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Post by fierano on May 13, 2007 5:29:09 GMT -5
I keep thinking that Gleipnir could be an escaped "project" with amnesia, but that would be just too cliche. The thought that his blissful cluelessness could just be a cover didn't escape me but it's also unlikely, and I've still not figured out where he comes from/who he works for.
All I know is he would at least be conscious of his weapons but would not use them unless he were absolutely forced to, though he is conscious of and enjoys using his opti-camo. Until then, the fact that he's so big is pretty much the only threat.
When it comes to the initial conflict, he could just be hovering around the perimeter and some of the minor characters on both sides would definitely be curious if he works for a "third force" at least while he'll be all "pretty boats @____@"
SPEAKING of which, someone needs to supply the enemy, and it's funny to imagine what those little wooden outboard suicide boats (e.g. like Syriana) would look like. Or maybe Gleipnir could be an airborne drone carrier, but that's way too futuristic...
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Post by ebonyviper on May 13, 2007 7:08:58 GMT -5
Um... no cliches please. We have enough of those in the other RPs.
Couldn't it be possible that Gleipnir discovers little things about himself that he's never known before and figure out where his priorities and loyalties lay all throughout the RP?
And the RP already has an enemy. I've created a purist terrorist group, almost something like Al Kaida, but have not come up with a name for them yet. Suggestions would be helpful.
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Post by Tracker89 on May 13, 2007 7:17:04 GMT -5
That carrier theory makes them seem like they'd be the most elite and well-trained ship in a fleet. Even the most arrogant vessel would probably fear and respect them, which makes sense considering their leadership role in real life. They'd have an extremely high rank, probably Admiral. Anyways, I had a theory regarding the ships' dexterity. At first it seems like they'd have none, but I had an idea that they may have a set of small cranes which run along the side of their deck, and allow them to at least slightly manipulate the environment around them. Also, I was surprised to see that our setting actually has its own Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_in_the_Strait_of_MalaccaWe don't have to follow the article exactly...but it makes a good reference.
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Post by ebonyviper on May 13, 2007 9:39:31 GMT -5
The carriers would most possibly be either an Admiral or a Rear Admiral, if that's the case. It would be him that would make the final decision in what the fleet does. Wouldn't it be interesting to have a carrier in this fleet that would be hellbent on utterly destroying all threats that they would encounter in the RP?
Actually, the dexterity theory is pretty interesting. The ships wouldn't have to be totally dependent on their crews (which would be forklifts, average-sized cars, planes, etc.) to live while they're dockside. That would also be helpful if the fleet was at sea for a long time and there was no port nearby in which they could refuel. Which brings up another idea. The fleet would have to have oil tankers accompanying them while they're enroute to their next port of call and they would need to refuel on long journeys.
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Post by Tracker89 on May 13, 2007 11:56:43 GMT -5
I think real fleets are usually accompanied by special tanker and supply ships on long-range missions, so they'd probably be one or two of those with the group.
Anyways, when are you planning to start this RP?
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Post by ebonyviper on May 13, 2007 12:51:58 GMT -5
I'll start it once I can come up with a good intro, but I've never been good at intros. *puts head in hands and sighs* I might need a little help with that.
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Post by Evangeline on May 13, 2007 14:18:42 GMT -5
I can help a little with that once I get my comic thing out of the way. It's almost an all-night job.
Little davits/cranes on a track would be an ingenious idea, as well as self-mooring systems.
I think it would be neat if the aircraft carrier had something of a hidden soul, and spends what little idle time he has (like in port) composing instrumental jazz music or something like that.
And if you want to think "intimidating", what about those "boomers"? (nuclear missile-armed subs)
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Post by ebonyviper on May 13, 2007 14:27:44 GMT -5
Thanks. ^_^
Ooh... a carrier with a hidden soul. He would have to show his commanding, dominant side to the fleet then as they wouldn't know he has such a hobby. It would be interesting if only Nerina found out about it, but she's pretty honorable and trustworthy and will keep that knowledge to herself.
The "boomer" sub is nice idea.
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Post by Evangeline on May 13, 2007 14:40:58 GMT -5
The only one who knows before Nerina would find out is the carrier's sister, who posts the MP3's online for him under an alias. He wanted to compose music, but the family groomed him for this path in life instead, as having one of their line chosen as a carrier prospect would be a great honour for the family. Carriers are so married to their work that they often pass on soon after retirement - they see no more purpose for themselves, lose the will to live and literally shut themselves down after going out on the open sea to die, unless the Navy finds something else for them to do (like crew training or museum work)
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Post by ebonyviper on May 13, 2007 14:52:53 GMT -5
Wow. That's really... sad. Nerina would probably be a good motivator then. She's doing something that she's really not supposed to do because she's a female and the carrier's doing something that he's really not groomed to do because of tradition. Individualism probably isn't welcomed in the navy, I don't think. Everyone has to be capable of taking commands and doing their duty to the fleet.
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Post by Tracker89 on May 13, 2007 15:11:16 GMT -5
That "hidden soul" idea is nice...makes him seem like much more than just a big order-spewing machine, even though that's what he would appear as to most of his fleet. Hmm...I wonder if some of the carrier-based aircraft would be jealous of destroyer and cruiser-based helos such as Janet, since they have an entire deck(however small) to themselves, and in the Tico-class' case, their own small hangar.
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Post by Evangeline on May 13, 2007 15:26:03 GMT -5
As for the "wild" ships, I have this idea that they are something like aboriginals - tribal and clannish in character, migratory, but staying in North American coastal waters for the most part. As it is with elephants, the traditional family structure is matriarchal in nature (though they have adopted the traditional Western naming conventions) and they see military service as providing useful employment for their surplus males. This could add another level of tension to the woman-in-service theme, as Nerina's family would have the idea that a smart female with initiative and leadership skills would be "throwing herself away" in the military when she could be a matriarch in her later years. It would be a fresh twist on the "what-is-she-doing-there" argument.
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Post by ebonyviper on May 13, 2007 15:35:40 GMT -5
Nerina probably came from one of those clans and that's probably why she's treated so harshly by them because she chose a career that she was never meant to fill. But Nerina has this mentality of "If men can do it, women can do it too."
The "wild" ships would have some traditions that they must follow too, right?
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Post by Tracker89 on May 13, 2007 15:51:20 GMT -5
I can think up of three ways to start out the RP:
-At a port, either in the USA or an allied country, right before the fleet is assigned their mission.
-The fleet has already been assigned their mission and is on their way to the Strait.
-The fleet right as it enters the Strait.
I like the second one the best...it gives us a lot of time for character introductions and early development, but also allows us to quickly head into the action should the RP start to slow down.
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Post by Evangeline on May 13, 2007 16:17:57 GMT -5
They would definitely have traditions, like rites of passage and "vision quests". Certain seabirds would be regarded as omens. Seeing certain birds on this solitary journey might indicate one's future "lifecourse". If the bird in question actually lands on one's "superstructure", it's a much more certain indication. Ospreys and other birds of prey might indicate a military calling. Seagulls and terns don't really count on an individual basis, since there are so many of them, but a flock of them behaving in a particular manner might mean something. An albatross would be an omen for a wandering, solitary life, but also a good luck omen under certain circumstances. This would be a bit like the Whale Rider scenario, where the family didn't approve but the totem animal had other ideas. Maybe they have some sort of shaman character who reads the behavior of the birds to see what the future will be.
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