[OOC] A Diplomatic Overture - An Android's Fight for Sentient Status

[TShara]

I imagined it differently, like either the Heart of Gold from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or like a Starfleet observation lounge and Ten Forward. Honestly, the floating platform thing, while looking awesome, seemed totally impractical... I mean, what if the anti-grav tech malfunctions? I never got the point of large chambers besides "looking awesome for movies" but that's just me.

[PopeAlessandros]

I was thinking the large chamber because I was imagining hundreds of races. Delegates from even just 50 different races would fit in Ten Forward. ANd they don't have to float, it could be a slightly more robotic arm device, or something like that. As for the point of large chamber and floating platforms, for the sake of the RP, it's far more intimidating and oppressive than the relaxed close quarters settings of small meeting halls, and the over all feel of the RP seems to fit with that idea. We want the android to feel small, insignificant, and like they are all looking at him, judging him. Because the other delegates can move in to speak, to basically take the stage away at any time is the idea. However if you don't like the platforms idea, I would at least like to hold on to the set-up of all the delegation on risers all around a central area, where the subjects or people who want to speak need to stand so all can see and hear them. Each time someone wants to be heard they have to go down to the floor, on level with the one they are disputing or supporting. Of course the "High Council" like people/beings can talk from their box, because they are just basically regulators for the proceedings :P

[TShara]

I could go with an arena-like setting. All of the intimidation without so much of the safety hazards.

[TShara]

Ahh, double post fail!!!

[PopeAlessandros]

Heheheh. Any other thoughts on the matter? I don't wanna dominate the set-up here, so how about you pick setting or plot, and throw something out there?

[TShara]

Well, to follow the pattern. I'm guessing the conference should take place on a neutral ship or planet. For an arena as large as you want, however, it sounds like we should go ahead with a planet. Because it seems kind of odd to have a conference area of such size on a ship.

[PopeAlessandros]

Yes, planet, and I think it will be a rotational thing. How about, the androids aren't the only topic, and the council, to maintain fairness, moves from planet to planet in the alliance to deal with issues. Each planet would have a council chamber, maybe slightly different in certain ways to reflect their histories? I totally had this romantic thingy in mind about when earth comes into rotation. The guys will be no longer in direct opposition and he can show the android some of the more beautiful places on Earth during the off time :P

[TShara]

Awww, that sounds really awesome.

But a rotation sounds logistically impractical. It would have to be perhaps a yearly rotation or something. They can't just tell people to up and fly somewhere else mid-conference. Most of the rp would probably take place on one world, unless it's going to take several years and several conferences to convince the human delegation.

[PopeAlessandros]

I was seeing space travel for the alliance a no big deal kinda thing. Like, it only takes an evening to move from one planet to the next. Space folding and the like. Everyone would load on to a ship, space would fold, and they'd be setting down on the next planet within a couple hours. It would also give us another setting to work with. Also, I do see this taking a while, several months at least. Everyone needs a chance to speak, put forth their thoughts, dispute ideas. I know Data got his status as sentient in, what, two days? If I remember correctly, but I see this being a much bigger matter because it's not just one android, it's an entire race of them. We don't have to RP every given second, and I can see reasonable time skips between encounters with out two characters so that it doesn't seem to drag on. I'd set the rotation on once a month, and the android issue only coming up once every three days. Everything can't stop for them, so they have to stay on schedule. Plus, this would make for some good opportunities for attempts on the android's life, or stealing of technologies while he is too far from home to get any help beyond his two aids. More drama :P

[TShara]

Well, yes. I never thought it would take two days. Though, "Measure of a Man" is one of my favorite TNG episodes of all time.

I like the idea of more settings and all... but I think that any kind of space travel is just going to take too much energy and logistical resources to be worthwhile very often. It would make more sense if the conference meets twice a year, at a different location each time. It would also give the delegates time to discuss progress on their homeworlds, which could be interesting. It could work for interaction if you played one of my character's aides and I played one of yours.

Love the other drama ideas as well, though. Oh, here's a good question. Do you think the androids should have emotions or be more like Data?

[PopeAlessandros]

Hnnnnnnnnnnnnn. . . . . . . *Rolls over and other* Three times a year, 3 weeks each with one week for arrival and departures and set-up, with three months between each meeting, and the alliance will provide transport for all the delegates so there's no risk of someone flying in with a battle cruiser? Not everyone has to attend each meeting, and if it wasn't for the android issue, half of the seats are normally empty unless there is a dispute of some kind. I. . . . .can go with having two characters here too that way we can at least make this stretch two to three meetings, in other words, one full year, and the second meeting on earth, the final meeting on the home world at the center of the alliance. This would be the big one, everyone attending for the final decision.

Fair?

[TShara]

I can live with that. Thanks for being so accommodating. ;-)

What's next on the agenda?

[PopeAlessandros]

Ah! I forgot the emotions thing. . . . . . . . .*Flops around* I, see. . . Emotions, but slightly different from humans? A little more, clinical, I think is the right word. . . . Say, when choosing a partner they look for compatibility, but after a mutual agreement is made, the feelings between them are real, if muted. They can feel all the primal emotions like fear, anger and the like, but don't grasp the concepts of nor feel embarrassment or shame. This leads to amusing stuffs :P I see a form of humor, but it's very dry, like Japanese humor(Which I love by the way :P).

One request on the anatomic make-up of the androids: No wires, gears, or diodes showing? I like the whole eye thing where the irises look almost like cameras with the expanding and contracting pupil, but I'm not one for exposed metal joints. . . . Flesh like flesh, not plastic or metal :P

[TShara]

I can live with that. I imagine (though the causes would be different, repressed emotions versus naturally muted emotions) that it would play out more like Tuvok or other Vulcans than Data. Sounds fun, and allows for some lovely sarcasm.

Fair enough, I can live with that. Whoever built the androids (a long dead civilization) can have built them that way. Their form should be somewhat... alien, however. If they were built in the aliens' own image.

[PopeAlessandros]

The planet was inhabited by humanoids, so bipedal, and we don't want to make the couple too oddly paired, so nothing over 7 feet sound okay? Also, tongues rather than strait up synthesizers. . . . Other than that, I'm good for whatever you want, barring some unforeseen nerve strike :P

[TShara]

I can live with that. I am guilty of what I call the "Star Trek fallacy" ... not making my humanoids look TOO alien.

Anything else to discuss besides that?

[PopeAlessandros]

M'kay, so we got where the meetings will be held, how they'll get there, what said places will look like, and basic parameters for the android's make-up. For setting I think all we need is what the living quarters will look like. I see all the members who with to attend each day and don't wanna sleep on their ships living in a fairly nice compound, like a huge dorm with sweet rooms and communal dining :P What do you think?

[TShara]

Sounds good to me.

So are we up to characters yet, or is there more to do on other fronts?

[PopeAlessandros]

I think we're up to characters. Like I said in the other RP, I'll try and get mine up tonight! I always use the same CS, but if there are things you feel don't fit in it for your alien android feel free to add and "Extras" section. Like if they have tails. . .*Grin*

[TShara]

Right. I'll get to these character sheets soon. You have no idea how much I despise character sheets though.... And I'm really trying to do some of my IC responses first.