HPU: Apollo City

[Welsh Halfwit]

"It's in nature to attack what divides us," Francis divulged, "so some might bring it back and the other's might try and kill 'em for it." He knelt on the ground for a moment. "Let's have a look from the highest point."

[22xander]

Roux grinned and nodded. "Of course Chiot." He smiled and cuddled close to her as the tube made its way to their rooms. "You will join me chere?"

[Hlaoroo]

Miguel stared at Todd, "I think you'd make a good psychopath or sociopath. Play to your strengths."

"Thanks... I think..." the ferret-droid grins lopsidedly.

He followed Todd along the batten, "That's pretty much all the questions I have at the moment. Is there anything I should see?"

"Well, I could show you the lifts in the stage but they're pretty simple. All just hydraulics although some have lights or smoke machines or decorations underneath for effects and concealment when they lift." Todd answers, calling out and raising the batten back into the fly space.
"LINE EIGHT LOCKED AGAIN! Is there anything else you want to see, Miguel? I suppose I could take you to the light box and let you try working some of the lights and smoke machines and suchlike. I need to test that holographic projector again anyway. Everything for the show is hooked to preset keys so moving anything individually is no problem as we just tap a button before the show and we're good to go again."

~~~~~~~~

"Can we choose a theme for the ride?" Axe Asked, suddenly looking like a puppy. "Space? Jungle? World War? Dinosaurs?" Mace was nodding frantically, grinning from ear to ear...

"Sure. We all have to agree on a single theme per ride though. That's because each theme has a different track and different effects and the ride can only run one set at once. They'll show us all the themes on offer when we get there if you wanna go. What theme did you have in mind?"

[Deske]

"What good is merit if satisfaction with working is the only outcome. It isn't meritorious if you just do your job, but I suppose in a society that doesn't allow going above and beyond, it's as close as you'll get."

-----------

"Still use the old fashioned spotlights in addition to the preset lighting requirements? Or did you switch to a motion sending setup?"

[valerio]

"It's in nature to attack what divides us," Francis divulged, "so some might bring it back and the other's might try and kill 'em for it." He knelt on the ground for a moment. "Let's have a look from the highest point."

"This is it, the temple on the top of what is known as Blue Peak Mountain. The closest point to the sun. According to the tales of old, it is a place of power, to be tamed with meditation and baths."
---

Roux grinned and nodded. "Of course Chiot." He smiled and cuddled close to her as the tube made its way to their rooms. "You will join me chere?"

She followed him, knowing that for the first time in her life she was going to know that happiness she had denied herself...
---

"Can we choose a theme for the ride?" Axe Asked, suddenly looking like a puppy. "Space? Jungle? World War? Dinosaurs?" Mace was nodding frantically, grinning from ear to ear...

"Sure. We all have to agree on a single theme per ride though. That's because each theme has a different track and different effects and the ride can only run one set at once. They'll show us all the themes on offer when we get there if you wanna go. What theme did you have in mind?"

"Space war!" Axe said
"Dinosaurs!" Mace said. Then dog and cat looked at each other, growling.
"Space is awesome."
"Dinosaurs are awesome."
Then both looked intensely at their friend. "What do you say?" they asked as one.
---

"What good is merit if satisfaction with working is the only outcome. It isn't meritorious if you just do your job, but I suppose in a society that doesn't allow going above and beyond, it's as close as you'll get."

"It has to do for the development phase. Markets, luxuries, and all that's connected to that will come at a second moment, provided that by then the colonists will want to move to pure capitalism."

[Hlaoroo]

"I have a better idea." the black cat grins, the twinkle returning to his eye. He fiddles with one of the holoprojector information terminals on the wall and brings up a video of a quad bike leaping over piles of rubble, shooting under collapsing buildings and swerving around fiery explosions.
"Demolition Disaster. Here's the scenario. We wake up in an abandoned city block with no idea where we are or how we got there. The block is being demolished to make way for an apartment block but we don't know that. All we know is that we gotta get out or we'll be blown up or crushed under millions of tonnes of rubble! Will we be able to make it in time?" Makani removes his paw from the wall panel and the hologram vanishes.
"So. What do you think?"

~~~~~~~~

"Still use the old fashioned spotlights in addition to the preset lighting requirements? Or did you switch to a motion sending setup?"

"We use both depending on the application. We'll be using manual spotlights for some scenes in tonight's performance where we can use the uneven and slightly rough look to increase the drama as well as to enhance the illusion of movement such as when the characters are in the water. Motion sensing provides nice, smooth light for the romantic dancing scenes, however. The manual spotlights are also good backup in case of malfunction in the motion tracking lights. Would you like to come to the light box and try them out?"

[valerio]

"I have a better idea." the black cat grins, the twinkle returning to his eye. He fiddles with one of the holoprojector information terminals on the wall and brings up a video of a quad bike leaping over piles of rubble, shooting under collapsing buildings and swerving around fiery explosions.
"Demolition Disaster. Here's the scenario. We wake up in an abandoned city block with no idea where we are or how we got there. The block is being demolished to make way for an apartment block but we don't know that. All we know is that we gotta get out or we'll be blown up or crushed under millions of tonnes of rubble! Will we be able to make it in time?" Makani removes his paw from the wall panel and the hologram vanishes.
"So. What do you think?"

Axe nodded, happy like a puppy. "Ohh, yes! Will there be humans screaming and pleading for help with no one coming to their aid? Especially--OW!" That came after Mace had nicked him in the ribs.
"Just make it some rich, prosperous block going down and we'll be happy enough."
"Killjoy," muttered the dog massaging his flank.

[Roarin]

"Nah, I don't wanna end up a stew or something like that. In fact, I will gladly stay at home and eat real food while your most honorable friend here will no doubts lead you through the underworld of Rome the magnificent."
"You can bet it!" said the cat. "Touristic places are boring. I wills how you where the real life is, slaves."

"Underworld you say? I've... actually never thought of Rome to be a place with a dark underbelly." She smirked, "Then again I've never been to Rome. The landmarks are really all I know. Coliseum, things like that... we... wouldn't be able to get an audience with Julius Caesar would we?"

[valerio]

"Underworld you say? I've... actually never thought of Rome to be a place with a dark underbelly." She smirked, "Then again I've never been to Rome. The landmarks are really all I know. Coliseum, things like that... we... wouldn't be able to get an audience with Julius Caesar would we?"

Cat and meerkat exchanged a dubious glance.
"Coliwhat?" both said.
Jemmy whispered into Avery's ear, "Ah, the Coliseum will be finished by 75 d.c., several decades from now."
"But if you want to talk with the Man himself, the Divine," the cat said, "You may be lucky: he is of the Gens Iulia, so your master may get a visit. Though I can't imagine what would you want to talk about. And as for the underbelly, heh! It shows you're one pampered pet, you never really lived life."

[Deske]

"I suppose in the beginning it would work out. I think for a small colony that socialism would be a better alternative to capitalism. Could stand to keep one person from holding my weary power over all. Lots of politics in that that are unnecessary."

--------

"Sure. Increasing my usable knowledge of any given piece of equipment could prove useful in the future."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"From all the information you have," Francis asked, "what can you simulate about the people about to move in here? I mean this is a paradise now but I'm sure you have programs dealing with what it will look like a week from now?"

[Hlaoroo]

"Abandoned, Axe. Abandoned." Makani reminds with a slight grin. He flags a passing taxi driven by an Elen unit and informs her of their destination while he waits for everyone to pile in.
"And I think it has apartment buildings parks and stuff... Although I'm sure the penthouses were rich and prosperous at some stage!" the cat hastens to add.

~~~~~~~~
"True. Follow me." Todd replies, leading the other droid off the stage and up the aisle past the rows of seats.
"Do you have any skills you might share to improve my knowledge base for future reference?" he queries.
"You boys have fun." Kelly smiles. "I need to charge a little and find some oil before tonight."

[Deske]

Miguel followed Todd past the rows of seats, "I've never had a primary designation other than 'test unit,' at least that's what my init process used to say. I don't have specific knowledge, but there was a lot of sitting around which allowed me to gain knowledge in many fields." His eyes tracked a few of the lighting elements with a small whir as they walked by, "More like a fact generator than a subject tutor. For instance: The orbits and rotations of the sun and planets, with the exception of Uranus and Venus, are due to the conservation of angular momentum. There are no driving external forces causing the planets or sun to rotate except for those present at their creation." He shrugged, "See? Random facts."

[Mickey]

And yet, the twin dalmatians had to stop that when they found themselves in front of a fork! From that point on, one section went to a spiraling loop to the left, the other to the right, before the tracks merged back into one. And like other kids and pets were doing, they dove in, taking the left fork, on their bellies!

James and Marky watched them go, attempting to increase their own speed as they reached the fork themselves.

"Which way?"

"Which way do you think? The fun one!"

Marky laughed (or was he screaming) when James pulled him onto the left track, both boys bending their knees as if they were surfing.

[valerio]

"I suppose in the beginning it would work out. I think for a small colony that socialism would be a better alternative to capitalism. Could stand to keep one person from holding my weary power over all. Lots of politics in that that are unnecessary."

"Correct," Volken replied with a smirk. "Though not true Socialism, since politics on Mars will not be based as antagonist to Capitalism, there will be time to develop an economy. For example during an exam among the volunteers, many thought about ore as a source of richness, while only a few thought about green land as the true bounty. And You cannot just depredate the acres you grow your food on...It is already being an interesting social experiment. Basically, no one can accumulate richness without endangering everyone else."
---

"From all the information you have," Francis asked, "what can you simulate about the people about to move in here? I mean this is a paradise now but I'm sure you have programs dealing with what it will look like a week from now?"

"Here you go." And in a moment, there were cats, dogs, rabbits...over 80% of the bystanders belonged to the housepets breeds, with some ferals that humans failed to domesticate, mixed in with the natives. Density wasn't alarming at all, in fact there was still plenty of space while robed lycaons were amiably talking with awed former pets. It was impossible to discern the number of people living down in the cities, but there were plenty of boats going around in the port town, and many windows were illuminated like jewels...
"This is just an estimate, of course, based on a smooth transition of the immigrants."
---

"Abandoned, Axe. Abandoned." Makani reminds with a slight grin. He flags a passing taxi driven by an Elen unit and informs her of their destination while he waits for everyone to pile in.
"And I think it has apartment buildings parks and stuff... Although I'm sure the penthouses were rich and prosperous at some stage!" the cat hastens to add.

"...Skeletons?" Axe tried, with his most innocent puppy grin on -which still had a bery predatory light about it...
---

James and Marky watched them go, attempting to increase their own speed as they reached the fork themselves.
"Which way?"
"Which way do you think? The fun one!"
Marky laughed (or was he screaming) when James pulled him onto the left track, both boys bending their knees as if they were surfing.

"They're good!" Zeke said.
"Not enough," Quincy said.
"Let's try them! WOOO!" and this time both dalmatian used their momentum to JUMP over the other guests, causing screams of mock fear!

[Hlaoroo]

"Heh. We'll see." Makani grins, getting pushed back in his seat as the car accelerates.
"Hey, fun fact. Did you know that the magnetism used to float these cars also spins other magnets in coils under the road as the car passes? The magnets and coils are made from a patented alloy developed by my parents' company so that they produce energy very efficiently. It means that the cars give back almost as much energy as they use which means their carbon footprint is virtually nil. Clever, huh?"

~~~~~~~~
"Trivia is always beneficial. One never knows when it may come in handy. If they ever let anidroids onto Trivia Night teams you shall be on my team, deal?" Todd smiles, entering the foyer of the theatre complex. He follows the wall a short distance before opening a door marked "staff only" and motioning for Miguel to proceed first up the stairs inside. At the top of the stairs Miguel will find himself in the light room confronted with a stunning view of the theatre and a dazzling array of switches, cords, buttons and computers in the centre of which two manually-operated spotlights point out from the box towards the stage.
Todd waits for the droid's reaction before saying anything.

[Deske]

"A Martian colony would more likely than not be governed by itself and not be bound to Terran laws. Socialism isn't antagonistic to capitalism when a colony relies on shared wealth rather one person holding it all. You don't want an economy thriving on the suffering of others when there's only 900 'others.'"

--------

"I expected it to be high tech but I didn't really expect it to be exactly like this." He walks over to the controls, "Though to be honest it looks pretty straightforward."

[valerio]

"Heh. We'll see." Makani grins, getting pushed back in his seat as the car accelerates.
"Hey, fun fact. Did you know that the magnetism used to float these cars also spins other magnets in coils under the road as the car passes? The magnets and coils are made from a patented alloy developed by my parents' company so that they produce energy very efficiently. It means that the cars give back almost as much energy as they use which means their carbon footprint is virtually nil. Clever, huh?"

"Sounds very cool!" Flash said
Piper was rubbing his wing under his beak, puzzled. "But doesn't that mean that there can't be motion, if the energy sum is zero?"
---

"A Martian colony would more likely than not be governed by itself and not be bound to Terran laws. Socialism isn't antagonistic to capitalism when a colony relies on shared wealth rather one person holding it all. You don't want an economy thriving on the suffering of others when there's only 900 'others.'"

True: And do you want to know where the first true experiment of a self-sustaining habitat will be taking place?" Volkem grinned like a fox

[Mickey]

"They're good!" Zeke said.
"Not enough," Quincy said.
"Let's try them! WOOO!" and this time both dalmatian used their momentum to JUMP over the other guests, causing screams of mock fear!

"You've gotta be kidding me!"

"That is straight wicked!"

James pulled Marky along, trying his best to weave through the guests without any casualties, but was doing a rather poor job of it. Marky, effected by James poor movements, nearly tripped over a child, but was luckily able to move in time.

"I thought you were good at getting through crowds!"

"That's with my skates on carpets and tiles with a tray in my hands! I'm on my paws on weird water type stuff with my wrist locked to yours!"

"Well, if you can't do it."

Marky moved in front of James.

"I will!"

"How are you gonna do any better? You nearly tripped when we started!"

"Just watch me! I've got 11 other siblings! It'll be like another day at the pool."

"What does that even me-WHOA!"

Now it was Marky's turn to pull James along, moving and dodging guests as if it was his profession. Despite his top notch crowd weaving, he didn't exactly have James speed, and was only catching up bit by tiny bit.

[Hlaoroo]

"Yes, the system was designed to be intuitive. Lighting on the left, sound on the right. The lights can be controlled individually or in clusters." Todd says, sending Miguel a schematic of the system so the wolf droid can see the buttons, knobs, switches and sliders all labelled according to their functions.
"The sound system is a lot more complicated, however, so please do not touch it." he cautions.
"Do feel free to experiment with the lights while I check this projector though." he invites, crossing to a computer that controls the projector he'd fixed and setting it to run a few test effects to check for focus and position.

~~~~~~~~
Makani shakes his head. "Not quite. They can't produce as much energy as they use for the very reason you mentioned. Perpetual motion and completely closed systems haven't been invented yet and are impossible according to our current understanding of physics. So there's still a net loss of energy here, only it's minimised by the generators under the road."

[valerio]

"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"That is straight wicked!"
James pulled Marky along, trying his best to weave through the guests without any casualties, but was doing a rather poor job of it. Marky, effected by James poor movements, nearly tripped over a child, but was luckily able to move in time.

"I thought you were good at getting through crowds!"
"That's with my skates on carpets and tiles with a tray in my hands! I'm on my paws on weird water type stuff with my wrist locked to yours!"

"Well, if you can't do it."
Marky moved in front of James.
"I will!"

"How are you gonna do any better? You nearly tripped when we started!"
"Just watch me! I've got 11 other siblings! It'll be like another day at the pool."
"What does that even me-WHOA!"
Now it was Marky's turn to pull James along, moving and dodging guests as if it was his profession. Despite his top notch crowd weaving, he didn't exactly have James speed, and was only catching up bit by tiny bit.

The dalmatians had finally found, in that last segment of the run, room enough to move more freely. They grinned at each other, sure of their victory...before Zeke looked over his shoulders. "Can't be..." he said, with a comical expression of stupor. "They are--WHOA!" and he tripped, lost his balance, and fell over the track, together with his brother.
---

Makani shakes his head. "Not quite. They can't produce as much energy as they use for the very reason you mentioned. Perpetual motion and completely closed systems haven't been invented yet and are impossible according to our current understanding of physics. So there's still a net loss of energy here, only it's minimised by the generators under the road."

"Cute, but I still do hope they have some *good* VR for me and Mac. What can we enjoy, being strapped to one of those contraptions?"

[Deske]

Enrique grinned, "If the answer isn't this ship them I'm going to be a little disappointed. But you have my guess, so tell me. Where is this experiment happening?"

------------

Miguel stepped towards the lighting panels and looked them over with a quiet whir. "Is there a wireless connection to be had or must I go at it manually?" He idly turned a dial, raising and lowering the brightness of a set of lights. "I'm asking for the sake of permission of course." His hands moving to separate dials and sliders in turn, the lights beginning to show some semblance of a pattern, almost like a story was being told.

[valerio]

Enrique grinned, "If the answer isn't this ship them I'm going to be a little disappointed. But you have my guess, so tell me. Where is this experiment happening?"

Volken tapped on a screen wall, before it showed what looked like a portion of submerged land -a VAST portion of submerged land, in the southern Pacific. It lay close to East Australia, and it was dotted with chains of small islands.
"Behold, Zealandia, as of recently classified as Earth's seventh continent. Sixth, if you count Eurasia as one.
"The Lunar Society was way ahead in invistigating this peculiar location, and it was so that, through a series of...investors, that almost all of the place is basically our own playground. It will be here that we will build New Atlantis. At first, it will consist of a series of inerconnected biospheres, so to challenge its residents into making the best of an alien, even dangerous environment. And after that, phase 2 will be the improvement and expansion into a metropolis."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Well, thank you," Francis said, stooping to help up a holokit who had tripped over his foot. "I think that's about enough. It's quite animpressive installation you have here," he enthused. "You seem to have thought of everything it is possible to think of in the installation."

[Mickey]

The dalmatians had finally found, in that last segment of the run, room enough to move more freely. They grinned at each other, sure of their victory...before Zeke looked over his shoulders. "Can't be..." he said, with a comical expression of stupor. "They are--WHOA!" and he tripped, lost his balance, and fell over the track, together with his brother.

"James, they tripped!"

James smirked and moved in of Marky as they passed the final guest, finally free to gain back the speed that had been lost. They waved to the two as they passed them.

[Roarin]

"Coliwhat?" both said.
Jemmy whispered into Avery's ear, "Ah, the Coliseum will be finished by 75 d.c., several decades from now."
"But if you want to talk with the Man himself, the Divine," the cat said, "You may be lucky: he is of the Gens Iulia, so your master may get a visit. Though I can't imagine what would you want to talk about. And as for the underbelly, heh! It shows you're one pampered pet, you never really lived life."

"Oh? Whoops..." Avery whispered before letting out a soft cough. "Apologies, I must have mixed up a structure from one of our master's books with one around here." The canine laughed softly, putting on an embarrassed face.
"And I suppose in a way I can't say I have!" The dog remarked, "Most of my life has been dedicated to service I haven't really had the chance to experience much."

[valerio]

"James, they tripped!"
James smirked and moved in of Marky as they passed the final guest, finally free to gain back the speed that had been lost. They waved to the two as they passed them.

The dalmatian twins had to dog-paddle in synch as they swam toward the winners. All the time glaring at each other.
"It was YOUR fault!"
"No, it was YOURS!"
"No!"
"No!"
But when they reached James and Marky, Zeke said, "Well, that was well played. No one beat us to this game.
---

"Oh? Whoops..." Avery whispered before letting out a soft cough. "Apologies, I must have mixed up a structure from one of our master's books with one around here." The canine laughed softly, putting on an embarrassed face.
"And I suppose in a way I can't say I have!" The dog remarked, "Most of my life has been dedicated to service I haven't really had the chance to experience much."

The meerkat shrugged. "So? A pet is supposed to do that. To service, or too look cute. What kind of service do you do for your master?"

[Hlaoroo]

"There is a wireless connection but we generally keep it switched off as we've found in the past that certain guests enjoy hacking the system and messing with the show. I can activate it temporarily for you if you wish though. Are you equipped for connections to secure networks?" Todd queries, watching both the computer running the tests and the holographic effects on the stage.

~~~~~~~~
"Trust me. It's completely immersive. They call it 4D. It's not just goggles you wear. It's a full helmet that gives you not just the sights and sounds of the experience but also the smells and tastes. It'll direct your attention to certain things so that the path the ride takes makes sense but it'll also adapt as you turn your head so you can look all around you. And, as I said, the ride mores through three hundred and sixty degrees in all directions. I think you'll be impressed!" Makani grins as the car slows to take a corner and then stops in front of a fairly nondescript building with a modest sign in front belying the technology within.
"And here we are. Thanks for the lift, Elen."

[valerio]

"Trust me. It's completely immersive. They call it 4D. It's not just goggles you wear. It's a full helmet that gives you not just the sights and sounds of the experience but also the smells and tastes. It'll direct your attention to certain things so that the path the ride takes makes sense but it'll also adapt as you turn your head so you can look all around you. And, as I said, the ride mores through three hundred and sixty degrees in all directions. I think you'll be impressed!" Makani grins as the car slows to take a corner and then stops in front of a fairly nondescript building with a modest sign in front belying the technology within.
"And here we are. Thanks for the lift, Elen."

"Anytime, Sir!" she proudly answered, before speding away.
"Dibs for the eagle!" Piper said
"Raptor!" said Mac
Colombina and Tsuki exchanged a look. "Whatever," they said in unison.
---

"Well, thank you," Francis said, stooping to help up a holokit who had tripped over his foot. "I think that's about enough. It's quite animpressive installation you have here," he enthused. "You seem to have thought of everything it is possible to think of in the installation."

"The Lunar Circle has tried to think about as many possibilities as the mind can conceive, but of course any observation is welcome, for perfection does not belong to any system. What would you suggest, based on your own experience and status?"

[Roarin]

"What kind of service? Oh! Umm... I suppose I talk to him! Talk to him, his guests, occasionally they tell me about their problems and I give them advice, or I just keep them company." She wags her tail. "I'm a certified service dog, so sometimes I just look cute and let them pet me!"

[Mickey]

The dalmatian twins had to dog-paddle in synch as they swam toward the winners. All the time glaring at each other.
"It was YOUR fault!"
"No, it was YOURS!"
"No!"
"No!"
But when they reached James and Marky, Zeke said, "Well, that was well played. No one beat us to this game.

James and Marky high fived each other before bumping chests in victory, both shouting "Booyah!"

"That was good game," James said, holding his hand out to the brothers for a handshake.

"Yeah it was! That was so much fun! We've got to do it again some time," Marky yipped, doing the same as James.

[Deske]

Enrique stared, a little disappointed at the response he got, "So you're going to make an inhabitable area next to an already inhabited country, out in an ocean that provides food and water given proper facilities, and you're going to call it an inhospitable environment? Or are you just going to drop them off and say, 'Hey. Don't die,' then leave? Is it underwater? I have to be missing something here. The Antarctic would be a better place to practice surviving in an alien environment. Can't go outside without layering up, sun doesn't set for 6 months in the summer and doesn't rise for 6 months in the winter. By far a more inhospitable environment than New Zealand. Are you going to terrify your residents into thinking that because of their proximity to Australia, that they'll encounter aquatic drop bears? What exactly about this ocean front property is so dangerous?"

----------

Miguel nodded, "I am, actually. Most of my technical parts are comparable to the current selection of droids on the market." He carefully pushed a pair of sliders into place dimming the stage lights and bringing a set of spotlights online, following the position of the test holograms.

[valerio]

"What kind of service? Oh! Umm... I suppose I talk to him! Talk to him, his guests, occasionally they tell me about their problems and I give them advice, or I just keep them company." She wags her tail. "I'm a certified service dog, so sometimes I just look cute and let them pet me!"

Meerkat and cat looked puzzled. "Certified service pet," the cat said. "Surely sounds like something fancy. So...just anyone can touch you? Thought that was a privilege of yoor owner, given how you're finely groomed."
The group, meanwhile, had started moving. Whisps of gray clouds had started rolling up in the sky...
---

James and Marky high fived each other before bumping chests in victory, both shouting "Booyah!"

"That was good game," James said, holding his hand out to the brothers for a handshake.
"Yeah it was! That was so much fun! We've got to do it again some time," Marky yipped, doing the same as James.

"You can bet on it! Now, how are good you two at synch diving?" the twins exchanged again that wicked grin
---

Enrique stared, a little disappointed at the response he got, "So you're going to make an inhabitable area next to an already inhabited country, out in an ocean that provides food and water given proper facilities, and you're going to call it an inhospitable environment? Or are you just going to drop them off and say, 'Hey. Don't die,' then leave? Is it underwater? I have to be missing something here. The Antarctic would be a better place to practice surviving in an alien environment. Can't go outside without layering up, sun doesn't set for 6 months in the summer and doesn't rise for 6 months in the winter. By far a more inhospitable environment than New Zealand. Are you going to terrify your residents into thinking that because of their proximity to Australia, that they'll encounter aquatic drop bears? What exactly about this ocean front property is so dangerous?"

"Excellent objections, my friend. So, in a nutshell, here is:
"1) Given the size of the station, international laws regarding environmental protection of Antarctica can become quite difficult to overcome. There is a difference between some small scattered stations and a small citadel.
"2) The are we picked up lays close to a hotspot. In fact, That will be providing heat and energy for the citadel.
"3) And call us monsters if you want, but yes, we are going to add layers of problems to the residents. Layer over layer of difficulties, ranging from fixit 101 to high engineering. Each single member of the staff will be put to test in a quasi-continuous drill. We need to examine their every capacity to adapt to stress, knowing that on Mars a single, innocent mistake could doom the whole colony. So, you are right on that, my friend: We are going to tell them 'Hey, don't die'. And believe me, even if their rational part of the brain knows that we are not actually going to kill them, after a while the illusion will become the new reality and they will forget they could just knock on the door and say 'we want out daddy, we don't like this game anymore'. they will have food, water, energy, but they will have to work very, very hard to earn it. possibly without going at each other's throat."

[Deske]

"You can use Antarctica if you cite this as part of scientific advancement. International laws don't prohibit experiments on the ice sheet, they prohibit any one country from laying claim to the continent. As long as you don't claim it for a country it wouldn't matter. It'd remove the need to implement problems because the chosen site would have actual difficulties to work around. I genuinely don't believe this Society you keep talking about has any idea what to actually prepare for. This is a test for an offworld colony, not for a new SeaWorld. Why would you put them in a water environment when the destination is a desert? It just doesn't make any sense. You have a perfectly inhospitable environment and you decide to use the exact opposite of what you're training for." He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Whatever. Poor zoning on their part isn't my fault or concern."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"My main piece of advice," Francis said heavily, "is that however you think you're prepared, you're probably not. You give a guy a Hot Dog. They can eat it intact, mince it, blend it, chop it into chunks and add it to a salad or pasta. Hundreds of options from one single thing and that's just if they're considering eating it." He shrugged. "There's thousands of options and you can be sure that, between all of them? They'll choose every option. And that's just for one item. Throughout the city everything's gonna happen at once so you're going to be need to be ready to expand your parameters." He stopped for a moment before continuing. "And you've got those who won't trust you, no matter what. They're going to wait for the other shoe to drop."

[valerio]

"You can use Antarctica if you cite this as part of scientific advancement. International laws don't prohibit experiments on the ice sheet, they prohibit any one country from laying claim to the continent. As long as you don't claim it for a country it wouldn't matter. It'd remove the need to implement problems because the chosen site would have actual difficulties to work around. I genuinely don't believe this Society you keep talking about has any idea what to actually prepare for. This is a test for an offworld colony, not for a new SeaWorld. Why would you put them in a water environment when the destination is a desert? It just doesn't make any sense. You have a perfectly inhospitable environment and you decide to use the exact opposite of what you're training for." He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Whatever. Poor zoning on their part isn't my fault or concern."

As you say. is there anything else I could help you with, my esteemed colleague?"
---

"My main piece of advice," Francis said heavily, "is that however you think you're prepared, you're probably not. You give a guy a Hot Dog. They can eat it intact, mince it, blend it, chop it into chunks and add it to a salad or pasta. Hundreds of options from one single thing and that's just if they're considering eating it." He shrugged. "There's thousands of options and you can be sure that, between all of them? They'll choose every option. And that's just for one item. Throughout the city everything's gonna happen at once so you're going to be need to be ready to expand your parameters." He stopped for a moment before continuing. "And you've got those who won't trust you, no matter what. They're going to wait for the other shoe to drop."

"Quite correct, Sir. it will be the management's duty to try and find a common ground for all these new citizens. Sports, entertainment, sitting, or just plain work, should keep everyone occupied while they process their list of choices. It makes little sense to offer it all while they, themselves, are not ready to make a proper choice."

[Hlaoroo]

Miguel nodded, "I am, actually. Most of my technical parts are comparable to the current selection of droids on the market." He carefully pushed a pair of sliders into place dimming the stage lights and bringing a set of spotlights online, following the position of the test holograms.

"All right then. Just do not touch any of the presets loaded into the system." Todd warns, flipping a switch on a control panel. Miguel will now be able to see the secure connection.
"I am giving you a unique temporary password which will expire once you log out. It is the most I am permitted to do for security reasons. It will let you save and modify files so that you are able to control the lights wirelessly however you will not be able to delete files nor write over existing files." the droid explains. He prints a slip of paper from a small machine in a corner and passes it to Miguel.
"That is your temporary password. Let me know if you have any questions or issues."

~~~~~~~~
"What do you mean, eagle and raptor?" Makani queries, looking a little confused as he leads the group into the reception area of the building.

[Roarin]

"What kind of service? Oh! Umm... I suppose I talk to him! Talk to him, his guests, occasionally they tell me about their problems and I give them advice, or I just keep them company." She wags her tail. "I'm a certified service dog, so sometimes I just look cute and let them pet me!"

Meerkat and cat looked puzzled. "Certified service pet," the cat said. "Surely sounds like something fancy. So...just anyone can touch you? Thought that was a privilege of yoor owner, given how you're finely groomed."
The group, meanwhile, had started moving. Whisps of gray clouds had started rolling up in the sky...

"It wouldn't be as fun if this fur was kept to one person though would it?" Avery replied back happily as she scooted over to the cat. "Would you like to pet me? People tell me its quite soothing and calms the mind." She quips, looking up the sky for a moment. "Hmm... looks like rain..."

[valerio]

"It wouldn't be as fun if this fur was kept to one person though would it?" Avery replied back happily as she scooted over to the cat. "Would you like to pet me? People tell me its quite soothing and calms the mind." She quips, looking up the sky for a moment. "Hmm... looks like rain..."

Soon as she had spoken, the sky erupted in a downpour!
"Guess we better hurry! I know the way!" Jemmy said, starting to run.
"What's with the hurry, guys?" the meerkat asked, puzzled. "I mean, this is the most heavenly of weather!"

[Mickey]

"You can bet on it! Now, how are good you two at synch diving?" the twins exchanged again that wicked grin

"Sync diving?"

James and Marky both tilt their heads in confusion, but the excitement and intrigue is clear is their eyes.