Second Verse - Voice

[anythingwithstrings]

So with all that 'fun' I suppose I should try again to see whose interested in a school defense force. Clubs week I'm not sure everyone was aware of how much we need to use our powers to see if we can predict an attack.

Now everyone should be aware of what it's like at this school. Because any teacher that tells you this isn't how it always was is lying to you. We need alternatives to pretty much everything since people seem to be aware of just what to do to us to catch us with our pants down, figuratively speaking anyway.

I should probably look into getting some tools if I'm going to help, since my powers aren't all that great in a fight. Maybe a taser, they seem like fun. Anyone with ideas is welcome to suggest without actually being a part of the defend the school team, especially if you've got other responsibilities like causing trouble for bad guys away from us.

Comments

[video]

[echoing_sutras]

That's the problem with relying on all of this digital tech, I say. A bit of old fashioned analog could go a long way in proofing the defense grid against floating brains. -She manages a chuckle.-

Anyways, count me in. Running the radio station is fun and all, but I'm wasting my time here if I'm not trying to help others. “Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity”.

[anythingwithstrings]

Yeah, yeah, that might be a good step. We could use some redundancies. Also the fancier stuff is better known to the people that really don't like us.

Thanks, anyone that can help would be good... Got a name?

[echoing_sutras]

There's this one kid that really gets on my nerves, but to say she's got her stuff together is an understatement. Her name's Miko. Prince Pretty.

[anythingwithstrings]

I meant do you have a name, but if you wanna volunteer others that's fine too.

[echoing_sutras]

... I should admit I learned English largely from watching TV. -And listening to music.-

A-anyways, I'm Kyouko. If the voice sounds familiar, I DJ the morning block of the student radio station -That hardly anyone listens to because she's obnoxious.-

[anythingwithstrings]

Maya. I've heard your radio show, try not to because I'm still not caught up on all the music I've missed.

Your English is fine, all things considered.

[echoing_sutras]

Well I mostly play classic punk. Unless you missed the 70's through the 90's, I think you're good.

[anythingwithstrings]

I might give it a listen, once I'm done catching up on things. Knowing what music I've missed is way more important than the fiction of the discovery of America.

Or trying to prevent the inevitable next attack on the school.

[echoing_sutras]

Hmm... The Prof said there was a new girl who handled the bells and whistles of the security tech, right? Maybe you can recruit her, so we have an inside on the digital end of things.

[anythingwithstrings]

I would like to talk to her, find out what happened to our security at least.

[echoing_sutras]

Yeah, I'm not seeing the big connection between "telepath" and "master hacker" either... Really makes you wonder how she pulled it off.

[voice]

[friendofdorothy]

I'm amazed this is needed.

[anythingwithstrings]

Why? Because people keep beating our unbeatable security or because people want to attack us for dead peoples remains?

[friendofdorothy]

More the former. I was told we'd be students and the combat duties would be the X-Men's problem. But that seems to have been wishful thinking.

Well, I might as well offer myself for this then.

[anythingwithstrings]

You don't have to learn to fight, or run, or hide. You'll die, but that's the trade off.

The school is a big target for people that don't like mutants, the X-Men do what they can but usually people plan ahead for making sure we're defenseless when they get here.

[friendofdorothy]

I have some basic training. Designed for baselines and probably thirty years out of date, but it's something.

Yes, I thought so. I would have thought there'd be more precautions though. Unless the professor thought the idyllic sorroundings would just lure our attackers into a nap beneath the boughs.

[anythingwithstrings]

I learned some martial arts from a telepathic link with my best friend, I could use a bit more.

The entire system was taken down at once, all of it was silent like every bit of power, every backup, all of it was gone. That shouldn't happen, because it keeps happening, maybe we should just put in a moat.

[friendofdorothy]

Definitely. When the enemy is sophisticated, be primitive. Classic asymmetrical-[There's a very slight hitch in his voice when he says that]-warfare. We can hang nets and barrage balloons for the flyers. Just in time for a "horrors of the Great War" theme for Halloween too.

[anythingwithstrings]

We do need security that we can control. Maybe have the primitive stuff be on a dead-man switch? Something shorts out all the electronics, a bunch of simple things. We can't have them just going off on the students, primitive stuff is harder to target and all.

Video

[divine_spirits_universe]

I may have some access to experimental equipment....

This project sounds interesting, and I want to increase my offensive and defensive abilities before the end of the semester.

[anythingwithstrings]

...How likely is it that this stuff might kill us?

I'm all for new stuff that might make the school less invaded, but not if it might kill us.

[divine_spirits_universe]

Highly unlikely, I wouldn't request anything below a beta stage.

It all depends on the sort of thing you think we might need. Though any sort of high end weaponry would be unavailable due to contracts and international laws.

[anythingwithstrings]

I'm not really tech-able? I could use some speakers or sirens around the school that won't get taken out with the rest of the system. Bonus points if they work outside of natural human hearing range so I can just manipulate them, or any other person with powers like mine.

I don't think weapons is the way to go. For starters we're already accused of being weapons, building an arsenal as a part of the school seems bad. I'd love a sonic cannon, but I'm pretty sure it'll just get me in trouble. We could probably use something to... I dunno, defend areas of the school if getting to the sub-basement isn't a good answer?

[divine_spirits_universe]

What are your abilities if you don't mind me asking?

Simple security isn't too much of an issue. Though I assume the school is already looking into that. It must be nice for everyone else who has abilities that can be used offensively.

[anythingwithstrings]

I manipulate sound.

This means I could direct a sonic cannon to hit whatever I wanted without aiming it, but I don't really want to be too known for what I can do. Bad for my future, bad for my life plan of nobody killing me.

Anything that can't be shut down as easily as what we have seems like a good idea.

[divine_spirits_universe]

Interesting, not all dissimilar to Kyouko then.

We'll have to trust in our administrators for the time being.

[anythingwithstrings]

Huh, usually one or two other sound manipulators around, didn't hear we'd gotten a new one since I woke up.

Or we could work on this ourselves and not trust in the people who got blindsided?

[divine_spirits_universe]

She's the morning DJ.

I'm not against working ourselves, but we should know what they're planning first. There's no reason to go through a lot of work just to get in trouble or have it be pointless.

[anythingwithstrings]

Oh, right, we've talked, you must be the one she volunteered.

As long as we don't blow anything up, throw a wild raging party, or destroy all of Mr. Logan's beer we should be fine. Besides, I've already got a club set-up to handle the students taking some initiative on this anyway, so the staff do know I do this.

[divine_spirits_universe]

Volunteered? I suppose so. It's not exactly her place to do so though.

Well if we're properly sponsored why not! First we should consider how they disabled the defence grid. If it was an EMP there's ways to counter that, if it was something else... well we need to know. That way we can work on designs and concepts to include other methods. But there's no point in doing that without knowing what they used and what the system already employed against.

There's also merit to simpler methods of security. A good mix of old and new make for the best systems. They can compliment each other when done right.

Emergency procedures is a good thing to have as well.... A first response team. The priority should be in organizing students and getting those who need to be protected to safety and organizing those who can or are willing to help defend....

[The gears were turning.]

[anythingwithstrings]

Didn't hear any high-end tech during the attack. There was a... thing, about the size of a melon? But mostly I could hear their exo-suits, and they didn't sound powerful enough to take out our grid that way.

Organization I can do, my range covers both dorms if I'm in the right spot. I just need sounds to warp to communicate. The school was too quiet during the attack, no constant sound sources I could twist around. If we keep them low tech, I can keep communications open while the Professor is unconscious from Psychics.

[divine_spirits_universe]

I would guess it was a power of some sort, but understanding how it works is still important.

More reliable than instant communication, is creating an ingrained response to various scenarios. As you said, if it's too quite there's little you can do.

[anythingwithstrings]

Yeah, it'd be better if we could all just know what to do, but since most people aren't telepaths I'll settle for making sure I can communicate with anyone in the school to try and organize things.

As a back-up since most people take out the Professor first.

[divine_spirits_universe]

That's why you make sure people remember various situational actions. Consider about three scenarios, drill in what to do in those scenarios and make sure you have people who can work out what to do if things don't match exactly.

For example, if something happens to the Professor everyone gathered at a specific point, or some other action. If the defence grid goes down, another action. Organization is key.

[ voice ]

[psykick]

What do you mean by 'alternatives'?

[anythingwithstrings]

People that have mutant abilities that'll help warn us when a small army plans to attack us for whatever crazy reason it'll be next time.

[psykick]

Oh, so someone with precognition or clairvoyance.

[anythingwithstrings]

Those would work, someone with enhanced scent tracking, telescopic vision, anything that allows us to take turns trying to watch out for danger.

I was exhausted and not patrolling, or I might have heard something.

[psykick]

Hmmm, I don't know anyone with those abilities, but I've only been here since September. I think it's a good idea though!

[anythingwithstrings]

I've been here the past five years, but I'm still not sure what everyone can do.

Thanks, now to get people with the right skills to agree with that.

[psykick]

It's amazing how varied everyone's abilities are. I thought I saw a lot of different powers in Tokyo, but it's nothing compared to this school.

If I hear of anyone who might be helpful, I'll let them know what you're wanting to do.

[anythingwithstrings]

Get us all in one place, this is what happens. Although we had like two dozen fire manipulators back before the Phoenix blew up.

Thanks, you can help even if you don't have the right powers, we do need the occasional person just doing rounds and keeping an eye out for trouble.

[psykick]

Oh, I am! I'm in the Junior Security Club.