Radio audio, evening.

[firstsoldier]

[It's that guy again! He still sounds pleasant at least.]

I wish to make a suggestion that we find ways to make ourselves... visibly identifiable even when in monstrous forms, as members of the convoy and thus ideally not a marauding wild beast even if we are acting like one. Something beyond our often hidden sigils, that an unthinking creature is unlikely to imitate. What exactly, I am open to recommendations for. I suspect friend-or-foe ID chips might be beyond what this place is capable of.

[The rest sounds extremely reluctant.]

I don't have as much control of the ... thing ... I become as I would like, and though I am reasonably sure I can keep from doing serious intentional harm to allies, I can't guarantee my behavior might not match that of a feral creature and thus seem to be a viable target for hunting. Especially as it seems intent on establishing a ... pecking order, and aggressively.

... I suspect I'm not the only one who has such concerns. These changes are uncomfortably unpredictable.

Comments

[firstsoldier]

[The man on the other end of the radio sounds bemused.]

That is a level of alarmism that will be ultimately unhelpful I think. While it is true that absence of evidence is not proof a threat doesn't exist, shaping our actions based on so far unseen, potential risk is unwise. Somehow I suspect we will not go from mindless herds of killer cyborgs to single, excruciatingly intelligent shapeshifting spies in our midst in one fell swoop. In the meantime I'd prefer not to get shot again because I occasionally look and act like a wild monster.

[qaw]

[ Qrow heaves a sigh. When he continues he doesn't sound angry over being doubted, just tired. ]

Look, I get it it. You're not wrong about playing it too safe, but I'm not just being paranoid here.

[ He is being paranoid—but not just paranoid, he doesn't think. ]

I'm worried about it because I've seen it happen. Where I'm from 90% of the monsters run on pure instinct. They're practically brainless. But the smart ones can come out of nowhere.

And when they do, people die. Whole teams of experienced Huntsmen get slaughtered and entire towns get wiped off the map. I don't want that happening here.

[firstsoldier]

Aside from the 'ongoing road trip' aspect, this has been my entire existence: fighting and killing monsters, how to contend with them, and contend with the troops assigned alongside me.

I do not doubt your experiences. But I have seen what happens when you work a group of untrained civilians into a frightened, hair-trigger froth over actual spies among us, where there was a foe to find. Without a foe to find, either we become the boy who cried dragon, or we turn on each other in a frenzy of fear for each perceived 'flaw' in our 'acting'.

[qaw]

Woah, hold on, I'm not saying we need to start some sort of witch hunt.

I'm saying that if someone figures out our buddy system that gives 'em something else to exploit, and it's not just by copying us. They might kidnap people wearing our signals and use them as bait. Or maybe we get too used to relying on the signals, so they start stealing the signals themselves and wait for us to turn on a monster we assume isn't one of our own.

I told you, I don't think it's a bad idea. But we should have a plan for emergencies like that so people don't panic when something goes wrong.

[firstsoldier]

I know you didn't. I'm merely pointing out such a route may end in such a witch hunt. As yet there is no sign the things you fear are a possibility.

...If it will ease your mind then I will leave such preparation to you, and request it be kept off the easily intercepted radio, either sound or text. But if it reassures you at all further, I know many of the monsters we encounter. They are of my world, and they do not possess the intelligence to kidnap or deceive through the means you mention, though vocal mimicry is common.

[qaw]

[ Hold on, he wasn't volunteering—

But... He can admit that this is a fair solution. He'd been the one to complain in the first place. So he heaves a little sigh, but responds: ]

Right. I'll let you know what I come up with.

[firstsoldier]

Excellent. I look forward to hearing of your ideas.