The problem with getting more data on the reappearances is the time lag of jump space travel... it can take months for that data to show up on the Net, Plus, most of the people don't want to go back, disappear into the woodwork, or just don't register as a significant presence.

A crawler program can wade through all that obscure data and isolate any anomalous item that could conceivably fit the parameters.

To that end, another dozen reappearances register with less than a 1% chance of being an actual event... and even that's because of weighting it.

Reappearances probably occurred on: Caithness, Skye, Diablo, Kingston, Lanixohn, St. Denis, Botany Bay, Datinar, Solomon, Carter, Lanyard, and Wisu.

Running the data through the algorithms now indicates that there had to be at least three ships involved and that each ship was able to travel faster than Jump-1. Cover the distance in... 3 days?


Carter Forbes is his real name; he's on record as having been sentenced to Coventry for 'sedition'. According to Morgan, he's now gone underground, but some fast-talking does get you a second interview under super-clandestine conditions. You can call him 'Dar' now.

Ask whatever questions you want.


The derelict alien ship's location was turned over to 'the authorities' so it's not likely to still be there.

ooc
Slightly confused - second interview with Morgan? Or First one with Carter? ANd who is called Dar?

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 15):

Carter Forbes. Whoever he is. ;-)

Second interview with Carter Forbes who is now going by the name Dar.

Looking around, and being very careful, Nate says, "Something I am not yet allowed to talk about seems to fit here. Have any of you encountered something lately that reminds you of the head-ache causing alien communications system?"

"Well, if Tammy is going to monitor and filter the news feeds for us, she is going to need as much information as we can provide."

Still being careful he turns to Jack, and says, "I wonder if what the Captain described as your special Concorde sensors can be used to detect if this Dar has been externally influenced. Would there be something detectable if his memories are not as accurate as he thinks? A … medically … induced confidence in them?"

OOC:
I view that lag as the information propagation wavefront. It normally expands down the x-boat routes, then out from that. Some of those new locations do not have clean x-boat routes to Duncinae, which will slow it down. There is not much x-boat connectivity in Reaver's Deep. It is at least 2 non x-boat jumps to get from the Confederation of Duncinae to anywhere other than the Grand Dutchy of Marlheim. Many of the other groups with internal routes have similar problems at the edges to get to the next 'Island'. Nathaniel was accounting for that in several posts with references to how old the data was, and how much else has happened where the information has not reached us yet.

The rest is mostly of interest for Starmaster, unless you want to see Nate's (over) thinking and speculations. Speculations with little enough evidence that he as not even mentioned it.

To this point, it is not clear if Nathaniel could be at the actual meeting with Forbes/Dar. He is not directly known to the journalist, likely even less by Dar. Only his public bio with science and advocate backgrounds might be known.

There are several lines of questions that Nate is interested in (from Investigate skill mixed with others) to see if some information can be improved and added to. These are not all questions to directly ask. They are lines to follow, to see where they lead. The questions here are representative, only to show areas trying to get more information about. Specific answers not needed or expected. Some tentative related conclusions based on the lines of questions is what I hope for. Since this is not an interrogation of a suspect in custody, can not demand answers. Need to keep it friendly and curious (Curious Nate has lots of, friendly he needs to work at a bit. Maybe excited and interested will do. Nate does 'focused interest' very well). As a preliminary, get what bio is available for Carson Forbes, to see that can be used as a hook when talking to him. From the 'real name' and related, that could already by available. Is there any potential overlap in backgrounds and interests to talk about?

General introduction questions, For all, avoid and interrupt anything that relates to politics or sedition. What did he do on Coventry? A job of some sort? Was there an economy? organizations? guilds? How fast did news travel (those ultra lights that Nate does not know about could tie to that)? Nate has some interest in that from sophontology, but not digging for much detail. Keep relaxed.

Questions intended to narrow down when he was last on Coventry. Using things like how long ago some very recent person or group arrived on Coventry, or how long since the latest delivery of luxury goods. Information from that delivery run (that Nate does not have), is that the drop point is moved each time, so a drop location and time could pinpoint the date quite accurately. Assuming that information on the previously used drop points is available afterwards.

Check working assumptions about how fast people were collected. When he was on Conventry, had he heard about any people already unexplainably missing? How spread out is the population? How big is the population? The 'public' fake news about the landslide mentioned a village. Is that accurate? people live in villages about that size? For the people recognized, do they seem to be from a small region, or spread out? For those not recognized, does their style of dress have clues about where they lived?

See if can get information to deduce more about the technology. Questions about the room and glow. The current information has several 'suspicious' aspects. Geometrically, the only way I can visually everybody seeing everybody else without turning their head, is a circle. Or in 3D, the surface of a sphere. Nate's current conjecture is that the room was not real. It was either a technological virtual environment, or psionic construct of some sort, where the usual physical rules do not apply. Questions to narrow down the probabilities. Confirm current information that Dar 'knows' there were 100 people in the room, and could see them all. Does he just 'know', or did he count them? Was it easy to count because maybe he was a little taller and could see that they were standing in a 10 by 10 grid with him at a corner or along an edge? Could not see past the glow, could not see the ceiling. Could he see the floor, and peoples feet? If so, describe the floor. How near did people seem? How much detail could he see of peoples faces and what they were wearing. Did he see someone with a bandaged wrist? Could he see anything of himself? Feet, shoulders, more.

Collect more information about the people in the room with him. Get the best descriptions possible, using the same techniques used by investigators to get descriptions from witnesses. Include descriptions for those recognized, as a cross check on the level of detail. Try to chart where people were relative to each other in the room. To be compared to other information if we later get to talk to another person that was there.

In reply to Nathaniel Harken (msg # 18):

Jack scratches his jaw. "First thing is. Is this Dar a Noble or a Political type official. My ""equipment"" has safeguards. Even in exile or has held such office."

Nathaniel responds, "Well technically, he was convicted of sedition by the local legal system. We should be able to determine career path from his bio. I want to look at that anyway, to see if there are some common topics of interest. To help get the conversation started."
OOC: GM?

Curious, he asks, "What sort of research is required to use that equipment? From my background, I know a fair amount about it's possible capabilities, but not so much on the rules you need to follow to use it. That varies some depending on who … educated you on its use."

"Oh, and do those same constraints apply when the intent is to see if someone else externally influenced the subject?"

In reply to Nathaniel Harken (msg # 20):

Jack replies as if he has recited this repeatedly "It will not prevent scans from being performed. But it will come up in my check up. "

Nathaniel opens his mouth to comment on that, then snaps it shut again, thinking, "~~Makes perfect sense from what I know, have deduced, or inferred. The top ruling class does not want themselves, or the rest of that ruling class to be scanned. Ever. The onus is put squarely on the operative to make sure that does not happen, so they must satisfy themselves first, then satisfy any reviewer of their due diligence, then if it turns out they are wrong, they are still in trouble. Without a VERY good reason. Really that constraint is targeted to strongly discourage any operative from doing scans on their own initiative. The only 'safe' scan, is one they have been ordered to do by the rulers and their authorized representatives. Slick, logical, … and nasty.~~"

"~~It does make me wonder more if the conclusions that could be made from my research data are really new. I'm glad I was very careful not to state what that analysis shows, limiting it to data. Scans in close proximity to, not even of, young minds are an obvious candidate to open channels that could develop into a full psi ability.  Basically triggering 'reflexive' stretching of a muscle so that it does not atrophy from lack of use.~~"

After a moment, he says neutrally, "So we check the profile. Carefully."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:22, Sat 15 Apr 2023.

Hence my confusion - as far as I recall, Sam hasn't met Carter Forbes once yet

But happy to meet him for the first time and go from there.

If we are meeting him for the first time, then I guess it is up to him how many of us meet him,a s he will have met none of us - So NAte could tag along as well possibly.

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 23):

Jack raises his hand. "However....Concorde does make a fine mind reader. What a GREAT gift for Vonon that would be. Don't know if we have time to file thru the Red Tape though"

Nathaniel contemplates Jack's choice of words, and wonders what is going to be possible, while looking up the available profile information for Carson.

It was actually the second interview with the Amazing Morgan. With our questions, he agreed that a face-to-face meeting with Carson Forbes a.k.a. Dar was warranted. It takes some wheedling and perseverance to get Dar to agree, but again, those unanswered questions convince him.

He has no delusions about the gov-police being able to find him, particularly if he gets careless. His choice of meeting place is a busy public park where events are happening.

Carson Forbes was an accountant; not a Noble or Political Type. He was single, but not a Player. Didn't party much but was a sports fan. Drank wine rather than beer. "Punctual, reliable, competent" were words used to describe him.

Sam, Jack, and Nate can all go.

As good as Sam may be, she doesn't spot Dar until he makes contact with them.

Ask away.

Waiting for Dar to show, Nate checks out the events at the park being used for cover for the meeting. When Dar identifies himself, he glances at him, then deliberately puts his attention back on the event he had been watching, saying casually, "Long time", with a tilt of his head toward Dar.

At a natural break, he looks around, then positions himself to see one of the activities, while listening and talking to Dar. He looks Dar over, thinking, "~~So how does a totally non political, non ruling class, reliable, no waves, accountant get arrested for sedition? Not something to ask, but curious. Possibly totally bogus, but he found something in the books that displeased somebody with the right connections.~~" He waits a moment, so see if Sam or Jack want to start off.

OOG: Not what he is really wearing, but Nate has his investigators hat on, wearing his lab coat  over his Diplomat suit:)

Sam smiles at Dar and says "Hi there. Thanks for meeting us. How do you want to play this walk and talk? Or just sit here?"

There are four separate events going on simultaneously: Pirate Day (everyone one is encouraged to dress, act and talk like a pirate), A Taste of Summer (local taste-testing cuisine), Community Care fund raiser, and Medieval Fair. Lots of people and costumes.

"I suppose never is a long time," he responds to Nate's words.

"You could start by buying an ice cream... or three," he answers Sam. It's unclear if he's dressed as a pirate, a medieval character, some ethic cuisine representative or just a community worker... though can clearly pass as any of them. But he's pushing an ice cream cart and at least posing as a vendor.

"It's for a good cause... supporting the community. There's never enough funding to go around to all the things that need it."

"I have no idea what's going on and it all happened so fast that I never had a chance to panic. Some of your questions intrigued me. Still not sure I want to know what happened, but it'll bother me the rest of my life if I don't."

Nate chuckles, "Sure is. We'll have to try to do this more often. Couldn't be any less."

"OK, what flavours you got there?"

He steps up to look over the selections, but continues talking to Dar, while keeping an eye out for anyone else getting too close. "We've got more questions than answers. What answers we do have involve a lot of wild speculation. We're hoping that your answers will help narrow that down some."

"To summarized, there have been several unusual incidents in the region over the past few years. A bunch of people having their vacations cut short without notice is only one of them. Analysis of the available data puts a high probability on an external, previously unknown agent. The data also has … intriguing … hints of working tech that is normally only discussed as maybe theoretically possible. Or in future fiction."

Nate points to one of the ice cream flavours, and says in a poor pirate voice, "Arrgg, I believe I'll try that tharr one". He looks at Sam and Jack and adds, "My treat, me hearties". He pays for 3 ice creams, then steps aside to give the others more room and continues in a normal voice, "I'd like to put some limits, some lower bounds, on what that tech is capable of. If we have time, I'd like to try to determine just when you were picked up for the return trip, but first I'd like to ask about your travelling companions and accommodations."

"My info is that there were exactly 100 travelling together. Do you just know that, or did you count noses? Were you in a circle, or some pattern that allowed everyone to see everyone else?"

He accepts his ice cream, then shows his hand-comp to Dar and asks, "Do you mind? For notes. Local mode only."

"No, don't mind the comp. What are they going to do--send me back to Coventry?" Dar says. "Hell, at this point, I'm not sure they'd do that. Dangerous for them to tell Coventors that escape is possible."

"That was one of the questions that got me thinking about it. The image I got was as if I was looking at the group... including myself... through a CCTV about 19 feet high. Everyone was standing 2-3 feet apart, yet I could clearly see everyone just as if I was standing right in front of them. That's why I recognized six of them."

"I did Philo Nance's taxes two years ago. Margot Sullivan was a local Councilwoman. Shev was a bartender at the Chelsea Club. Rovan Zor is a footballer whose autograph I got. Cherinda Galt was a reporter. Monty the Mooch was a car salesman in those rubber duck commercials."

"Not sure I help you with the timing, For me, my last image of Coventry was early spring."

Nate uses the social gesture of taping his ear to indicate taking a call, in case anyone is paying attention. He activates the hand comp, looks out over the park, and slips the DDR over his ear and eye, Muttering, "Pirate needs an eye patch anyway".

Quickly recording the mentioned names, he checks off 'external viewpoint' in his speculative notes, then still looking across the parks says, "As if? Could you see where the edges of the image were? See anything that was not part of the display? For example, your own shoulder in peripheral vision. You had an equal view of everyone. Did you notice anyone with a bandage on their wrist? Like from a sprain."

"In that view, where were the people you recognized? Where were you?"

"You recognized only people you had known from before 'vacation'? Not people you met while there?"

"I was hoping to narrow down the timing because of the deliveries. Do you know how long before that the most recent shipments arrived? People or goods. How well was information about that known to everyone, and you in particular? How fast and accurate does information spread?"

Nate's curiosity about the overall socioeconomic environment has him add, "From being there, do you have a feel for what the total population really is? I am not sure how much to trust the reports I've seen."

He samples the ice cream.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:32, Sun 30 Apr 2023.

In reply to Nathaniel Harken (msg # 32):

Jack nods to Nate for the ice-cream. Considering what has happened with this crew and what is happening now. Jack orders a Rocky Road... and keeps listening to Nate and Dar.

Sam indicates a mint choc chip and eats it. She keeps listening, but turns slightly so she can get a view on anyone approaching, and says to Jack "Can you watch the other direction? Just in case anyone gets close enough so we have to switch to talking about costumes or something similar"

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 34):

Jack winks at Sam and looks for anyone getting close

"The 'image' I had was just of a bright light shining on everyone... though, now that you mention it, there were no shadows," Dar answers. "There was nothing visible outside of the light. No, I didn't notice a bandage, but I also can' honestly say what anyone was wearing. I don't think anyone was naked... no, definitely had clothes on."

"I was standing somewhat to the left of center. We weren't in rows or columns... just kind of mingling about, all facing forward. Those I recognized were scattered about."

"Ah, maybe that's it. I thought some of the others looked familiar, but didn't know them personally. They may have been other citizens from Coventry."

"Well, there are now 7 communities scattered about the drop zone, each about 1,000 people. At least, that's my understanding. Supposedly, the leaders have communicators, so everyone knows when the drops will be made. Rather than everyone making a mad scramble for the supplies, each community takes its turn retrieving them and then distributing them to the others."

"No one knows when the next group will join us. It depends on how many dissidents are processed in the previous months."

At Sam's comment to Jack, Nate nods slightly. Watching out for eavesdroppers was part of the reason for looking across the park. As well as pretending to be on a call. He has another couple of bites of the ice cream while listening.

Nathaniel thinks, "~~7000 ish total population?~~

Nate checks off another couple of items from his notes, 'no shadows', and 'no detail'. Deciding to change tack slightly, he says, "Mixing that with the general reported information, you saw the whole group, standing still, about arms length apart. You also saw each person like they were right in front of you. You could see faces in good detail, but were not noticing much of anything else about individuals. Barely aware that they had clothes on, but not what that consisted of. Even for yourself. You had no desire to move, maybe did not even think about being able to move. You did not hear, feel, or taste anything, not aware of time passing. Just observing the image. Not really aware of your own body, other than what you could see in the image. When you were seeing an individual, you were not seeing those beside or behind them. There was enough overlap though, that you could tell were an individual close up was in the wider view. You mentioned not having time to panic, but I suspect that, at the time, you were so … unconcerned with the situation, that you did not even consider that panicking was appropriate. Is that accurate?"

"Did you choose to look at specific people, or were they being shown to you, like the credits at the end of a holo? Have you ever used a full immersion game, or maybe a sim where you could see what it was like from the point of view of your favourite sports celeb? Would the image you saw be something like that?"

OOG: This should be Jack, but … Nate "feels a great disturbance in the Force".

Continuing without StarMaster. I'll see about channeling him.


Nathaniel thinks, "~Right, decisions need time. Before and after.~", and checks off the no senses, no emotion items in the notes, and highlights the no time entry. He says, "That's probably about all I can learn quickly about your time with the group. More would need a long debriefing session like in some of the spy thriller holos."

"How about when you left Coventry, and when you arrived here. For your last memories before the group, where were you? Were there others around to notice if you just vanished? In an outdoor space, or in a building? Then again for your first memory after the group.  Sitting down? anyone else in view? Maybe any security cameras?"