I wouldn't be. Yet, anyway, 'til you've seen it. I want to go over some specifications -- I take it you know anything about computers.

voice;

[handelaar]

[Initially he tunes in because, well, smoking. The middle part? Gibberish. The last part?


Yeah that gets a snort.]

Ain't gonna happen.

voice;

[egodefence]

Why ever not.

[ --more than a bit bland and droll in response. ]

video

[astrogate]

[ you've gotta be frakken kidding me? :| ]

Well look at it here, Doctor Gauis Baltar has come to save the day.

[ yes, she clearly looks unimpressed by this. but the fact that she's been here for as long as she has, doesn't really help the case much. ]

video

[egodefence]

Hello, Captain Thrace.

[ He doesn't look awfully surprised to see her -- he's been told. Ready, in fact. ]

Just doing my bit, really, where I can.

[video]

[galacticheroine]

Considering the captain barely talks to military officers that have reluctantly ended up on-board, I wouldn't hold my breath on him playing nice with a president.

[Even ones so nicely articulated like yourself, Mr. Baltar.]

[video]

[egodefence]

Nothing wrong in giving it the old college try. Who's this captain, anyway?

[toasterprophet]

President, huh. [Aaaand we have a fairly specific window for when Gaius has come from.

Nothing about your expertise in interspecies biology?

[egodefence]

No, ah.

[ The nerves are there. He almost skipped replying to this one, to be honest, but he's possibly better served in not insulting the robots aboard. Or giving them excuse to speak in person. Even worse. ]

Not directly relevant to the maintenance of a ship, I don't think. Hardly an expert either, actually.

video;

[introuble]

Do you really think you could find a way to eliminate the jump process? [ genuine question, but alsooooo a bit skeptical. she knows nothing about space travel, but she does know that kind of overhaul any type of tech is a huge task to take on. ]

video;

[egodefence]

I couldn't say for certain. I'd need to know what resources we have, the power this ship runs on, all kinds of things -- but the possibility's available for investigation.

voice;

[misunderstanding]

What I can't figure out is how someone like you ended up the ship with someone like me.

[ It's musing, thoughtful more than anything else. Ryo knows next to nothing about the Tranquility or its crew - he won't be any help there. ]

voice;

[egodefence]

I'd love to find out, but I've yet to see where reason enters into it. Why, what's someone like you entail?

[video | locked]

[re_imagining]

So proactive, Gaius. Looking to get a peek into the defense mainframe? I’m sure you can make some…improvements.

[video | locked]

[egodefence]

That isn't even half amusing, you know. I'm looking for answers, first and foremost.

[andblockbuster]

Good luck, dude. Ward and Resnik don't talk to anyone half the time, and when they do? Something's usually going super wrong.

I mean, if you call Resnik names, she'll probably talk to you, but for the most part...

[egodefence]

Is there any reason for that, or do they have a mystique to uphold?

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

A query. Are the "Twelve Colonies of Kobol" a territory? An organization?

[voice]

[egodefence]

Territory. It refers to the twelve recognised colonial planets in the Cyrannus star system, home to mankind. Excluding a few minor settlements.

Quite well known, where I'm from, considering it's... where I'm from.

Text

[godofthemachine]

Well, don't you sound confident.

Text

[egodefence]

I'd hoped to, so cheers. Who is this?

video;

[bruxisms]

...President.

[ the title catches his ear, perhaps, as he goes through the increasingly familiar task of checking the communications network.

he says nothing else, but his tone seems to indicate that he wishes for some sort of explanation. ]

video;

[egodefence]

[ Gaius only-- just-- suppresses the urge to sigh. What is wrong with everyone! ]

Yes, President.

[ Eyeshift, then back to camera. ]

Of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol.

Elected via democratic vote and now leader of humanity.

video;

[cargojet]

Well aren't you special. Take a step back, there, pal.

video;

[egodefence]

Excuse me? From what, exactly?

( v i d e o )

[wont]

[ Hello again, Dr. Baltar. Alayne Stone dips much in the same greeting she did when they first met, though her smile is dusted with the vaguest air of concern. Most people calm down after the jump. It seems as though the doctor still has a ways to go. ]

Greetings— [ A pause. He is a doctor and so that is his address. ] —Doctor Gaius. You seem better settled when last we spoke, though — if you will allow me such boldness — only by degrees.

( v i d e o )

[egodefence]

Ms. Stone.

[ She's so formal that Gaius isn't exactly sure how he addresses her in return, and settles for a neutral acknowledgment of her name as he recalls it. He puts out his cigarette, as if suddenly conscious of it. ]

No, no, perfectly fair -- I'd been holding out the hope, I think, for things to start making a bit more sense.

video|

[firstofficer]

Regrettably, the Captain and First Officer of the Tranquility do not have significant history in responding to and acting upon the input of it's borrowed passengers.

video|

[egodefence]

[ Squint. What are you. He carries on anyway; ]

I'm starting to cotton on to that, yeah. How does one get in touch, then, if one can manage it?

[leaps]

Willing to volunteer your time?

[ slowly...squints at ]