The Bookworm Strikes Again (open)

[first_in_time]

Who: Barbara and Anyone
Where: The Media Library and possible roaming
Summary: Research, tea, discussion and all that jazz. Feel free to simply come and bug her.
Warnings: None

After watching the Daligig slaughter the previous crew twice, Barbara went in search of any kind of material on the Daligig, Stacey, pod-popping and the crews which had traveled on Stacey. She didn't expect to find much more than what GLaDOS had told her but it was worth a look. Especially with all this talk of rebellion and distrust.

So, in a corner of the Media Library Barbara sat with piles books, stacks of visual recordings and audio recordings, plus pot of tea which had been sitting empty for a while. She was lost in her own world, memorising what she could and trying to gain a better picture of the ship, the war and everything else which could be considered relevant.

Comments

[first_in_time]

Barbara's brow was wrinkled as she concentrated on the silly touchscreen on one of the tablets. Tarrant's appearance startled her and her finger slipped, losing her place in the digital book. She smiled in greeting but dropping the tablet gave way to her frustration.

"It could be going a little better," she sighed. "I haven't seen you in a while. Have you found your feet?"

[theprophet]

He dipped his head in a slight bow, but didn't comment on her dropping the tablet. It wouldn't be good manners, after all.

"You could say that. Finding a place to rest my feet, helping with the restoration of the City... I've even found a little time to run for the ship's civilian Council, though it appears I have quite a few fellow rivals in that arena. In any case, I heard you've mounted a little expedition or two."

[first_in_time]

The tablet was fine. She arranged it better on the pages of an open book because even though the thing frustrated her, she should better care for it.

"You've heard about those?" that surprised Barbara a little. Although after the attention both her and Sakura had, it was probably to be expected to some degree. "Stacey has been keeping me busy, that's for certain. Not that being idle is all that enjoyable either. I didn't know you were running for council. Is that because you held a similar position before Stacey?"

[theprophet]

Admirable, caring for one's things, even if one didn't have much use for them.

"You'd be surprised at how quickly word travels aboard this ship. People say that death and taxes are the only inescapable truths in this world, but I'd say gossip has those two beat."

"And yes, I did. Although back home, there was no real standing army to speak of. Someone in my position would have to provide for the public defense as well as more civilian concerns." Tarrant motioned to the empty glass he'd set on the table; his own was beside him. "Would you like some? I now have more than I know what to do with."

[first_in_time]

Gossip was rife at Coal Hill School, too. She should have known it would be the same everywhere.

"I'm sure you'll find many willing to join you, should you win the election and want to build on whatever defense we have here. I think I will, thank you," Barbara nodded at the wine and got up from her table to sit a little closer to Tarrant. "How did you come across so much wine?"

[theprophet]

Tarrant poured her a glass, smiling faintly. "I found my old home in the City. Apparently, the ship absconded with the cellar along with my other possessions. I have no idea why, but I'm certainly grateful."

"You know, I hope you're right. I think we'd all like to sleep a little more soundly at night after what happened with that SHODAN character."

[first_in_time]

"You're incredibly lucky," she smiled and sipped at the wine, letting the liquid to sit on her tongue before swallowing. It was utterly divine, the best she'd had in a very long time. Not that Barbara was much of a drinker, but she knew what she liked.

"Goodness. The number of things which go on in this ship, it's a wonder any of us get sleep at all!" But there were moments of lull, such as now. "We'll be on our feet again fighting or running or being pushed around again any time now." She scowled into the glass and sipped again.

[theprophet]

"Some of us don't, I'm sure." Tarrant took a sip of his drink, swirling the remainder around in his glass. "I can only imagine what the next set of trials will be. For instance, these Daligig have been remarkably quiet ever since they got here. And I doubt they're just going to leave us to our devices after all we've found out."

[first_in_time]

"That doesn't make much of a change for the majority of the crew who are forever on their toes anyway." But that would make a change for Barbara, not having ever been attacked by the Daligig, or publicly tortured. "At the same time, keeping quiet could be a way for the Daligig to psychologically get at us, especially if we're expecting them to do something harsh at any moment."

[theprophet]

"An interesting theory," said Tarrant. "But that would make them rather careless, wouldn't it? If I were in their position, I wouldn't be simply waiting around for my demonstrably... zealous potential enemies to band together and mount a coordinated attack.

"They know where we are and how to hurt us. They must know that we don't plan to twiddle our fingers and do nothing about their presence here. And if they're just assuming we don't have the resources, the power, or the determination required to challenge them... well, that would be the height of hubris, wouldn't it? Assuming one's upper hand will always keep one's underlings in line."

[first_in_time]

"But at the same time, they've made it quite clear that they're watching," Barbara countered and crossed her legs, finding the discussion suddenly very interesting, "were I in their position, I'd wait and watch. Not only would I see our reactions to the latest information, but I'd also see us becoming frustrated, planning and banning together and, if I was clever about it, I'd also see where our weakness' are in each and every person in whatever attack, or counter move is formed and plan my own attack accordingly.

"Of course, that would all fall through if we are able to find blind spots in the Daligig's surveillance - which I'm hoping for, please don't think I'm on the other side - but the waiting, I think, would drive us more mad than a full-frontal assault straight up.

"There's power in knowing one's enemy. For centuries, the great and not so great powers of the Earth have employed spies to find out what they can about their enemies, so they can conquer and attain more power. The only difference here is we don't really own anything. The Daligig's power is in keeping us restricted and our resources minimal, don't you think? Of course, that kind of power isn't endless but it's certainly difficult to get around, especially from a position such as the one they hold in comparison to us, who rely on them to survive." Mostly, anyway. At least, Barbara had to rely on the Daligig for a few vital things.

[theprophet]

Tarrant gave the slightest shrug of their shoulders. "They already know all our weaknesses, intimately. The technology used to strip the crew of its powers came from within the ship, not without."

"Honestly, the only reason many of us are alive is because it wasn't deployed to full effect. Leaving us alive leaves us opportunity to create countermeasures. They could kill us now. They would kill us, I'm sure, if they didn't require something of us."

[first_in_time]

"It's all so pleasant," sarcasm laced her tone but a light smile played upon her lips, giving way to a lack of seriousness.

"GLaDOS said something similar, that we all have a purpose toward the fight against the Ohm." Which didn't make a lot of sense to Barbara. She wasn't special, or skilled in any kind of military sense and yet, here she was. Barbara had figured that she might as well make the most of what was most likely a one in a million chance.

"Did the Daligig take anything from you?"

[theprophet]

Tarrant tapped a finger on the surface of the datapad absently, as if in thought. "The Daligig took a great deal from me. But they also gave me quite a bit in return. You'll have to be more specific, I'm afraid."

[first_in_time]

Barbara waved a hand, "I'm only making conversation."

The glass of wine was finished in a final sip and she placed it carefully down upon the table between them. "I wonder if the Daligig still have the data from the previous crew...we could find something of value there, if we can access it."

[theprophet]

"If," Tarrant agreed. "Technology isn't really my field of expertise, though information is. If those Daligig would be so kind as to venture on out of their restricted zones, I might be of some service..."

[first_in_time]

"It isn't my field, either. Give me books or something to place in a specific time of Earth history up to the 1960s and I'm fine. Hand me a computer and I'm not so fine."

"...could we perhaps lure them out?" Barbara thought out loud, "create a distraction or commotion or something and bring them out that way. Or would that not quite be what you had in mind?"

[theprophet]

The word 1960s meant little to Tarrant, who hadn't even been picked up from Earth. He tapped his temple. "Perhaps. But it will require some coordination. In any case, it has to be both convincing and untraceable. And I'm afraid one may be easier than the other."

[first_in_time]

Her lips pouted out in thought. The guards by the doors would deter any kind of 'knock and run' type distraction, and she figured that simply standing about and screaming in pain or fright wouldn't catch their interest.

"What do they usually come out for?" Barbara asked after a silent moment.

[theprophet]

"They engaged in some cursory interaction when they arrived," said Tarrant. "But quickly disappeared into the ship. In fact, we haven't seen or heard from them outside the restricted zones since. And the only way we know anything about that is an offhand remark from the captain."

A captain who had also been in absence as of late. Or at least as long as Tarrant had been here. Hmm.

[first_in_time]

"What if we staged something where it would be a sort of diplomatic courtesy to come out?" she doubted that would be of any use, given how much the Daligig seemed to not care.

[theprophet]

"Perhaps," Tarrant mused. "But it seems a little doubtful. They've demonstrated disdain for us, if anything. And they don't particularly seem interested in diplomacy."

His smile grew tight. "Threats, on the other hand, appear to be a familiar topic of conversation with them."

[first_in_time]

"Do you think we should threaten them to make them come out?" She couldn't imagine the Daligig being terribly susceptible to Tarrant after bring threatened.

[theprophet]

"Threaten them?" Tarrant smiled a little. "I doubt that would accomplish much of anything, unless they're complete incompetents. They hold all the cards and they know it."

He stood. "In any case, I should be going. I'll give the matter some thought in the meantime. A pleasure speaking with you, Mes Wright."

[first_in_time]

Barbara stood with him, it was only polite after all. "And you, Tarrant." She smiled warmly, "until next time."