017 [audio]

[batmanschmatman]

So, it is a common thing for more people to just vanish when we get closer to the end of the month, or am I just trying to see patterns that aren't really there?

[Private to Will Graham]

You got a second? I've got a couple questions for you.

[Private to Howie]

You busy?

Comments

[batmanschmatman]

I've actually been wondering about what would happen if we did. I mean, there's plenty of lost souls and people willing to make deals, seems kinda counterproductive to this place's credo if there's a cap on how many people are allowed to be here.

[paradoxlol]

Especially when you consider the number of worlds and universes out there. My guess is there are more Barges, a fleet of some kind. [Pause.] Or the layout changes. The recent encounter with Aztecs indicates that it's possible. In theory.

[batmanschmatman]

In theory. I'm sure there are plenty of weirder things that have happened here.

So, assuming there's a fleet, do you think the assignment is random then? I mean, we're clearly not all from the same universe. I'm not sure there's anything that really unites the population as a whole that makes them perfect for this particular Barge.

[paradoxlol]

The major similarity I can think is that we're all humanoids-- or, specifically, that most of us can at least pass for human. It could be that Barges are grouped by appearance, to make it easier for the Admiral to pick a port we can all blend into.

Other than that, we really don't have anything else that binds us.

[batmanschmatman]

Guess that would make sense. We've never stopped over in a port where we've had to try and pass ourselves off as non humanoids?

[paradoxlol]

Not while I've been here, anyway. [And by that he really means: NOTHING I'VE FOUND ON THE NETWORK DURING MY INITIAL STALKING PHASE.] But I'm not exactly one of the "seasoned veterans" of this place. My guess is if anybody can talk about ports, it's Morgan Adams.

[batmanschmatman]

How long has she been here?

[paradoxlol]

About three years? To my knowledge, she's been here longer than anyone but the Admiral-- assuming the ship hasn't changed hands without any of us noticing.

[batmanschmatman]

Would we? It's not like we ever see the guy.

[paradoxlol]

Yeah, he's not exactly an inspiring leader.

...

Or a leader at all.

[batmanschmatman]

I can think of a fair amount of people I'd rather be serving under, that's for sure.

[paradoxlol]

Me, too. But I can't think of anyone I'd trust to pilot a giant barge through time and space, so I guess we're stuck with him for now.

Then again, the Admiral can't do that, either, so he's 0 for 2.

[batmanschmatman]

Has anyone ever tried to stage a mutiny, take control of the ship?

[paradoxlol]

Looking back in the archives, we've had a few takeovers and one riot. Only one would-be Admiral ever made it to the steering wheel, and it didn't end well. None of these led to any lasting changes that I know of. The status quo has a pretty good track record here.

[batmanschmatman]

I can't decide if that's reassuring or kind of depressing.

[paradoxlol]

Me neither. The Admiral's something of a master of the Pyrrhic victory.

[batmanschmatman]

That's definitely a good way of putting it.

[everylittlegirl]

We've had some pretty obvious aliens. And there used to only be like, 5 levels with 15 rooms each? But there haven't been new levels or rooms added for like, a year, even with a lot of new people, so.. maybe it's finally almost full?

[Ohyeah. Make it about Capa.] Capa hasn't been here very long, but he's done some good research on the dark matter and stuff.

[paradoxlol]

What was it like when the new rooms and levels were added? Did it just seem to happen over night?

I didn't think expanding levels was really covered in his dark matter studies. [But then again... ARTHUR ISN'T A SCIENTIST. And doesn't know about any deal about making interactions with him about Capa.]

[everylittlegirl]

Faster, sort of? It was like, you remembered that there was a time when they weren't there, but not quite how long ago it was. First five more rooms appeared on each floor without the Barge ever seeming to change size.. then there were two more levels. It was weird.

Well, if there's no light reflecting the Barge on the outside, maybe that's why we never seem to think it gets bigger? I don't know.

[paradoxlol]

So, the Barge is however big we need it to be? Interesting.

Well, the inside's already bigger than the outside; that much, I think, has been established for a while. So I'm not sure if the lighting has much of any effect.

[everylittlegirl]

I'm not sure. Like I said, it hasn't gotten any bigger in a long time. Either it's full or the population's really been that consistent.

I guess? I really don't know much about all that science, which is why I recommended Capa.