update from sparkleup

writing/post-self/toledot/index.md

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ Nearing the 200th anniversary of System secession from humanity, the System and
     * [X] [Launch: launch-side: Codrin#Castor](launch/launch/Codrin-castor/003) - Author who wrote an outline for a book, has been writing them independently on launches and sending back to editor sys-side, who is compiling them; mentions as postscript for Ioan only that given what ey learned about early clade, should maybe pass on communications between LVs encrypted - 2963
     * [X] [Secession: sys-side: Michelle](secession/sys/Michelle/003) - Debarre meets with Michelle to talk about AwDae, Ode Clade, losing control of herself, why keep the name secret (AwDae wasn't supposed to defect to S-R Bloc, even if ey helped form the System - total lie, though), reiterates promise that her new clade won't overtake the Council of Eight - 1754 - Expand?
     * [X] [Launch: sys-side: Ioan](launch/sys/Ioan/005) - Musician who set up transmission of music between sys/phys, gets #Castor's note, discusses with May - 1740 - Expand?
-* [O] Part III - Acceleration (Conspiracies start to pick up)
+* [X] Part III - Acceleration (Conspiracies start to pick up)
     * [X] [Launch: launch-side: Codrin#Pollux](launch/launch/Codrin-pollux/003) - interviews Zeke/Ezekiel, who has gone a bit sideways, now a prophet, having a hard time reconciling two launches/diverging futures, points Codrin towards True Name as something sinister - 2212 - Expand?
     * [X] [Secession: phys-side; Yared](secession/phys/Yared/005) - discusses secession with True Name/Jonas despite the fact that he isn't supposed to, gets help drafting the post with suggested changes from Demma - 2852
     * [X] [Launch: launch-side: Codrin#Castor](launch/launch/Codrin-castor/004) - Distracted, interviews depressed astronomer who knows this is as close as he'll ever get, but studies all the same through text, learn more about Dreamer Module (phys-side idea that got past resistance sys-side, implied Jonas/True Name) - 3680
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ Nearing the 200th anniversary of System secession from humanity, the System and
     * [X] [Secession: phys-side: Yared](secession/phys/Yared/008) - Sure enough, support rapidly swings sys-side, long conversation with TN/Jonas about what it means, starting to see how having his name on the amendment is diving people not just on the subject, but on him, starting to think about death, showing fear that he had at beginning - 2839
     * [X] [Launch: sys-side: Ioan](launch/sys/Ioan/010) - Ioan, getting really pissed at how Odists won't just answer eir fucking questions all the way and keep demurring at the last minute, interviews Jonas Prime, who has grown pessimistic, life wants to spread and multiply to make itself stronger, this is the root of the launch: offsite backups; thus why dreamer module was frowned upon: has broadcast w/ information about system, earth, interfacing, etc - 3375
     * [X] [Launch: launch-side: Codrin#Pollux](launch/launch/Codrin-pollux/007) - Interviews Ne Jonas, humanity best viewed as a resource to be used or a crop to be tended by System - 2752
-    * [O] [Launch: launch-side: Codrin#Castor](launch/launch/Codrin-castor/007) - Interviews True Name for second time w/ more info, confronts for truth about the Odists' role in post-secession, confirms, laughs down concerns. - 1717
+    * [X] [Launch: launch-side: Codrin#Castor](launch/launch/Codrin-castor/007) - Interviews True Name for second time w/ more info, confronts for truth about the Odists' role in post-secession, confirms, laughs down concerns. - 1717
 * [O] Part IV - Arrival (all stories reach present, all discuss irreversibility)
     * [O] [Secession: phys-side: Yared](secession/phys/Yared/010) - Vote passes with both secession and L5 amendments intact, those who know him are torn on whether he's a hero or villain; zero compensation/recognition from Demma, who derides the system, why don't you marry it if you love it so much. (secession = irreversibility) - 2192
     * [O] [Launch: launch-side: Codrin#Castor](launch/launch/Codrin-castor/008) - Interviews True Name for the last time, learning that True Name/her stanza and Jonas orchestrated the launch from the before the supposed beginning over long years of influence (incl nudging Douglas as soon as he got first job as ansible tech and Michelle nudging her toward the idea of divesting), have been in contact across sys/launch to ensure divergence remains at acceptable levels (irreversible), comes home to Dear, sighs, gets hugs, comfort that the ends aren't bad, even if the means are. - 2183

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/launch/Codrin-castor/007.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Codrin Bălan#Castor --- 2325
 
-Codrin Bălan was more nervous about this interview than ey'd ever been about one before. It's not that ey hadn't been anxious about talking with True Name previously --- ey certainly had, given the warning that Dear had left em with --- but in the intervening weeks, ey had had eir conversations with with No Jonas and read the news from both Codrin#Pollux and Ioan about the wealth of knowledge that the Bălan clade and their Odist associates had gathered.
+Codrin Bălan was more nervous about this interview than ey'd ever been about one before. It's not that ey hadn't been anxious about talking with True Name previously --- ey certainly had, given the warning that Dear had left em with --- but in the intervening weeks, ey had had eir conversations with with No Jonas and read the news from both Codrin#Pollux and Ioan about the wealth of knowledge that the Bălan clade had gathered.
 
 Dear gave no warning this time. It simply stood in the door of Codrin's office, looking some mixture between sad and frightened, and bowed its head when ey gave it a goodbye kiss atop the snout. Ey left a fork in eir office to sit and not think of anything while ey painted terribly, the better to reduce merge conflicts down the line, and then headed back to the sim where first ey had met True Name.
 
@@ -24,17 +24,17 @@ Codrin hesitated, pen nib resting on paper, a dark blue spot of ink spreading sl
 
 "Why?" The word was almost forced from em, let out in a rush as though ey had been struck or perhaps wanted to ask before ey lost all courage.
 
-"That is the correct question," she said. "Jonas and I have discussed how each of us should answer this question, figuring that both Codrins would ask much the same. Your cocladist will receive an answer pertaining to the big picture reasoning for the long term goals, which surround the stability and continuity of the System. I will be discussing the same picture surrounding the *raison d'etre* of the System.
+"That is the correct question," she said. "Jonas and I have discussed how each of us should answer this question, figuring that both Codrins would ask much the same. Your cocladist will receive an answer today pertaining to the big picture reasoning for the long term goals, which surround the stability and continuity of the System. I will be discussing the same picture surrounding the *raison d'etre* of the System.
 
-"During the period of Secession, we began to see the utility for the System as something beyond a curiosity, something beyond a mere means of immortality as many at the time had understood it. The System, in our eyes allowed for a more perfect form of humanity. It is a place where an individual can truly flourish, where groups can experience true independence, where all of our imperfections can shine through and make us more what we are than we were before. Those who remain phys-side are better thought of as a larval form of the species, now. They live, they love, they laugh, yes, but they do so in a way that is a shadow of what they could do, sys-side.
+"During the period of Secession, we began to see the utility for the System as something beyond a curiosity, something beyond a mere means of immortality as many at the time had understood it. The System, in our eyes allowed for a more perfect form of humanity. It is a place where an individual can truly flourish, where groups can experience true independence, where all of our imperfections can shine through and make us more what we are than we were before. Those who remain phys-side are better thought of as a larval form of the species, with that in mind. They live, they love, they laugh, yes, but they do so in a way that is a shadow of what they could do, sys-side.
 
-"What we did, the way we thought and the actions we took, were borne out of some core anger at the shortcomings of the political system that led to the loss of our friends, of the owner of the Name and of Debarre's partner and of so many others affected by the mere whims of an imperfect attempt to control the world around them. It did not matter why the Western Fed government decided to destroy those lives; what bill they voted or commented on does not matter. Was it a declaration of hostilities? A trade embargo? Who cares?
+"What we did, the way we thought and the actions we took, were perhaps borne out of some core anger at the shortcomings of the political system that led to the loss of our friends, of the owner of the Name and of Debarre's partner and of so many others affected by the mere whims of an imperfect attempt to control the world. It did not matter why the Western Fed government decided to destroy those lives; what bill they voted or commented on does not matter. Was it a declaration of hostilities? A trade embargo? Who cares?
 
 "What matters is that their actions spoke of an utter disregard for the very humanity of those affected. This was echoed in the referendum to which Secession was merely an amendment, that they had to even consider the fact that we sys-side deserved the individual rights granted those phys-side, the same rights that they held in such flagrant disregard."
 
-She nodded toward em. "You have this humanity. I have this humanity. Jonas has this humanity. You may not like us. You may think us manipulative and angry, or perhaps emotionless and cruel. You may think us villainous. It does not matter. What we have done, we have done to protect your humanity. What we have done, we have done to protect even the humanity of all here on the System. What we have done, we have done to protect the humanity of those phys-side, but you must understand, Codrin, that the humanity which requires the strictures of government is one less perfect than ours, and so we guide them to their logical conclusions."
+She nodded toward em. "You have this humanity. I have this humanity. Jonas has this humanity. You may not like us. You may think us manipulative and angry, or perhaps emotionless and cruel. You may think us villainous. It does not matter. What we have done, we have done to protect your humanity. What we have done, we have done to protect the humanity of all here on the System. What we have done, we have done to protect the humanity of even those phys-side, but you must understand, Codrin, that the humanity which requires the strictures of government is one less perfect than ours, and so we guide them to their logical conclusions."
 
-"But why?" ey asked again, voice quavering. In fear, in anger, ey couldn't tell. "Why would you do that? Even if you're right, that those who upload are somehow more perfect versions of those who don't or haven't yet, why would you guide them here? What does that even buy you? You don't sound like some psychotic villain who wants to bring humanity under their wing out of some misguided, high-minded ideals. You sound like a psychopath."
+"But why?" ey asked again, voice quavering. In fear, in anger, ey couldn't tell. "Why would you do that? Why guide the less perfect ones here? Even if you're right, that those who upload are somehow more perfect versions of those who don't or haven't yet. What does that even buy you? You don't sound like some psychotic villain who wants to bring humanity under their wing out of some misguided, high-minded ideals. You sound like a psychopath."
 
 True Name laughed. It was a musical laugh, replete with tones of real amusement and genuine pity. A fantastically toothy laugh, and those teeth were sharp. "There is nothing I can say that will convince you that I am earnest in these endeavors, Codrin. You know that. You know that you have already made up your mind."
 
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@ The skunk nodded.
 
 "No. We are not reading your notes, we are simply keeping tabs on the project."
 
-"Much of what ey learned," ey said. "Indicated that many of those who upload, even if it's only those who upload for that reason, hold more than just a cynical view of the System. They recognize that it is a tool that their governments hold over them and perhaps recognize that those governments are tools of the System in turn, even if only on some subconscious level. If they're your pupae, they know the terrors of being a butterfly caught in a net."
+"Much of what ey learned," ey said, starting to feel the heat of anger rising through fear, growing within em. "Indicated that many of those who upload, even if it's only those who upload for the incentive, hold more than just a cynical view of the System. They recognize that it is a tool that their governments hold over them and perhaps recognize that those governments are tools of the System in turn, even if only on some subconscious level. If they're your pupae, they know the terrors of being a butterfly caught in a net."
 
 "And Jonas Prime told Ioan about the cost-benefit analyses inherent in all that we do," True Name countered. "Some small fraction may be aware of and unhappy withthe actions that we have taken, but in the grand scheme of things, we are simply setting up and maintaining the progression for all, removing them from lives that require such manipulations to somewhere where those manipulations are not just unneeded, but are not possible. The same applies to your project, as I'm sure you have heard. It passes the same measure as insignificant in the grand scheme of things."
 
-The skunk's words, however calm they might have seemed, battered and buffeted em. They smashed up against eir emotions and base instincts, scuffing away carefully-maintained control until the fear and anger shone through bright and hot. Codrin pushed emself quickly to eir feet and leaned eir hands against the desktop. "How fucking cynical do you have to be to wind up in this mindset? I've met so many of your clade, and none of them have their heads so deep up their asses as you do. I can't believe--"
+The skunk's words, however calm they might have seemed, battered and buffeted em. They smashed up against eir emotions and base instincts, scuffing away carefully-maintained control until the fear and anger shone through bright and hot. Codrin pushed emself quickly to eir feet and leaned eir hands against the desktop. "How fucking cynical do you have to be to wind up in this mindset? I've met so many of your clade, and none of them have their heads so far up their asses as you do. I can't believe--"
 
 Throughout eir rant True Name's smile grew icy, and before ey could finish, she waved eir hand, bouncing em from her sim.