MdJG Jovenan – Almost like another world

[+ Vitor S. Silveira]

Sorry, but not sorry to keep flooding the Apreciations these last days.

I have already posted here the amazing mission start by @Yalu. And yesterday I had to post the sim from one of our newest writers @Ensign Sadar.

But this one is from someone who's been with us a little while longer, and has proven time and again her quality as a writer and as a player.

Unlike the majority of the crew in this "different" mission she chose to create a dubious character, and one I had quickly related to, although IC she will certainly only be a step away from a "favorite enemy" the way @Jovenan presented her Shint Universe counterpart deserves a full reading.

 

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((Mess Hall, Deck 3, CIC Desdemona))

 

Why was it so dirty everywhere?

Her normally pristine white uniform was in danger catching dust, dirt, and other filth from every surface she made contact with, making Jovenan hyperaware of not touching anything. It didn’t work very well, as the air itself was musty of aerosolised waste and other nasty itty-bitty particulates. It was horrendous that the Interstellar Fleet was allowing their ships to decline to such a disgusting state. Sure, they were at war, but it wasn’t like they were shooting at something constantly, there was really no reason to not have the crew scrub the entire ship every now and then.

Stennes: We’ve all seen what this thing can do. But after years of mystery and rumors, we finally get to look at it. The intel scientists working at Casperia call this a “prismagon.” It’s the key piece of technology in the Shint reality weapon.

Despite their filthy habits, a posting on a Commonwealth ship had its benefits. Being so much nearer to the Shint they had access to much better empirical data on the reality weaponry. Jovenan leaned in a bit to see the projection better. Having refused to sit down on these plebeian chairs but opting to stand by a corner, her leaned-in posture was awful to her back, but the object of interest was too important for her to mind right now.

The existence of “prismagons” was hardly a surprise; Jovenan’s own research at the Divine Fleet Research Institute had shown that the observed functionality of the reality weapons required them to be there. Still, she had never figured out how they worked exactly, what they looked like and how they were used. And now she had the schematics of a functional object in front of her. This discovery shaved off years from the Institute’s work. How the Commonwealth scientists had acquired the information was a mystery to her. Knowing their reputation, they were probably walking around doing math with their fingers when they accidentally stumbled on a discarded unit on the ground. Jovenan smirked as she straightened herself and continued to follow the presentation.

Stennes: The energy field this thing generates can fragment reality at the quantum level and then collapse it around its target. When directed at a ship, or a planetoid, or—— ::beat:: a person, the prismagon’s energy essentially forces them out of reality, particle by particle.

That was hardly a sufficient explanation. Jovenan considered stepping in and giving the gathered crew a proper lecture on the subject, going through all the equations with them and formulating the theoretical framework. But considering the apparent average intelligence within this hall, she decided to let the senior officer to continue with the poorly detailed presentation.

Stennes: Colonel, we’re going to steal one.

Jovenan rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. They had the schematics of a prismagon, do they stop and try to find a way to disable them? No. Do they even study them further than taking a look? No. They’re gonna break in and get one for themselves as well. How Commonwealth.

MacKenzie: response

Stennes: ::nods:: That’s true. Prismic shields have been a colossal failure at the size and scale we’ve been using them. Commonwealth starships are just too big for the shields to work properly. But, they’re very effective at shielding small craft and—

The human changed display to show two humanoids with armbands.

Stennes: Individuals. ::beat:: Well, at least the testing they’ve done on individuals has been very promising. ::tosses a data chip to Adea:: Colonel Adea, here are all of the schematics and data that Intel has on prismic technology. We need shields that will allow us to get aboard a Shint vessel and remain undetected by their prismic scanners.

Adea: response

Stennes: Luana, Lux, Kuva, and Gila, assist the colonel. We need enough shields for a shuttlepod and a small team.

The Human Major had given the order to a group of young officers. Jovenan didn’t know the crew very well yet, but she had learnt details of the Interstellar Fleet rank hierarchy and could tell that they were junior officers, below the relative rank she was wearing. The Yelikan engineer was an exception, being her senior, but Jovenan didn’t know much else of her. Lt Colonel Adea, on the other hand, was one of the senior-most officers on the ship, and the chief physician with a seemingly decent education. Still, this was hardly a research centre.

Kuva: ::nodding:: Yes, Major.

Yellir/Thevn: response

The Human Major turned to Jovenan, and she noticed that at least a few other crewmembers did the same. She couldn’t blame them, she really stood out in this group. And while she had been advised not to wear the standard Divine Fleet service uniform in order to cater the “offworlder sensibilities”, she could tell that her full-coverage uniform variant was still too sensual for some of them.

Stennes: Jovenan, any assistance you could provide would be most appreciated.

This was actually a prime opportunity for her. The Divine Fleet would never be able to test this kind of technology in the field. If they managed to develop a functioning small-scale shielding mechanism, the Divine Fleet could try to make it full-scale, maybe even planetary scale, and deploy it to protect themselves after the Commonwealth was utterly crushed by the Shint. And if they failed… Well, it cost the Divine Fleet nothing.

Jovenan: ::chirpy:: I will assist.

The research opportunity was actually very exciting for her. Despite her reservations about the crew, she knew that such experimentation wouldn’t have been possible on Rubicun. For a moment, she wondered why most of the crew showed little enthusiasm, as the Major moved to other subjects.

Stennes: Vik, Flint, you need to find us a suitable target. The space between the Celendi and Azure Nebulae is crawling with Shint. To maximize our likelihood of success, we need a ship with at least 3 prismagons aboard. Cruisers or larger. Devise a suitable approach for the shuttlepod, and attack and escape plans for Desdemona.

Olivera: Aye Sir

Kader: response

Stennes: Ares, Savel, Harry, you’ll put our heist together, with the Colonel’s and my assistance. ::tosses Dakora a data chip:: We’ve got updated holo-schematics of Shint craft and weaponry. Work with Vik and Flint and use the Sim Centers on deck six to anticipate contingencies.

Dakora / Savel / Sato / MacKenzie: response

Jovenan paid only a little attention to the planning of the acquisition of the prismagons, focusing more on planning the shielding device and what she could do after the others had secured the components. It was only the final pep talk by the Major when she focused on him again.

Stennes: You’ve all seen the projections. Even the most optimistic forecasts show that the war will be lost within a year. This may be a suicide mission. But it also might be our first, last, only opportunity to defend ourselves against the Shint. Maybe even mount an offensive of our own someday. ::long beat, sighs wearily:: What questions do you have?

Jovenan wasn’t sure what he meant by suicide mission. Did it mean that if they failed, they were committing a career suicide? Or was it more of a poetic expression for the current state of the war? She considered asking about it, but other questions began to seep in.

Kuva: Either it is suicide by action or it is suicide by inaction. ::beat:: How long until the Shint realize what we have acquired and its implications, Major?

Stennes/Any: Response

((OOC: Moving on with the Q&A as well, open for backsimming etc.))

As the briefing had ended, the group had dispersed to smaller sections according to the task they were given. The shield development team had been quick to vanish, but Jovenan managed to find them after losing them for a moment. She jogged to them, catching a part of the conversation that had already begun.

Kuva: Our enemy may have far superior technology to our own, but it is still technology. I do know the United Resistance has used electromagnetic pulses for both offensive maneuvers and defensive retreats, though I’ll admit it is to…varying degrees of success. Regardless, it may be worth considering as an option for this mission.

Lux: Electromagnetic pulses have only proven effective in gorilla warfare tactics, on planets and moons. It’s not as effective when presented in space battles. Mainly because Shint appear more capable to detect our vessels with the prismic scanners :: begins to think in quantum mechanics :: Prismic scanners use a quantum variance catalyst, using gravitational waves to detect matter in the fourth dimension. It is thought that this is what allows them to identify specific targets in space/time to ::beat:: eliminate from reality. ::ponders to the group:: Could we match that variance on a quantum level? 

Pushing herself to the group, Jovenan joined to listen to the conversation.

Adea/Yellir/Thevn: Response

Kuva: I could reach out to my contacts in the Vanguard as well, see if they have any information on prismic technology that could supplement the Confederacy’s. Once my Romulan brethren realized their cloaking devices were practically useless against Shint sensors, they pivoted hard to developing stealth tech for a moment such as this.

Lux: Good thinking Kuva, they’ve likely come to the same conclusions that we have. I’m going to head to the lab, I’d like to run some simulations on the prismic shields and we can have a look at the work from the Casperia :: reluctantly looks to Jovenan:: Would you like to make yourself useful?

Jovenan was pleased her input was not only expected, it was requested.

Jovenan: Thank you, I would! Well, firstly I would recommend stopping using the electro-magnetic pulses altogether. Any cadet can shield equipment from EMPs, for the Shint it’s just a matter of bothering to do so. If they’re used consistently, the Shint will adapt for them. ::smiles:: It only makes it harder to fight them in the long run.

Adea/Yellir/Lux/Thevn/Kuva: Response

She briefly raised herself onto tip-toes before lowering the feet to the ground again, making a small hop, as she hid her left hand behind her back and extended the right one for a “handshake”, a Human greeting.

Jovenan: ::cheerily, smiling:: Also, I don’t think I’ve been working with some of you before. Hi, I’m Jovenan! Nice to meet you all!

Adea/Yellir/Lux/Thevn/Kuva: Response

TAG/TBC
----
Mediator JG Jovenan
Science officer (secondment)
CIC Desdemona
E239911J11

 

[Jovenan]

Well, her being "dubious" is not really the intent, but rather the conclusion based on her background by the other characters. She is an officer of a foreign military (Edo Divine Fleet) without formal alliance with the Commonwealth, and is only posted to Commonwealth Interstellar Fleet ship because the governments' interest align against a shared enemy. That makes her understandably dubious to some other officers there. I thought the characters would hate her because of her being an "utopian princess" as Gila put it, and because of her not realising the seriousness of the situation and not caring what happens to the other characters. Turns out, they hate her also because some of them think she might be siding with the enemy! And I'm liking it!

[+ Gila Sadar]

Just saying, 'Princess' is still a better moniker for her than 'Visitor', and I personally love to hate her ❤️ Beautiful characterization, @Jovenan!!

[+ Vitor S. Silveira]

20 minutes ago, Jovenan said:

Well, her being "dubious" is not really the intent, but rather the conclusion based on her background by the other characters. She is an officer of a foreign military (Edo Divine Fleet) without formal alliance with the Commonwealth, and is only posted to Commonwealth Interstellar Fleet ship because the governments' interest align against a shared enemy. That makes her understandably dubious to some other officers there. I thought the characters would hate her because of her being an "utopian princess" as Gila put it, and because of her not realising the seriousness of the situation and not caring what happens to the other characters. Turns out, they hate her also because some of them think she might be siding with the enemy! And I'm liking it!

 

I honestly just admire the risk you took creating her, you can have chosen just making another warrior character like most of us, but the spin you have given us with "this" Jovenan is awesome.  

 

9 minutes ago, Ensign Sadar said:

Just saying, 'Princess' is still a better moniker for her than 'Visitor', and I personally love to hate her ❤️ Beautiful characterization, @Jovenan!!

 

You would rather Vik used his first choice? ::rubs ribs::

[+ Gila Sadar]

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You would rather Vik used his first choice? ::rubs ribs:: 

Oh please, Princess is 100 percent better than that one too. Don't be crude!

[+ Vitor S. Silveira]

10 minutes ago, Ensign Sadar said:

Oh please, Princess is 100 percent better than that one too. Don't be crude!

Vik isn't Sil... But weren't we supposed to keep somethings from our prime characters 🤷‍♂️