You know there's days I wish I never erupted. I've got this Taint crap in my system which makes me glow nice and bright whenever I use my powers, and get's me skin-popping angry over the slightest thing. Top of that I've got various Evil Conspiracies after my arse trying to kill me or capture me. Worst of all I've yet to see any of the "fortune and glory" they talk about on N!.

Today's one of those days.

See, I was on a little recon mission for She Who Must Be Obeyed, out in Tibet. Word was there'd been some weird crap going on up in the mountains, strange lights and craters in the wilderness. My boss reckoned it was to do with a certain worm at the heart of a certain Utopian apple.

Me and a flyer dropped into the region under the cover of a vicious winter snowstorm. We're both immune to the elements so it was perfect cover.

To cut a long story short it all went to hell. My flyer and I got separated and I ended up against three burly Elites with that special "black ops" sense of humour. Took a couple down with my blast then got tagged with some kind of rail gun that blasted me off my feet and off the side of the mountain.

Doubt even my hardy forcefield could have protected me from the impact. But I hadn't gone more than twelve feet before my sphere aura flared up and I found myself drifting in orbit! Lucky my invulnerabilty to the elements seems to extend to vacuum or I'd be a meat explosion right about now.

Was getting a little panicky towards the end of the eighth hour up there. My juice was fading and I was getting really bloody cold. Suddenly, bam! I'm sitting on a bench in Hyde Park.

Anyone got any advice on how to control this bloody power? Once I'd recharged it took me ages to finally jaunt back home. Kept appearing in jungles and polar region and, once, a bloody volcano!

Visualise the place you want to be, keep the image in your mind, try and focus on what happens when you change locations and learn that feeling. The art of teleportation, for you at least, seems to be throwing yourself at the Universe and learning to stick. Maybe you keep drifting off the 3D membrane, you need to find some glue. Hopefully this will help but I don't really teleport.

I teleport. I wish I had the time to teach you what you want to, but right now I am runing.

You would have spent less juice if you had just taken the fall.

Sphere, if you dissipate your momentum, as some do, you can just teleport to the horizon, look down, and go to your location. Take it easy, keep it slow, and don't panic.

Sphere, I don't teleport, but I do know that the best way to TP is within Line of Sight. Some of the advice here explains the details. I've figured certain things out jumping from server to server in my data-dives. Simply know where you are, and where you want to go. Then figure out how many stops you need.

Don't think about the worst-case. But if necessary, I can send you a pack with a stored vacc-suit. Just incase you do start running out of juice in hard vacuum, or in a place where you do need air. Won't help in high-pressure environments, but it should help in most situations an Elite faces.

Damn it all to hell but I am jealous!

Okay, so maybe I do like cars and the throb of the engine (not this pussy purring noise you get from "street legal" HC engines either). And the wind in your hair. And maybe one of mine never put me in orbit on the edge... of... outer...

...

...

You know, I ain't actually jealous of you after all. Never mind. Sorry to interrupt.

This absolutely the mutt's nuts! Thanks for the advice people. Start small, work up to big later. Been trying line-of-sight 'ports most of the day. Zapping around the local woodlands scaring the shit out of the local wildlife.

Thankfully no-one was around to see a grizzled ex-con like your's truely pissing himself laughing once I got the hang of it.

Tomorrow, I'll try a hop to the horizon. This rules!

Uh, no offence here Sphere, but that don't sound like too good an idea. I mean, just 'cause you got the hang of 'portin' around the back wood don't mean your ready for near orbit. What happens if you blow it an' end up in space?

I'd better get the thruster packs I've been designing ready incase I have to fish a certain someone from orbit. I designed my little jet for space travel, I've just needed a proper booster system. But Sphere, I'd reccomend not testing your wings too soon. I've still got work to do.

You built a frickin' space jet? What the hell does a pretty little thing like you need a space ship for anyways?

1: It'd be my own personal sub-orbital transport for two.
2: I've always wanted to see if it was feasible.
3: IT'S *edit*ING COOL!
4: It'd be useful if someone got stuck in orbit. Heck, if the space station ever needed emergency supplies, and the next rocket or shuttle ain't for a while, look at what is the only other ship available!

Point taken people, had a conversation with She Who Must Be Obeyed last night. Seems She's of the same opinion as most of you guys. I reckon I'll restrict myself to line-of-sights for a while.

Much as the idea of being rescued by cute Japanese Novas appeals. I have a feeling T2M might get there first, and I'd hate to have to attempt to beat Pax by repeatedly headbutting his fists.

But one day soon...TO THE MOOOOOOOOOON!

Great. I'm in a Space Race with T2M... Lovely. I'd better get the thrist output adjusted more for LONGER trips instead of FASTER trips...

Sometimes I actually got to think hard to remember what it was like when I couldn't just think it through and snap my fingers.

I kind of admire them that build things like this the hard way, Miss Hino. There's real patience needed to be doing it that way.

Cody, I have more fun doing it the hard way. If I did it the easy way, the S&T hounds would be sinking their teeth into me. Being able to calculate algorythms and formulae at speeds that'd make a Cray XX-4 jealous is a definate plus.

Endeavor, I would expect the the S&T hounds to be on you soon enough. The difference between a sub-orbital vechile and a missle is ....

Even TKI is going to find surfing the legal waves of space exploration a bit tough. Oddly enough, some folks don't want every Jane, Dick, and Harriet launching their own little potential ICBM whenever they like. Go figure.

The difference between the Hokuto and an ICBM is this: The Hokuto is unarmed. Well, it's not armed with anything lethal. Mostly expansive-polymer missiles for restraining vehicles, and EMP pulse guns for stunning people. All of that stuff is in one form or another Human designed. And if any one company tried to make this stuff as weapons, I'd be personally paying them a visit. With my lawyers.

As for S&T, I hear they have some similar stuff sitting around that they use. It's slower mind you, but it is within the class of engine I use. I know S&T is coming, but it'd probably be to warn me not to let any more cats out of the bag. I am pushing it with some of the tech I have. So after this last indulgance, I'm going back to making the old new again.

And if any one company tried to make this stuff as weapons, I'd be personally paying them a visit.

-shakes head-

I'll probably get grilled by Splash once I get back from leave, but I personally feel Utopia's got no right to be sticking their noses into every little invention that human or nova ingenuity comes up with. Weapons of mass destruction, controlling devices and anything else that might prove harmful to others - yes. But if someone wants to go on a little space jaunt, sure, why not?

Sphere, though we're on different sides of the fence, I sympathise with you. One day soon I'll have to tell you guys about my first book-run...

Three words - Leave Book Open.

Uh, I just realized that that quote would mean "My mouth just wrote a check my butt cannot cash"? Yep, stick foot A in mouth B... >.<

Endeavor, just submit the technology for review as is required of any other developer / development. TechnoKat really should have explained this to you in greater detail. The investigative division of the Science and Technology Department is designed to ferret out illicit or under the table developments and deal with them accordingly. As you can imagine there's a difference in attitude and procedures when they have to go looking into something as opposed to doing a review. Yes, I am simplifying a complex process but the end state answer is still the same.

There's an inside joke among the teams; what do you call a lone hero facing glorious odds? Dead.

Get it? There's no reason to take on the world alone.

Babylon, most of the stuff I work on is stuff that like, for instance; A scientist (Human) had died of natural causes (too old), and had died half way through his work. Or I take stuff that already exists and improves it.

As for checking ahead of time with S&T, why do you think my inventions come out at a trickle? 75 to 90% of the ideas I get are squashed at the blueprint table.

Quite frankly after looking at all of the stuff that did get rejected, I could see why. So no hard feelings, I'm just stating what I do to keep my nose clean.

There's an inside joke among the teams; what do you call a lone hero facing glorious odds? Dead.

Dead? How about heroic, a poor planner, or foolish?
Being on T2M doesn't make you a hero. You may still be one, but there is nothing like confronting a problem with overwhelming force and an unlimited budget to make you feel all snug and secure.

Get it? There's no reason to take on the world alone.

The advantage in taking on the world alone is that you get to find out who you really are. If you survive it, its worth the experience. There is also the fact that the only life you have to lose is your own.

How about heroic, a poor planner, or foolish?
How about all of the above as well as just plain dead?

The concerns of a corpse are irrelevant to anyone but the corpse. Pyric victories? Of what value a pyric victory to anyone but the deceased? Being willing to go it alone against overwhelming odds has nothing to do with being heroic anymore than responding with overwhelming force does.

Comments on team battle strategy you can take up with the Director if for no other reason than some of us still get assigned to independent or floater duties.

... and an unlimited budget to make you feel all snug and secure.
Send me the application for this job and I promise to consider changing my career. No, not really but I'd be interested in knowing who gets that sort of funding.

If you survive it, its worth the experience.
That's a dauntingly big if, Cowboy. The smart ones recognize the hand of Lady Luck in having survived and, as they are the smart ones, don't generally do anything that stupid again. On the whole I tend to believe our difference of opinions has less to do with great insight into human nature and more to do with our goals. Heroes, dead or otherwise, don't get the job done.

I have the incredible sense of deja vu at the moment. Nothing like a trip down memory lane.

Babylon, those that rush in head first usually get their head chopped off. But those that plan their steps just get their throat slit.

It's all about how badly you mess up. You can plan every aspect of an operation, and chaos theory and murphy's law can and will mess you up. Not to mention they always seem to take effect just when you don't want them to.

... those that rush in head first usually get their head chopped off. But those that plan their steps just get their throat slit.
And bastards have brothers. You plan for what you can, prepare as you're able and then do your very best. A microsecond spent worrying about winning or losing is a microsecond spent unfocused.

I wouldn't have expected this sort of defeatist attitude from the girl-nova that flew the entire length of Oceana Pacifica all the way from Japan to San Francisco just to prove she could.

Even if she did carry twenty pound of excess gear.

Then again, I've lost my edge, and my focus it seems.

I guess I've grown accustomed to taking the least risky path.

Perhaps if I spent some time around you I'd get my act together. I guess spending my time around computers and machines has made me soft. Unwilling to take risks without planning out every move. Then expecting them to fall apart. I gotta be willing to roll the bones? Is that the gist of what you're saying?

Advice accepted and remembered. *pulls up a picture of her geared up for the trans-pacific trip* You know, I did have alot with me. O.o

To everyone going in that trip with me, if I start getting like THAT, let me know so I can ease up...

(And I do have to admit, I did overequip slightly.)

Babylon, done it both ways. I will add this, though. Planning it out as much as T2M does tends to limit the situations you get involved in.
Yes, you drasticly increase the odds you'll make the Christmas party, but then, I hate Christmas Parties at the office.

The budget thing is one of proportions, Babylon, but the job descriptions still in the mail. On the plus side, no more mall openings.

And I know about mall openings. >.<

I swear, if I ever have to do one more I'll scream... *gets e-mail*

AIIIEEEEEE! BLOODY HELL!

Why me... *sob... sniffle*

I never did open a mall, I was always busy building houses,or helping the needy those days.I say do what will make the world a better place, to hell with PR.

Planning it out as much as T2M does tends to limit the situations you get involved in.
True, but as we're not a law enforcement agency this is not always undesirable. Part of the planning process involves a series of checks and balances built into the decision making process to determine that:
(a) a problem actually exists,
(b) involvement is necessary,
(c) involvement is desirable; and
(d) the desired outcome is achievable to the point of inevitability.

You could have field day with that last point but keep in mind but it also means the odds of the situation escalating and/or accruing collateral damage is minimized. Granted I am not always the soul of tact but ask yourself a hypothetical like... Oh, how difficult would it be to turn the greater Boston Metro area into a drug free zone in under 48 hours drawing on the combined resources of Project Utopia? Sounds pretty good on paper but think about what it would require to achieve that then ask someone like Captain Preston if the human cost is really desirable. Then ask yourself what the long term effect would be.

Having thought about all of that; do you really think T2M and Utopia should charge about will-nilly and get involved in every situation.

I say do what will make the world a better place, to hell with PR.
I have and do open Malls. I go to conventions, public forums and charity gatherings. This gave me the opportunity, one or thrice, to get the right people together make an entire housing project happen. You got to build some of those houses. Approximately 2 percent.

Are we starting to see the bigger picture now?

(d) the desired outcome is achievable to the point of inevitability.

That is the tricky one, isn't it.

So, how is the Sahara coming along?

Good points, Babylon.

Deal is, if you were to jump on in and do that in Boston, we'd leave and the worthless bastards would come back from under the wood-work and start up all over again.

One cynic I know once said that a good government is one that keeps corruption to a reasonable level. Seeing as I've seen and studied a few in my time, I have to agree.

Sorry to hijack the thread, Sphere.

Codex is right about Boston. Look at the Project's first attempt to rid the world of drug dealers. It was bloody crime evolution in action! All the weaker groups got stamped on leaving a handful of the real wankers with plenty of room to stretch out and grow.

Now you've got people like the Medellin and the Megasyndicate who responded to T2M's action by getting bigger and better organised, and are now comfortably safe behind private armies and hired elites.

Speaking about drugs. I've been hearing some disturbing rumours about a Baraka cult running a soma manufacturing plant in Marakesh. Anyone know any more about that?

As always, between the extremes of birth and death, there is change. I myself have often wondered what caused the withdrawal of Utopia from that particular field of battle. No, no, I am not lambasting the project with insinuations of conspiracy. Only commenting that the growth of the megasyndicates proveably correlates to the pressure put on the lesser criminal organizations while not pursing the fight.

Senhor Sphere; your question brought a distant memory to mind and, with some minor effort, I (re)located this . It is a conversation ranging a variety of topics as discourses here are wont to do. In paricular there is a mention, by an elite now almost certainly deceased, to an altercation that took place in Marakesh.

It is quite dated. Never the less there may be something of interest to you.

Hey!

If you keep it low-key and speak Arabic with an Altasian accent, it is an excellent place to be. Marakesh, my home away from home ... sort of.