| [ INFORMATION ] |
| [ ] CHARACTER |
|
| Prapor |
Summary
Prapor approaches the director of the EGO Research Institute to look for clues regarding "The Legacy", but the director’s sheer incompetence and greed leave him completely disgusted, causing him to storm out. Meanwhile, after sitting through a tedious presentation from the JDR' management committee, Marianne fiercely criticizes the leadership for their utter incompetence and naivety, demanding total control over JDR's decision-making power. The committee refused this due to their lack of authorization to grant such concessions, causing Marianne to leave in anger.
[Inside an office building next to Unity City's Central Square]
Prapor Finally found it... The office for this "center" isn't central at all. The person I’m meeting better actually has some authority…
Prapor Hello, Director. I’m the head of the preparatory team for the "Eastern" project expedition. Here’s my letter of introduction.
Research Institute Director Hmm? Oh... Hello, Team leader... Comrade? Let's keep this brief. You're here to look into reclaiming the EGO research data, right?
Prapor Exactly. Furthermore, I’m hoping the JDR can help resolve our team's logistical supplies and interstellar transport issues as soon as possible.
Research Institute Director …
Research Institute Director Look, Team Leader, I get that you want to start working as soon as possible. But I carry absolutely no weight around here. My own center can barely keep the lights on. I really don't think I can make the call on any of these demands.
Prapor If I remember correctly, you're negotiating with me on behalf of the JDR committee. Surely management gave you the proper authorization.
Research Institute Director You're not wrong, but times have changed. Even the wealthy don't have spare cash laying around these days.
Research Institute Director Take interstellar transport, for instance, that's completely market-driven now.
Research Institute Director All travel between Earth and Knox will be handled by Ms. Mariana’s new spaceships from here on out. Naturally, she calls the shots on the launch schedule.
Research Institute Director Going to the Committee to sort out your transport issues is probably less effective than talking to the gatekeeper at Mariana's house.
Prapor And what if I don't have a way to get in touch with her?
Research Institute Director Honestly, I wouldn't recommend looking for her anyway. Those Entente countries are obsessed with fairness, justice, and going strictly by the book.
Research Institute Director That old Union habit of pulling strings and using the back door definitely won't fly with her.
Research Institute Director Realistically, you can just pay extra to get priority appointments. It’s all clearly priced.
Research Institute Director Otherwise, you'll just have to wait in line. There's no better way around it.
Prapor …
Prapor Let’s talk about the parts the JDR actually controls. The preparatory team needs the committee to coordinate a batch of supplies for us.
Prapor First is weapons and ammunition, followed by various daily and work essentials. Here is our list of requirements.
Research Institute Director I'm very sorry, Comrade Team Leader, but my authorization does not include providing you with weapons.
Research Institute Director Things are unstable on both the Blue Planet(Earth) and the Green Planet(Nox) right now. The JDR's weapons are barely enough for our own self-defense. We absolutely cannot let them leak out. I hope you can understand.
Prapor Setting the weapons aside, what about basic daily supplies?
Prapor Interstellar shipping capacity is incredibly tight right now. We can't exactly bring every single ballpoint pen over from Earth.
Research Institute Director As for the items on your list, most of them are industrial goods with limited production in the JDR, meaning they're heavily rationed.
Research Institute Director Right now, Ms. Mariana’s company also has a massive demand for daily provisions. Once their needs are met, there likely won't be anything left for you.
Prapor So the JDR Management Committee has basically restructured itself into a Mariana Fan Club?
Research Institute Director There's no need to put it like that. Partnering with Mariana was a collective decision by the committee, not my call.
Research Institute Director Ms. Mariana is the savior of the JDR! She's the only one who can bring enough investment and shipping capacity to Nox to stop this place from turning into a wasteland like the old Union area…
Prapor Even if you can't help with anything else, surely you have the final say inside this research center.
Prapor Could you at least assist me in pulling the EGO-related research data stored in your center?
Research Institute Director Well... our center has been facing severe budget shortages for a long time, so a massive number of files have never been organized or cataloged. Finding the specific information you need won't be easy.
Prapor Could you assign a few people to help me look through them then? Your center seems to have plenty of staff on the clock.
Research Institute Director Sigh, don't even get me started on that. Those people were transferred here because their departments either got shut down or relocated, they had nowhere else to go.
Research Institute Director This Research Institute for EGO folklore and culture, to put it bluntly, it's just an "acrobatics center." We were already neglected to begin with, and now we haven't been able to pay salaries for months.
Research Institute Director Everyone is on unpaid leave, busy figuring out how to survive on their own.
Prapor Alternatively, if you're willing to lend me the materials, I can find people to look through and organize them myself.
Research Institute Director I'm afraid that's out of the question. These materials carry a security clearance. If you lose them or leak the information, how could I possibly take responsibility for that?
Prapor …
Research Institute Director Actually, if you really want to take these materials back to read, there might be another way.
Prapor What way?
Research Institute Director As long as you pay for them, you can buy them by the pound. Then these mater, uh, I mean, this waste paper, will be all yours.
Research Institute Director You can use them to light your cigarettes or wallpaper your room for all I care.
Prapor ?!
Research Institute Director The only catch is we don't accept Unity rubles. Magnetic tapes, Energy yuan, or Vespuccian pounds will do. What do you say, comrade Team Leader?
Prapor Let me get this straight... You don't have the authority to lend me these materials, but you do have the authority to sell "confidential data" as scrap paper?
Research Institute Director No, no, no, comrade. This isn't "confidential data," it's just scrap paper covered in ink.
Research Institute Director I get rid of the waste paper, you get to use it for whatever you want, and the institute pulls in some extra income. Isn't that a win-win for everyone?
Prapor But what happens if the committee comes to audit you and finds out the confidential files are missing?
Research Institute Director Then I'll just say a heating pipe burst and waterlogged the files! That happens a few times every winter anyway.
Prapor But if you sell me all the useful archives, what is your center going to do?
Prapor Without these materials, you won't produce any research results, and you'll end up out of a job.
Research Institute Director I appreciate you looking out for me. But to be completely honest, I’ve had more than enough of sitting around in this God-forsaken place.
{WORKING IN PROGRESS} go bother the translator if you want what folow :)
Prapor approaches the director of the EGO Research Institute to look for clues regarding "The Legacy", but the director’s sheer incompetence and greed leave him completely disgusted, causing him to storm out. Meanwhile, after sitting through a tedious presentation from the JDR' management committee, Marianne fiercely criticizes the leadership for their utter incompetence and naivety, demanding total control over JDR's decision-making power. The committee refused this due to their lack of authorization to grant such concessions, causing Marianne to leave in anger.
[Inside an office building next to Unity City's Central Square]
Prapor Finally found it... The office for this "center" isn't central at all. The person I’m meeting better actually has some authority…
Prapor Hello, Director. I’m the head of the preparatory team for the "Eastern" project expedition. Here’s my letter of introduction.
Research Institute Director Hmm? Oh... Hello, Team leader... Comrade? Let's keep this brief. You're here to look into reclaiming the EGO research data, right?
Prapor Exactly. Furthermore, I’m hoping the JDR can help resolve our team's logistical supplies and interstellar transport issues as soon as possible.
Research Institute Director …
Research Institute Director Look, Team Leader, I get that you want to start working as soon as possible. But I carry absolutely no weight around here. My own center can barely keep the lights on. I really don't think I can make the call on any of these demands.
Prapor If I remember correctly, you're negotiating with me on behalf of the JDR committee. Surely management gave you the proper authorization.
Research Institute Director You're not wrong, but times have changed. Even the wealthy don't have spare cash laying around these days.
Research Institute Director Take interstellar transport, for instance, that's completely market-driven now.
Research Institute Director All travel between Earth and Knox will be handled by Ms. Mariana’s new spaceships from here on out. Naturally, she calls the shots on the launch schedule.
Research Institute Director Going to the Committee to sort out your transport issues is probably less effective than talking to the gatekeeper at Mariana's house.
Prapor And what if I don't have a way to get in touch with her?
Research Institute Director Honestly, I wouldn't recommend looking for her anyway. Those Entente countries are obsessed with fairness, justice, and going strictly by the book.
Research Institute Director That old Union habit of pulling strings and using the back door definitely won't fly with her.
Research Institute Director Realistically, you can just pay extra to get priority appointments. It’s all clearly priced.
Research Institute Director Otherwise, you'll just have to wait in line. There's no better way around it.
Prapor …
Prapor Let’s talk about the parts the JDR actually controls. The preparatory team needs the committee to coordinate a batch of supplies for us.
Prapor First is weapons and ammunition, followed by various daily and work essentials. Here is our list of requirements.
Research Institute Director I'm very sorry, Comrade Team Leader, but my authorization does not include providing you with weapons.
Research Institute Director Things are unstable on both the Blue Planet(Earth) and the Green Planet(Nox) right now. The JDR's weapons are barely enough for our own self-defense. We absolutely cannot let them leak out. I hope you can understand.
Prapor Setting the weapons aside, what about basic daily supplies?
Prapor Interstellar shipping capacity is incredibly tight right now. We can't exactly bring every single ballpoint pen over from Earth.
Research Institute Director As for the items on your list, most of them are industrial goods with limited production in the JDR, meaning they're heavily rationed.
Research Institute Director Right now, Ms. Mariana’s company also has a massive demand for daily provisions. Once their needs are met, there likely won't be anything left for you.
Prapor So the JDR Management Committee has basically restructured itself into a Mariana Fan Club?
Research Institute Director There's no need to put it like that. Partnering with Mariana was a collective decision by the committee, not my call.
Research Institute Director Ms. Mariana is the savior of the JDR! She's the only one who can bring enough investment and shipping capacity to Nox to stop this place from turning into a wasteland like the old Union area…
Prapor Even if you can't help with anything else, surely you have the final say inside this research center.
Prapor Could you at least assist me in pulling the EGO-related research data stored in your center?
Research Institute Director Well... our center has been facing severe budget shortages for a long time, so a massive number of files have never been organized or cataloged. Finding the specific information you need won't be easy.
Prapor Could you assign a few people to help me look through them then? Your center seems to have plenty of staff on the clock.
Research Institute Director Sigh, don't even get me started on that. Those people were transferred here because their departments either got shut down or relocated, they had nowhere else to go.
Research Institute Director This Research Institute for EGO folklore and culture, to put it bluntly, it's just an "acrobatics center." We were already neglected to begin with, and now we haven't been able to pay salaries for months.
Research Institute Director Everyone is on unpaid leave, busy figuring out how to survive on their own.
Prapor Alternatively, if you're willing to lend me the materials, I can find people to look through and organize them myself.
Research Institute Director I'm afraid that's out of the question. These materials carry a security clearance. If you lose them or leak the information, how could I possibly take responsibility for that?
Prapor …
Research Institute Director Actually, if you really want to take these materials back to read, there might be another way.
Prapor What way?
Research Institute Director As long as you pay for them, you can buy them by the pound. Then these mater, uh, I mean, this waste paper, will be all yours.
Research Institute Director You can use them to light your cigarettes or wallpaper your room for all I care.
Prapor ?!
Research Institute Director The only catch is we don't accept Unity rubles. Magnetic tapes, Energy yuan, or Vespuccian pounds will do. What do you say, comrade Team Leader?
Prapor Let me get this straight... You don't have the authority to lend me these materials, but you do have the authority to sell "confidential data" as scrap paper?
Research Institute Director No, no, no, comrade. This isn't "confidential data," it's just scrap paper covered in ink.
Research Institute Director I get rid of the waste paper, you get to use it for whatever you want, and the institute pulls in some extra income. Isn't that a win-win for everyone?
Prapor But what happens if the committee comes to audit you and finds out the confidential files are missing?
Research Institute Director Then I'll just say a heating pipe burst and waterlogged the files! That happens a few times every winter anyway.
Prapor But if you sell me all the useful archives, what is your center going to do?
Prapor Without these materials, you won't produce any research results, and you'll end up out of a job.
Research Institute Director I appreciate you looking out for me. But to be completely honest, I’ve had more than enough of sitting around in this God-forsaken place.
{WORKING IN PROGRESS} go bother the translator if you want what folow :)