Video / Action - Open

[gundamofthedesert]

Video
[The video opens with very excited Quatre, quite clearly trying to keep from bouncing excitedly]

Fellow passengers of the train, good morning! I made a request for an item and I wasn't actually sure if I'd get it or what it would be if I did, but...

[And he shows off what arrived for him... which just basically looks like a large box]

It is mobile suit cockpit simulator! So it's like piloting a mobile suit without actually piloting one!

[He very briefly showed off the inside of it, which looked like a cockpit]

Once I get it to the games carriage, I'm going to take a look at the options already programmed and add as many as I remember. It'll be available for anyone to try out. Also if you have one that would be piloted like that, I can try to add yours.

Action
Quatre can either be found in the luggage carriage, trying to figure out to move this very large object... or he can be found in the games carriage once it has been moved, checking what has already been programmed into the system.

Comments

[gundamofthedesert]

[Quatre gave him a sad smile when he said that]

You're right. They weren't. In theory, they were supposed to be used for peaceful purposes, but when people who want power see a way... Thankfully though, our war has ended and this- [He poked at the simulator] Is the closest you can get to them now. Currently, they don't exist anymore.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I'd say that's a shame, but I don't know how you could repurpose such things for peace to begin with. Airships, at least, have far more utility than simple war.

[A non sequitur? Not quite, since Edge is thinking of an analogy from his own world.]

[gundamofthedesert]

Originally many were used to help with building projects. There are still some that are. The designs however soon started to include weapons and some that was their only purpose. Of course, it could claimed the weapons were for self-defense, but when they were being used to subdue unarmed colonists, it is hard to believe that is true.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

That seems inevitable, when they were originally made in the shape of armor. Making a machine for a peaceful purpose could have taken any other shape, and yet!

[gundamofthedesert]

That's true. I guess the intention was making them easier to manage if they basically operated the same way that people move. But not everything can be peaceful. The colonies wanted to control themselves. Those on Earth didn't want that.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

The colonies?

[Now he's in over his head again. Luckily, he expects this -- he doesn't understand anyone or anything, it seems!]

[gundamofthedesert]

The colonies are like... large spaceships that orbit around the Earth at very specific points. A lot of people live there.

[Quatre's world is very technical compared to other ones]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Oh, moon-ships. [Edge immediately makes the logical and completely inaccurate connection to his own world and the Red Moon.] Hopefully not trying to destroy your world's people, though...

[gundamofthedesert]

[Well, not completely inaccurate, but not accurate either... it will work]

It's complicated. First the Earth was trying to take control of them and then there was a faction going against the Earth and they wanted to drop one of his ships on Earth... but it didn't happen.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

So it's a two-way war?

[That's surprising to say the least! It had taken the full combined might of the countries of the world to simply stalemate the Lunarian weapon that was the Giant of Babil -- how could anyone hope to make war on a people like that?]

[gundamofthedesert]

Yeah. It started out very one-sided, but then the other side got weapons... it really is complicated since there were organizations hidden inside other ones, other people joined in, people switched sides... sometimes multiple times.

The one thing that really remained is that our group was fighting for peace, no matter which side.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

With mental control and compulsions, I presume. [After all, that's how Zemus had gotten so many allies and collaborators -- though some had been perfectly, pathetically willing as well.]

[gundamofthedesert]

I don't know that there were mental controls. The one person who kept changing sides, that was all his decision. I don't think he had a big attachment to any organization so he picked the one that fit his needs or his current desire for an outcome at the time.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Edge has no response for this that isn't rather harsh, so he simply shakes his head in evident disappointment. People like that...]

But I presume you had to have defeated the mastermind behind it, right?

[gundamofthedesert]

[Yeah, Quatre had started to wonder about him at sometime... like he almost wanted to be against them]

Yes, we have taken care of those who were threatening peace.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Then that's what matters most -- the return of peace and harmony. [Edge nods, satisfied with the end of the tale if still a bit confused about the particulars.] Still, more's the pity you can't find a way to safely use those machines for good.

[gundamofthedesert]

That is true. I'm sure we could have. In fact, we tried, but then there was someone who decided to build their own weapons and actually use them which defeated the purpose. So we decided as long as they exist, it is too tempting.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

You'd be better off focusing on vehicles, instead! Airships might have been used for weapons of war, but they offer so much use in peacetime they've proven worthwhile despite everything.

[gundamofthedesert]

That is true. Might be more interesting anyway. We spent so much time on mobile suits, there is definitely a lot that needs to be caught up on. We could certainly work on repairing and improving some of the colonies, which is what I want to do.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Oh, those are still around? [Somehow he'd just assumed that with the battle ending, those in the depths of space had left as the Lunarians did. That isn't a sensible assumption, he now realizes.]

[gundamofthedesert]

The colonies? Yes, they are still around. A lot of people have lived their entire lives there and never been to the Earth. It would strange to them to have to leave.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

That seems like all the more reason they'd be fine with leaving. But I must not be picturing it correctly.

[gundamofthedesert]

I guess the question is where they would go. The colonies have the large populations. The issues between the colonies and Earth didn't arise until the countries of Earth decided they wanted to control the colonies and now that this has stopped, everyone should be at peace.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Once again, please give Edge a moment as he attempts to rework his mental imaging of the scenario.]

It seems strange that the people of the colonies would stick around, when that sort of incompatibility has reared up.

[gundamofthedesert]

I suppose they consider it safe now. Also more established families like mine and the other Gundam pilots haven't left so more reason to believe it is safe.