(no subject)

[firstsoldier]

[Iiiit's .. text.]

In the interest of clarity for new arrivals, myself among them, I have a few questions that may seem blatantly obvious to everyone who's been here longer.

Am I understanding correctly that many of us here are being transformed into something else, much like the rain's temporary effects had on us recently?

Is this likely to happen to everyone?

Does it have anything to do with the brands we have been given? 'Runes'

Does anyone know how to repair a broken driver's side window for a M939 truck?

Finally, if you are obviously nonhuman, changed or naturally so, please leave a note as to what you look like so I know you are considered an ally and not an active threat.

Given the creatures that attacked in the storm, and earlier messages suggesting they may have once 'been like us', I do not wish to make a mistake.

Comments

I hear it's wilder than the games somehow.

[firstsoldier]

[It does make him identifiable at least.]

They may need to learn quickly. Guns are a great equalizer, for all that I find them clumsy.

oh yeah. i have links to the detailed fan summaries in this journal's sticky

[bufudine]

[He not sure if guns are still less effective on his demon, but he's in no hurry to test it...]

That's their decision to make.

[His two roommates aren't combatants. With Jack having his own violent, uncontrollable transformation from his home world and John being skittish after being hurt badly, Serph doesn't see that changing meaningfully any time soon.]

I'll have to investigate. o_o

[firstsoldier]

As long as their survival relies on others fighting for them, respectfully I disagree.

Everyone must do their part in the defense of this convoy and its people.

[bufudine]

[Serph doesn't disagree with Sephiroth's assessment. It's the sort of thing he would have thought once; there is no room on the battlefield for non-combatants. But the Convoy isn't just a battlefield.]

Combat isn't all we need to reach our destination.

[firstsoldier]

This is true, we are also in need of mechanics and medics. However, even a mechanic can wield a weapon and few know better how to take someone apart than those who are taught to put them back together. No-one is truly defenseless, especially with the creatures we are to become.

[bufudine]

[He agrees that no-one is truly defenceless. Anyone cornered can lash out with whatever is available. But that is a far cry from being competent fighters.]

Even if non-combatants began training to improve combat skills, they won't be as competent as those who have lived fighting.

[Jayce had asked Serph to teach him how to hunt, so he isn't opposed to teaching if asked. But he holds no illusions that Jayce, a scientist, would have the same sorts of battle instincts as a soldier who's lived on the battlefield.]

We have many combatants who scout, scavenge, and defend. We don't have many handling other tasks.

[That's honestly one of the big reasons he doesn't see having to defend the few people who aren't fighters as an issue that needs to be fixed. If there were more people who couldn't fight travelling with them it would be a different matter, but they have too many fighters and not enough people taking care of, well, everything else..]

Those whose strengths are not fighting have chosen to spend their time on other tasks instead. Tailoring. Cultivation. Research. Cooking. Repairs. Emotional support.

[firstsoldier]

[Emotional support. Emotional support, really? The others might have some merit but that one's completely dismissed.]

Of course they will not. But they will be better than they had been before, with each day of practice. A little better each time at defending their own lives.

There is no task in this caravan which eats up the entirety of a day. Those who can't spare even an hour to learn how to protect themselves because they're busy cooking or knitting need less coddling and more encouraging to better manage their time.

A researcher can pull a trigger as easily as anyone else, you merely have to scale the gun to their abilities.

Exception allowed for young children, which I have not seen here yet.

[bufudine]

[He's seen Jolie, but he's not sure if she would be considered a young child. She looks like Fred's age maybe.]

Where will we obtain the steady supply of ammunition to spend on regular gun training?

[Levi had mentioned he had limited ammunition for his rifle previously, when they had been travelling through areas even more devoid of humanity's remnants and he himself has yet to find a usable gun.

Well, ultimately his belief is that it is a choice. But there isn't a choice if there is no one who can teach them with the supplies they have. And he doesn't entirely disagree with Sephiroth either.]

Will you offer training then? It's their choice to learn, but there is no choice without someone willing to teach.

[firstsoldier]

Making bullets is not overly difficult given the immense amounts of scrap metal we keep encountering, and gunpowder is simple enough as well once enough potassium nitrate can be sourced.

I am not suited to instruction. But I will do what I must to see to this caravan's survival, if that means teaching then so be it.

[bufudine]

[Good! He isn't suited to instruction either but if Sephiroth does indeed make the offer later, Serph makes a mental note to show up; maybe he can glean something that will help with his own teaching of Jayce.

And with all that sorted, Serph doesn't see a reason to respond further.