BOARDWALK TRANT HEIDELSTAM INTRO - 553
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Trant Heidelstam: Variable["boardwalk.trant_main_hub_reached"]
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Trant Heidelstam: "All of this was built by Feld, even the boardwalk. Wild Pines built Martinaise proper as a resort for their middle management, Feld built this side of town for R&D."
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Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
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IsKimHere()
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Kim Kitsuragi: "So you haven't seen anyone around?"
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Empathy: There's something friendly and familiar in how he says that. A day off.
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Rhetoric: Pick *your* brain? If anything, this was rather one-sided. He did the talking. Whatever...
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Trant Heidelstam: "INSURCOM is responsible for all aspects of the military occupation of Revachol. During the Revolution, they coordinated the efforts of the Occidental and Graadian invasion, but these days their function is primarily logistical."
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Jump to: [cohub]
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You: "You're making this up." (Turn to the lieutenant.) "Kim, is he making this up?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "In fact, I'm not. The Wompty-Dompty-Dom Centre," he says casually, "is a place you can visit if you're ever in Vredefort, and are ever in the market for an exhibition space slash contemporary art research centre." He clears his throat.
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Trant Heidelstam: "But perhaps I should return to the tape computers. As I was saying, the device itself was very elegant, fragile even. One could write directly on the tape using a special chemical solution. The machine would then analyse the handwriting, perform operations and project output onto a white screen. It was a beautiful, delicate thing."
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You: [Leave.]
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You: "Why did the revolutionaries destroy it?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "Who knows? Maybe it was an accident, or maybe they didn't want the technology to end up in the wrong hands. Either way -- they're all gone now, all three versions of the prototype. Nothing but debris and ashes remains inside that building." He takes a step back; the boardwalk creaks mournfully in the wind.
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Trant Heidelstam: "You're probably more familiar with *RTD*, research and *technological* development."
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Encyclopedia: Mea culpa! You were not familiar with that one either. This man is a book head.
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Trant Heidelstam: "From an evolutionary point of view you could see this building as a logical conclusion to the more traditional *hut*."
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You: "No, not really."
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You: "You know this is not what I meant."
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Untitled hub
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You: "Wicked cool, can you tell me about this method?"
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You: "Yes, but we're not really dealing with *huts* here, are we?" (Look at the building.)
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Trant Heidelstam: "Tape computers." He nods, wind tousling his suit jacket.
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Trant Heidelstam: "They used them for military communications," he says, while his son looks up, idly chewing on the corner of his würm-themed colouring book. "But also to write and send out press releases. The most notorious example being Le Décret de Mars."
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You: "What was that?"
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trantmainhub
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Trant Heidelstam: "Yes -- tape computers. *And* Feld Electrical."
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Jump to: [cohub]
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cohub
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You: "What is the innermost character of the Coalition, then?"
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Trant Heidelstam: The man smiles at you for a long moment...
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Trant Heidelstam: "Why, officer, it's that gigantic aerostatic right over there. Have you really never noticed it before?" A look of profound concern comes across the man's face.
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Trant Heidelstam: IsDaytime()
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Trant Heidelstam: "Ah, well, that's a relief to here. It would really be *quite concerning* if you hadn't been aware of it until just now..."
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Trant Archer Hub
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Trant Heidelstam: "That's very interesting. Most people I've met say it reminds them of a giant metallic dragonfly, but of course there's no right way to respond to a massive airborne artillery platform..."
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rhet fired
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You: (Turn to Mikael.) "He means they all got shot in the head because they were bourgeois. Now, do you know what the bourgeoisie is?"
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You: (Turn to Mikael.) "He means they all died at the hands of the communists."
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You: "Tape computers, right."
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You: "Very interesting. Let's get back to this later."
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Trant Heidelstam: "It was here in Martinaise -- possibly in this very building -- that they developed prototypes for a..." He stops mid-sentence, realizing you're not listening.
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Trant Heidelstam: "Yes, the official name of the prototype. Some sources report it as the Feld Playback *Experience*, but those are incorrect."
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Trant Heidelstam: "Lo Manthang stick fighting is a little like a pyrholidon addiction," he explains with a little smile. "I've been practising it for nearly 20 years now, so you could say that my doses have grown a little... peculiar."
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Electrochemistry: Wait. What does this man know about pyrholidon addiction?
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You: "Hold on. Hyper...text?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "Yes, hypertext," he says, as if it's self-evident. "Jan Kaarp and the collection of cultural hyperlinks."
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You: "What's so fascinating about an empty old building?"
"Let's talk about this empty building again."
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Trant Heidelstam: Variable["auto.is_raining"]
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Trant Heidelstam: "Apologies, it's an acronym for research and development, they don't use it anymore." He smiles brightly, laugh lines around his eyes.
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Drama: The man speaks in the artificial cadence of a professor -- or someone who's been on too many radio shows.
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Trant Heidelstam: "But I assume you're not here for giant würms when there are so many real things to see. Just as I was telling Mikael before -- this is where the Coalition landed in '08. We could be standing on what is the most interesting landmark in Revachol West." He points to the building again.
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Perception (Sight): The kid takes a peek at the green and silver würm on the cover of the book. Already forgetting about this part of the discussion.
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Perception (Sight): You look around, but you don't see anything unusual. Then again, your eyes aren't the sharpest...
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You: "I don't think I've ever noticed it before."
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You: "Oh, right. The *Archer*. I thought you said... something else."
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archerreactionhub
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You: "It looks like a fish."
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You: "It looks like a killing machine."
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You: "Huh. Can't believe I never noticed it before."
"It looks like it's about four-and-a-half kilometres away."
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You: "It's amazing. An inspiring symbol."
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Trant Heidelstam: "But of course! What else?" He smiles and ruffles his kid's head.
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Kim Kitsuragi: "Actually, I think there is..." He pauses. "No, it's too much, he's joking."
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You: "Wait, the Feld Playback Experiment?"
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Esprit de Corps: This man is your half brother. You feel it. But *why*?
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Encyclopedia: Wow, get a load of this guy. He *really* enjoys his trivia. The Orbis programming language was named after its inventor, Viktor Orbis, a cybernetician from Graad. They run Vox in the Occidental countries...
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Encyclopedia: I couldn't have said it better. This man is a fountain of knowledge!
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Trant Heidelstam: "But anyway," he says after a while, "I am boring you with details again. You were saying?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "In this case I suggest looking into the Seolite *invisibles* class. The word refers to their remarkable ability to traverse any environment in the most efficient way possible. There's this excellent investigative piece of journalism by..."
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Trant Heidelstam: "Yes, I have!" His face lights up with excitement, bringing out the subtle laugh lines in the corner of his eyes. "There was this one time where I..."
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Inland Empire: Oh no. You've made *el bigo mistako*. He's going to go on forever!
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You: "Wait, what was that about the windows before?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "Oh yes. So, Mikael, they had to deal with monitor glare, especially in the summer. They still had vector monitors back then. That was 49 years ago. So they didn't have windows on the south wall."
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Trant Heidelstam: "No, I'm sorry. As I said -- this is just a day off. We just arrived anyway."
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Trant Heidelstam: "But then there's also the Provisional Commission, as well as the Institute for Revacholian Culture, with its architecturally significant headquarters in Le Jardin."
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Perception (Sight): You follow the man's gaze out toward the west. There, amidst the low-hanging stars, you can just make out signs of motion...
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Trant Heidelstam: Variable["boardwalk.trant_perc_archer_saw"]
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Perception (Sight): It's a set of position lights moving in unison, like a restless constellation...
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Perception (Sight): You can't see anything. But then, it's dark, and your eyes aren't the sharpest...
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Trant Heidelstam: "That might be the trickiest question of all. From a technical standpoint, it shouldn't be all that difficult. You simply require a radio transmitter capable of broadcasting on Coalition frequencies..."
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Trant Heidelstam: "The problem is that those sorts of radio transmitters are *tightly* controlled by the Coalition. Even the RCM doesn't typically have access to them outside of special joint operations..."
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Kim Kitsuragi: "A pleasure wheel?" The lieutenant looks wistfully at the horizon, as if picturing gondolas rising to the sky.
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Empathy: Perhaps reminded of a childhood memory? It's clear he would prefer there were a big wheel lighting up the coast.
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Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
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IsKimHere()
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Trant Heidelstam: "A-ha, but it's not just *any* empty old building!" He raises his hand to his eyes to shield himself from the freezing snow. All four of you turn to admire the mural before you.
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Trant Heidelstam: "A-ha, but it's not just *any* empty old building!" He raises his hand to his eyes to shield himself from the freezing snow. All three of you turn to admire the mural before you.
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Trant Heidelstam: "Then I guess everything got said, right?" He squints his eyes in the snow.
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Trant Heidelstam: "Then there's also the method of climbing that the ancient Iilmaraans used to get into the huts of their enemies."
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You: "I don't have time to read any papers. Don't you have any *practical* advice?"
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Volition: Inspiration can go a long way in physical endeavours. You should try it again now.
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Trant Heidelstam: "Mhm. An elegant folding mechanism of rollers and ferrotape ribbons, portable enough to be a take-it-home solution, revolutionizing business machines, possibly even bringing them to the average consumer."
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Trant Heidelstam: "Which is a feat of engineering even today's giants Rehm, ICN, and ZAMM haven't achieved yet." He grins, admiring the sentence he just produced.
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You: "This is a long-shot, but could you help me contact the Coalition?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "Well, that certainly depends. You know, the popular image of the Coalition is of a monolithic politico-military entity, but in reality, it's comprised of many interconnected, yet semi-autonomous components..."
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Trant Heidelstam: "For instance, the offices of INSURCOM are responsible for military affairs. These offices are located in the Bank of the World building, just a few kilometres from here..." He points west toward the skyscrapers across the bay.
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You: "Wait, what's Coalition Warship Archer?"
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Visual Calculus: It's about four-and-a-half kilometres from your position, you estimate.
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Trant Heidelstam: "Ah, well, it is one of the most heavily armed aerostatics to ever fly. I've heard it said that the Archer is capable of engaging whole fleets of lesser vessels *from multiple sides* simultaneously. How about that?"
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You: "I feel like there's *got* to be another way."
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Trant Heidelstam: "Well, I suppose you could rent a private aerostatic and attempt to rendezvous with Archer directly, but I must caution against it. Warships like the Archer are usually authorised to fire on unidentified aerostatics on sight."
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Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
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IsKimHere()
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Kim Kitsuragi: "Hmmm, she's not a 'Feld engineer,' exactly, but perhaps that programmer from the church might be of assistance?"
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Empathy: This sounds like something that programmer you met in the church might help with...
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You: "Hold on. Pyrholidon addiction? What an interesting metaphor..." (Study his face.) "Or perhaps not a metaphor at all?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "You got me, detective." He chuckles, before a shadow takes hold of his face. "But my history should hardly come as a surprise."
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You: "I don't really remember what I was saying..."
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Trant Heidelstam: Variable["auto.is_raining"]
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Trant Heidelstam: "They started out as a midway electronics outfit in Königstein two centuries ago. After an aggressive move to Revachol, Feld became a global player in the emerging personal electronics market of the pre-Revolutionary era."
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Trant Heidelstam: "Still, Tricentennial was beating them in business machines." He gestures toward the building. "But Feld had an ace up their sleeve. Or, should I say, they were *developing* an ace up their sleeve?..." He grins. "I'm mixing my metaphors here."
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You: "I don't want your money, I just wanted to see whether my profiling skills were working."
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Trant Heidelstam: "Of course, detective, I wouldn't have assumed anything else. Matter of fact," he looks up again, a playful hint shining in his eyes...
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You: "A form of martial arts from the isle of Lo Manthang, right?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "Actually, a great many cultures have their own version of stick fighting, such as the sacred Mabolo tradition of the Hali people, the name deriving from the butterfruit tree traditionally used for crafting the long, slender sticks -- whereas the sticks used in other cultures..."
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You: "Wait, what was that about the windows before?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "Oh yes. So, Mikael, they had to deal with monitor glare, especially in the summer. They still had vector monitors back then. That was 49 years ago. So they didn't have windows on the south wall."
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You: "What did the revolutionaries do with those advanced tape computers?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "There's a sewage pipe there, maybe that does something? Sorry I can't help more."
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Physical Instrument: Pipes *can* be broken. With force.
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Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
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Kim Kitsuragi: "Hmmm, no one would mistake them for Feld engineers, but perhaps your young friends in the *tent* might be of assistance?"
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Empathy: Perhaps your new friends in the tent might be able to help you?
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IsKimHere()
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Trant Heidelstam: "A-ha, but it's not just *any* empty old building!" He raises his hand to his eyes, springtime sun warming his handsome face. All four of you turn to admire the mural before you.
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Trant Heidelstam: "A-ha, but it's not just *any* empty old building!" He raises his hand to his eyes, springtime sun warming his handsome face. All three of you turn to admire the mural before you.
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Trant Heidelstam: Variable["auto.is_snowing"]
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Trant Heidelstam: "Then I guess everything got said, right?" He squints his eyes in the sun.
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You: "So what is it, twice a week then? Every other day? *Man* is it difficult to stay on the right topic with you."
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Mikael Heidelstam: Suddenly little Mikael opens up his mouth: "Dad's fighting with sticks every night after dinner for four hours. He has a special room for that -- *and* a special costume!"
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Rhetoric: Mark my words, all of this somehow ties to the history of Occidential financial markets.
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You: "Hold on. Hyper...text?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "Yes, hypertext," he says, as if it's self-evident. "Jan Kaarp and the collection of cultural hyperlinks."
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You: "Great, thank you for all the interesting information." [Leave.]
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Trant Heidelstam: "No, thanks to *you* for having me and little Mikael here to pick your brain... A very interesting conversation indeed."
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Trant Heidelstam: IsMorning()
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Trant Heidelstam: "... and, Mikael, notice the windows? Especially with how there are no windows on the south side? This was to deal with..." A blond man stands next to his son, pointing to the weather-worn ruins. He sees you approaching and smiles...
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You: "What happened to the engineers, the company people?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "Oh, I'm afraid it didn't end well for the boys." He smiles again, as if he's somehow personally responsible for this bleak turn of events. "But this story is a bit too *dark* for little Mikael here. Now if you were to ask about *tape computers*..."
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Trant Heidelstam: "Good evening!" He nods to you, smiling.
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Conceptualization: Made of black film and folding tape structures...
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You: "Pfft. I've seen cooler things than that."
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You: "The RCM should get some of those."
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You: (Nod.) "Cool."
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Mikael Heidelstam: "Dad, can I go climb that ladder?" Mikael asks. "I want to go climb that ladder!"
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Trant Heidelstam: "No, that doesn't sound like a very reasonable idea," replies Trant, narrowing his eyes, "physics, remember? But anyway..."
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You: "That's all fine, but what if I want to assign *responsibility*?" (Proceed.)
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Trant Heidelstam: "Ah, that's simple! You're looking for the Comité de Responsabilité de Revachol. It's a sort of clearinghouse for Coalition affairs in Revachol..."
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You: "Why do I need to contact a military warship to talk to a civilian bureaucrat?"
"Why do I need to contact a military aerostatic to talk to a civilian bureaucrat?"
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You: "So how does one go about contacting a Coalition warship?" (Proceed.)
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Conceptualization: No, it's more like a creature from the abyssopelagic zone, a great dark bioluminescent fish...
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Half Light: Don't let the shiny lights fool you, it's a goddamn killing machine, and there's nothing you can do to stop it!
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Conceptualization: Not just any fish, it moves like some ancient bottom-feeder gliding over the ocean floor in search of prey...
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Half Light: Don't let the paintjob fool you, it's a goddamn killing machine, and there's nothing you can do to stop it!
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Trant Heidelstam: "Fascinating! You know, in one sense, that's exactly what the Coalition intends. You see, they would prefer that most people in Revachol *don't* think of themselves as living under a *military* occupation. That's why they generally prefer to keep their warships at a discreet distance from major population centres..."
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Suggestion: He did it! He said *Wompty-Dompty-Dom Centre* like it's the most natural thing in the world.
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Encyclopedia: What the hell *is* a Wompty-Dompty-Dom Centre? And who the hell are Keith and Guy Joost?!
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You: "You're making this up." (Turn to his son.) "Hey, is your dad making this all up?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "Officer!" He sounds disappointed. "I told you this chapter of history wasn't on Mikael's curriculum yet. Let's keep this kid-friendly."
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Authority: Here's a former junkie. I can recognize one when I see it.
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Mikael Heidelstam: Suddenly little Mikael opens up his mouth: "Dad's fighting with sticks every night after dinner for four hours. He has a special room for that -- *and* a special costume!"
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You: "Okay. Back to... where were we? Tape computers, I think."
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Shivers: Two seagulls circle in the sky. You look up and think: really? Or was there a fourth prototype that remains hidden in the mausoleums below Coal City?...
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You: "You look like someone who has money. Do you have any money?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "I do have some money, yes, but that's not what's really important here." He brushes it off like it's not a thing at all.
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Trant Heidelstam: "It's an anthropological heritage of the Lomanthang people, a martial art of sorts, but what not a lot of books mention is that it also carries a *cultural* significance among the Lomanthangs, as it used to be the best means of showing off to look for a bride, which..."
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Trant Heidelstam: "... interestingly enough, brings us to the socio-economic structure of the traditional rural tribes of the Lo Manthang isles, which..." He goes on to give you a detailed overview of their way of life, the amiable, slightly nervous smile not once leaving his face.
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Trant Heidelstam: "No-no," he says, immediately backing off, "I'm just speculating *theoretically* here... Of course, there's also the method ancient Iilmaraans used to get into the huts of their enemies."
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Trant Heidelstam: "Sure, what's on your mind?"
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Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
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Trant Heidelstam: "Yes. To lure in their star engineers. This part of Martinaise was nothing but reeds before Feld arrived. They had to make the prospect of living here *attractive*. It was supposed to become a global centre for innovation in cybernetics -- but history had other plans."
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Empathy: Yes, this is just the sort of reasonable authority you're looking for!
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Trant Heidelstam: "If you will, picture the Coalition as a kind of wheel. The hub of this wheel is the Comité de Responsabilité, and out from that hub radiate a great many spokes, which connect to INSURCOM, the Institute for Revacholian Culture, the Provisional Commission, and so on..."
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You: "If you're not part of the Coalition, how do you know so much about its bureaucracy?"
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You: "Alright, fine. How do I get in touch with the Committee?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "There's an exhibition on Vespertine proto-expressionism that I can't wait to take Mikael to. We're working our way through the major artistic movements of the last cenutry."
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Trant Heidelstam: "I have a longstanding interest in political systems. You see, it's my personal theory that political systems are a lot like personalities. In other words, how a state organises itself is in some way the public expression of its innermost character..."
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Trant Heidelstam: "It's only too bad the old Feld engineers are no longer available. This sort of thing would have been *right* in their wheelhouse."
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Trant Heidelstam: Variable["church.soona_greeting_done"]
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You: "What am I supposed to do then?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "All that said, someone with a powerful radio and a certain level of technical skill might be able to circuit-bend their way onto the Coalition frequencies..."
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Trant Heidelstam: "The Wompty-Dompty-Dom Centre for Contemporary Arts." There it is again -- those words. "The exhibition itself drew on Lagerman's notion of memory and so there were some parallels, that's why the head curator Paul Ockermann chose to..."
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You: "Come on, there is no place called the Wompty-Dompty-Dom Centre of Arts."
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Mikael Heidelstam: The boy looks first at you, then back at his father, confused.
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Untitled hub
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You: "I can assure you -- *nothing* in this world comes even close to being addicted to this devil."
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Empathy: Something about the way this man carries himself makes you wonder whether he might be able to help you with your *committee business*.
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Savoir Faire: It's his *sartorial style*. Call it 'well-travelled bean-counter'...
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Trant Heidelstam: Whatever it is, he gives you an encouraging smile.
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Trant Heidelstam: "You, officer! Come to investigate the historic subtext of West Martinaise? I was just telling my son about this building. Not many people appreciate the historic significance here. Very rich in *hypertext*."
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You: "By the way, do you work out?"
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Trant Heidelstam: "I do some Lo Manthang stick fighting now and then."
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You: "Okay, I'll look into that then."
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You: "You know what, forget about it."
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You: "The Lo Manthang thing was enough for me. I'm inspired."
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Half Light: He's just making up fancy words. This doesn't mean anything!
283
Jump to: [alone holdup hub]
150->283
151
You: "Alright, you were talking about the building, go on." (Continue.)
244
Trant Heidelstam: "*Very* important. Mikael, say hi to the officer." He rests his hand on the boy's shoulder. The child stays hidden behind the hem of his father's coat, clutching to his würm-themed colouring book.
151->244
152
You: "Have you been talking to other police officers?"
248
Trant Heidelstam: "Me? Yes, at some point, I'm sure I have. There was this one rather, uh," he stops, smiling at the reminiscence, "*memorable instance* when I had a chance to meet the head of Dominion Police of Königstein."
152->248
154
IsKimHere()
153->154
155
!(IsKimHere())
153->155
326
Trant Heidelstam: "You, officers! Come to investigate the historic subtext of West Martinaise? I'm Trant Heidelstam," he turns to the lieutenant. "You must be Kim Kitsuragi, right? I was just telling my son about this building. Not a lot of people realize the historic significance here. Very rich in *hypertext*."
154->326
155->146
156->329
157
Trant Heidelstam: IsEvening()
158
IsEvening()
157->158
159
!(IsEvening())
157->159
158->106
265
Trant Heidelstam: "Hello again!" He nods to you, smiling.
159->265
285
Trant Heidelstam: "I don't know if you're familiar with this, but the Vespertine Department of Justice has published a rather interesting paper on the criminal profiling in former socialist states. Have you read it?"
160->285
161
Feld Mural: It looks old and weathered, with seagulls picking apart its stone-and-metal carcass. Bushy undergrowth has taken hold of the collapsed rooftop; some kind of bird has set up a nest on a broken windowsill.
266
feld first hub
161->266
162
You: "Who handles the money? There's got to be an economic component."
207
Trant Heidelstam: "Of course there is! The Coalition's economic affairs are handled by the Bank of the World -- Revachol Mission. They operate in concert with the Institute of Price Stabilité in Sur-la-Clef."
162->207
163->368
164->22
252
You: "What kind of political system do you think represents *my* innermost character?"
164->252
165
Trant Heidelstam: "Of course, if you could somehow contact Coalition Warship Archer, you could reach the Committee directly. But, well, that obviously presents any number of logistical and technical challenges."
165->113
319
Trant Heidelstam: "A very astute question! You see, in addition to its role as a military warship, the Archer is also responsible for coordinating all Coalition communications and surveillance operations in Revachol."
166->319
167->114
168->74
169
Trant Heidelstam: "In any event, it's a fascinating technical challenge. I'll be *very* interested to see how you tackle it."
356
Jump to: [trantmainhub]
169->356
210
Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
170->210
216
Trant Heidelstam: Variable["boardwalk.trant_passive_pyrholidon_addiction"]
171->216
172
Trant Heidelstam: "Oh, I know, detective." He chuckles, before a shadow takes hold of his pallid face -- he misses the devil.
172->122
173
Trant Heidelstam: "Oh, I know, detective." He chuckles, but a shadow takes hold of his pallid face -- what does he mean that he *knows*?
173->122
174
You: "What happened?"
346
Trant Heidelstam: "Indeed, what?"
174->346
175
Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
176
IsKimHere()
175->176
177
!(IsKimHere())
175->177
195
Kim Kitsuragi: "Detective, a word." He turns to the blonde man. "Excuse us a moment, please."
176->195
177->144
179
Encyclopedia: Lo Manthang stick fighting is a form of martial arts originating from the isle of Lo Manthang. It uses slender wooden sticks for confronting the opponent.
178->179
306
Untitled hub
179->306
180
Trant Heidelstam: "That's right, Mikael." Trant grabs his kid into a single-handed embrace, looking slightly embarrassed. "It also has a meditative quality, helps to clear my head... But anyway," he says, swaying with his hand.
180->388
181
You: "Can you teach me? Do you have the sticks with you?"
181->128
182
You: "Something tells me I'm not going to climb the ladder with Lo Manthang sticks."
182->62
183
Rhetoric: Man, he's good at speaking. People must love him.
417
Trant Heidelstam: "But anyway," he says after a while with a charming, apologetic smile, "I am boring you with details again. You were saying?"
183->417
184
Trant Heidelstam: "It's a beautiful piece of text, actually. A singer-songwriter I know -- Charette -- called it a love poem to Revachol on her political concept album 'Bons baisers d'Insulinde'. You should read it. Every local library in Revachol stocks a copy of the decree."
262
Trant Heidelstam: "I tried to get Mikael to memorise it." He looks at his son, who starts giggling, his face hidden behind the book. "*Tried to*. Someone was much too interested in würms to be paying any attention."
184->262
185
Trant Heidelstam: "If not, then you definitely should -- if not for tips and tricks, then just for theoretical curiosity. Anyway, that's just a little something that sprang to mind." He squeezes his son's shoulder lightly. "You were saying?"
226
Reaction Speed: Forget it. They don't sell those kinds of books at "Crime, Romance & Biographies of Famous People."
185->226
186
Trant Heidelstam: "What not a lot of people know is -- this used to be the R&D department of *Feld Electrical*. And Feld, which now sells ink cartridges, mostly, was once a top dog in the turn-of-the-century cybernetics boom."
394
Encyclopedia: Hold on, what's R&D?
186->394
187
You: "Wait, what's an R&D department?"
187->34
188
Rhetoric: No, I mean, c'mon -- you need the money. If it's not a thing, he can give you some.
188->81
279
You: "Could I have some of that 'unimportant' money then?"
188->279
189
Perception (Sight): It looks, to your eye, like some kind of long, metallic fish, suspended beneath a number of ceiling fans...
189->115
190->169
191
Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
192
IsKimHere()
191->192
193
!(IsKimHere())
191->193
409
Trant Heidelstam: "A-ha, but it's not just *any* empty old building!" He raises his hand to his eyes to shield himself from the pattering rain. All four of you turn to admire the mural before you.
192->409
225
Trant Heidelstam: "A-ha, but it's not just *any* empty old building!" He raises his hand to his eyes to shield himself from the pattering rain. All three of you turn to admire the mural before you.
193->225
365
Rhetoric: It's his manner of speaking. He reminds you of a lecturer...
194->365
259
Trant Heidelstam: "Of course, lieutenant." He nods. "Take your time. Mikael and I have plenty to keep us occupied!"
195->259
196->266
197
Trant Heidelstam: You doze off, as he paints you a comprehensive picture of the history of stick fighting among mankind, seasoning it with unexpected pop-culture references.
197->183
198->281
199
Jump to: [hold up hub]
245
hold up hub
199->245
201
IsMorning()
200->201
202
!(IsMorning())
200->202
314
Trant Heidelstam: "Hello! Isn't this a fine morning?" He nods to you, smiling.
201->314
202->157
203
You: Look at the building looming over you.
203->161
205
Variable["auto.is_raining"]
204->205
206
!(Variable["auto.is_raining"])
204->206
205->191
395
Trant Heidelstam: Variable["auto.is_snowing"]
206->395
207->86
208->71
209->116
211
IsKimHere()
210->211
212
!(IsKimHere())
210->212
211->40
212->10
213->388
214
You: "What was that ace?"
268
Trant Heidelstam: "It was here in Martinaise -- possibly in this very building -- that they developed prototypes for a..." He pauses for effect. "...*tape computer*."
214->268
347
Trant Heidelstam: "*I* certainly haven't." He shakes his head. "Though I understand the socio-economic causes of the Revolution, it pains me to imagine the revolutionaries setting fire to this precious device. But so they did. The Feld Playback Experiment vanished into the fires of '07."
215->347
217
Variable["boardwalk.trant_passive_pyrholidon_addiction"]
216->217
218
!(Variable["boardwalk.trant_passive_pyrholidon_addiction"])
216->218
217->143
255
Empathy: Wait. What does this man know about pyrholidon addiction?
218->255
219
Trant Heidelstam: "No, I'm afraid I can't help you with this one, officer. It's just a regular day off for me and Mikael here." He pats his son's head.
219->4
220
Kim Kitsuragi: In a low voice, the lieutenant whispers: "I haven't the faintest idea who this gentleman is, but I've got a *hunch* he might have some affiliation with the Coalition, in case you're still serious about that *committee business*..."
260
Kim Kitsuragi: "In any case, I'll let you take it from here."
220->260
349
Authority: He's not gonna give you money, what are you doing? Clearly you were just profiling.
221->349
222->329
246
Half Light: He's just making up fancy words. This doesn't mean anything!
223->246
224->32
224->83
224->151
225->186
386
Jump to: [trantmainhub]
226->386
227
Perception (Sight): You follow the man's gaze out toward the west. There, hanging some distance above the horison, you can just make out a strange silhouette...
372
Trant Heidelstam: Variable["boardwalk.trant_perc_archer_saw"]
227->372
228->71
229->113
230->169
231
Trant Heidelstam: "Ten years ago, I did a little... freelancing, I guess you could say. I was a special consultant for an exhibition at the Wompty-Dompty-Dom Centre in Vredefort, Oranje. It raised the same questions, and we had lengthy discussions with Paul Ockermann, who was head curator at the time -- this was before the twins Keith and Guy Joost joined the team -- trying to..."
321
Reaction Speed: Wait. Did he just say *Wompty-Dompty-Dom Centre*?
231->321
232
Trant Heidelstam: "Very, very cool," he agrees. "Though I understand the socio-economic causes of the Revolution, it pains me to imagine the revolutionaries setting fire to this precious device. But so they did. The Feld Playback Experiment vanished into the fires of '07."
232->65
233
Conceptualization: All of this sounds like something Ruby would be interested in...
233->119
234
Rhetoric: He means that 'the boys' got shot by the communists. 'The boys' were bourgeois.
336
Trant Heidelstam: Variable["boardwalk.trant_rhet_politics"]
234->336
235->380
236->186
382
Trant Heidelstam: Variable["boardwalk.trant_passive_pyrholidon_addiction"]
237->382
238->109
249
Trant Heidelstam: "Even *one* would be very useful," he agrees. "Though I understand the socio-economic causes of the Revolution, it pains me to imagine the revolutionaries setting fire to this precious device. But so they did. The Feld Playback Experiment vanished into the fires of '07."
239->249
240
Physical Instrument: Not that he would have to worry about being robbed -- he looks surprisingly buff. Does he work out?
240->386
241
Kim Kitsuragi: "Nice to meet you." The lieutenant nods.
241->245
242
You: "Wait, what's Lo Manthang stick fighting?"
242->126
243->329
309
Trant Heidelstam: "Mikael's a little tired today. We spent all night trying to run Orbis on his radiocomputer. Have you heard of it? It's a programming language used in Graad. Quite tricky, but he wanted to play this Graad-made adventure programme. We've been getting *really* into würms lately..."
244->309
245->46
245->100
311
You: "You and Kim know each other?" (Proceed.)
245->311
246->199
247
You: "Do you have any advice on how to climb that ladder?" (Point to the one next to the mural.)
391
Trant Heidelstam: "How to climb that ladder, you say?" He turns around, eyeing the bleak metal bars next to the giant mural. "I do know that the Lomanthangs used *sticks* to climb battlements, there's even a special technique for that."
247->391
389
Trant Heidelstam: "And, as you know, they have this very distinctive dress uniform with scarlet breeches and little cylindrical fur caps, I think these are called..." You daze off, as Trant tells you about the peculiarities of mounted police forces in central Occident.
248->389
249->65
250
You: "Do you know of an *alternative* way into the building?"
270
Trant Heidelstam: "Alternative? I don't even have a *mainstream* way in, I'm afraid, although..." He points over the guardrail, to the sewage run-off there.
250->270
348
Drama: He's telling the truth. He hasn't seen anyone.
251->348
252->370
253->24
254
You: "How did those tape computers work?"
"How did those tape computers work? Did they work like radiocomputers?"
344
Trant Heidelstam: "Actually, no one knows. No one even knows what a computer made entirely of tape would look like! But word has it they were *very elegant* -- exquisite, alien-looking turn-of-the-century hardware..." He raises his finger, remembering something.
254->344
255->143
257
Variable["auto.is_raining"]
256->257
258
!(Variable["auto.is_raining"])
256->258
410
Trant Heidelstam: "Then I guess everything got said, right?" He looks up to the sky. "The drizzle... it never seems to stop, does it?"
257->410
258->93
259->220
325
Trant Heidelstam: With that, you both turn back to the blonde man.
260->325
261->43
262->36
263
Trant Heidelstam: "No, I can't say that we've met before. But I've *heard* of Kim, of course. Mikael, say hi to the officers." He rests his hand on the boy's shoulder. The child stays hidden behind the hem of his father's coat, clutching to his würm-themed colouring book.
263->309
264->11
264->33
264->68
264->101
264->125
264->147
264->152
264->247
264->250
305
You: "I'm looking for a suspect. Have you seen anyone suspicious around?"
264->305
390
You: "I want to hear about the Feld building again..."
264->390
265->264
266->187
266->203
267
You: "I don't think I've ever heard of this Feld Electrical." (Proceed.)
266->267
286
Trant Heidelstam: "That's not surprising. Only a vestigial ink cartridge and ferrotape manufacturer remains." He adjusts his suit jacket.
267->286
401
You: "A tape computer?"
268->401
400
Jump to: [trantmainhub]
269->400
270->85
271->180
273
IsDaytime()
272->273
274
!(IsDaytime())
272->274
273->227
274->50
275->209
275->253
406
Trant Heidelstam: "I believe that is intentional. You see, the Coalition are very sensitive to how they are perceived by the people of Revachol, which is why they generally prefer for their warships to remain at a discreet distance from major population centres..."
276->406
375
Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
277->375
278->169
415
Trant Heidelstam: "Oh, no, I don't have it *on me*, officer, I was talking in more... general terms." He looks uncomfortable, his left hand squeezing his son's shoulder.
279->415
418
Trant Heidelstam: "If I'm not mistaken then it involved months of following a very rigid exercise regimen. No, *years*..."
280->418
281->264
282
Trant Heidelstam: "What's the March decree? I mean the radio transmission sent out to news agencies and world governments by the newly-created Commune of Revachol on the 7th of March in the year '02."
287
Encyclopedia: A short-lived legislative foundation for a short-lived utopia.
282->287
283->224
284
You: "I wanted to ask something else..."
284->39
285->185
286->80
287->184
288
You: "What's this Insitute for Revacholian Culture?"
332
Trant Heidelstam: "Oh, the Institute is a marvellous organisation, my *favourite* part of the Coalition by far. Their mandate is two-fold: To export notable works of Revacholian culture throughout the Moralintern, while also importing the most important cultural products of the wider world to citizens of Revachol..."
288->332
289
Trant Heidelstam: The man's smile turns into a frown. "Well, now, *that* is rather complicated. You can write to the Committee directly, but I understand that there's quite the backlog. A month or more, according to friends of mine who just so happen to know about this sort of thing..."
289->165
290
Trant Heidelstam: "Of course, officer, we've only recently met. It would require a more thorough conversation than we have time for to answer a question like that. It's fascinating to think about, though, isn't it?"
290->351
291
Trant Heidelstam: "That is certainly how the Coalition intends for it to be seen! You know, I once read a very interesting paper from Messina on the psychology of air-based artillery..."
292
Trant Heidelstam: "Apparently its presence stimulates the *exact* same part of the neural cortex that more primitive cultures associate with divine judgment. Isn't that fascinating?"
291->292
292->229
293
Trant Heidelstam: Variable["TASK.sync_the_sines"]
294
Variable["TASK.sync_the_sines"]
293->294
295
!(Variable["TASK.sync_the_sines"])
293->295
294->87
296
Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
295->296
297
IsKimHere()
296->297
298
!(IsKimHere())
296->298
378
Kim Kitsuragi: "Oh, good: Now we're circuit-bending into radio towers. Just what this *side task* was missing..."
297->378
408
Empathy: You *will* figure it out. Something tells you the person you're looking for is already on this coast...
298->408
299
Trant Heidelstam: Variable["whirling.klaasje_ruby_sentimental_radios"] and Variable["TASK.locate_ruby_on_the_coast_done"] == false
300
Variable["whirling.klaasje_ruby_sentimental_radios"] and Variable["TASK.locate_ruby_on_the_coast_done"] == false
299->300
301
!(Variable["whirling.klaasje_ruby_sentimental_radios"] and Variable["TASK.locate_ruby_on_the_coast_done"] == false)
299->301
300->233
301->119
302->16
303
Reaction Speed: Wait, what was it that you wanted to ask...?
303->127
361
Trant Heidelstam: "Okay. I have some materials at home I could share with you..."
304->361
305->219
306->82
306->242
416
You: "I'm not really interested in the practice, I just want to know how often you work out. Now and then -- that's what, like once a week?"
306->416
308
Trant Heidelstam: "Actually no, I should not forget it, I should look into it myself, there are some really interesting techniques..." He stops, as Trant Heidelstam junior jerks his coat hem with an excited, almost silly look on his face.
307->308
308->110
309->35
310->42
311->263
312->150
313->64
314->47
330
Trant Heidelstam: "Great. Great to hear that."
315->330
316
Encyclopedia: Buckle up!
316->231
342
Trant Heidelstam: "That's right, Mikael." Trant grabs his kid into a single-handed embrace, happy to change the subject. "It also has a meditative quality, helps to clear my head... But anyway," he says, swaying with his hand.
317->342
318->291
319->73
320
You: "Hold on, it's *watching* us, too?"
319->320
333
Trant Heidelstam: "Not just watching, it's *listening* as well. I don't know the particulars, of course, but I would expect a warship like the Archer to possess the most advanced surveillance equipment available outside of Seol."
320->333
321->117
331
Physical Instrument: This is all ninsy-pinsy garbage for sissy-people!
322->331
323->29
323->214
324->232
325->264
326->241
327->14
328
You: "But I don't have years to spare."
328->44
329->84
329->105
329->254
329->284
367
You: "You're saying that Feld Electrical built this boardwalk?" (Look under your feet.)
329->367
330->66
331->123
379
You: "Okay. The Wompty-Dompty-Dom Centre? Paul Ockermann? Keith and Guy Joost? What are you *talking* about?"
331->379
332->137
333->73
334->139
335
Rhetoric: Wait, is he saying that we should just *bypass* the excesses of the Revolution?
335->336
337
Variable["boardwalk.trant_rhet_politics"]
336->337
338
!(Variable["boardwalk.trant_rhet_politics"])
336->338
337->27
338->28
339
Trant Heidelstam: IsKimHere()
340
IsKimHere()
339->340
341
!(IsKimHere())
339->341
340->56
350
Mikael Heidelstam: "A wheel?" The kid looks wistfully at the horizon, as if picturing gondolas rising to the sky.
341->350
342->388
343->282
344->316
345->186
412
Mikael Heidelstam: "The Revolution?" The boy wipes his nose on his sleeve.
346->412
347->65
348->61
349->188
350->149
351->289
352
Kim Kitsuragi: "He's correct. It makes coordinating operations with the Coalition exceedingly difficult, from our perspective."
352->140
354
Variable["church.soona_greeting_done"]
353->354
355
!(Variable["church.soona_greeting_done"])
353->355
354->75
355->293
356->264
358
IsTHCPresent("communist")
357->358
359
!(IsTHCPresent("communist"))
357->359
358->234
359->335
360->79
360->416
361->281
362
Trant Heidelstam: IsTaskActive("TASK.find_some_moralists")--[[ Variable[ ]]
363
IsTaskActive("TASK.find_some_moralists")--[[ Variable[ ]]
362->363
364
!(IsTaskActive("TASK.find_some_moralists")--[[ Variable[ ]])
362->364
363->175
364->264
365->145
421
Jump to: [hold up hub]
366->421
419
Trant Heidelstam: "Yes, they even built a pleasure wheel, but that got destroyed in the war."
367->419
368->112
368->162
368->288
369
You: "What's INSURCOM?"
368->369
369->8
371
Composure: He is doing his best not to show it, but the smile is ever-so-slightly more forced than before.
370->371
371->290
373
Variable["boardwalk.trant_perc_archer_saw"]
372->373
374
!(Variable["boardwalk.trant_perc_archer_saw"])
372->374
373->189
374->37
376
IsKimHere()
375->376
377
!(IsKimHere())
375->377
376->352
377->140
378->169
379->141
380->142
381->186
383
Variable["boardwalk.trant_passive_pyrholidon_addiction"]
382->383
384
!(Variable["boardwalk.trant_passive_pyrholidon_addiction"])
382->384
383->172
384->173
399
Composure: He assumes something like a combat stance, facing the wind.
385->399
386->264
387->197
388->264
389->303
390->130
391->181
391->182
392->7
393
Trant Heidelstam: "I'm just spending time with my kid here, showing him around the lesser-known parts of our home town... It wouldn't be *wise* to carry huge amounts of cash on such expeditions!"
393->240
394->266
396
Variable["auto.is_snowing"]
395->396
397
!(Variable["auto.is_snowing"])
395->397
396->57
397->90
398->186
399->174
400->264
401->67
402->251
403->136
404->55
405->229
406->229
407->169
408->169
409->186
410->388
413
Trant Heidelstam: "Unfortunately their moonshot project never made it to the market." He nods. "Feld's move to Revachol backfired. The Revolutionary government liquefied their assets and expropriated those very advanced prototypes. Possibly from this very building... or one of the adjacent ruins." He pauses, pointing to the other building, then continues:
412->413
413->2
414->299
415->393
416->31
417->79
417->416
418->328
419->339
420->362
421->245